Date: 28 September 2003 Subject: Adventures of Gamblegirl - Spain Buenos dias! Como esta usted? I'm all good - which is becoming my new catch phrase until I am over it. So it's off to Barcelona in Spain. Only have a day in Spain which is boo hoo!!! Wish I had more. It was a long drive on the bus, my bum felt very numb!!! Aye Aye - 10 hour drive. On the way stopped off at Le Pont du Gard ruins. It was built around 50 AD (yes that's older then you my darling folks!!) and is this big bridge that is in the middle of absolute NO WHERE!!! I wanted to climb it (have gone a bit nuts on the climbing thing) for the view but b*****, it was blocked off. Then we arrived into Barcelona. Loved it from the moment go, was so pretty - even if you can't drink the water!! Now that's fun and games. Instead of fill up gup my bottle, had to keep buying new ones - not impressed. With one day in Barcelona, so much to see and do. 1st headed up to the Olympic Stadium on Mt Jupiter and yes that Olympic Statue looks as stupid up close as it did on the telly. Then it was up to Castell de Montjuic for some amazing views of Barcelona and the ports. Wandering around Barcelona was fun. Strolled thru the Gothic Quarters with all it's 13th and 15th Century buildings which is what I love. Tucked away (in a smelly alley) was the most gorgeous little church called the Church of St Eulalia. It also has a special menaing in that all the walls are pock marked by machine guns. For those that don't know, Spain was run by a Facist leader called Franco who captured Barcelona in 1939. St Eulalia was where he tool all his opposers and executed them. It was prettyerrie and if the prats of teh construction workers would just SHUT UP for a minute, I would have reflected more on it. Hard to do so with the whine of a chain saw in your ear!! Also went and visted Gaudi's church or Sagrada Familio as it is really known as. It's been under construction since 1882 and is still going!! See the problem was that well Gaudi died and he left no architectual plans for it. It's pretty controversial as apparently he used dead baby fetsus as casts - eeoww!! But I liked it. It's not a church but more like an ongoing work of art. Then in the arvo, strolled down the Ramblas, which was pretty cool. Shopping heaven really and it had pets for sale, street performers and restaurants. Thought about buying a Beckham shirt from a retailer (hey when in Spain!!!). Asked how much and was told E6 (sorry cant do the Euro sign). What?!?!? I couldn't believe it. E6? I questioned again and he confirmed it. Well bring it on I said, thinking Bargin. Heck they are for around 20 quip in Oxford Street. E9 for the wording, it's all good. Um except it was E 69. Um huh? I checked and he confirmed it. Needless to say I didn't get the jersey (Oxford Street, here I come!) The Ramblas eventually reaches the Christopher Columbus monument (if you don't know who he is, let me say up front you are a spaz!!). The story is that the statue is supposed to pointing towards the Americas as a mark of respect. Um, the thing is - well the Americas is the other way!! So now they say, that he's pointing in the direction of where his boat left from. Whoops!!! Then just chilled out by the marina before having some dinner. When in Spain must get Paellea and to drink sangria. Oh boy, it was yummy and so was the Paellea. Sangria is my new drink. I lurve it. My glass was so big that I was pissed off my head by the end of it. While waiting for dinner, I was entertained by a dorky looking guy who would go up to woman and snort in their ear, scaring the crap out of them. I thought it was funny, even if some didn't. When dinner was over, it was off to a flamenco show which surprised me by being quite good. Was expecting some dodgy show but wasn't. Barcelona is amazing Love and kisses your neighbour freak