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Before you read, find Russell Watson’s version of the song “Barcelona” and play it really loudly. You remember John Sheridan – like I used to do in the office when I worked for you .
Ah, Barcelona. Home of the Catalunya race track, the Picasso museum and tapas - three of my favourite things in life. I arrived at the hotel Friday afternoon and immediately settled onto the bed and “watched” the second grand prix practice session via the F1 app on my phone. All I had were stats and sound, but in typical fashion the lilting tones of engines whining and excited commentary made me a little dozy so it made for a very relaxed afternoon.
Once the cars were rolled back into the garages I roused myself and went for a run, doing laps of a park nearby and checking out the logistics for getting the track the next day before heading to the hotel rooftop for cave, great views and very good live music. I reconnected with Tapeo, my favourite tapas bar in Barcelona, where the head chef and owner hadn’t changed since I was here six years ago and I was looked after extremely well by highly efficient Flo who runs the front of house. I came here every night bar one and had different dishes every night; every one sensational and matched with wines for me. It may sound less than adventurous to not eat elsewhere, but I had come half way around the world and didn’t want to miss any opportunity to eat here. There are actually booked out every night, but the wonderful Flo took care of that for me even though “I don’t like tourists, but you’re fine.” I felt honoured (and a little afraid of her ).
The weekend was Grand Prix, Grand Prix, Grand Prix and what a sensational weekend it was. It takes nearly 2 hours to get to the track by train, but Google found me a bus service direct to the gates that left from near the hotel and even this was great. I was at the end of the queue for a bus the first morning and it was full, but the guy loading pulled down the seat next to the driver and in response to the quizzical look he received he replied with “Pretty girl, it’s ok”. My day was made already bless his heart.
The track atmosphere was great and I saw the last practice session and qualifying on my first day. Huge thanks again to the wonderful Marie for the tickets. When I got there I headed to the stand that I thought matched my ticket. It was a way along the track and not under cover as I’d expected, but that was ok. When I showed the girl my ticket she said no several times and directed me in Spanish back up the track. After several more stops for help I found my seat. Third row back, one level up, directly over pole position and opposite the Force India and Ferrari garages. I thought I was going to cry.
By the end of the day Daniel Ricciardo was 6th on the grid for the race on Sunday, I had been highly restrained and bought only an “I love Catalunya” tank top and the tiniest t-shirt I could find for Justine (from Maddocks) who welcomed Sam into the world this week. Once he is big enough to wear the shirt (about eighteen months away) I will be able to tell him how well Ricciardo did the weekend he was born and how great is it to go to Catalunya. A fan in the making.
Back on the bus at the end of the day and being on my own I jumped into one of the front seats next to some guy who turned out to be the most interesting person. His name is Murad Ahmed and he is a journalist for the Times who used to cover technology. I actually found out more about him after the ride as he is very understated about his own accomplishments. He was reluctantly covering the F1 (oh, pahleeease) and thinks that Lewis Hamilton is very humble and lovely. Fortunately he also thinks that Daniel Ricciardo is very personable, but he was halted from shattering my illusions about some others. His real passions are tennis and soccer/football and he is covering Roland Garros in a couple of weeks, which Rose is also heading off to. You will be pleased Rose to hear that Federer and Murray are apparently every bit as humble and approachable as they come across on television. He really was the most interesting and engaging person and the ride passed quickly.
The next day was every bit as wonderful. I arrived in time to see the early races which included a young Australian running third in the Porsche series and I had a perfect view of the pre-race activities. Amongst the throng of support staff and journalists just below us I spotted Toto Wolff, Christian Horner (they manage the Mercedes and Red Bull teams respectively and are the most attractive men on the planet), Niki Lauder, Bernie Eccleston, David Coulthard and Damon Hill. The guys next to me were highly appreciative of my pointing them out and many a photo was taken as a result.
The ground security team do a really good job of keeping people back from the balconies in front of the seats so that they don’t block the view for everybody, but understandably as the excitement builds and the cars, drivers and teams fill the space below people crowd to the front. There was much consternation in the stand around me and the poor little security team were fluttering about to little effect, so I summoned by best aussie voice and shouted out “Oi....Sit....Down”..... and they did. Really apologetically and quickly. I got quite a few appreciative comments for that little gesture from the folks around me and I now had friends for the rest of the day.
