2004.10.11 in Barcelona
We had planned on going on a mini side quest for those Fournier plastic playing cards but today turned out to be a national holiday (Columbus Day) and most everything was closed. At least the rail station Passeig de Gracia was open and found out that taking trains to Brussels via Paris was expensive; as was going to Zurich and then Brussels. So we decided to go with the low-fare airline Ryanair and just fly to Brussels. Ordered the tickets online at the local easyInternetcafe and had Subway sandwiches (every easyInternetcafe is partnered with some popular food chain). Screw-the-tourist recurred when we ordered our subs - the "sandwich artist" asked if we wanted cheese (in addition to the normal veggies and sauces) and we both said 'sure' - turns out the cheese was an extra cost... It was partly our fault in delaying the purchase, but we could've booked our flight to Brussels for 29 euros back in Paris, instead of the 49 euros that we now had to pay.
Spent some of the afternoon again just chillaxing on Rambla de Mer as my digicam battery was charging back in the hostel...
Barcelona's public transit is inexpensive so we metro'd over to finally see La Sagrada Familia. It's truly the most eclectic and fascinating design for a cathedral (or any other building) we've ever seen. We weren't feeling the admission fees so we then metro'd over to another incomplete Gaudi masterpiece, Parc Guell. *Note: If you feel like trekking up a very steep hill to reach the park (as we did apparently) get off at Metro Vallcarca Station. This way to the park involves having to take stairs instead of the many (non-working) outdoor escalators. This route brought us not to the park's Gaudi museum and official entrance, but allowed us to reach the park's highest point for some spectacular 360° city views. Just keep going up the winding paths until you reach a lone cross atop a stone pillar will stairs. We wandered around and finally found the plaza with the famous mosaic serpentine benches. Ate another cheapie-cheapie meal of white bread and canned fish and fruits before it got dark. Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to take any good pictures of the mosaic lizard greeting the main entrance or the room of a hundred columns as it was already dusk. From here we walked the slightly longer (but easier) route to Metro Lesseps Station...
We then went back to Casino Barcelona. The poker room is located with the other card games but in a separate area. 2 hold'em and 1 omaha tables were going on but the buy-ins and structure were too rich for blood. We stayed a couple of hours observing the various players and styles. As for our quest - the Casino does use Fournier cards of course, but doesn't sell any modded decks unfortunately.
Spent some of the afternoon again just chillaxing on Rambla de Mer as my digicam battery was charging back in the hostel...
Barcelona's public transit is inexpensive so we metro'd over to finally see La Sagrada Familia. It's truly the most eclectic and fascinating design for a cathedral (or any other building) we've ever seen. We weren't feeling the admission fees so we then metro'd over to another incomplete Gaudi masterpiece, Parc Guell. *Note: If you feel like trekking up a very steep hill to reach the park (as we did apparently) get off at Metro Vallcarca Station. This way to the park involves having to take stairs instead of the many (non-working) outdoor escalators. This route brought us not to the park's Gaudi museum and official entrance, but allowed us to reach the park's highest point for some spectacular 360° city views. Just keep going up the winding paths until you reach a lone cross atop a stone pillar will stairs. We wandered around and finally found the plaza with the famous mosaic serpentine benches. Ate another cheapie-cheapie meal of white bread and canned fish and fruits before it got dark. Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to take any good pictures of the mosaic lizard greeting the main entrance or the room of a hundred columns as it was already dusk. From here we walked the slightly longer (but easier) route to Metro Lesseps Station...
We then went back to Casino Barcelona. The poker room is located with the other card games but in a separate area. 2 hold'em and 1 omaha tables were going on but the buy-ins and structure were too rich for blood. We stayed a couple of hours observing the various players and styles. As for our quest - the Casino does use Fournier cards of course, but doesn't sell any modded decks unfortunately.
posted by ET at 22:29
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