Still Day 1- So, to pick up where we left off, James and I are about to set foot actually on Spanish soil. And we get lost looking for the train. But, after a short argument and walking around, we spot the bus needed to take us to the other terminal so that we can catch the train into town. I still laugh/grimace when I think of how protective of my bag I was at this point on that bus. I mean, we were surrounded by mainly Swedish tourists. :) Anyway, we make it to the train platform and manage to buy the T10 ticket with our newly changed money (from an ATM in the terminal, no issue) and in doing so, purchase the best value of our whole trip. Let me explain... the T10 ticket is good for 10 trips on either the train or metro in all of the Barcelona area and CAN BE SHARED. So this was the only transportation ticket James and I needed in Barcelona and it cost only 7.20 euros. Which rocks. So that trip into town from the airport, 2 trips off our ticket. I'm just sayin.
Had an easy train ride into town, passing graffiti and run-down apartment complexes with satellite dishes on the balconies. The train was very nice and clean; I thought it was nicer than New Yorks subway trains. We finally made our way to our stop at Passeig de Gracia which exits on the "block of discord" in the Eixample and is only a few short blocks from the Placa de Cataluyna which is where our hotel is. Only problem? It is raining. But, who cares when you are finally seeing something that you have watched countless travel shows on and have studied up on in preparation: the block of discord which is called that because it looks like the houses are competing against each other in architecture. The house on the right that looks like a dragon is designed by Gaudi and based on St. George and the dragon.
Had an easy train ride into town, passing graffiti and run-down apartment complexes with satellite dishes on the balconies. The train was very nice and clean; I thought it was nicer than New Yorks subway trains. We finally made our way to our stop at Passeig de Gracia which exits on the "block of discord" in the Eixample and is only a few short blocks from the Placa de Cataluyna which is where our hotel is. Only problem? It is raining. But, who cares when you are finally seeing something that you have watched countless travel shows on and have studied up on in preparation: the block of discord which is called that because it looks like the houses are competing against each other in architecture. The house on the right that looks like a dragon is designed by Gaudi and based on St. George and the dragon.
We walked through the rain to our hotel which was right off the Placa (main plaza in Barcelona at the top of the Ramblas) and I prepared to try out my new language skills on the hotel clerk. See, in Barcelona, the main language is Catalan, not Spanish. And I had looked up a few Catalan phrases in preparation, one of which had something to do with needing to check in to the hotel. Well, James goes in ahead of me and apparently the lady said hi to him, unbeknownst to me because I go in and start with my Catalan... and she looks at me confused and asks, "are you checking in?" So she speaks English, and my Catalan sucks. We are able to get into our room immediately (at 10:00 in the morning!) and drop our backpacks.
The room is great, a little small, but completely modern and clean with a great view.
The room is great, a little small, but completely modern and clean with a great view.