We arrived in Barcelona 1 hour later than expected due to delays in Nice. Our flight was quick at only 1 hour 10 minutes and we were in a cab within 40 minutes of landing. By the time we got to the hotel it was 9:30pm, which is about the time that things get started in the evening in Barcelona!

We arrived at our Hotel which is located in La Rumbla - the central street in Barcelona. Hotel 1898 is housed in the once famous Philippines Tobacco Company building which was built in 1881. The hotel is lovely and had been furnished and decorated to the highest contemporary standards. Our room looks out onto one of the side streets off La Rambla with restaurants and street performers lively during the evenings.

We were eager to arrive in Barcelona for Rossco to catch up with his old friend Ray. Before Ray met us we slipped to the hotel bar to try a local Sangria (when in Spain...). Ray met us at the hotel and took us to a little local restaurant close to where he lives in the Gracia neighborhood. We ate traditional spanish fare and enjoyed local spanish beer whilst Rossco and Ray caught up. Later that evening Ray took us to his local haunt, a heavy metal and rock bar called Ballbreaker for a few quiet drinks before we hopped on the metro back to our hotel. Just one more Sangria for the road at the hotel bar before bed...
A great local introduction to the next few days in Barcelona.