Welcome to the Hotel Barcelona

Barcelona - love it.

I just got back on Sunday night/Monday morning from what only can be described as another great experience in Barcelona. I didn't do anything really new because from my last time there I had done 50% of what I wanted, and this time I was with K who hadn't been there before so I picked the two or three things I knew were good and marketed them to her.

Basically I arrived late Friday night and went straight to the hotel. K had flown in from Germany so I met her there as she had already checked in. Saturday we went shopping where I bought a couple of well priced items (I'm still not a big fan of London shopping) and then proceeded to do a walking tour for three hours around the Gothic quarter and up the far reaches of La Rambla. Definitely worth the effort for the walking tour as I did get an appreciation of the design and history of Barcelona that I hadn't had before. I now know what Indianas are - and funnily it has nothing to do with a Temple of Doom. I also know why 1898 is an important year to Spaniards.

We ended up getting back to our hotel so late on Saturday that we challenged even the Spanish for the late dinner thing - setting off as we did at around 10:30 for dinner to Quatrocats (or 4 Cats) restaurant. Basically the place is one of those historical places, built in the early 1800s to resemble a mansion in the middle of the city. We had passed the place earlier in the day, then later in the day with the walking tour. When we asked at the hotel for a recommendation they gave us this place - funnily we couldn't then go and say - nah we'll have Burger King. Definitely a place with character, definitely worth the effort, but book in advance.

Sunday was the more traditional Gaudi tour, visiting the Sagrada Familiar and Park Gruell before taking in the waterfront. From last time, I think it was 2003, the Sagrada Familiar had definitely moved along a lot. I remember it being open on one face and a lot of the structural work nowhere near complete - I think only two or three of the main five transepts were completed back then.

For those who don't know, this is Gaudi's only unfinished work. An absolute awe inspiring megalith of a cathedral which has been through so much and has been a work in progress since the 1850s - that's right, the 1850s! Amazing to look at and all the better to see it in progress and to consider what they're doing, how they're doing it and the detail and majesty of what it is. I highly recommend going before the completion date (somewhere in 2009) just to see it in progress.

So yeah, Barcelona, my number one foreign city in the world so far. Love the people, love the culture, love the buildings. I didn't do so much with the people this time, but trust me if you haven't been then you'll love it.

By the way, if you substitute Barcelona for Califorina in the Eagles song "Hotel Califorina" then it fits and you can really annoy someone. I made this mistake while standing in Catalunya square and couldn't get it out of my head (I'm not going to break into Kylie) for the entire weekend and so obviously had to sing it to myself constantly.

Kilimanjaro
I know this is a diversion but I felt it had to be mentioned.

In my trip around Africa I met a couple who were basically on a 6 month honeymoon. She is Slovakian, and he is Spanish (see the connection). I almost didn't leave Africa in Jan as C, the Spanish guy, was making a quick trip to Kenya to climb said mountain. I almost joined him, but knowing that it would take a couple of more weeks, and knowing that i didn't have a job, didn't have the equipment and hadn't correctly budgeted for an expensive aside (and in all truth after the money problems in Zim) I didn't do it.

I just got an email from him. It had a picture. I now regret my decision. I will be going back to Africa, and when I do I will be including this on my itinerary. Given that I will most likely be going back to Kenya, this shouldn't be a problem - its just knowing that I could have done it but didn't... Yes it would've cost me a bomb in rearranged flights, new equipment and time out, but I hate regrets and experiences mean more than money - of that I'm 100% sure.

Valentines Day
Because that's today. Usual rant. I hate Valentines Day because you're forced to do things that you would happily do any other time of the year, but you get chastised by everyone if you don't do them today. Shows the weakness of the human spirit that it is completely mind washed by capitalism and consumerism. And you wonder why the world is in such a bad state. Rant over.

Anyway, I celebrated St Dwywens day this year. Welsh patron saint of love. January 25th. Remember it. I liked it because it fell on date night (Thursday) and because in London the sales were still on so I managed to get to a fancy restaurant in London with 50% off the food bill (not including the more expensive drinks obviously). Given my unemployed status the discount was welcome. Given the commercial nature of Valentines day I feel like I've given a whole heap of companies the big finger. Given that K is in Spain today I get brownie points for having foresight and originality. K (who also agrees with my hatred of today) also gets to say her day was more special as it was designed only for her and several hundred thousand Welsh people (as compared to several hundred million "other" people). Helps that it occurs before Valentines day as well.

So boys, if you're like me then note this for next year - Jan 25th. Ya can't go wrong.

However please note that my dislike only goes so far as the capitalist overtures that have been placed on the day. So I do wish you all a happy Valentines day.