Tuesday 17 June: Barcelona

Our host ordered a taxi for us which arrived on time and we were able to purchase unappealing sandwiches to take on the train. The train from Seville to Granada had no restaurant car and we were a bit anxious given this was a 5 hour journey. The train was uncharacteristically 10 minutes late and there was a high level of panic among travellers when there were no carriages numbered 1-8. People were getting into any of the carriages numbered 9-18 and lugging their bags and families. I spoke to the train lady and she said just wait at the end of the platform. Within a couple of minutes there was a second train with carriages 1-8.

We were in carriage 2 which was first class. There is definitely a buffet car and also a trolley service where you can order drinks and food items. It was all very comfortable with reclining seats also. There is a visual display giving trip information including speed. The highest speed Barbara saw was 302km/hr. It was absolutely smooth. I thought at first the distance was 297km (which it clearly couldn’t be to take 5 hours) but it seemed like we were on going 50 or 60km/hr.

Interesting combination of old and new Spanish landscape!

We got a taxi at the train station and checked into Hotel Lleo which is very close to Plaza Catalunya. It’s a great location.

We are on the top floor which is also the floor with the pool. Pauline is on the same level and Barb is one down.

This is the view from our ‘patio’. It’s high security and we have lockable sliding grille doors as well as the lockable glass doors onto the patio. I guess people could climb over the wall adjoining the pool area and bar.

I have real trouble with this pavement which is on La Rambla (a long shopping street that is equivalent to the Champs Elysees).

Pauline (JenY’s mum) arrived from London not long after us and we met up for drinks and tapas at about 8.30pm. It was a relief to be in cooler temperatures after Cordoba.