Train to Tarragona

Our phone alarms sprang to life, disturbing our total-passed-out-time-zone-adjustment-slumber, at 7:00AM local time.  We are scheduled for a 9:00 train trip to Tarragona so the alarm was right, but we could easily continued our slumber. 


Out of the hotel with plenty of time, it was a short walk to the train station.  




Cell phone data is astonishingly expensive even with our international travel plans.  Because of that, we have been traveling with data roaming off as much as possible.  Trying to download our tickets without the benefit of data proved unlikely.  Between trying to navigate the station to find our train, trying to find our pre-reserved tickets and possibly grabbing a small bite of breakfast, we were close to running out of time. Finding tickets was approaching panic time, when we miraculously found a paper version.  Sans breakfast and after asking a couple of times for directions, we finally found ourselves on the platform. 


The trains are very clean, smooth and fast.  Side note: everything is very clean!


The train scooted along at a good pace.  The club car had coffee available, so we finally able to wake up.  Not even coffee could solve our travel familiarity, however.  We approached the first stop.  By the time we were convicted that we were actually at Tarragona and grabbed our luggage, we had to hurtle a passenger blocking our way to make way to the door.  There’s a pretty short window between the time you stop and are allowed to exit; we missed that window….(Janet couldn’t save us despite her valiente efforts).




Our particular train continued on to Valencia.  We hailed the conductor who spoke far less spanglish that we do.  After a comedic interlude, it was finally established that our options were to exit at the next stop and catch the opposite train, back to our preferred destination.  


Upon arriving at our turnaround point, we checked in with the ticket office;  just because.  It’s amusing to see the look on people’s face when they understand just how stupid we are.  Through sympathy, she directed  to the departing platform.  


Now heading back to Tarragona, we payed very close attention to our location.  As we finally drew near, we stashed out luggage close to the door and stood like sprinters at the starting blocks, waiting for the train to come to a stop.  




We did get a chuckle from the conductor.  As he examined our tickets, you could watch his expression change from confusion to laughter.  


Tarragona is another beautiful city.  Much smaller and quite different from Barcelona.  It is a seaside town with a mixture of 50’s architecture and Roman ruins.  


















The rest of the day was filled with exploration and tapas and cerveza.  


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lisbon Portugal

Image
Back on the bus, heading for Lisbon.    The troupes are becoming restless.    A true battle for seats is becoming increasingly evident.    I suspect purses being used as maces will be next.    People have been leaving articles of clothing, bags and other limited value items on the seats to “save their place”.    If the bus driver dares be seen heading to his vehicle, a mob of passengers dashes up behind him, like a line of aggressive duckings, pleading with him that they forgot their life-support-system on the bus, and need to grab it.    All of this, is merely a ploy to leave something on their desired seat or perhaps rearrange others markers, to suit their own desires.   The bus driver is a kind man; but he doesn’t speak a word of English.    He shrugs, and lets them on.  Amongst those with us on the tour, are a group of 18 from El Paso.    One of the people brought his guitar along and ever...
Read more

Toulouse, France

Image
We arrived in Toulouse by plane from Porto.  As of yet, we haven’t seen the rude side of the French people.    People seem willing to help and seem quite tolerant of our inability to speak French.    At least in Toulouse.  Our hotel is alongside a canal that runs from the Atlantic all the way to the Mediterranean.    There are some long boats on it and apparently you can travel the distance.    A number of locks allow for the difference in altitude.  It was a short walk to the center of town.    Lots of shops, stores and restaurants lined the streets, atop of which were beautiful apartment buildings.    This is a college town so the popular is largely younger people.  A little sightseeing, drinks and dinner for a low key evening.    Tomorrow, a train to Carrcassonne, France. 
Read more

Narbonne and Barcelona

Image
Today’s itinerary takes us from Carcassonne to Narbonne for a short visit, then on to Barcelona for our last night before beginning our 20 hour trip home.  We’re getting confident in our train travels. Maybe too much so.    We sat in a restaurant until about 30 minutes before our train out of Carcassonne, hopped on the train and away we go.    Luckily we met some other Americans at the station who were also traveling in to Narbonne.    We thought we were only one stop away from Narbonne.    The train stopped, we’re the first ones off.    Proud of ourselves, we are, until we look behind us.    The other Americans were giving us curious looks, but not saying anything.    It occurs to us to read the city name of where we are.    Can’t remember what it was, but it sure wasn’t Narbonne.    We scampered back onto the train, like the seasoned pros we are, and continue on like nothing had happened....
Read more