The boss is back

March 24/25 2023 are technically a Friday and a Saturday but for these travelers it was just one continuous day of travel.  Our travel journey started of a little bumpy.  Our Uber driver came just in time for us to see a Holy Family loss in the state semifinals to Minnehaha Academy.  It is crazy when the mom and dad are more upset then their high schooler.  The airport was quiet at 8:30 but only limited food and beer options.  We ended up with one drink and some fries then we just waited around to board our flight which was delayed by 30 minutes for cleaning. 

Finally we were in the air and on our way to Paris and Charles De Gaulle Airport.  We arrive pretty close to on time.  Off the plane was not an issue but as we made our way up the escalator to a locked door which allowed us access to the airport things got a little weird.  Imagine the escalator continuing to deliver people to a space that is already filled. People were starting to freak out before a man in a red coat appeared and opened the door to release us all into the airport 

The above episode was really like a Monty Python skit.  More people keep coming up the elevator pushing everyone tighter to the door.  Everyone is yelling to stop coming up but people keep coming up and the people on top are starting to freak out like they might get squished.

Fortunately, we did not lose much time and we would have navigated Charles de Gaulle airport in record time if not for one French dude with 27 little bottles of hair product. In my estimation he was taking each one out and explaining to the security agent what it was 🤯.  I of course, just walked around him and put my stuff through the scanner but my polite wife and daughter were uncomfortable with that move.  We got to the gate just in time to board our flight to Barcelona.  Not even the French weakly protesting the increased retirement age could stop us.

We arrive in Barcelona and 65 degrees which felt significantly better than anyplace we had been.  After a 25 min cab ride we arrived at our hotel the Kimpton Vividora.  We enjoyed a nice glass of Cava, the regional sparkling wine.  It can only be called Cava if the grapes come from the region around Barcelona.

The locked doors into France more effective than the Maginot Line.

Terminal F at CDG airport 

Welcome to Barcelona 

Walking to the Kimpton 

After checking in and our glass of Cava, Kari and I set out to find some food.  The Grace Anseth was too tired and only wanted room service.

Luckily we ran into this beauty, who decided to join us for dinner.

Bring on the food.  If you not interested in the food you can skip the next 5-6 pictures.

This is a cuddle fish on a tomato purée with honey

Octopus on sweet potatoes 

Shrimp 

Calamari 

Shrimp skewers with a cherry tomato

The restaurant was hoping on Saturday night

Let’s eat Tapas!!!

The view from the roof of the Kimpton.  The cathedral of Barcelona is lite up at night.

We will get some sleep and see what tomorrow holds for us all.