A Vacation In Review: Barca

DEPARTURE
A dicey departure in NYC rush hour was made fun by a bottle of wine for the car ride. By the time we hit JFK, we were laughing at nothing. That was all about to change.
TURBULENCE
At the airport, we were met with "Did you miss your flight?" Umm... no. There was some confusion behind the counter - the taking of passports, and a disappearing act by the ticket agent. Should have known, as this was Iberia Airlines - which translates into You-Will-Be-Confused-Because-We-Work-Hard-To-Confuse-You Airlines. In a short time, however, we had boarding passes in hand and were on our way.
FLIGHT OUT
All I remember of the Madrid Airport on the way to Barcelona was that it was the size of 9 airports - enormous and eerie, considering the lack of passengers/hustle-and-bustle normally found at airports. It's like it had been built to host an Olympic Games - but never got them. Also jetlag and an Ambien that didn't take resulted in me throwing up. Hot.
BARCA LANDING
Wheels down in Barcelona. Best part about airport adventure was our taxi driver playing Criss Cross' "Jump" when we got in the cab... evidence of the indelible pen of the best in American culture and music - and its reaches worldwide.
JET LAG DISMISSAL
Got to hotel - where we ran into some of the DC contigency... who had been there a few days before us. They prodded us to wave off sleep for a chance to meet up with bride and groom in Placa de Santa Maria. We walk through cobblestone streets and end up tossing back Claras here:

ROOM SERVICE
After about a dozen beers each, Heather and I join Steve to check out his hotel. He stayed at the Ritz Carlton on the Mediterranean... and his corner suite dripped in gold. His bathroom alone was the size of 2 of my apartments. Our trio got silly - donned 5-star white robes, ordered room service for a vodka bar and dinner... topping $600 Euro total. Ouch! And it was only our first night! We laugh it all off at a Euro club and eventually - a quick skinny dip in the Mediterranean.
WEDDING DAY
Next day was Marc and Julie's big day. Ceremony was in lovely 13th Century small church on a cliffside outside Barcelona. Reception was at a dining hall on the beach. Most hollywoodish wedding I've attended to date. Pictures of couple and party below:


FLOWER COMPLEX
At the reception, Julie and Marc gave me the bride's bouquet... which I was extremely flattered by, but at the same time - a bit mortified at the meaning of such a gesture. Complex set it... in which I believed this was the only bouquet I was EVER going to hold, and asked Heather to take a million pictures of me with it. Lame girl. Rest of reception was filled with mad dancing and laughing and everyone hitting on the wait staff. Rest of night was spent drinking in a Spanish square and staying up until 10am on the roof of our hotel. You have no idea how much fun.
WHAT CITY ARE WE IN?
Last 2 days in Barcelona was trying to get a handle on where exactly I was. As stated above, the first 2 days were more or less wedding-related, and I still had no bearing as to how to get around. Spent time wandering down colorfully-lined cobblestone streets, dipping into local restaurants, and taking a bus tour of the city.


Barcelona Overview







La Sagrada Familia











TRAIN DEPOT
After 4 fun-filled days, it was time for us to depart for Paris. Our overnight train trip took on a life of its own, with absolutely insane misadventures to follow. Will update Paris Phase of trip soon. For a tease, hit Heather's recount of our entire trip at her blog.
*pix made possible by Mrs. Ali Breen. More of my flix to come; I'm still weeding out the scandalous.