FRIDAY – TGV TO BARCELONA

Thursday night we ventured out to find a place for dinner.  Our first try was the Gamma Brasserie right across from the hotel.  We got seated, but they were clearly more interested in closing for the night than serving us. So we up and left.  We wandered down Boulevard Diderot toward the place we ate at last night because we had noted a possibility for tonight, L’Arrosoir.  Again we were seated and this time stayed on for a wonderful meal.  Elaine enjoyed Red Kuri Squash Soup served in the squash shell for a starter while I had scrumptious roasted bone marrow served on the bone.  Elaine’s main was salmon carpaccio and mine was goose breast with potatoes au gratin.  We finished up with crème brulee for me and chocolate cake with Berthillion’s ice cream for Elaine.  Naturally dinner was accompanied by an excellent bottle of French red wine.

Friday we were up at 5:00 AM to pack and walk down to the Gare de Lyon for our 7:15 AM TGV to Barcelona.  We boarded and left dead on time.  I started writing this entry as we left the station.  It’s 7:35 AM now and still dark outside.  We can just see the sun starting to rise in the east as we head southwest.  Beautiful sunrise indeed!

After enjoying the bottle of wine we brought on board with some sandwiches purchased in the buffet car, we arrived in Barcelona Sants Station right on schedule at 1:47 PM, walked out the door of the station, and checked in 100 yards away at the Marriot AC Sants Hotel.  AC is a European chain that Marriott bought.  Great room.  After settling in we went across the street and hopped on the hop-on hop-off (HOHO) bus.  We picked the west route as we had the done the east on a previous trip.  We didn’t do any hopping off-and-on, but just did the two-hour circuit.  This trip isn’t about doing Barcelona in depth.

Pictures From the Top of the HOHO Bus.  Click to Enlanrge!

After disembarking the bus at Sants Station, we went into the station to find an ATM as I needed a Euro infusion.  Mission accomplished.  I also found an FC Barcelona Football Club store and bought a hat to replace my aging and dirty Barcelona cap purchased years ago.  And we decided to eat in tonight, so at various stores we purchased water, wine, diet coke, nuts, ham and brie sandwiches, cookies, and chips.  So, sorry, no tales of fine dining tonight.

Tomorrow at noon we board the good ship Riviera (Oceania Cruise Lines).  Only time will tell if shipboard satellite internet is good enough for more postings.  Until I can get on again, I will sign off for now.