September 2007

    Day 2 - Thursday, September 20, 2007

    We landed right on time at 11:00a in Barcelona and came through the immigration baggage claim and customs in record time.   While waiting for the luggage, I changed a few dollars into €(Euros) for the taxi ride and tips.   Caught a taxi quickly and a half-hour (and 25€) later we were deposited in front of Hotel Majestic:

    During the taxi ride to the hotel, we saw one of Gaudí's fantastic buildings and decided to go visit after checkin.

    Reservations were in order but our room smelled of mold so we asked to be moved.   Unlike our experience with similar situations in the US, this was handled in seconds; Room 707 is just fine.   Internet access (both wired and wireless) helped make this update possible.

    Off to walk on Place de Gracia.   Tried to find an ATM to test withdrawing some "just in case" Euros and none of them worked for me.   I guess calling Suntrust before leaving Atlanta to make SURE I wouldn't have this problem was ineffective.   And it's only $0.99/minute to call them, wait on hold and perhaps solve this problem tomorrow.   Sigh..

    We walked a couple of blocks to the Gaudí building we saw on the cab ride.   It's Casa Batlló Gaudí.   For a few Euros you can have an audio guided tour so we did.   Fascinating; architecture as art (or is it the other way 'round?

    Back to the hotel for a nap (me) and reading (Gael) and then, off to dinner at Cinc Sentits.   On the way we passed yet another ATM so I decided to give it one more try and (voila! ..pardon my French..) -- it dispensed Euros!

    We arrived at Cinc Sentits a bit early:

    Apparently restaurants in Europe don't open for business before 8:30p.   While we waited, we met a couple on the street from San Diego.   They had plans to dine at Cinc Sentits as well, but had no reservation and had been turned away.   We invited them to join us (on the off-chance that we could charm the restaurateur into changing our reservation from two to four).   It was accomplished and we had delightful dinner companions, Elizabeth and Don:

    Dinner was wonderful (if a bit pricey).   We were served eight courses (small portions) and six wines paired with them.   Everything was delicious; a favorite was their foie gras preparation (I'm afraid I dove into the dish before remembering my plan to photograph it):

    They paid close attention to our "no seafood for Gael" instruction and gave me no seafood either.   Bummer! We had a lovely evening with Elizabeth and Don and great food!
 
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