Taxis

Well it hasn't exactly been the start to the trip I would have liked.  Taxis, because our big drama centered around taxis.  So we landed in Barcelona (don't worry this is me I will back track), and got on the bus ok, and then off at the last stop.  All good.  Then we thought we just had to drop down into the closest metro station and jump on L6 till the last stop.  Bloody L6.  So standing confused in the station a very kind man comes over and helps us, and in broken english tells us the metro has changed and L6 is no longer there and tries to describe how to get there.  We wandered around for a while but couldn't find it.  So we are even more confused, absoltuley exhausted - its been about 40 hours since we left home - and the girl in the shop we asked tried to be helpful but didn't no what was going on.  So we went back down and asked the information man, who didn't speak english, and he gave us the same sort of directions as the last guy.  We tried again but still no luck, even with the help of the metro map, and the couple we asked on the street.  I tried calling the hostel, but turns out calling doesn't work on my phone, didn't set up global roaming.  I'm about to lose it completely by this stage, so we jumped in a taxi.  He was very nice, dropped us right off outside.  And can I just say taxis drive fast in Barcelona, or at least ours did.  And didn't pay much attention to road markings either.  I was so relieved when he dropped us off, and it didn't cost a hell of a lot either.  However the drama didn't end there.  We were finally in the hostel and getting ready to go to bed which we had been dreaming about for some time.  I went to pull out my phone to send a text that we had arrived, and couldn't find it.  I left in the taxi.  Awesome aye.  So thats the first task of the day, to see if we can get it back, but I don't hold high hopes.

So.  Still a bit shell shocked you can probably tell.  Hoping a day of wandering around Barcelona in a relaxed sort of fashion restores my faith in this trip, a faith which is dearly needed right about now.

The plane trip was ok (looking at it all now), just long.  It was tougher than I remember the last trip being.  I managed to get a bit of sleep, but of course on planes you could always do with more, and more comfort. 

Brunei airport was hilarious, the Westport of internationl airports.  It was so small, 6 gates all located off one room.  We also got our first experience at the 'hole in the ground' toilets, which was fun after a 10 hour flight.

The 9-10 hours in Heathrow were a bit of a struggle.  The terminal e arrived in, terminal 4 was pretty grotty.  And the line to UK border control was loooooong, and the decor a bit 1984 mixed with doctor who. 

The best part of the trip so far was in the leg between Dubai and London.  The day started to catch up with us again, and we got to see the sun begin to rise over Baghdad.  It was utterly stunning.  I took photos but of course they don't do it any justice.  I'll try and post them at some point, but now I should start seeing what I can do about my phone, and actually get out into Barcelona.

Fingers crossed for more fun experiences from here.