Pickpockets

The scene of the crime.

Throughout our travels of the past four years, we have always been warned about pickpockets. We've always been mindful of how we carry our bags and purses, but thankfully we have never had anything stolen from us.

When we arrived in Barcelona, the first thing Arturo told us was to watch out for pickpockets. He said it was the worst this city has seen in 10 years. He warned us not to let anyone crowd around us with offers of help and to keep our satchels in front of us, zipped up at all times.

The other night we were taking the metro and we were on a very busy line. The trains were full and people were anxious to get where they were going. As we tried to enter a car, two men were getting off. But instead of stepping out of the car onto the platform, they stood in the open door, not moving.

I thought that was weird. We tried to push past them to get into the car.

All of a sudden Joe jerked his elbow up sharply and yelled, "Let go!"

Joe had his hand on his wallet in his front pocket and he felt another hand cover his. Thank goodness Joe had the wherewithal to lay a martial arts move on the guy. The two men quickly scuttled away and we felt very lucky that Joe and his wallet weren't parted.

Joe now carries his wallet in his breast pocket zippered up.

Stairs

Looking down 7 flights of stairs in the stairwell of our apartment building.

There are 114 stairs between the ground floor and our 7th floor apartment. The first time I climbed them (with luggage in hand) I had to stop several times to catch my ragged breath. And try climbing them after walking around the city for hours in 33 C weather! Whew! What a workout! And now that I've sprained my bum knee....it takes me FOREVER to limp up or down them.

The biggest lesson we've learned from these stairs is to make sure you have everything you need before you go out. Yesterday afternoon we learned that very important lesson. We were going to take the metro to do a little clothes shopping and to see some famous architecture. Before we left the apartment we asked each other all the necessary questions.

"Do we have water?" "Yes."

"Who has the cameras?" "I do."

"How about the maps?" "Yup."

We tromped down the 114 stairs.

The metro station isn't very far from our building. Maybe a 5 minute walk. Once we got to the station, Joe looked in his wallet for our metro passes. They weren't there. "They're in the dish on the hallway table!" he groaned. Back he went to climb those 114 stairs. And back down.

When Joe returned to us at the metro station (all sweaty and hot) he said, "As soon as I grabbed the tickets, I quickly left the apartment to run down the stairs. When the door locked behind me, I realized I had left the keys inside!"

We are going to be much more careful and thorough the next time we leave the apartment.

*Thankfully, Arturo lives across the hall and let Joe back in the apartment to retrieve the keys.

Park Guell

Antoni Gaudi developed Park Guell between 1900 and 1914. It is at once playful, psychedelic, whimsical and beautiful.From the famous Gaudi lizard, to the Doric columns, to the undulating serpentine bench, to the covered corridor with its tree-like leaning columns.....I LOVED IT ALL.

Rooftop Breakfast

Our host Artur invited us up to the roof of the apartment building for breakfast this morning. What a view! And the food wasn't too bad either.....

We're planning on going back up to the roof with a bottle of cava tonight once the sun goes down.

First Night in Barcelona

We ate a great meal last night. Lots of tapas, cava, and paella.

We took a taxi down to the port of Barcelona last night. It was a beautiful evening. Back home, summer hasn't even arrived yet. Here it is in full swing! Palm trees, warm breezes, with half a moon in the sky. Pinch me.

This photo was taken of the Sagrada Familia from the balcony of our apartment at night.

Okay, I can't stand how beautiful this church is and all I can do is stare at it from our balcony window. I promise you I'll post other photos as well from our time in Spain. Promise.

Barcelona Is Beautiful

The view out of our apartment window in Barcelona.

We have arrived in Barcelona safe and sound. Our flight was non-eventful, Joe and I slept almost the entire time, and we arrived an hour earlier than expected. Our host, Artur, picked us up from the airport and delivered us to our apartment which is called 'Gaudi's Nest'.

As you can see from the photo, our apartment faces Gaudi's 'Sagrada Familia'. It is an unbelievable view!

We are just heading out for dinner. I hope we're not too early! It is only 9:00pm. After all, this is Spain and no one eats until at least 10 o'clock.

Europe, Here I Come!

Courtyard in Provence

We are leaving Squamish in about 4 hours. Our flight to Barcelona leaves Vancouver at 6:00pm tonight. I cannot tell you how excited I am to be travelling for the entire summer. Seein' some new sights, visiting new places. I plan to be posting lots of photos and updating this blog on a regular basis.