Day 15 - Venice to Barcelona

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We left the hostel early, like 8:30am, but still no WiFi! I'm still not totally sure if the 24-hour ticket we bought was supposed to be good for the bus to Marco Polo Airport, but we were able to take the vaporetto to the bus station, and then the bus to the airport without incident. Since we arrived several hours before our flight (It wasn't even listed yet!), we chilled for a while and waited for it to show on the list so we'd know where to check in. Marco Polo Airport is pretty good sized, with over 60 check-in counters for dozens or airlines from Qatar to AliItalia to RyanAir. Finally, we check with a flight information desk and they told us the counter should open soon and be like number 82 or 83, so we headed that way. When 84 finally showed Barcelona, we were 3rd or 4th in line. We had no problems with check-in, our checked bags each being well under the 20 kilos limit (that I'd paid extra for!), so we went through the security check and found our boarding gate, number 8. As usual, we were going to take a bus frome the gate across the airport to the waiting plane. RyanAir doesn't rate the normal boarding tunnels or whatever they're called. Since we already knew that RyanAir doesn't offer any food or drink onboard (for free anyways), and it was about lunchtime, we each bought something to eat for lunch. Being noon or so, Alexis and I ended up eating ours at the boarding gate. When it was time to board, we all lined up, climbed on the two busses and then on our plane. We were fairly near the front of the line, so we had no problems getting three seats together. The flight was pretty short at just over an hour, and uneventful.

We arrived in Barcelona, at the main airport, passed through or around the passport area (we probably should have looked for someplace to stamp our passports, but nothing was apparent), and the next thing we knew we were picking up our checked bags and out into the airport. After asking around, we discovered where to catch the Renfe train to the Sants Estacion, where we switched to a metro to get close to our hostel. It took a bit of investigation and time, but we made.... but not unscathed. Apparently, just before we got off the train, two guys were messing with my luggage, trying to move it away from the door. I just thought they were being obstinate about clearing the way, but it did seem strange they wanted me to move my bag from the door we weren't going to use to exit. Even stranger that they seem to take turns annoying me by touching the handle of my bag. Turns out they must have been working together, as I discovered when we were buying the metro tickets that my fanny bag pocket was unzipped and my wallet was missing. Fortunately, sort of, I didn't have my passport there or any money in the wallet, but I did have my driver's license, military ID, and two credit cards! To make things worse, as we were exiting the metro, some guy below the escalator we were taking up yelled "Theif! Thief!" and the escalator stopped. We didn't realized what was going on, but in retrospect, someone must have spotted a guy trying to get into Manoli's backpack. She discovered when we reached the hostel that here travel pouch/wallet was missing from her backpack! Again, sort of fortunately, she didn't have anything in there except the permission to travel with Alexis... the passports were elsewhere! Wow, what an experience! In seven years of annual vacations, all over the world, including spain and even Barcelona before, we had never been robbed of anything. In less than half an hour, Manoli and I were both pickpocketed/robbed. We promptly called to stop my credit cards and ATM card, and they verified that nobody has attempted to use them. Thank heavens that Manoli's ATM card is different and still useable, and that our passports weren't where they usually were. The thieves, in both cases got no money, and probably just tossed our wallets. Tomorrow we may try going to or calling the Renfe or metro police to see if they had been recovered.

When we finally found the hostel, we discovered they had some very good and modern security. Everyone that checks in gets a "magic" card that lets you in the front door, into your room (and only YOUR room I assume) and even is used to lock and unlock your individual, economy-size locker in the room. Very cool! After storing our gear and using the restrooms, we headed out to find La Rambla, the famed street that has all the vendors and street performers, which turned out to be only a few blocks away. We strolled along the wide avenue, shopping and sightseeing, until we reached the ocean and the statue of Christopher Columbus. By that time it was 7:30 or so, so we headed back up the street to find the market and someplace to eat dinner. We found the open-air market and Alexis discovered how many things they could sell! Both Manoli and Alexis ended up buying assorted fruit boxes to eat tomorrow, then we started looking for a place to eat. We'd had the opinion that the food would be cheaper off the main drag, but there we had seen several places offering assorted tapas for 3 Euros each and the place we ended up settling for was considerably more expensive with less selection. Oh well, live and learn. Alexis and I both ordered tortilla de papas (potato omelet) which were very tender and tasty, but a bit on the small side for 3.50 Euros! I also ordered an racion of manchego cheese at 4.80 Euros, which was good, but again a bit expensive for 5 or 6 thin slices. Manoli had a small dish of baked eggplant with peppers. After dinner, we returned to the hostel to turn in for the night, except for me of course who had to write this blog. Tomorrow I had thought we'd go to Montserrat, but we may end up just making sure Alexis sees all the cooler stuff here in Barcelona, like the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Guell Parc, etc.

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Photos

Christopher Columbus in Barcelona
Alexis posing in front of the Christopher Columbus statue at the end of La Rambla in Barcelona

Alexis Soothing the Savage Beast
Alexis with one of the lions on the Columbus monument

Market Sweets
Alexis eyeing all the candy in the market off La Rambla

Bar Mirinda in Barcelona
The Bar Mirinda where we ate dinner the first night in Barcelona