Off to Barcelona!!

Hi Readers,

Well another early start today as we are on the move again, this time to Barcelona.

We knew that it was going to be wet today so a few hours on a train isn't such a bad way to spend some time. 

What has struck me the most today is that it doesn't become light very early, and at the moment I'm beginning to wonder if the sun is going to come up at all!! This is mainly because we have slept in a bit over the past few days and haven't really been up with the birds.

We are currently on the train, it is 8.00 in the morning and it is still pitch black!! All I can see out the window is that it is very wet outside.

The weather for the next 5 days in San Sebastián is wet each day, whereas Barcelona is expected to be fairly dry, here's hoping!!

While waiting at the station, whether it be inside the building or out on the platform, the thing that really bugs me is the amount of smoking. One just can't get away from it, and I suppose I notice it more because I just hate it so much.

Also, the amount of rubbish it generates disgusts me. In the street there are cigarette butts continually being cleaned up, but the worst I have seen is here at the station as people just flick their durries onto the track just before their train comes. Why on earth can't they use a bin??

If they were lollie wrappers I'm sure they wouldn't just toss the paper on the ground, I see this as no different. The amount of smoking we have seen over here is more prevalent than back at home, so I guess I just have to suck it up and accept the fact that it will be everywhere.

There you go, these my rant for this trip!!

Well after a bit of a slow start, daylight eventually appeared...at 8.45 in the morning!!! For a while there we were starting to wonder if there had been a major crisis overnight that had plunged the world into eternal darkness. Thank goodness it has now happened, and another good thing is that we seem to be leaving the wet weather behind us and the sun is beaming through our carriage on the train. I can even see snatches of blue sky, so there could be some good photos today!

Well the train trip went well and although it was  6 hours, it felt like so much less. I much preferred this much more than a 2 hour flight.

At one stage I went for a walk up a few carriages as I am now so conscious about keeping active to prevent DVT's after copping one late last year after surgery. I went and got a coffee for Jen and myself, and for those who don't know me, I struggle balancing a coffee cup without spilling it over just the shortest distance. It is a bit of a joke at home, and at school that I can't carry a cup of coffee more than a few metres without spilling it.

Today was no different. I had to walk the length of two carriages with two cups, and the train was fairly wobbly. It's safe to say that I might have dropped few choice words along the way, and that other passengers could see I was struggling and did their best to stay out of my way!

Jen says that one of my problems is that I don't seem to think that anyone else overseas understand English, so I tend to swear more!! 

My potty mouth needs washing out with soap and water, my mum would be disgusted in me!!

All of the tourist guides warn us that Barcelona is the pickpocket capital of the works, in particular some of the places and stations we were at today. Reading about their scams and tactics on Triposo was a real eye opener, se we were alert. I reckon I must have been looking at every other passenger on the train and pedestrian in the street as if they were criminals and after my stuff!!

But by reading about the tactics they use and the scams in use, it is easy to see how people can lose their stuff. We are just so aware of dodgy people near us and are forever keeping an eye out.

We nearly got done a few years ago in Prague and caught two people just as they were about to do us, and didn't they give us a mouthful before running away.

As it was late afternoon by the time we got to our digs we stepped out for a quick exploration of the streets and to find some things for tea. Jen had a bit of a rest on the balcony with a drink in the sun while I fed my addiction to daily exercise by donning the runners and hitting the streets.

Because I didn't want to get lost, I just kept heading up our street as it was uphill, and before too long I was on one of the highest points overlooking Barcelona, where I got the shots included below.

After two days of bleak weather, today was great and we are really looking forward to getting out and about in Barcelona.

A bridge we just passed on the way to Barcelona.

Just some of the Spanish countryside.

Not just here, but everywhere we go in Europe we can't help but notice their extensive use of wind power, something that we just can't seem to really get going in Australia.

And then we go past acres and acres of solar panels.

Every now and then we see another village or town, usually on a hill.

A random shot out the window of an old church in the middle of nowhere,

I wish I'd used a good camera for this photo rather than the iPad. These mountains were just sensational.

Typical teachers. We book our digs that back on to a school! Check out the balls on the roof, an ongoing hassle for all teachers.

The Cathedral. Renovations being done, makes one wonder how they built these structures in the first place without the cranes etc we now have.

A child's playground in the city, complete with stair climbers, exercise bikes and wight stations.

As I went out for a run I came across these steps, and just had to conquer them!!

And I did, and was able to get these shots overlooking Barcelona.

Barcelona.

And I didn't do it easy, working up a decent sweat! And believe it or not, despite how wasted I look, this is my rest and relaxation!!! 

Barcelona 

What goes up, must go down. I'll admit I much preferred the running up the steps.

The daily selfie. I had been trying to get one with Jen asleep but she was on to me. I did eventually get one, but I'm not game to post it here!!

And the daily sock photo, taken somewhere between San Sebastián and Barcelona in Spain.

These socks are travelling in style!!

Tomorrow's a big day we hope really getting out and about in Barcelona, so here's hoping I have som great things to bang on about tomorrow night.

Until my next post Readers...

Cheers!!