Matero, Barcelona (Day 4)

'This year we're off to sunny Spain'. Well not yesterday. The day started with a thunderstorm and ended with a another. But this morning all was calm, and normal service had resumed. Wall to wall sunshine. We were up at seven once again, to be organized and ready for the coach into Barcelona, complete with our Bromptons bicycles.

It was going to be an interesting day as we would have to take the metro and then the funicular railway up Montjuic. Fortunately the coach dropped us within a five minute walk of the railway station. We of course went to the wrong station first and ended having to ask for assistance from a station official and then a police officer.

Talking of policemen or women, let us digress for a minute. Why, when we're in England do we have hardly any police on the streets. In Europe their is a visible police presence everywhere, and it makes a difference. It's a no brainer. Back to our day. Once at the station, asking for assistance to purchase tickets we bordered a train, only to realise we needed to hop off a few stops on to then change onto the funicular railway.

All went smoothly and we arrived at the top of Montjuic. Yes at the top. The route we were going to cycle, Carretera De Les Aigues was further down the mountain. So we began our descent down a serious of paths and steps, which isn't easy with a bicycle. Eventually on the right path we cycled around the mountain, the path a little sketchy for our small sixteen inch bicycle wheels.

The views though were amazing. We could see the whole of Barcelona, and right down the coast.The hi-light being able to see the Sagrada Familia. Gaudi's cathedral.

This evening we are very tired. A final walk around the campsite, stopping to talk with an Englishman with a 110 Landrover, before winding in Margery's awning.

Tomorrow we will leave Camping Barcelona and drive further south. Not sure where yet, but hopefully somewhere quiet. As in England it is school holidays in Europe. And if there's one thing that annoys John it's noisy kids in his hearing aids, especially those with footballs. The German man in front of us tops the kids though. He shouts all the time through the window to his wife who rarely leaves the motorhome, whilst his kids are outside pouring hot water on the ants as instructed by their father. Always something to entertain and shock on a campsite.

The campsite pet farm

Mataro, Barcelona (Day 3)

We were awoken around seven this morning by a thunderstorm. Thanks! Yesterday's visit to Barcelona had been a long day, and really taken it out of us. Sometimes we forget we're not as young as we were. With no need to rush, as the rain wasn't due to ease until around lunchtime we decided to take a shower, hand wash a few items and sit it out whilst the only black clouds tumbled around the sky overhead. As the weather settled, we packed some lunch and caught the free bus from the campsite that takes you into the centre of Mataro.

We didn't want to walk too much, as tomorrow we are returning to Barcelona to cycle the Carretera De Les Aigues on our Bromptons. To reach it we will need to take the train and the funicular railway. Mataro was quiet, the shops closed until five after siesta. We didn't mind. We walked some of the town trail, until we'd had enough and decided to stop for afternoon refreshment. This evening you would never guess the day had started with such awful weather. Keen to take advantage of the hand washing sinks Angela washed a few more items, now hung out to dry near to John as he cooks on our grill.

The washing should have a very pleasant aroma indeed. An early night tonight. Tomorrow will be a big, probably stressful day as we negotiate the Spanish railway system. One thing we know is, if you need help, just ask.

Mataro, Barcelona (day 2)

Up this morning with the lark, keen to be ready for the coach to take us into Barcelona this morning. We were excited to see the Sagrada Familia, the cathedral designed by Antoni Gaudi. Arriving in the city we dived straight into a cafe for coffee and camomile tea whilst we got our bearings and made a plan for the day. First stop the house Gaudi lived in for twenty years.

As expected it was popular with tourists all wanting 'that photograph'. We crossed over the road away from them to take ours. And then onto the Sagrada Familia, the first sight of it is breathtaking, and the detail mind blowing. Unfortunately all visitors tickets are sold out for the next 4 days.

The cathedral is due to be completed next year, one hundred and forty four years since the first stone was laid. It is astonishing to think the architectural plans Gaudi drew up were so detailed it could continue to be built after his death. We felt sad that he would never see the end result of his work. Ironically, today on the BBC news it's reported that Pope Francis has taken the first steps to beatify Gaudi, whom will eventually become a saint. Today has been tiring. Our feet and legs ache from so much walking, and we were glad to step back onto the coach to return to the campsite. We were even more thankful we'd booked a table in the campsite restaurant.

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The meal was delicious, but Angela's not sure if John likes his seafood looking at him. The paella he normally eats in Europe is frozen. The weather is looking a little inclement for tomorrow, so we stopped at the campsite reception to cancel our seat on tomorrow's coach back into the city, re-booking it for Thursday. To be honest we are so tired from today's trip, another full on day tomorrow would just have been too much.

Mataro, Barcelona

As Angela walked back from the shower yesterday afternoon she wondered how many campsites in Europe we'd actually stayed on. Too many to remember, but some we'll not forget because of the people we met, the excellent location, or they were just dire.Thankful last night there were no groups of children on the site and we were glad to go to our bed without noise to harass us. Until the man in the pop top in the van on the pitch next to us farted!. Despite being German, we could tell his wife was not happy. We'd had lentils for dinner. Call that a fart. Just you wait. Perhaps it would be a noisy night. Late morning we set off for Spain The sun was out and at last we could clearly see the mountains. Angela was a little nervous to be leaving France where she understands the rules of the road, road signs and a bit of the language. We have driven in Spain twice before, but it's just not the same. As expected Google maps took us out of the town on a different road to the one we'd entered. Up over the hills on a narrow road with switch back bends and no crash barrier! So when we met a speeding motorist, farting wasn't a consideration, we almost did much worse. We both admitted we were a little frightened. But soon we were on busy fast roads and just before noon we crossed the border into Spain. 

Here we go Margery, show them what you're made off. The road was busy and the traffic moved fast. Angela put her foot down, it seemed safer just to join in. Relieved the stressful tiring journey was over we were very glad to reach Camping Barcelona in the town of Mataro.

We have a good pitch on the very busy site. There are even a few English here. Tomorrow we will have been away from home two weeks, and up until now we have only seen five English registered vehicles. Keen to explore, we took the free bus from the campsite into town.

Stopped for a much needed hot drink and took a walk around.

Tomorrow and Wednesday we are booked on the coach that will take us to and from Barcelona. When we return tomorrow evening we are booked in the restaurant for a meal. Early starts over the next two days, so we're hoping for quiet nights. No farting please!