This was a travel day and a very hectic one at that. It started with checking out of the hotel and, in doing so, letting the desk clerk know how unhappy we were with the new Travelodge policy to charge 1 euro for a glass of ice. I will make my unhappiness known to Expedia, too, as I booked the room through that website.
The Travelodge Barcelona Poblenou is billed as a 1-star hotel, which means basic accommodations. But in the US even cheap hotels usually include a minifridge, washcloths, USB ports, a desk and chair and a coffee maker. Our room at the Travelodge had none of these things. Calling it “spartan” is being kind. It was to hotels what Spirit is to airlines. We felt that for the price we paid – nearly $200 per night – we should have gotten more. We certainly should have gotten free ice.
But the location was excellent. A good neighborhood very near the Rambla de Poblenou. We had no difficulty getting around. So maybe a 3 for quality of accommodation and 8 for location.
After checking out of the hotel we dragged our bags to the Sants train station and checked them into the “excess baggage” room. For about $12 each for our 2 large suitcases we were able to travel without them the rest of the day, until we boarded the train. I thought that was a fair price for the convenience.
After leaving the large bags we headed to the Sagrada Familia. Marlene carried her backpack and I carried my laptop. That made tour of the basilica more difficult than it would have been without them, but it wasn’t horrible.
We entered the basilica right on time at 1:45pm. We had to pass through a security check more rigid than those at airports. We both had our small carry-on bags checked manually and my pocket knife was taken for safekeeping, presumably to discourage me from stabbing anyone while in the church. I hadn’t even recalled that I had put the knife in my carry-on bag. I suppose I should be happy that they found it for me because the airport security would have taken it away permanently.
How to describe the Familia basilica? Huge. Breathtaking. Spectacular. A wonder. It is truly an architectural gem. I can’t begin to describe the details of the structure. I am sure an architectural student could spend years trying to fully understand it all. I will simply offer some photos.
I am glad I saw it, but both Marlene and I felt that it was overpriced. We thought that the Valencia Cathedral was a better value.
We left the basilica at 3pm, retrieved my knife, took the Metro back to Sants, retrieved our luggage and waited for the train. It left precisely on time at 5:40pm and gave us a very smooth, nonstop trip to Madrid. We enjoyed the Spanish countryside as it flew by, but it was semi-arid and flatter than Marlene remembers (she lived in Madrid for a time as a youngster).
We decided to take public transportation to our hotel, which was located a few miles north of central Madrid. We figured out how to get a 10-ride Metro card and where to catch a bus to the hotel. It was an 8-minute walk hauling our heavy bags, but we made it in under an hour.
The hotel – the Hotel Nuevo Madrid – is a 4-star hotel and it puts the Travelodge to shame. Yes, the ice was free. More on the hotel when we leave.
Despite being dog-tired, we went out to dinner rather than dining at the restaurant in the hotel. We found an inexpensive cafeteria chain, VIPS, and had a chicken bowl dinner. Marlene found some Spanish teens to chat with.
A long day. We slept well.