Perpignan-Barcelona-Sitges

We are on the train from Perpignan to Barcelona and currently pulling into the station at Cerbere. We were up early and walked to the train station and waited for our train. It is nice to be sitting on a train letting someone else do the driving.

Breakfast this morning and yesterday were at our hotels as there was no other nearby option. Sadly, the hotel breakfasts, which are not inexpensive, do not come close to matching the experiences outside the hotel. In each of them our coffee was delivered by a push button operated device, not a person. And, the quality of the coffee was not nearly as good as at a cafe. On the other hand, the croissants and pan chocolat were as delicious as usual. I did have cereal on Monday morning and yogurt both days and that was a pleasent change. But no sitting and watching people pass by on the street.

When I organized this trip we discussed driving versus training our way south. I was leaning toward the train, Sharon toward the car. The car won and I was happy with our decision. Now though, in hindsight, we probably would have preferred the train and visited different cities. The only thing we would have missed was the gorge, and of course the rain, and the problems getting out of Orly and returning the car in Perpignan. Of the places we have been so far we, of course, enjoyed Paris the most and then Limoges. I would say if we were to do this sort of thing again we would, if the TGV ever gets figured out from Paris to Barcelona, that we would go direct from Paris to Barcelona. Perhaps a stop in Lyon? Bordeaux?

At the border the Policia came on the train, in force, to check passports. They were at each door and then others in the aisle, highy organized.

We arrived at Barcelona Sants at 11:50, schlepped upstairs, stood in a very short line to buy tickets for Sitges, went back down to the tracks and were on the train to Sitges at 12:08. Smooth! A short familiar walk took us to the Soler piso and soon we were off to lunch. Ahhhh! They are all at the beach and I am kicking back at the piso.

Aftermath

A little shopping and we are stocked with wine for a day or so. Eleven assorted bottles of Spanish wine for €94. We are now ready for serious relaxation.