On Tuesday, we traveld from Madrid to Barcelona by train. Given our past experience with some of the European trains, I was a wee bit anxious. What a difference a country makes! The train station was wonderful! (It was clean, organized, technologically advanced and easy to find our platform.) Once on board, it was a very peaceful three hour ride.
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| High-speed train from Madrid to Barcelona |
Scenes of the countryside going across Spain. As you can see from the skies, the rain was certainly in the plain.
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| This bar was a few doors down from our hotel. |
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| In Barcelona, this kind of sandwich is called a "Bikini". (Grilled ham and cheese.) |
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| Entrance to Placa Catalyuna (main square in Barcelona). |
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| The Spanish Revolutionaries have taken over the square. |
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| Senor Alfons Solsona* |
*There is a story that goes along with the picture.
We were heading toward the tour company "office" to make sure we could use our pre-paid tour the next day since we didn't get settled in Barcelona until very late in the afternoon. As we were walking along, a very nice, well-dressed gentleman struck up a conversation with us, in very good English too. He is the owner of a leather goods shop and was on his way home when he happened to see us. He told us he had just returned from fashion week in NY where many of his jackets had been sold. Mr. Solsona invited us into the shop to see what he had to offer. We also got schooled on proper Spanish etiquette. When invited in, you graciously accept the sherry and snacks offered to you. You sit patiently while he shows you all the different styles and colors. And you try on the jackets he thinks you might like. But mostly, you appreciate his ability to forecast the weather and "save" you from a torrential downpour! (Yes, that is a scarf and raincoat...it reached a high of 64 degrees yesterday.)
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The wall is filled with square and traditional Coca-Cola bottles
at this very popular tapas restaurant. |
So far so good! The next blog posts will cover the City Tour and a special entry on our visit to Park Guell.
