October 26, 2023

Well, we are in Barcelona after the longest travel day we’ve ever done.  Augusta.  Atlanta.  Newark.  Lisbon.  And Barcelona.  By our count we were up 30 hours before we got into the apartment and had a nap.

At our apartment we were met by the cleaning lady who speaks 10 words of English, and I speak 5 words of Spanish (including gracious, banos, and the Cisco Kid).  We pointed and grunted and made hand motions.  Then we got out Google Translate and got it figured out.

Then we did a little shopping and ate some lunch.  Great bunch of young servers who had enough English to get us through the menu.  The best part for me was a bowl of potato, bean, and cabbage soup.  Bonnie had a good looking salad with vinegar and oil.  Our second course was chicken and french fries.  For dessert she had a chocolate ice cream come (we haven’t found any gelato yet) and I had a cup of espresso.  While were finishing up, a man beside of us was smoking a small cigar – think Clint Eastwood in “A Fist Full of Dollars.”  He looked over at me, smiled and offered me the pack and his lighter.  I smiled a big smile and said, “No gracious.”  He nodded ok.  After a bit, his wife who speaks fair English asked where we were from and I told her I grew up 2 hours south of Pittsburgh and watched KDKA (small joke, closed circuit for Mike and Matt).  Actually I told her Georgia and we chatted for a bit.  It was a fun meal, and I rather enjoyed the man offering me a cigar.  As we left I said, “Senior muchos gracious” (however it is speeled).  He smiled and said, “Danada.”

After a nap we went out again and found the Metro station and bought tickets for our trip tomorrow to Sagrada Familia (Google it for a look, if you are not familiar with that incredible church building – and we will report tomorrow).  And post some pictures.

There was more today, but I’m plum tuckered out.  So I will say, “TTFN.”