From where I sat I had a perfect view of the teams getting ready for the race, the line-up for the national anthem, the start, the finish and just cars flying by throughout the race. Once again, I was very conscious of really, really happy I am. The start saw two of the cars ahead of Daniel on the grid (Ferrari’s Kimi Riakkenen and Daniel’s team mate Max Verstappen) knocked out the race and later another, Mercedes Valteri Bottas retired as well leaving Daniel in third position. Unfortunately he was well behind Hamilton (damn) and Vettel in front so it was a bit of Steven Bradbury moment, but a podium finish is a podium finish. I got to wave my Australian flag from the stand directly in front of the presentations and generally bask in the fact that I had not only been to the Barcelona GP, but I had seen Daniel Ricciardo take out third. Oh, life thou art good.
Naturally the bus ride back was great again, this time chatting to a Scottish engineer who was surprisingly entertaining and is setting up a wellness and fitness business with his partner on the side. He is working on a project to expand the London underground infrastructure to take physically bigger trains. Again, fascinating. He also had a background in oil and gas and was really interested in why I took up running, particularly as he shares very similar philosophies to wonder coach Chris (who if you get a contact from Barry in the UK, that’s who he is).
Over dinner that night I met a lovely Swedish woman also called Susan and whose middle child, her daughter, is born a month before Eideann and is currently backpacking around Australia. Susan had just had a few days in Spain with friends and had elected to have a night on her own in Barcelona before flying home to her family, which others were a bit surprised by. We had a wonderful talk about family, travel, life experiences and the surprising similarities between us, randomly sharing food in the process. As we reflected that this interaction was unlikely had either of us not been travelling alone, she told me that it was also her birthday and later went on to explain that she has a very serious health issue in relation to which she has some major decisions to make. She has a twelve year old son, is a beautiful woman and is carrying a heavy load. My parting birthday day wish for her, as we took this snappy little selfie, was that she has peace with her decision and its outcome.
After two days of complete excitement, I was very tired come Monday so a low key day was in order so I just wandered around the city. I was back into the swing of things come Tuesday and fitted in the Museu Frederic Mares (much more extensive than it’s description suggested), a number of smaller Roman sites and a great tour of the excavated El Born markets. When rebuilding what was the equivalent of our Queen Victoria markets about ten years ago, they discovered the remains of the town from the early 1700s complete with in situ cannon balls from the siege of the city. It is now fully excavated and I was able to take a fully guided tour with just two other people which was a great way to learn the history.
I capped off my day with a visit to the Picasso Museum before dinner, as you do, and a last meal for the trip at Tapeo. This was well balanced by breakfast the next morning when I stumbled upon a tiny little churros house around the corner run by a wonderful older Spanish woman and full of locals with me the only tourist. Having intended to have muesli I instead ate my way through two serves of the most wonderful churros and had a lingering, but worthwhile sugar headache for the duration of the trip to London.
Speaking of which, time to leave the sunshine of Spain and journey to the UK where the weather forecast is a little less welcoming, but they do have the Rugby 7s.....
- comments
Praveen Reddy Love reading your amazing tales. Only you could create the magic that happens to you just by being yourself. A trip of a lifetime
Dale Simpson And you wonder why we love you so much. Brava!!!!!!
Wayne Shaw An amazing time. You do wring the most out of every day. Enjoy your time in England
Kellie Robson Love that 'Oi Sit Down' moment. Legend! Great people you are meeting, they are probably saying the same thing about you!
Dolores scally Wish i was there....met someone who didnt know you personally but said he knew of the legacy you left where he worked! All good though said he was impressed..
Peter Mitchem I am exhausted just reading this! what a wonderful time! I suggest you put these together as a portfolio & send them to some upmarket travel magazine - zm sure they will snap you up an send you all over the place!
Mandy Williamson Great read Susan.not sure the "oi " will work at the rugby. Have a friend in London learning about art curation. You and her may enjoy to meet?
Terry Meagher Spain will never recover ... until you return.
Chris Gillies So enjoying your trip!!! love ad hugs