Ola!

Ola! I have arrived in Barcelona and send you my Castilian greetings!

Yesterday, I spent the most wonderful day at the Louvre and snapped many pics. I especially loved the pyramid, which is now the entrance to the museum. It is maybe a little odd in the context of the grandiose structures of the musuem grounds, but it gives the whole place a real cache!

On the long walk back to the hotel to claim my luggage, I suffered a bout of uncertainty about the start of my adventure. But the woman at the hotel, with whom I´d become quite good friends, was encouraging and my excitement was restored. I was off to the train station with time to spare.

And the train was super comfy, and warm too. As a matter of fact, it got positively toasty, with me and 3 other women stacked on top of eachother in the tiny compartment. By 2 am, it was easily over 90 degrees. I couldn´t sleep it was so hot. But the lady below me could sleep just fine: she snored the whole night.

By around 4 am it was unbearable, and then... they must have fixed the ventilation because the fresh air started to flow. Blessed relief! I crashed out for the few hours until we arrived. Oi. I think I aged a week in that 12 hours. But once in the city, WOW! The cool rain felt wonderful. And it is amazing what a double espresso shot will do to your spirits. I am refreshed and excited to start the day! Bet I sleep good tonight.

I am off to see if Gaudi´s architecture really is all that -- I suspect I´ll be impressed :-)

Love T