Without having used multi-day RailEurope vouchers before, we were a little nervous about trying to redeem them just before our train was to leave, so after breakfast we headed out to Sants Estacio Central (the train station) to get things figured out. On our trip back, we got off of the Metro at the bottom of the Ramblas to wander around the Bari Gotic for a while before we had to leave for Avignon. After lunch it began to rain so we picked up our bags at the hotel and took a cab back to the train station.
What a delight the train was. We’re used to the commuter train between San Jose and San Francisco – a jerky, noisy, bouncy and wobbly ride. This was smooth and quiet whether racing along at near 200 MPH or slowly approaching a station. We sat across from each other in comfortable seats with a table between us with leaves on each side so it could be narrow or wide depending on our needs. I used the time to catch up on some of this and then just stared out of the window. I can’t remember a more relaxing transportation experience and we were approaching Avignon in what seemed a lot less than four hours.
It turned out that the train station where I thought we’d land and from which it was not a long walk to our hotel was not where the bullet train dropped us. We had to cab it into town and when we walked into our hotel at a little after nine, the owner knew who we were. He usually locks the door at eight but had kindly stayed up for our arrival. After helping us to our room and showing us where to go for dinner – we were both tired and hungry – he took his leave. Past the Irish Pub, across a main street, down an alley and past a church and, voila, a couple of cafés. We sat outside at the one he recommended and were glad we did. A piece of hearty French bread with tomatoes, cheese and basil all toasted for each and we shared a platter of salami, Brie, pate and small pickles and a bottle Cote de Rhone. More food than we could handle, but we walked back to our hotel well refreshed.