Spain - March '05 (part tres)

Here's the final email I sent to my family while on vacation alone in Spain this past March (read parts uno & dos before continuing - I added a few photos, so check them out)...

Sent: Monday, Mar 14, 2005 5:00 PM
Subject: Greetings from (my final day in) Barcelona!

Hola, at last!
My 'vacation' is nearing its end, as I fly back home tomorrow morning w/ a brief stop in Madrid. Yesterday was my 2nd day of the tour bus deal I purchased. They drive you around on 2 different routes (you can hop on & off), and starting March 18 (unfortunately) they add a 3rd route. So, Saturday I did the northern route, as prev. mentioned -- saw Park Guell (park way uphill designed by Gaudi - lots of mosaic pieces & stone shapes)...

...La Sagrada Familia (enormous cathedral originally started by Gaudi in 1896? and being continued today & for the next 20 years -- climbed 706 steps b/c the elevator was closed [arrived late], then had to descend another 706 steps!), and a few stops in between.

Then on Sunday, did the southern route, stopping at Joan Miro museum, the Olympic ring / park, and a few stops in between. I also bought a ticket to a concert in the Palau de la Musica (near my apt) to see the European Union orchestra performing Bach, Haydn & Mozart. If you can imagine or believe, I think I've been averaging 10-18 miles a day, considering I'm on my feet (and most of the time walking) for at least 8 hours each day... Aside from the chocolate croissants (!), at least can't say I haven't been getting my exercise!!

Took a really HOT bath last night, for my feet. I definitely think there is some conspiracy on Sunday mornings with the hot water. Just like last week when mom was still w/ me in Seville, I had NO hot water - not even warm! just freeeezing cold - in the morning. There surely is some sort of nationwide Spanish conspiracy going on, or at least a shortage on the church morning. And then the shower curtain fell down. There's nowhere to hang a wet towel, and the maid has never entered my room (and I believe, never even the apt), so I tried slinging it over the shower curtain's rod. Mistake. Decided to try putting it back up this morning (successfully, thank goodness), since I couldn't manage the IKEA-thing w/o making lots of screeching noise. Didn't want the sewage smell [from their newly installed bidets] & fallen shower-curtain rod to really give me away as the worst hotel guest ever...

Anyway, today (Monday) was quite the good day. I slept in a bit, sort of - woke up as usual around 7am, but kept deciding to go back to sleep for another 20 minutes. Finally got out of bed around 10:30, and got ready for my day out. Eduardo (the handsome charmer who has been emailing from the B&B business) stopped by in response to my most recent email. He believes, it turns out, that the sewage smell is from the bidet in each of the bathrooms, since they've never been used, and any water in the pipe's curve is just sitting there, sending gross smells up to us. Thank goodness - I was afraid they'd think my emailed compaints were a mask for my own smelliness.

I told Eduardo I feel like I'm constantly complaining in these emails, and that I don't usually (considering how low-maintenance I am), but that other future guests won't be as such. He said he appreciated all the 'complaints' and considers them as 'advice', that he wants me to continue & feel free to tell him everything I suggest. Hmmm, I hope that isn't just European BS b/c there's a lot more I could suggest. I at least got to ask about the non-existent maid, and he said they only do the common areas (kitchen, living room) unless you specifically request cleaning your area. Wha...? Insane. Didn't tell him about the shower curtain rod, but got the point across by raising issue about there being nowhere to hang the wet towel, that w/o maids we need more towels, considering we've been using the SAME towels for 5 days w/ nowhere to hang them when they're wet, etc. Plus, no dishwashing soap. We're just 'dry-wiping' them. Oy. And oy again.

Now, back to the good day. Stopped by Bijou Brigitte (that jewelry store, sis), and bought a necklace & headband. They even had earrings to match the ('lifesavers') necklace I bought w/ you, but decided I didn't want to look like a 50-year old lady or a Christmas tree. Then I walked up to a Gaudi building "Batllo House". Viewing the main floor, attics & chimneys was 16€, which is rather steep (though I had a 20% discount coupon from the tour bus). I decided to go ahead - and let me tell you, WELL WORTH IT. Amazing things! I want my house built just like it, one day when I 'make it big'. Couldn't stop taking pictures. Then walked over to the other Gaudi building nearby, but decided only to take photos from outside, and check out the gift shop to see postcards or books with photos of the inside to see what I was missing. Another definite must-see next time, or at least to buy a book on eBay with lots of pictures...

I started walking back & found a sort of artisan mall, even though this was still the rather more expensive shopping area of town. After some window shopping, decided to stop in a jewelry/beauty product (like 'Crabtree & Evelyn' type of stuff) store. Let me tell you, [sister], you'd have a ball with this stuff, I think. I ended up loving a LOT of stuff but felt it was all too expensive. I chose to walk away & think about it. After 20 minutes I decided it'd be one of those things I'd really regret not buying, so I went back. The lady (Monica) & I had chatted before, and we continued quite a lot more - she ended up saying if I'd come in earlier in my trip, we would've gone out for drinks. She's originally from Belgium, and her husband & his family are originally from Lodz, Poland! His name is Cornblum - sound familiar maybe, DAD? [my dad's birthplace] She said he also grew up there around WWII. She only had 2 lines of jewelry in the store - PILGRIM (www.pilgrim.dk) and an Israeli line (which I recognized & know is really huge in Israel right now), Michael Negrin, I think. So, I bought a ring (27€) & bracelet (39€), though I would've bought more if the Euro/dollar ratio wasn't so bad.

I ended the evening by taking the subway to Barceloneta, an area known for its seafood restaurants, splurged a tiny bit on a full dinner, and found a nice cafe w/ 1 computer for internet. Heading home soon (in cab, no doubt - I'm ready to put my feet in casts) to pack & hopefully (!) wake up in time for my flight early tomorrow.

Hope you found some amusement from my trials & tribulations once again. I'm sure there's lots more funny to write, but I'll keep some embarassments to myself... Love,
- me