Viaje a España!
Well, I''m away iIn another country! España! I left yesterday, October 1st with mom to Spain. We had a un-eventful trip to the airport in Columbus for the most part. We were a little late leaving but all was good. Thank goodness. We flew to Philly and met up with Stef and her mom, Donna. We made it with about 10 minutes to spare. Neck pillow in hand we boaded the plane for Barcelona. By this time it was about 650ish pm, Eastern Standard time. We settled into the seats, pretty far up to the front. Stef and Donna in front of us. Mom didn't want the window seat, I had offered it to her. We talked amongst ourselves and to Stef and Donna here and there too. For a long time I watched the landscape from the window. As the sun started to set though, I closed the window and took the chance to get some sleep. Mom and I didn't move around much. Most of the people, dispite being told to sit, were up almost all the time. It was like being at a baseball game. People can't sit still. We did get up a few times here and there to use the bathroom. Mom wouldn't go alone, so that meant I had to go with her everytime, even if I didn't have to go myself. But soon enough it was time to disembark. It was a little confusing because of how they had the terminals noted for the directions to get our Barcelona cards and that sort of thing. But we found our way, met a few people, groups of people doing the same thing too, so we managed. I was in charge of the money, boarding passes, papers etc... etc.. mom didn't want to do any of it. So, we finally made it onto a bus into the city. I was a bit overwhelm at first. I don't think though that it really hit me that I was actually in Spain until later. But anyways, we got on the bus, loaded our luggage with the other people and had an adventure going into town. We passed plaza's and some sites. Donna had to actually almost make the bus guy stop. We don't know where he was going, he couldn't speak English, and he was just driving. The travel person in the airport told us the bus actually was suppose to stop in front of our hotel, but he didn't. So, we sorta made him. I knew right where it was, so finally we got off. We couldn't check in until 2pm. Front desk people were very nice. He checked our bags for us and we sat in the lobby for a while to rest. After all it was only like 10 am there (4 am at home!)
So, we actually fell asleep for a few minutes on the nice couches. We then went out and explored the surrounding area of the hotel. We went next door to a nice little cafe/resturant. Cafe Dore was the name of it. It had smoothies, which is what attracted us first. We were thirsty and a little hungry. We ordered a smoothie and mom and I ordered Churros. Yum. The chocolate, that she made right there in front of us, was at first, a little bitter, but the more you ate the more you loved it. It took a while to get the churros, but we enjoyed the resting and getting aqquainted with life here. After we left we wandered down the street to look around. We found Hotel Ronda, took some pics, found lots of palm trees around and then a beautiful cathedral. We couldn't go in it, but the one of the top domes brought us to it. We were in the shopping district. Lots of cell phone, computers, tv's that sort of shopping all around. So we wandering around and surprisingly enough found our way around quite well. The street signs aren't like they are here in America. They are on the actual buildings, and are usually accompanied by a picture or symbol. We started seeing quite a lot of dogs, Little dogs in particular. Spain, especially the larger cities like Barcelona, have a lot of flats, and people have small dogs, like Sugar. So the more we walked the more dogs we saw. And the dogs were so well be haved! So, moving on, we headed back to the hotel (The Caledonian, on the Gran Via) It was about 1pm or so. We thought it wouldn't hurt to check to see if some rooms opened up. None were, so we crashed on the sofa's again. Finally about 1:30 some rooms opened up and the man from the front desk got us all fixed up. We gave him our passports, and confirmed all our info. We were suppose to be on same floor and near each other but we werent. I figured it was because we came early and he knew we wanted in soon. So, it wasn't a big deal. The elevator was narrow. We had to go up separately, when we had the luggage that is. The room was fairly big, and so inviting after being on an airplane for 7.5 hrs, and wandering the streets of Barcelona all morning. HAHA. The bed was "double" only separate beds, which I liked. Each bed had its own sheets/comforter, but was still together. The tv was a bit hidden in the corner, near the window, but not significant. We would be out most of the time anyways. We also had a very small terrace. Just enough to open the window and step out onto. Quite a nice view of the surrounding area. The traffic (and its horn honking lol) wasnice to me. I don't hear traffic here and although its normally annoying it was neat because it was in Spain. lol. They drive a little differently here. Small, narrow streets, some pedestrian only. You have to be agressive when driving.
We unpacked, got cleaned up and then I had to take care of my phone. When we arrived it wasn't working. I couldn't get calls out while we were in the airport and I had to have Stef text Terry to tell her we had arrived. So, after about 30 minutes on the phone with Verizon Wireless, we discovered the wrong plan was added. They added a plan to CALL SPAIN, not call FROM SPAIN. So, the lady had to add the package, and correct calling plan. She apologized and finally it worked. I could use Facebook, Twitter, Texts, MMS, you name it. So, we called home and talked to Dad for a while.We met up with Stef and Donna and started out to find La Ramblas. We got lost a little, just trying to get a feel for the surroundings and East from West, North from South. But we found it. Then it was time to find the meeting place for the Tapas Tour. We weren't sure we were in the right place, and we were a little "late" or so we thought. The paper said be 15 mins early. It was in front of the Starbucks, and a few other people were there. Our guide finally showed. I had called the office to make sure we were in the right place, and she said yes. Then about 5 minutes later he showed up. We started off and walked all around La Rambla, the famout market, strolling place of Barcelona. We went though the Gothic quarter and to La Boqueria (the market) Our guide made sure he told us (a few times) to watch our bags. Lots of pick pockets.The guide was friendly and a little silly looking/acting but entertaining. We stopped at 3 tapas places for food and drink. All very nice. Stef had to watch what she ate. The bread she had to watch, couldn't be sure if they used corn in their bread or not. All the people we were with were very nice. There was actually a couple there, that were from Cleveland, (avid Buckeye fans) but they lived in Sicily (he was in the military) So, I talked to them for a while about the Bucks and Ohio. So, that was nice. There was a father, daughter and son (mom stayed in hotel) who were Chinese and they were really fun! We made the walking trip back to the hotel easy enough. Across the Plaza de Cataluya. We stopped for a drink at our Cafe Dore. Then headed upstairs. I think Stef and her mom went back out. I wasn't tired, but wasn't sure about mom, the walking was a lot and would be more so as the week went on of course. So, that was our first day/night in Barcelona, Spain.
