<![CDATA[

Barcelona, Spain

Left Seville via fast train for the 5.5 hr trip to Barcelona, great experience with lovely country side whipping past at speeds of up to 301km ph and it would have been even better if RailNZ had not stuffed up our tickets.

We booked and paid for 1st class but ended up in Tourist class. We were not impressed at all by this as we had no services other than a seat, and should have had wifi, meals, drinks etc. Our frustration was increased by the fact that I thought something was wrong when I received the tickets in NZ and queried it, but RailNZ assured me they were the right ones. This was meant to be a treat experience for us to go on a bullet train for the first time, and travel first class. It really took the shine off our train trip. I have already fired off a strong email seeking compensation. Watch this space for the outcome.

AFTERNOTE: I am pleased to report after they investigated it in NZ, they did refund us fully for the tickets – awesome – it was $562 so that was well worth it!

Regardless of the upset the trip was fun and past by quickly. We arrived in Barcelona at 2:50pm and navigated cautiously through the crowded station to try and find the entry to our hotel which was above the large complex. Barcelona is meant to be one of the worst cities for pick pockets and bag snatching so we are on high guard. We saw two groups and a couple of other single thieves working the crowd in the station! Its kind of interesting watching them and and whilst guilty of voyeurism, we are really just raising our awareness in the hope of not falling victim ourselves.

The hotel is great and we actually have a window with natural light and a kettle – seems like luxury LOL. It is recently renovated in a ‘space’ theme and the staff speak reasonable English and can actually smile vs. Seville which was very foreign and serious.

I have an annoying cough and Vern and I take turns at sneezing but we carry on none the less (such a tough life – not). The forecast for the next 5 days is for rain and it started to shower while we were out. It’s also a lot colder than Seville which was probably about 29 degrees yesterday – we have pulled out our jackets to manage the 19 degrees here.

After settling into the hotel we headed out to brave the metro, buying a T10 card – 10 trip – as recommended by RS. Went well and we ended up quickly at the central Plaza and took the walk down ‘The Ramblas”. It is about a 30 minute stroll down a pedestrian strip to the port where everyone checks out everyone and street entertainers painted up as characters try to get your money amongst the occasional souvenir and flower shops. It also comes with a warning for pick pockets as its so busy and crowded. We both found it totally missable – boring. There is a big fresh market off it though and that looked a good place to shop.

We got some Spanish sausages – little ones to eat cold like salami and I got a seafood kebab. It seems the Spanish eat anything and the photo I have posted if you look at the top has the NOSE of a cow, along with pizzle (penis), tripe, blood sausage on left and cow hoofs. Missing from the picture but for sale are bulls testicles which apparently are delicious. I will give them a miss thank you. It is a good place to grab some supplies for a picnic lunch or light dinner after indulging in too many Tapa’s for lunch!

At the end of the walk is a tall statue of Columbus at the place where he reportedly met with the Queen after returning from the Americas – must have not gone to Seville for that initial meeting! It is a grand tall statue and the port has very clean water. Pity it was cloudy as I am sure it would be prettier if the sun was out.

We checked out a few dinner spots for Tapas but they were very basic and touristy – westernised as in grilled meat and chips or fried calamari rings …. and more than double the price of Seville. We wanted to find somewhere the locals eat so wandered around for a further 40 mins or so before in desperation ate a small snack at a very sub standard but cheap place off the main drag. As Murphy’s law would have it, about 10 mins walk from that we saw 3 desirable places … another day tomorrow! Popped into the big department store that is open till 10pm every night to get an umbrella as we needed one well and truly by then.

Impressions so far of Barcelona are that people are much friendlier and willing to speak a little English. It is large and not as attractive as Seville by any means and is also overrun with tourists – loads of them including noisy drunk Poms. Mmmmm I said to Vern, which would you rather – friendly and fleece the tourist or very indifferent and a cheap and authentic time? (verses Sevilla). Early days yet, and the weather is not fair here so onward and upward and see what tomorrow brings.

]]>