Kazan — summer 2012

If you take Lufthansa from Frankfurt to Barcelona, you will arrive in terminal 1, which is the smaller terminal. To get to the train that will take you to downtown Barcelona, you need to take the Green Bus to terminal 2.

The Barcelona card gives you unlimited public transport for the period you buy it. All days are calendar days, not 24 hour periods. Even a five day Barcelona Card is worth the price if you can use it to get to your hotel and back. Taxis are pricey. It also gets you a boatload of freebies and discounts. It was entirely cost-effective for me this time.

Returning to the airport from Estació Sants is easy, but you do have to read the electronic signs to figure out where/when the train is coming. They go about every 30 minutes. Your clue will be that they read ‘Aeroport.’ Once you arrive at the airport the signage is good to quickly return to the green bus and terminal 1.

Seriously consider the Torre Catalunya again. It was actually reasonably priced compared to many other places. The breakfast buffet was solid enough that I never really wanted lunch. Yes, I ate like a pig at breakfast.

Alternatively, get the website from Dale where he found a room to rent. You could be ten breakfasts a day with the price difference.

Don’t forget that pulpo means octopus.

The chocolate museum really isn’t worth it, but the many chocolate/coffee shops are, and there is one amazing chocolate stand at the Mercat Sant Josep just off Las Ramblas.

Sunday half the town shuts down.

Yes, many places still have a siesta.

Don, if you wear a t-shirt and blue jeans and white shoes, they will immediately assume you are an American. Wear a grown-up shirt instead.

On the other hand, many men your age wear those nasty European sandals. You could do that. Not. I’d rather be caught in a pink Easter dress than in European sandals. But maybe black shoes and khaki pants and a patterned shirt. Hm. That sounds close to what I would wear in the States on a work day.

Lots of young men wear flip-flops here in the summer. That looks a lot more comfortable. And they wear shorts or capri pants, the latter seems very Iberian. Of course, I'm hardly a young man.

Don’t forget sun screen next time.