U.Si.Ra: February 2009

The Antoni Gaudi's Temple! (Src: Google)

" The setup is up and running. We would like to stick to the same configuration for next 4 days of demo. I doubt if we will require any more debugging. So.... "

Bob took a pause before continuing.

"So, have fun. Enjoy your stay here in Barcelona. If you wish, you can go back to India".

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I was in Barcelona for demo at Mobile World Congress. I should have arrived couple of days before the start of congress, but due to delay in visa - could just manage to reach one day before. Guys over here had spent 3-4 nervous and heavily loaded days and had bought the setup to some stable condition. I joined pretty late.
Bob's my korean manager. Gem of a person. I was expecting myself to be part of the demo for next couple of days - but unexpected bob's statement took me by a sudden surprise. Wasn't prepared. It took some time for me to digest that statement.
My tickets got preponed and I had one full day to roam around Barcelona.

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"Do you have some extra Euro's?" - I asked my roomie. I was out of cash and was left with bunch of coins in my pocket.

"Wait" - he searched his wallet and bag for a while and finally told "Around 20 Euro's."

"Hmmm.. That wont be sufficient to tour the city. Do you know any near by exchange?"

"No. Check at reception - and also collect the metro map from the reception."

He was in a bit of hurry and he left after that statement.

I was cursing myself for lot of things - majorly for not carrying any Visa card - I 've this long lasting tradition of not carrying any plastic money & due to last minute packing - I forgot to include my camera. :-)

Well - not much time left to waste time in cursing. Went straight to reception. Took the metro map & got information about the bank close by. It was just 2 streets across.

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Not one - but I did visit 4 banks in the sorroundings. I got almost similar response. I used to show them my Traveller's Cheque and say - "Dollar - Convert - Euro". None of them knew English & it was pretty hard understanding what they were saying. With their hand gesture - It was pretty obvious that their branch wasn't doing the conversion.

The last bank, that I had visited - I made a move. After his gesture's were over, I asked him

"Can you please give me address of the bank where they would convert?"

He started writing down. I was happy that atleast he understood this relatively long statement.

I came out of the bank with that chit of paper in my hand. Apparently - he had understood only the word "address" - He had written the address of the branch in front of which I was standing !! :P

I searched my complete bag - wallet and all pockets of my shirt, trouser and jacket, collected all the coins and counted.

"Nine Euros 39 cents".

9 Euro 39 Cents, thats all I had. & relatively huge task ahead -- Roam around Barcelona with this money !!!
Like famous bolly song "Paanch Rupayya - Baara aana", I started singing -

"Nau Euro, Unchalis Aanaa---
Barcelona Ghoomne humko Jaana"

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The Agbar Tower (Src: Google)

There was a huge, elliptical building at a distance of about a km and had heard my roomie talk about huge shopping area like brigade's close-by. Thought I should give it a try over there. Might find some bank where they would exchange dollar's. I started walking towards that building. & this is how my different & unique way to roam Barcelona started - by foot !!
This game wasn't easy. Coz of the huge cash back-up with me, I couldn't afford to loose my way back to hotel, since I couldnt take taxi back in any case. & because of completely alien language - I knew I will not be able to make it to hotel just by holding my hotel address in hand.
I memorised each turn that I took - read as much hoardings on the road as I can. After about 30-40 minutes, walk - I reached the said place. It was indeed a huge commercial area, with all the leading branded showrooms putting their presence in a huge manner. But couldn't see a single presence of the stuff that I was looking for! The Bank!

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Look at my situation. I travelled thousands of miles from India. & struggling to travel a mile here.
I had enquired about the Barcelona bus tour - It was around 25 Euro's. The metro tickets were around 1.5 Euro's per trip. But I couldnt digest the metro map. I gave up.
I started crawling back to my hotel - & saw a huge unique structure. Not much deviation from my actual predefined path. So, I decided to visit that place.

That was temple like structure - built by famous architect of Barcelona "Antoni Gaudi". Came to know later that its one of THE MUST visit attractions of Barcelona. I did manage to visit one place atleast. Sat on the bench in front of that royal architectural wonder, literally laughing at my situation. Had a puff & that's it. The end of my 'by foot' barcelona trip!

Just when I was tracing the unique shape's being created by the smoke of my cigarette - I saw a small hoarding on the corner of the street --- "Banco Fortis".

With some hope and new energy - went to that bank. & the same statement "Dollar - Convert - Euro", with some hand guesture's. Believe me, I had improved a lot in this.
" Yes - We do. Traveller's Cheque or Dollar Bills ?? " - Quick, clean English response. You can definately imagine the happiness on my face after listning to that response. In next 5 minutes, I was out of bank with around 150 Euro's in my pocket !!!! :-)
& in hardly another 10 minutes, I was sitting in the Barcelona Tour Bus !! Hurrraaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy !!!!!!! The Trip had begun! Finally!!
Next 9 hours were going to be un-forgettable moments of my life. [ Past 3 hours were already un-forgettable :-) ]

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Over-all, the trip was really amazing. Beautiful city with full of architectural wonders everywhere. Old city of Barcelona was like walking in the history. City has that amazing charm with perfect mix of tradition and modernity. Nice beaches. Sat on the sand for a while, remembering our great trips to Goa. Beach - great babes & memories of Goa! How can I forget to pay tribute to Mr.Mallya on such a great occassion ?!

3 - Cheeers!!