This time last year: May 17th, 2007 Thursday 6:30pm.
Cycle Europe Day 2: Flight to Barcelona.
Yes, I missed Day 1 because everyone was asleep and I was too tired to write. But things went smoothly albeit slowly on the 1st day. Dough balls for breakfast (£1 only). Got to Victoria Station and while rushing to get onto next 1st train to Gatwick, left £1 coin with the trolly at the insistence of the conductor because he wanted to close the doors. Hopefully it means more to him that it did to me.
Super early arrival at the airport, super long wait to board plane. Now I know how budget airlines like EasyJet save money. By getting you onboard at the very last minute so they don’t stay too long at the airport. But left a wheelchair, forgot about it probably. Still arrived early in Barcelona though. Boring flight.
Managed to reassemble my bike without too much hassle. Bunch of taxi drivers cheering me on as I rode past them. “Vamos!” I heard one say. Straight onto what looked like a 100km/h highway. Dangerous but I managed with God’s protection. Then, TRAFFIC JAM!!! But remember, I’m on a bike so it was a breeze. With a little help from TomTom (satellite navigator) I found the hostel with no problems.
Checked in and managed to ask for 2 more nights here so I don’t have to move around. Praise God again! Oh, and this place is called Alberg Pere Tarres. Very similar to YHA Edinburgh. Bicycle attracting attention already. Parked it, move my stuff, met Daniel (Chinese American?) and went out nearby for Whopper at Burger King. “No Bacon!”
Sent a few e-mails and tidur… zzz!
Day 1 Accounts
Deposit & Booking €3.80 < credit card
Remainder 1st night €20.70
2 more nights €46.00
Whopper €3.20
Total €73.70
Didn’t get much sleep, roommates kept coming back late, couldn’t wait for breakfast to start so I kept waking up since dawn had broken. Breakfast was rationed, lady restricted my to just one bun bread. Had salami, peperoni and ham with it, plus some cereal.
Got out after changing rooms. Walked to nearest metro to get to Christopher Columbus monument at the bottom end of Las Ramblas. Walked up and took detours to see some Gaudi designs and the Market. Stopped at Carrefour for salmon sandwich and salad. In the afternoon, visited La Sagrada Familia. Worth every cent of the admission fee. Museum was the coolest. Head back to hostel to catch up with Mum and Dad on Skype before doing laundry. Not sure, maybe to Camp Nou later or 1st thing tomorrow. No ideas for dinner yet, local convenience store was closed at about 4:15pm, maybe for a siesta! Praise God, throat might be getting better.
Day 2 Accounts
Metro x2 €2.50
Lunch €3.15
Laundry €4.50
Dinner €5.30 Hot dog, pizza, chips.
La Sagrada Familia €8.00
Snack/Bisgedi €0.69
Total €24.14
I’ll list all the places I went today later, after referring to my map. Mentioned Christopher monument, Las Ramblas, La Sagrada Familia. Here’s the rest:
El Palau Guell (closed for restoration), Casa Calvet (residential, entry denied but looked interesting), Casa Batllo (very nice but €16.50!), Casa Mila “La Pedrera” (~ nice, only €8.00) and, not Gaudi, la Boqueria Market.
Still don’t think I’ve caught the full view of Gaudi’s interior design. We’ll see what God has in store tomorrow…
Route change possibility:
- check distance from Barcelona to Figueres, Carrer Pep Ventura 9.
- help shorten 2nd ride to Perpignan with possible uphill struggle.
- place is called Pension Mallol.
Nope, too far. Way too far. 85+ miles.