Madrid & Barcelona

I write this at 9:45, as the girls remain asleep in their chambers.  We're cruising past an idyllic island in the Mediterranean which has planted a lovely oil refinery right on the most visible section of their coast.

 

Just having come off of 3 of the longest days of my life...not long in a bad way, just in a long way.

 

The flight to London was fine....everyone slept a little.  The girls loved being on a plane...and then fell asleep and tossed and turned the whole 9 hours.   We got off for a quick turn at London, and American Airlines lost their stroller.  We've heard different stories...but not sure what the truth is yet.  They told us it was coming, we waited a half hour at the gate...then had to leave.  Then it was being delivered to our second hotel....then it was being shipped home.  I do not expect to find it at LAX.  

 

Our first night in Madrid was weird...we weren't tired at all, and we got to the hotel around 8pm.  The airport was a breeze...no customs, just a stamp and our driver was waiting at the exit.  We checked in to the Vinnci Via hotel, right on the Gran Via.  A very nice hotel...but like most European Hotels, very small.  We took the girls wandering through the walk only streets of Madrid, past an Easter Procession to a Hot Chocolate and Churro café (Chocolateria San Gines).  This was a big hit.

                                                           

 

The kids went to bed fine, sharing a blow up mattress that I manually inflated, since the motor sparked when I plugged it in.  That first night they woke up in the middle of the night, Hannah watched the ipad for about an hour then went back to sleep. They have been adjusted to the time change ever since.

 

We finally got up around 10am and sprinted around Madrid, getting back just as our car to the train station arrived.  We saw the Royal Palace and did a tour of the inside. 



We then walked through many squares and plazas to Plaza Mayor.   We had lunch at Restaurante Yerbabuena - a vegetarian restaurant with authentic Spanish dishes. Beth got paella complete with veggie "shrimp".

                                                

 

Without our stroller we made an ill-advised bee line for Retiro Park.  By carrying the two children.  The park is incredible.  A maze of shaded pathways, with a hard pack soil perfect for a stroller.  The girls enjoyed ice cream by the lake, and then we ran back home.  Fortunately, we found a bus that took us right back.

After a bizarre day of travel, night of not sleeping and a half day running through Madrid, we took the train to Barcelona.  The train was mostly empty, so we had plenty of space to spread out.  iPadCation continued in full force. We arrived at the hotel close to midnight and the girls (and boy) were exhausted, so straight to bed.  The Mirror Hotel is really cool, and highly recommended.  We had a Star Trek style hall door, all types of nice design features and a good sized room.

Friday was Good Friday, which means all conceivable stores that sell strollers were closed.  We logged 32,000 steps running through the streets without a stroller...which is some kind of record of something.  We started by wandering down the main streets to the central square (circle?) Placa de Catalunya.  From there we explored the 3rd Street Promenade equivalent - Las Ramblas, and got lost in the really cool Gothic District.  Gothic District is a typical European medieval town - no cars, narrow "streets" excellent architecture, knock off soccer apparel stores, etc.

 

We made it down to the waterfront for a carnival that the girls enjoyed and headed back to wander around town.  After a few more hours of walking we decided to see the Magic Fountain performance.  Very cool overall, but a lot of walking and a long subway ride back to the hotel.  

 

                                         

Fortunately the next Morning I bought a stroller.  Hidden at the top of a large mall next to Placa de Catalunya is a small stroller department, apparently mostly selling to tourists who have lost their strollers.  I cannot tell you the sheer joy I felt at seeing a stroller for purchase!  After a slow morning we hopped a nap bus to Montserrat for a tour.

Montserrat is an Abbey perched high in the hills outside Barcelona.  Its more impressive when you realize it was built before there was a train and bust that go there.  Unfortunately most of the original structure had been destroyed in various wars, so its a newish Abbey with views at this point.  

 

 

That night we caught a flamenco show.  If there is one thing overtired toddlers and 36 year old men like is a 90 minute interpretive dance performance in a foreign language.  Becca seemed to enjoy it enough to make it worth going.  The highlight was finding that the bus leaving from in front of the show went almost directly back to our hotel.  A side note:  Google maps is invaluable in easily routing you on local public transit.

 

                                                     

 

Sunday morning we had reserved tickets to La Sagrada Familia - the still under construction Church by Barcelona Superstar Antoni Gaudi.  I won't write about it.  Just look at the pics!

 

                   

 

From there we took the bus up hill to Gaudi's Parc Guell.  A large park (parc?) with a special park in the middle that you need tickets well in advance for.  We spent two hours walking through the regular person park, enjoying incredible views, a small playground and regretting having only a single stroller.  From there it was a bus ride back to hotel, a quick Spanish lunch (over priced pizza) and off to the boat!