12-01-2024, 05:08 PM
Arrived in Barcelona last night, for hopefully what will be a new life!
The ferry into Santander was incredibly calm and comfortable, and the roads from the port into Barcelona were completely empty, was like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie for stretches where I’d go 10 minutes without seeing another car in either direction. Cantabria and Navarra have some beautiful sights and the roads though the mountains around Bilbao are dangerously distracting. I also had to refrain from visiting the vineyard outside Logroñes that has a 24 hour free wine fountain - there’s always another day!
After spending last night in a hotel as I didn’t fancy looking for somewhere to park on a Saturday night in downtown Barcelona and unloading my stuff I managed to get my keys today and unload. Cue lots of trips to and from my car in a multi story car park that charges by the minute just next door to my apartment with several smashed plates and glasses the only casualties.
Turns out there’s been a miscommunication between the landlord and me (my Spanish and his English seem to have plateaued) and he got rid of all the furniture, meaning I’ve had to drive to Ikea and buy a mattress and a few replacement plates. Thankfully the 365 night trial they offer means if I do have to return to England in the next few months I can take it back
Still, the sun has been shining most of the day, it’s been close to 20C and is forecast to stay this high for the rest of the week, and sitting outside with a vermut now in just a thin jumper watching the world go by makes it all seem worth it.
Oh, and to coincide with my arrival, Barcelona conspired to lose 2-1 at home to Las Palmas (Oli McBurnie and Scott McKenna featuring for Las Palmas) however I’ve found my local team to follow. CE Europa… their stadium is at the end of my street, and they play in blue and white in the 4th tier of Spanish football. They’re a bloody noisy lot and speaking to my neighbour it’s just one massive piss up before and after every game, and coincidentally they have Las Palmas in the cup Tuesday night so!
The ferry into Santander was incredibly calm and comfortable, and the roads from the port into Barcelona were completely empty, was like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie for stretches where I’d go 10 minutes without seeing another car in either direction. Cantabria and Navarra have some beautiful sights and the roads though the mountains around Bilbao are dangerously distracting. I also had to refrain from visiting the vineyard outside Logroñes that has a 24 hour free wine fountain - there’s always another day!
After spending last night in a hotel as I didn’t fancy looking for somewhere to park on a Saturday night in downtown Barcelona and unloading my stuff I managed to get my keys today and unload. Cue lots of trips to and from my car in a multi story car park that charges by the minute just next door to my apartment with several smashed plates and glasses the only casualties.
Turns out there’s been a miscommunication between the landlord and me (my Spanish and his English seem to have plateaued) and he got rid of all the furniture, meaning I’ve had to drive to Ikea and buy a mattress and a few replacement plates. Thankfully the 365 night trial they offer means if I do have to return to England in the next few months I can take it back
Still, the sun has been shining most of the day, it’s been close to 20C and is forecast to stay this high for the rest of the week, and sitting outside with a vermut now in just a thin jumper watching the world go by makes it all seem worth it.
Oh, and to coincide with my arrival, Barcelona conspired to lose 2-1 at home to Las Palmas (Oli McBurnie and Scott McKenna featuring for Las Palmas) however I’ve found my local team to follow. CE Europa… their stadium is at the end of my street, and they play in blue and white in the 4th tier of Spanish football. They’re a bloody noisy lot and speaking to my neighbour it’s just one massive piss up before and after every game, and coincidentally they have Las Palmas in the cup Tuesday night so!
