However, things went so smoothly we were ready to fly by 10am... The only problem was our flight was scheduled for approximately 2:30pm. Luckily there was a flight at 11am that would work perfectly. We found the EasyJet information counter and inquired about making the change. They told us there would be a change fee in addition to the price of the ticket. We kindly declined and walked away thinking if we really wanted, why wouldn't we just buy new tickets and avoid the "change" fee all together. Oh well... we were happy to be safely in Europe even though our heads maintained that warm fuzzy feeling from jet-lag.
We touched down in Barcelona right on time Tuesday evening. Our bags arrived and all was well. Our first task was to get money in order to pay for transit, rooms, and most food, as the best deals usually don't take credit. A variety of ATM's awaited us at the airport, however, the first one responded with "su banco no responda". Uh-oh. We tried a second with a similar resopnse, and a third, fourth, fifth, etc. It seemed our luck had ran out, and rather quickly on this trip. We had no money... A dismal feeling at best. At last, I found an entire Euro in one of the phones, the amount requested to complete the 800 bank number to the states (which I luckily had stored in my contacts list) to see if they knew of any problems. I popped in the money and what I heard next was in my mind, a one inch person speaking through a tube from several miles away. I just barely recognized the familiar recorded prompts of our bank, and knew that option 4 would get me to someone, but I had no idea if I could ever come close to comprehending a word of what someone would say. Apparently that's about all the time one Euro will buy anyway, as the call was cut and I was slightly relieved I didn't have to try and talk with a person of such small size. Well, in less than an hour we decided to reach into our US 'emergency' cash and convert some to Euros. We got enough for transport and one nights lodging and would figure out the rest as we went. We headed straight to the best deal in town, a little hotel ran by Juan who didn't speak a lick of english and was proud of it. I understood he only had one room left, and we gladly accepted and paid for the night.
Our plan was to grab an internet computer and search for a direct number to the bank so we could make a credit card call. Luck prevailed again as I found a two Euro coin in the pay stall for the computer, which bought us forty mintues. Then, we noticed the computers had Skype (an internet phone service) installed, so we thought we'd give that a try. Well, the microphones didn't seem to be picking up and my yelling in the internet cafe wasn't making us any new friends. We couldn't find a direct number, so we ditched the idea and went to buy a calling card from a shady nick-nack shop (apparently the only place they're sold). Before I knew it, I was speaking to a bank representative who was helpful allbeit my yelling all of our private banking information through an outdoor pay phone and asking them to speak loud and clearly, as this time they seemed to be about seven inches tall on my listening scale. After a few minutes we were told our cards would be good to go within ten mintues, and we celebrated by having some tapas! We tried the card in about an hour and were rejoicing (in our minds) like we won the lottery at the ATM... Of course quickly stashing the money while on a dark street. We high-tailed it back to our room for our first nights rest in Barcelona.
FROM DANI:
Wed: We crashed hard and awoke more or less refreshed. Thr first itemon the adenda: breakfast. We wandered around and finally found a cafe to have a little cafe con leche (very strong coffee w/milk and a lot of sugar added) and a croisant. Next we headed to the market for
fruit...yummy! We did a nice walk down Las Ramblas (the main blvd through the city) where we saw many performance artists, flower vendors, and even guys ready to sell you a new pet (turtles, fish, ferrets, and a variety of birds). We spent the afternoon wandering through Antoni Gaudi's architecture. We visited the Sagrada Familia (Holy Family), a church in which construction began in 1883 and continues to the present! The amount of detail and meaning carved into the walls is as amazing as it is overwhleming. We walked by Casa Battlo, which has balconies that look like skulls, and Casa Mila, which seems wavy and like ice cream at the same time! Last we headed to Parc Guell, a beautiful idea for a gated community 100 years ahead of its time. Based on the look of the two gatehouses that stand at the entrance, I believe Gaudi either inspired Dr. Seuss or was a good friend (I'll have to check on that). Anyway, the park is gorgeous and has amazing views...not only that it has a wavy built in seating area that is mosaic and was designed ergonomically!! What a GENIUS! We ventured back into the heart of the city and stumbled upon a great little shwarma place...where I accidentally ate most of Mark's dinner
(we would return for lunch another day to make up for it). We enjoyed watching others enjoy a futbol match on tv (much ohhing and uhhing).
Thursday: A little rainy but after a great breakfast at the market, we headed out for another walk...we saw the beautiful Cathedral of Barcelona but there was no TP in the WC and so the trip there was cut a little short by full bladders. Of interesting note, the Cathedral is filled with tiny chapels dedicated to different saints in which people come, pray, light candles, etc. The chapel with the most candles? Santa Rita. Her specialty? Lost causes. :) We also visited the Deacon's House next door and were reminded a little of Mark's parents house...very similar entry way but with a much larger fountain! After lunch we headed to the Picasso museum. Picasso has always been a little wierd for me but this was mostly more early work so it was slightly more normal (most of the people's eyes were in the right places, for example). Anyway, there was one super cool painting we spend a lot of time walking back and forth in front of called Ciencia y Caridad (Science and Charity). Picasso painted this wonderful optical illusion that when you back and forth and look at it, the bed appears to lengthen or shorten...very, very cool!
Friday: Another market breakfast, some relaxing, and then to the train station to stash our luggage for the day. We didn't have much planned other than to stroll. And stroll we did. We ended up doing a little window shopping and then saw a movie theater. OOOhhh...Indiana Jones!! Only in Spanish. We debated the "wouldn't it be funny" factor verses the "but I really want to see it and not miss the funny parts" factor. Ahh, maybe there's an english theater! Mark asked and the woman working at the theater replied that yes, there was a theater about 20 minutes walk away. She circled an area on our map and we set off walking. And walking and walking and walking. I finally gave up but Mark wanted more to find the darn place than to actually see the movie so he kept looking and I sat in a park and read. About 30 minutes later he ran up and said "we've got 15 minutes until it starts." So there you have it, we saw Indiana Jones in Barcelona and really liked it! Oh, and the theater had warm carmel popcorn (that, according to Mark, was OUTSTANDING!). After the movie we were off to the train station for an overnight train to San Sebastian in northern Spain.
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