Bar-the-lona (with apologies to Jonathan Sachs)
Just a quick update, my first night in Barcelona was ok except that apparently my bags are lost to the world. Upon arrival in London I'd had my first indication that something could be wrong when the Iberia folks couldn't check my bag (already checked through in San Fran) with me due to the fact that the baggage check was misprinted rendering the numbers unreadable. This is of course a tragic situation since it means I have to buy clothes to work in at least today before I head in to the office. Hopefully my bag will be delivered by the weekend, but we'll see.
In the meantime the hotel is in a strange area. The hotel itself is quite nice and very modern but for some reason it is nestled in among "wirrash" and other sorts of warehouses. I got in rather late due to my late connection through Heathrow so I didn't get to see much other than the various mechanics' workshops on my way from the metro station. I did get the chance to eat at a small cafe which was open (at midnight!) nearby and that seemed to be in a shopping area so who knows maybe the hotel is on some sort of boundary. Anyway I am going to see if I can get a phone really cheaply today (with the Euro where it is I am asking for a lot!) and also go buy at least one shirt and some socks or something to tide me over till at least the weekend - I guess I am lucky! Since I am trying to do a little traveling on the weekend this forces me to travel so lightly that all I have is my laptop and my toothbrush :)
UPDATE: the bag has been found and delivered ahead of me to the wedding location, leaving me free to roam the city with just a backpack!