After 17 months of COVID hibernation, Chris, Jody, Sabrina, Liesel and I fled to the only country, Spain, open to Americans with their vaccinations, destination Barcelona.
The trip started with a 4 hour drive to St. George, odd I know, but the cheap tickets started there. We stayed overnight at the Chalet Inn, quintessential mom and pop motel. The St George airport, is new, small, and TSA had no line. What a change from SLC, which we flew into the new terminal. I don't remember ever seeing SLC quite as busy, nor as international. The new terminal must have changed Delta's stops with the new terminal, which explains the more international crowd.With a 3 hour layover, we enjoyed a food meal and roamed around to see the new terminal.
Our flight for Amsterdam was a bit delayed with a mechanical issue, but we got off soon. Every time I spend 8+ hrs on an ocean crossing flight I tell myself, next time it's first class. I wish it had been first class this time, 9 hrs 15 min in one spot, with minimal movement, torture. It is always interesting to me to spend that amount of time crossing an ocean and several time zones, only to arrive without the sun setting.
I just want to make note of the airplane food, Liesel had the vegetarian diet, her breakfast was a bagel. This bagel was an understatement of the term "day old", it was petrified, literally. Liesel whacked it on the table, and a decided thumping sound rang out through the cabin. Liesel even tried to muscle it, didn't budge. Breakfast of champions, Olympic champions.
Amsterdam, for most was a quick peek through the windows. By time we landed and made it through immigration there was only time for a visit to the loo, before getting back on a plane to Barcelona.
Welcome to sunny Barcelona! It took a few minutes to find a taxi large enough for 5 people with luggage. Most taxis are Honda Prius, so large families with lots of stuff, not the usual. First impressions, old meets new. A lot of turn of the century (1900) buildings mixed with more modern. Highways and freeways are well maintained and worked with alternate transportation options, ie bike lane, and bus lanes. The city seems fairly clean, and well maintained. Hard to tell between the visitors and the locals at times, but a lot of people pulling luggage.
We found our way to the business that manages the Air BnB we are staying in, we had to circle around the block for 40 min while waiting for key access to kick in. Another taxi to the Air BnB, and it's lovely, 2nd story of a remodeled older building. The furnishings are strait out of a shopping trip to IKEA. We have 4 bedrooms and 3 baths, decent kitchen, dining table, small living space, and laundry room. Small balcony along one bedroom and living space, along with enclosed balcony areas off of 2 bedrooms, looking over the neighbors courtyards and pool. I can hear the rumble of the Metro as it rumbles down below us, neighbors playing opera and I feel like I'm in some movie.
A quick power nap and we walked down to the Plaza Catalunya, where those we assume from Kasmir, based on the flag waving, were having a smaller peaceful rally of some sort. The plaza area was full of vacationers and those looking to end their weekend with good food, and friends. We found a metro station at the plaza, decided to check it out and get metro passes for Monday. An older man came up to us, dressed in a dress shirt and tie, and attempted to explain to us in his broken english and my broken Spanish how to buy a ticket. It took a couple of rounds, and he was certainly agitated in our stupidity. But once we had what we needed, he let us know he was out of work and felt his kindness should be repaid. Unfortunately we only had a credit card, and nothing to give him. Hopefully his needs will be met by the Lord.
The food around our area is predominantly american, Taco Bell, McDonald's, Starbucks, a burrito (akin to Cafe Rio) and KFC. Most places were closed, either because it was Sunday or August being the month to vacation in Europe. We opted for the burrito place, we weren't disappointed it was good. We rounded out the evening with a quick popover to the block Supermercado (open 24 hrs) for a few essentials.
All are exhausted and showered and headed to bed. Hasta mañana!
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