So, we actually fell asleep for a few minutes on the nice couches. We then went out and explored the surrounding area of the hotel. We went next door to a nice little cafe/resturant. Cafe Dore was the name of it. It had smoothies, which is what attracted us first. We were thirsty and a little hungry. We ordered a smoothie and mom and I ordered Churros. Yum. The chocolate, that she made right there in front of us, was at first, a little bitter, but the more you ate the more you loved it. It took a while to get the churros, but we enjoyed the resting and getting aqquainted with life here. After we left we wandered down the street to look around. We found Hotel Ronda, took some pics, found lots of palm trees around and then a beautiful cathedral. We couldn't go in it, but the one of the top domes brought us to it. We were in the shopping district. Lots of cell phone, computers, tv's that sort of shopping all around. So we wandering around and surprisingly enough found our way around quite well. The street signs aren't like they are here in America. They are on the actual buildings, and are usually accompanied by a picture or symbol. We started seeing quite a lot of dogs, Little dogs in particular. Spain, especially the larger cities like Barcelona, have a lot of flats, and people have small dogs, like Sugar. So the more we walked the more dogs we saw. And the dogs were so well be haved! So, moving on, we headed back to the hotel (The Caledonian, on the Gran Via) It was about 1pm or so. We thought it wouldn't hurt to check to see if some rooms opened up. None were, so we crashed on the sofa's again. Finally about 1:30 some rooms opened up and the man from the front desk got us all fixed up. We gave him our passports, and confirmed all our info. We were suppose to be on same floor and near each other but we werent. I figured it was because we came early and he knew we wanted in soon. So, it wasn't a big deal. The elevator was narrow. We had to go up separately, when we had the luggage that is. The room was fairly big, and so inviting after being on an airplane for 7.5 hrs, and wandering the streets of Barcelona all morning. HAHA. The bed was "double" only separate beds, which I liked. Each bed had its own sheets/comforter, but was still together. The tv was a bit hidden in the corner, near the window, but not significant. We would be out most of the time anyways. We also had a very small terrace. Just enough to open the window and step out onto. Quite a nice view of the surrounding area. The traffic (and its horn honking lol) wasnice to me. I don't hear traffic here and although its normally annoying it was neat because it was in Spain. lol. They drive a little differently here. Small, narrow streets, some pedestrian only. You have to be agressive when driving.
We unpacked, got cleaned up and then I had to take care of my phone. When we arrived it wasn't working. I couldn't get calls out while we were in the airport and I had to have Stef text Terry to tell her we had arrived. So, after about 30 minutes on the phone with Verizon Wireless, we discovered the wrong plan was added. They added a plan to CALL SPAIN, not call FROM SPAIN. So, the lady had to add the package, and correct calling plan. She apologized and finally it worked. I could use Facebook, Twitter, Texts, MMS, you name it. So, we called home and talked to Dad for a while.We met up with Stef and Donna and started out to find La Ramblas. We got lost a little, just trying to get a feel for the surroundings and East from West, North from South. But we found it. Then it was time to find the meeting place for the Tapas Tour. We weren't sure we were in the right place, and we were a little "late" or so we thought. The paper said be 15 mins early. It was in front of the Starbucks, and a few other people were there. Our guide finally showed. I had called the office to make sure we were in the right place, and she said yes. Then about 5 minutes later he showed up. We started off and walked all around La Rambla, the famout market, strolling place of Barcelona. We went though the Gothic quarter and to La Boqueria (the market) Our guide made sure he told us (a few times) to watch our bags. Lots of pick pockets.The guide was friendly and a little silly looking/acting but entertaining. We stopped at 3 tapas places for food and drink. All very nice. Stef had to watch what she ate. The bread she had to watch, couldn't be sure if they used corn in their bread or not. All the people we were with were very nice. There was actually a couple there, that were from Cleveland, (avid Buckeye fans) but they lived in Sicily (he was in the military) So, I talked to them for a while about the Bucks and Ohio. So, that was nice. There was a father, daughter and son (mom stayed in hotel) who were Chinese and they were really fun! We made the walking trip back to the hotel easy enough. Across the Plaza de Cataluya. We stopped for a drink at our Cafe Dore. Then headed upstairs. I think Stef and her mom went back out. I wasn't tired, but wasn't sure about mom, the walking was a lot and would be more so as the week went on of course. So, that was our first day/night in Barcelona, Spain.