Day 8: The Journey to Barcelona

We got packed up and moved out of Hostal Helena with no problems, leaving just in time to get to the train station. The timing was really perfect. We didn’t have to rush, and we also didn’t have to wait. The train was boarding when we got there.

The train ride itself was ok, though C refused to nap and Ruby did not want to sit still. Ruby forced my to play with her in the bathroom for 20 minutes, turning the push button faucet on and off. Small, cramped, stinky, no-window room on a swaying train. Recipe for motion sickness.

On arrival in Barcelona, it was pretty late to we went to the hotel finding service at the Tourist Information office. They found us a place easily, close to the center of town, but in an area where I hadn’t spent much time. When we got there, the desk staff was ditzy, there was no elevator to our rooms on the 3rd and 5th floors, and the atmosphere was bland and unfriendly. And it cost twice as much as Hostal Helena. That’s Barcelona for you.

After settling in, we went out in search of dinner. We found a place called the Bra Cafe which we visited many other times during our stay in Barcelona. Very good patatas bravas! In was situated in a small plaza in the neighborhood to the left-hand side of Las Ramblas. (Most Barcelona maps are not oriented with north at the top; rather they are made so that Las Ramblas runs vertically from top to bottom, making the top north-west.) We ate and relaxed a bit, and C played with some of the locals.

Aferword we explored the area a bit more, finding some good kebab places and an Indian restaurant we never got to visit, as well as many friendly grocers and cafes. And none of it felt touristy or overpriced. Finally we found a slice of Barcelona where people actually live and exist.

C’s feeling a little off from the journey today, and the fact that he didn’t nap today.

Notice the portable booster seat. Best thing we brought on the trip. Very useful at restaurants and cafes (which don’t seem to have child-seating options unless they are large chains), as well as in our hostal rooms when we want to eat.

That’s C, way off there in that door way. He was examining the handles, and also the holes in the floor where they bolt the door shut to lock it.

We wandered over to Las Ramblas, kind of by accident. The area is famous for street performers and this “living statue” kind is the most popular. I think because the only skill it involves is imagination (to come up with a costume) and the ability be very still. C saw the guy standing there, and one of us said “Hey, look at that statue.” I wondered if C would fall for it. Then the guy winked at C and C did a double-take. After giving a little coin, the guy moved around a bit and asked if we wanted to take a picture. It was at this point that C said “That’s not a statue!”

There are a few of these pet-sellers along Las Ramblas. I guess it’s pretty common for parents to buy their children pets here on the weekend.

Chris and I saw that picture of that guy and thought it would be funny to get Lauren’s picture with it, without her knowledge. But she noticed it, and posed for an even better picture. Click the medium-size to see the largest size, for the full effect.