Left hotel at 3.00am for airport unable to book taxi but no worries had a cab within 30 seconds of going out side the door. On arriving at airport found it deserted except OEers sleeping on the floor every where.Made it to Frankfurt to board straight away.The flight went quite quickly but I would be unlikely to fly with Lufthansa again unless it was a lot cheaper, pitiful movies and just the one monitor.Better food this leg though.Arrived in SF 2.00pm their time but around 12 Barcelona .We found Lorries shuttles and the asian driver who drove the large mini bus 75mph with one hand on the wheel and the other on of course cellphone yabbering in chinese ,while a wheel alignment problem sent a shudder through whole vehicle.The person next to was a very large transsexual who sat a la Dulcie Routhan.The first impressions were that compared to Europe the vehicles were of course much larger and there also a much wider spread of age of them.Going through customs we found them very friendly even after I had cocked up the the form with help from the air line steward.
The last hotel very comfortable and seems to be near things.On the drive delivering people we went to the famous Haight-Ashbury area of the 60s ,actually looked very small and rather ordinary .After checking in we went up for a rest but set the alarm 6.00pm.When the alarm went off I turned it off and we slept through till about 12.30am.Watched CNN and American elections for about an hour .Then slept on and off till 530. Booked city tour ,very good guide .We are finding we really like the americans ,extremely polite and great service.That is quite a change from the rather aloof manner of especially the spanish shop assistants who seemed to find the distractions from their cellphones a real nuisance .The city reminded us strongly of Wellington ,built around a harbour with dodgy weather.Unfortunately not nearly as nice looking ,that may be because of the earthquakes and fires that have bedevilled this city. The scots man who designed the 1000 acre park should have been shot planting only pines macrocarpas and gums for one of the most ordinary parks I have ever seen.The afternoon we went to Muir park over the bridge to see a redwood forest remnant ,although the trees are truly massive ,you can see why tourists love NZ.Then to Sausalita the villagey harbour town that definately has far superior weather than over the bridge.SF is conference town and there are several on at mo .One of the most popular seems to Rumitologists (spelling looks a little dodgy)around 10000 of them in town.

spent a last great day in Barcelona. Sunday in Spain is family day no shops open .We went up to Guell park .This upperclass residential development was designed by Gaudi but was a financial failure and only one house was built that being lived into by Gaudi for 20 years.The area was bought by the council and now is a favourate place for Barcelonians to hang out with their families.It was a good 1.3km stroll from metro and the day had dawned warmer than CNN weather had predicted and we soon regetted clothes choice as temp neared 25+c.The park is a wonderful haven in the city full of Gaudi's humour in his design and detail.Wonderful areas for performers to entertain in and for real artists to show off work that is really exceptional.In the afternoon we went to Barcelonetta ,the beach where the rest of the city seemed to be .Where in the Lux book you can see busty babes and budgie smugglers but we arrived a little to late for that but still a great place with bars and restaurants galour. We then went back to hotel to pack for early start in morn.I need to mention Villy the german who owns the guest house we were staying at.Firstly we thoroughly endorse this place as willy said 4 star clean for 2 star price.He really was crazy with addiction to clean (is this german mike a).He said the girls vot you say flish flish with cloth ,instead how you say vacuum then wipe. This place has three keys to get into so very safe and own parking for car and right next to metro and most importantly a great little bar where we had our little morning fresh squeezed orange (pretty good with shot of voddy too)

 
 
 
 
view from cable car

 
C's arty shot on roof of pedrera with familia framed

 
 
 
 
more pedrera

 
 
 
 
casa batllo plus la padrera

 
 
 
 
the audacious sagrada familia