Barcelona Trip Day 4 (March 7, 2010): Jenn vs The Taxi Driver
We are starting to build up a reoccurring theme on this trip to Barcelona, and that is that we are not adjusting all that well to the new time zone. This morning was no exception as we went to bed at a legitimate time, but ended up waking up at about 2am wide awake ready for the day. We ended up getting back to sleep at around 5am and woke up around 10am. From there we packed up our luggage, said our sad goodbyes, called for a taxi, and were off to the Le Meridien located on La Rambla.
The taxi ride was odd for a number of reasons, first the driver was paying very little attention to the road, and secondly we had a small issue when it came time to pay for the ride. The taxi ended up costing 28 euros from the Gran Hotel La Florida to the Le Meridien and Jenn handed the driver a 50 euro and so the driver handed us a 2 euro coin back and made no motion or effort to look for the remaining 20 euro's we were owed. So Jenn and I both got a little upset and asked where the rest of the change was. After a bit of "spanglish" we ended up working it out and peace was restored, but it was a little hairy there for a second.
We then checked in at the Le Meridien where we had booked a Junior Suite but were upgraded to a Prestige Suite which has a bedroom, living room, dining area, walk in closet and a nice bathroom.
Prestige Suite at Le Meridien
Writing Desk at Prestige Suite
Bedroom at Le Meridien
Bathroom in the Prestige Suite at the Le Meridien
Outside of the Le Meridien
After checking in and getting settled into the room we put away our stuff and began walking up and down La Rambla watching many of the street performers and looking at many of the restaurants scouting out places to eat for the rest of the week. The famous street is quite the popular attraction as there are people literally everywhere roaming the streets. We checked out some of the street shops, street performers, and just tried to take in everything that was going on. It was kind of neat to see the Barcelona Marathon also running through La Rambla which was fun as well.
Jenn standing on La Rambla
Standing In Front of a Fountain
We ended up picking a pizzeria for lunch where Jenn for the first time did not get pasta (and stopped her streak at 3) but got a margherita pizza and I got a margherita pizza with ham. It was a nice lunch and we even met a couple from Vegas who was taking a cruise nearly identical to the one Jenn and I took back in 2008.
Margherita Pizza at a La Rambla Pizzeria
Margherita Pizza with Ham at a La Rambla Pizzeria
After lunch we continued to walk around La Rambla a bit more and ended up heading back to the room for an afternoon nap. What can be better? We decided after our nice afternoon slumber that we would head to the hotels restaurant Cent 111 Once a wonderful Spanish restaurant with a ton of style and class. The restaurant had an amazing deal on a four course meal which is what I went with and Jenn started her meal with pea soup with a pouched egg. My meal started with a vegetable salad with mozzarella, then grilled filet of gilthead, and then the best part of the meal duck magret, and finished it off with vanilla/coffee ice cream with crushed ice and baileys. Jenn finished her meal off with a filet and then of course vanilla ice cream. One of my highlights for the meal was the amazing bottle of Spanish white wine which was a nice light wine that just went down really smooth, even to the point that Jenn had a glass or two. I must say it was a little to good because I had a few to many glasses when it was all said and done. So to counteract the wine I ended off the meal with a nice strong cappuccino.
Vegetable Salad with Mozzarella
Pea Soup with Pouched Egg
Grilled Filet of Gilthead
Filet of Beef
Duck Magret
Vanilla & Coffee Ice Cream with Crushed Baileys
A Wonderful Cappuccino
The night ended with us heading back to our suite where I literally fell asleep right when I hit the sack where Jenn stayed up straightening her hair and refusing to adjust to the Barcelona time zone.
