We had to be up early this morning in Santiago to finish packing and be ready to leave the house just after 7:30am. Victor made us each a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice and then we were off after hugs with Lanzada and Clinete. Victor drove us to the airport so we could be checked in before 8. We had some breakfast at the airport then off to Barcelona, a 1 1/2 hour flight.
7am out our bedroom window at Lanzada's and Victor's.
We arrived in Barcelona on a plane that seemed full of other pilgrims flying from Santiago to catch their flights home. We met a gal from Edmonton who had just finished the Camino, her 4th. Her pack had been lost on her air canada flight from Edmonton to Toronto to Paris so she had only bare minimum with her. Luckily she had been wearing her boots onto the plane, like we do.
We found our way out to the Aeroporto bus that took us right to the main plaza in town, Plaza Catalunya, and we could walk the block down to our hotel. We arrived at noon but had to leave our bags at the hotel in their left luggage after getting checked in as the rooms are not ready until 2 for check in.
We had just heard from a Guiding pal Cathy that she would have 2 hours free time from her bus tour and we could meet at the Hard Rock Cafe in the plaza. I think every tour bus and all the taxis disgorge their passengers right in front of the Hard Rock Cafe. But we did find her and the three of us went for lunch and had a lovely catch up. We have not seen each other for 11 years. She does keep inviting us up to Flin Flon for a visit but we just don't seem to be passing through there very often and it's not on the way to anywhere except Churchill.
We had a great salad, a glass of wine and a great visit. When we left her at 3 we made our way over to the hotel after picking up some supplies; wine, crackers, cheese, bottled water for me. We got ourselves settled into our room, had showers and a siesta. Later when it had cooled down somewhat we went out for a walk up Rambla de Catalunya, which is one of the main shopping, restaurants, and bar street, probably more for tourists than the locals who likely try to avoid all these touristy places. The neat thing about this street is that it has a wide pedestrian passage way in the middle of the street with a lane for cars on either side, and then more sidewalk in front of the stores. It is so walker-friendly, as are many European cities.
We have just found out that one of our favorite Tasmanians who lives part time near Barcelona will be able to meet us for lunch tomorrow. We had thought she would be away for the whole time we were in Spain but dates changed for her and now we do get to see her. In fact we just missed by 3 days getting to see both of our favorite Tazzies. These are gals we walked with on the Le Puy route in France in 2013.
Tomorrow will be our last day in Barcelona and already we realize we can't possible get around to do all the things we thought we would. That only means one thing!!!
A mañana,
Marion and Wendy
No comments:
Post a Comment