There's no place like home...

[graculus]

Hola! ;)

Yes, I'm finally back from Barcelona, though with the sore throat from hell (which is odd, considering the amount of fruit and juice I consumed the past few days)...


So, it all started on Thursday morning. I'd been worried about the weather, which just seemed to be getting worse and worse - on Wednesday it had snowed and there was more forecast. Despite this, I got to the airport (about 15 miles away to the east of my house) in reasonable time and the roads weren't too bad at all. I guess the people manning the gritters *have* learned from last year's fiasco.

Anyway, my flight was scheduled for 10am, getting me into Barcelona about 1.30pm their time - that would give me a while to get to the hotel, dump my stuff and then meet nausica2 for a tour of the museum where she used to work.

First 10am rolled past, then 11am, and all the screens said was 'delayed'. I was starting to get a bad feeling about this. At 12 noon, they announced the flight had been cancelled, to a planeload of somewhat pissed off people. It seemed that the airport in question had been closed the previous afternoon, forcing the return plane to land elsewhere, and now *that* airport (where my plane was!) was snowed in.

That was how I ended up driving for about 90 minutes west to another airport altogether, in order to get a flight at 5.30pm, which got me to Barcelona about 9pm in the end. After I'd stopped off at home to mail nausica2 so she wouldn't still be standing outside the Liceu, wondering where I was! ;)

Anyway, once I'd actually *arrived*, I had a great time.

As for the con: Chris Judge and Michael Shanks were their usual gorgeous and delightful selves, though it was obvious they were tired out (this was the final convention appearance of their tour). Despite this, and despite the obvious difficulties of holding a Q&A in more than one language (English, Spanish and Catalan!), they had the audience entertained and enthralled with apparent ease.

I'd seen both of them individually, but I knew seeing them together would be something special and it was. It's so obvious they're the best of friends, despite having spent 2 weeks travelling together and Michael's cracks about Chris's feet.

The one moment that really sticks out for me as an example of the friendship of these guys was from the Q&A - Michael was asked who was the best actor on the show, having been reminded that Chris had previously said Michael was. They'd previously been perched very precariously on the back of a sofa (having figured out immediately that if they sat down properly a good segment of the audience wouldn't be able to see them) and as Michael made a meal out of considering his answer, Chris edged his way along the back of the sofa, tapping himself on the chest with his microphone as he did so. In the end, Chris had his head on Michael's shoulder, with Michael patting his arm before answering "Tony Amendola!". I've no doubt those pics will be everywhere pretty soon! :)

The con itself was the first SG event ever held in Spain and was organised by a guy who's only 16 - it was clear, though, that he'd been asking the right questions and managed to avoid the majority of the pitfalls some experienced organisers still fall into. They pitched it about right, capping the attendance at 160, which meant plenty of time to do everything in terms of photos and autographs without turning it into a production line.

Meanwhile, in other news, Barcelona was wonderful, even though it was amusing to see all the locals in big coats, with hats and scarves on, since it was a chilly 16°C! I bet it's hell on wheels in the summer, but though it was still quite busy there was lots to see and do (as well as loads I didn't get around to...). The highlight for me was definitely La Sagrada Familia (it's almost impossible to describe that place, you need to see it for yourself) and climbing one of the towers just as it was striking the hour.

It was so great to meet nausica2 and lukitas! I can't thank either of you two enough for how much you added to my Barcelona experience! *smooch* :)

I know you'll be amused to hear that yesterday I was in a cafe and the waitress complimented me on my Catalan, saying I'd surprised her when (since she knew immediately on seeing me that I was English) I'd ordered my meal in 'perfect' Catalan instead! ;)

Anyway, that's it for now, unless I remember something else later...

Comments

[lukitas.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you arrived fine to home!!
hehe I'm proud of your catalan ;)) So what did you ordered ?
ANd so you to notices, it's cold in here, it's 10ºC this evening, now I think we're more or less 8ºC here at home.

Very glad to help you.

[crazymadjo.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a fabulous time! Thanks for the details. :-D