Barcelona was HOT!!
But still we managed to get a lot done. After sucessfully ditching Brett in the morning, by getting up really early and sneaking off, ( and no, I don´t feel the slightest bit guilty about this - if you had met this guy you would understand), Belinda and I went in search of American Express. Metro´s proved the best bet and we eventually found it about 12.00. Turns out I´m the only person in Europe with a Citibank account which doens´t work in ANY ATM, and travellers cheques that they want 6% commission to exchange! So am having to exchange a lot at once and take the cash... not the best solution but I don´t have a lot of choice. Belinda was a total star in helping me find the Amex office. Huge thank you to Belinda!!
Then we went to the Olympic Center which I think they built specifically for the Games in 2000, or added to it substantially or something. Cable car to the top of the hill, but in this heat, we just couldn´t stay long. The heat wave not looking like it was going to pass any time soon. Coveted every fountain we came across. Competely useless Information Center in the centre of the park on the hill, and, after about an hour of fruitless wandering amongst some statues and a few trees, decided it was all a bit dull. Walked back down the hill for another 40 minutes into town and back onto the wonderfully air-conditioned metros. Breifly considered riding the Metros all day until the sun went down, but then came to our senses and braved the heat once more. This time headed for the famous Gaudi park - Parc Guell. Temperature guages everywhere all giving different readings, ranging from 32C to 49C. All I know it was HOT HOT HOT!!.
A MAJOR trek getting up the hill to the park. Almost didn´t make it and had a sense of humour failure half way there as we passed sign after sign assuring us the park was only another 800m. Tried to convice Belinda we should get a bus, but she was a complete masochist and made me walk the whole way there. Sweated 5kg of body weight getting up the hill, and arrived at the park a greasy, sweaty mess. Gotta love backpacking! As you read this sitting in your air-conditioned offices, laden down with work to do, don´t think I´m having fun all the time OK??!
Anyway, Parc Guell was pretty cool. Guadi was in favour of curvy lines and pastels. No sharp contours or boring colours for him. A welcome break and had some fruit and water for lunch in the kiddies playground. Wasn´t at all what I expected - not many large trees and no grass at all, but instead, lots of coloured concrete and frescoes, statues and beautiful tiles.
Completely knackered, but Belinda informed me we had hours of sunlight to go and lots of things to see yet! Stopping only for an over-priced ice-block, it was another long hot walk back to the station. This time, we headed back into town via Metro to see Gaudi´s 8-spìre Cathedral that he designed, but did not complete. Much scaffolding around it so hard to make out squinting into the sunlight, but still impressive. Mum has since informed me that the leading architect working on the completion is a kiwi. It´s due to be finished in 2020.
Then, Belinda and I bought some cheese and wine and WALKED AGAIN, only just barely making it, all the way back down the La Rumbla, and back to the hostel. Arriving around 9.00pm we caught the last of the sunset at the beach (hostel right on the beach front), and sat for the most well-deserved break ever. Belinda got chatted up by some locals; one of which was really trying to crack on to her. I watched the moon come up and thought of all my friends back in Tokyo who I miss so much :-(
Wednesday, August 13, 2003
Monday, August 11, 2003
San Seb to Barcelona
The last two evenings in San Sebastian a NIGHTMARE. Everyone I met had raved about this place but Oh My God I'ts Awful. The new place we got put at turned out to be right in the centre of town. All the streets in San Seb are very tighly packed and narrow, with tall apartment blocks very close to each other. At street level, the bars come alive. For those of you in Tokyo, imagine living on the floor above 911, Propaganda and the Irish Bar over the road I forget the name of right now, on St Patricks Day and the day of Japan winning the World Cup. With the window open. In 34C heat. Tres Impossible.
I guess it wouldn't have been so bad if the only company I had wasn't The Man With No Personality Who Didn't Drink. At least then we could have gone out and had a few drinks and got some sleep. But No. It was a case of the lesser of two evils what with the window closed and no ventilation or the window open and some ventilation but the noise to keep you awake. Drunk men karaoking at the top of their lungs, guys vomiting all over the show, girls squeeling and screaming. It was two of the worst nights ever. I think also it was some kind of Fiesta evening which we didn't know about. Finally, after several hours of induced wakefulness, got to sleep about 5am and on the third day we had to get the bus at 7.45. I was pretty glad to be leaving though!
The San Seb council has this whole routine down pat. Around 6am the bottle cleaners come past and all you hear is the loud crashing of bottles into enormous metal containers. Then they wash down all the streets so the smell of urine and becomes somewhat dissapated. Then the sweep everything clean and by 9am when the tourists wake up again you'd never know what had happened the night before. I suppose if I were 10 years younger I'd think it was just great.
Arrived in Barcelona after an 8-hour bus ride (sans Brett in a different seat finally). Met a great Aussie girl on the bus (Belinda), and we have today conspired to try to lose Boring Brett once and for all. After my tales of what he does all day (hacking and spitting and following you around), she agrees with me that he has to go.
Took a walk with Belinda (Brett in tow) up the main touristy street La Rumbla, last night, before stopping for some Sangria and Tapas. Too expensive to stay there long, and we meandered around the Old Quarter. Lots of people out enjoying the balmy Sunday evening at a cool 42C. Many things to see - street performers, human statues, and one woman who was crouched in a refridgerator and when I took her picture and gave her some change, she ´sneezed´ so hard I jumped out of my skin and couldn´t breath for several seconds and then almost had a delayed-reaction heart attack. Nightmare. I think I got a good picture though!
Anyway, up early today (well 8.00 early), and off out to see some of Gaudi´s parks and arcitecture around the city. Will stop back at the hostel which is right on the beach, for some more sunbathing.
I guess it wouldn't have been so bad if the only company I had wasn't The Man With No Personality Who Didn't Drink. At least then we could have gone out and had a few drinks and got some sleep. But No. It was a case of the lesser of two evils what with the window closed and no ventilation or the window open and some ventilation but the noise to keep you awake. Drunk men karaoking at the top of their lungs, guys vomiting all over the show, girls squeeling and screaming. It was two of the worst nights ever. I think also it was some kind of Fiesta evening which we didn't know about. Finally, after several hours of induced wakefulness, got to sleep about 5am and on the third day we had to get the bus at 7.45. I was pretty glad to be leaving though!
The San Seb council has this whole routine down pat. Around 6am the bottle cleaners come past and all you hear is the loud crashing of bottles into enormous metal containers. Then they wash down all the streets so the smell of urine and becomes somewhat dissapated. Then the sweep everything clean and by 9am when the tourists wake up again you'd never know what had happened the night before. I suppose if I were 10 years younger I'd think it was just great.
Arrived in Barcelona after an 8-hour bus ride (sans Brett in a different seat finally). Met a great Aussie girl on the bus (Belinda), and we have today conspired to try to lose Boring Brett once and for all. After my tales of what he does all day (hacking and spitting and following you around), she agrees with me that he has to go.
Took a walk with Belinda (Brett in tow) up the main touristy street La Rumbla, last night, before stopping for some Sangria and Tapas. Too expensive to stay there long, and we meandered around the Old Quarter. Lots of people out enjoying the balmy Sunday evening at a cool 42C. Many things to see - street performers, human statues, and one woman who was crouched in a refridgerator and when I took her picture and gave her some change, she ´sneezed´ so hard I jumped out of my skin and couldn´t breath for several seconds and then almost had a delayed-reaction heart attack. Nightmare. I think I got a good picture though!
Anyway, up early today (well 8.00 early), and off out to see some of Gaudi´s parks and arcitecture around the city. Will stop back at the hostel which is right on the beach, for some more sunbathing.