Last two days in Barcelona. Got up early (for vacation) and got the the Sagrada Familia at 9:10 AM--walked right in! It was great to dawdle and gawk! Climbed the stairs up into the towers, traversing from one to another. This is truly one of the world's amazing pieces of architecture--I hope it's completed in my lifetime.
Made it over to the apartment Gaudi designed as well (pedrera?). Also amazing, with it's "ocean wave" roof and very cool chimneys.
Toured the Music Palace, another astounding modernista piece from the turn of the century. Loads of tile, stained glass, etc.--a beautiful, fascinating place. I'd love to attend a concert there someday. Advice here is to stop by early to buy your ticket, finding out what time they do the english (or whatever language you prefer) tours, buy the ticket, then come back later. The cathedral and the Arche de Triumphe (no, this is another one) are both in walking distance.
Supper the last night on the ramblas, sampling various tapas: squid rings, potato souffle, chicken croquets, meat on a skewer, bread, pitcher of sangria. Keep tums in your room after this kind of meal.
Spent the last two nights at Fira Palace Hotel, a 4-star up the street from the National Palace and a block from the Plaza Espana. Very, very nice--lots of marble, huge rooms, wonderful free breakfast. Best of all, I got the rooms for $50+ less than others by booking on Expedia.
Up at 4:00 AM, shower in the funky spa-style shower that featured overhead & side jets. Cab at 5:00 AM, check in at business class counter, dodging big line.
KLM 737-900, seat 4C. Business class, this was the first 3-across, so I had no seat in front of me--loads of room. Arrive in AMS, must have had breakfast, but it was forgettable.
Had made plans to meet up with another old friend in the airport at AMS, but we end up missing one another by 5 minutes--she was caught in the security line. I debate trying to bring back tulip bulbs for my mother's new condo--a label claims they're cleared for U.S. ag--but I decide not to risk the bother.
Board the 747 (sorry, I didn't get the spec on the plane) and head upstairs to 74B. Woo-hoo! I've always wanted to do this! Exit door is just ahead and to the left, so there is 8 - 10 feet before the next seat! Foot rests pop up, tv folds out, but no video games like I had on Delta/Sabena a couple of years ago.
The flight is a blur--sorry I didn't take notes. The attendants continuously brought hot towels, snacks, drinks, food--I didn't want to leave. The main meal was an offer of chicken, shrimp or pasta. They were out of chicken by the time they got to me, so I went for the pasta. Lots of food to start, including some kind of tasty halibut goo. Pasta that came later was a smallish shell with a cheesy/white sauce. Still real fork & spoon, plastic knife.
Landing in Detroit, the stewardesses thanked us for being so nice, even thanking a family who's children bothered the attendants mercilessly and the parents acted overly selfish. They said we were the best passengers they had all week. Maybe they tell everyone that, maybe they had had a really bad week.
Wait and wait for luggage to appear at DTW, having to watch between two different belts serving our one big plane. Customs was a breeze (2 small bottles of wine in the daypack, no problem), and I'm trying to find the Northwest lounge before heading over to Southwest.
Bad news--have to go back through security to get to the lounge, and I have bad stuff (scissors) in my luggage, so it's a no-go. Rats. So, I get back on the poorly marked shuttles and make my way back to the Southwest terminal.
Buy a magazine, approach the desk at 90 minutes prior to my flight, check the bag, get an "A" pass for the flight to St. Louis. Get on the plane, which is the new version for Southwest (no rear facing seats), and get exit row with no seat in front. Life is good.
Change planes in St. Louis, get another "A" pass, head for California Pizza Kitchen. Put away a thai chicken pizza, and I'm ready to board the last leg.
Old plane this time, with the "lounge" seating. Get the exit row over the wing, and no one else sits with me. Having not showered since Barcelona may have had something to do with this. Plane takes off, pizza sends me off to sleep.
Land in Tulsa, get one row-mate, but not a problem. Sleep the rest the way to Phoenix.
Land in Phoenix about 8:00 PM, 10 minutes early. Luggage finally appears, I head for the north curb, and my ride appears. I arrive home at 9:00 PM, about 23 hours after I left the hotel in Barcelona.
Overall, Spain was great. It's a large country, but a good highway system allows good time between cities when in the right car. I wish I could have a few more days in Barcelona, and would have liked to have spent at least one night in a Parador, which I did not.
I'm inclined to think that seeing popular specific sites such as museums, cathedrals, etc. in Europe is going to be best done in the shoulder or off-season, rather than summer. To explore the countryside and take in the big picture, it was a great time to go. I look forward to a future trip when I can land in Lisbon, tour Portugal and western Spain including Madrid, and perhaps ride the ferry from Gibraltar to Morocco for a few days.
JP