Spain

Well, I had an adventure tonight.

I thought I’d see the famous street La Rambla on a Friday night, and go to Starbucks and buy a Barcelona mug. I used Google Maps in my hotel room to plan my journey.

The map says it’s 3.1 km, about 2 miles. Kay and I walk about that much frequently in Orlando and it takes us about 25-30 minutes. I thought that would be a good walk. I forgot that in the city, you do a lot of waiting for red lights! So after about 30 minutes, I was about halfway there. I was at the place labeled El Triangle. I was not making much progress, it was 9 pm.

Standing at El Triangle, I saw a Starbucks. The University of Barcelona is across the street, and college kids in Spain need Starbucks too. So, I stopped my journey about halfway there.

Then I decided to take the Metro (subway) back. I like adventures. I studied the route map on the wallof the subway station.

To get from Universistat to Hospital Clìnic looks really simple.

• Take the red L1 line from Universistat to Catalunya, 1 stop.
• Change to the green L3 line.
• Take the green L3 line from Catalunya to Passeig de Gràcia to Diagonal. 2 stops.
• Change to the blue L5 line.
• Take the blue L5 line from Diagonal to Hospital Clinic. 1 stop.

For some reason I still don’t understand, when I got to the Diagonal station and followed the signs to the blue L5 line, it led me completely outside the station. No L5. I still don’t know what happened. I went back into the Metro station and tried to find any more L5 signs, but the only ones pointed to the exit. So I ended up somewhere in Barcelona, above ground, with no idea where I was. If you’ve ever used a subway map, you know they have little resemblance to reality above ground. Supposedly the Hospital Clinic station was only one subway stop away. But I didn’t know which direction nor how far.

Fortunately, my PDA has Google Maps Mobile installed. I was able to figure out how to navigate the 1.3 km to my hotel. It took about 20-30 minutes.

But I’m back in the hotel. Safe and sound.

Tomorrow, I’ll strike out for La Rambla again. I don’t know if I’ll walk or Metro. I’ll decide tomorrow.

I’m sitting in a restaurant at 2:15 pm Tuesday afternoon. We are 6 hours ahead so it’s 8:15 am in Orlando. I’m in Sitges almost a day before others arrive for the internet ministry conference. So I’m on my own today.

The missionary life of travel is a bit different than tourist travel. I’ve done both. In missionary travel, I am frequently on my own to navigate in a language I don’t understand. Today, I arrived in Barcelona and took 2 trains and a taxi to my hotel in Sitges, about a half-hour south of Barcelona.

Later, I went out for lunch. The following is my humorous experience ordering lunch in Spanish. I thought you’d enjoy it.

I’m glad you could join me for lunch. No one else has arrived for the conference yet so i’m wondering around alone for now.

I just ordered completely in Spanish. I got rissoto something or other for the first course. I recognized rice. I thought “you can’t go wrong with rice.” BUT this rice has little shrimp or prawns. I don’t like shrimp. So that’s what “con gambas” means!

I walked around for an hour, enjoying the sights and looking for a less expensive restaurant. It’s about 65 and partly cloudy.

This restaurant had a “fixed plate menu” that was the most reasonable I found. BUT it was only in Spanish!

If the waiter and I communicated, I’m having filet of sole next. We’ll see!

A “fixed plate menu” is pretty normal in Europe. Choose from several appetizers, several entrees, 2-3 desserts.

I arrived in Barcelona about 7:30. Navigated the 2 trains ok with the help of a lively group of high schoolers who must take the train to school. One thing about being on your own, you have to be willing to ask for help. Often!

Arrived at Sitges train station and got a cab to the hotel. Arrived about 8:30-9 at hotel.

I got my room early. I’ll be sharing with David Oliver from Barcelona when he arrives.

I decided to sleep 3 hours. Then showered. Felt good! I’m feeling really well.

YES! It’s fish! And its good! The flavor is really tasty.

Finished the sole.

I’m having something “caramel” for dessert. I recognized that word. And I ordered café con leche. I hope I remembered correctly from my last trip to Barcelona. It’s what I told the waiter. Where’s my Spanish-speaking son Jonathan when I need him!!!

OK. Dessert is some kind of custard. It’s ok.

YES! I got the coffee right!

I had thought about borrowing a friend’s Rosetta Stone language course this fall to prepare for this trip. Should have.

I had a whole row to myself on the plane. On a 767, that’s only 3 seats. But I lifted the arms up and laid horizontally. It was great! I slept about 3-4 hours of the 7 hour flight.

Well, café con leche is finished. I’ll figure out how to pay and walk around some more. I’ve taken lots of photos.

Thanks for lunch together.