Barcelona, Part 1

Hello from my new friend "Rocco" - pictured below. His owner is the guy I'm renting a room/apartment from via Craigslist. Right now, Rocco himself is trying again and again to put a bunny slipper in my lap, hoping to start either a game of fetch or tug-of-war, neither of which ever seem to get old. Anyway, as you can see I've quickly made myself "at home" in Barcelona.



The cultural experience started even before I crossed the border, when I realized that the nighttime "hotel train" I was on would run 2-3 hours late. Something had been broken, and we'd stopped somewhere, for some amount of time... at least that was the rumor among the passengers. I don't think an official announcement was ever made.

But my cabin-mates were some friendly ladies, speaking a combination of German, Spanish, French and English. I'm starting to realize that talking about languages is like talking about the weather around here - a handy topic for strangers to pass the time.

After our noontime arrival, I went out for a nice lunch outdoors, with a 10-euro "menu del dia" of avocado salad, fresh fish, and dessert. Later in the afternoon, I visited the cathedral Santa Maria del Mar (of the Sea) and wandered around the Gothic district.








My excuse for being here is a conference co-sponsored by Net Impact at one of the local business schools, and also the opportunity to meet some folks I've been working with to organize a two-day seminar here in May, and to scout out the facilities we'll be using then.

There is so much to do and see here, I wish my trip were longer, or I had less work! But at least in May I'll have another chance.