Arrival in Barcelona

12 Monday 2007- Monday
Ambien Failure

For some reason the Ambien only lasted 2 hours and the rest was trying to go back to sleep. .Movies were lousy and no music channels worth listening to. So finally at 6 am we get served a mini croissant and even smaller pastry with coffee. Glad the large woman moved or else she may have gnawed my arm off. We land in Madrid at about 10am and then walk for 20 minutes- thank goodness for the 12 moving sidewalks. Barajas airport in the 70s was a 2 story building which wasn't very large. Now it is gargantuan and eally tests your stamina. Just when we get to the S concourse I realize we have to go through security again. No shoes this time but the Spaniards are really big on removing your belt- and it's the only time I've had to open the lap top. They are already boarding at S25 for the flight to Barcelona. This leg I am seated between a 20 something Spaniard reading an English text about working with DNA. On the aisle is a well dressed young lady with mesh stocking and we are offered juice or water. (Spanish also big on pineapple juice). Land as scheduled and usual passport control lines- I pick the wrong one and am behind a frizzy haired South American woman who presents 4 sheets of paper folded in quarters to the officer who looks like the Norm from Cheers with his specs on the tip of his nose. Ergo, I was the last of the 200 plus passengers on the Airbus 320 to leave the area. But at least the luggage has arrived and I did I find the Orient Lines lady without any problem, but have to wait on the others along with my wheel chair diabetic friend for about a half hour. Then it's a 2 city block trek to the bus but the wheel chair got to ride. 30 minute bus ride into Barcelona, very European avenues and sycamore trees all over. The hotel room at the Melia knocked my socks off- wood panelling, sliding doors of opaque glass, a tub and a separate shower room where the water comes out of a large shower head in the ceiling- more like a rain downpour than a shower. Later found out bed is spring loaded so it elevates to chest high and rotates forward to make linen changes a snap. But none of that could keep me awake and I slept from 2 pm until 430pm- gets dark early in Barcelona so after a shower go in search of food- then I was informed the restaurants don't open til 8 or 830. But a few blocks from the hotel I find an all -you- can- eat place that did not have gambas ajillo (garlic shrimp) but salads and pasta hit the spot.- having only a half bag of trail mix before my nap. Fifteen dollars (10 euro) and the vino tinto was delicious. Decided to watch one episode of Rome and crashed at 10pm.