Train picnic to Barcelona

How to pack a proper train picnic:

1. Keep all appropriate packing medium from the rest of the trip. This includes plastic bags, small bottles, empty containers - anything that can hold an assortment of food.

2. Visit a grocery store. Though this is an essential part of travelling in my books, this is an important step to amassing supplies.

3. Decide on a menu. Usually something simple and make-ahead, like sandwiches, but can be as basic as a loaf of bread, a chunk of cheese, and a piece of fruit.

4. Prepare everything the night before, to make departure quick and painless. Transfer food to better travel containers. Downsize drinks, and pour wine into plastic bottles for less obvious consumption, though this is unnecessary in most of Western European countries. Pack lots of napkins or kleenex, or steal the toilet paper roll from your hotel room. Drain and transfer juicy item to bags and bottles, like fruit or olives. Don't forget utensiles and such, if required, though you can usually improvise, or take a walk to the bar car and acquire some.

5. When hungry, or bored, pull out a sandwich and enjoy!

6. Try to finish most, if not all while on the train - upon arrival, toss trash in the garbage cans on the platform, and feel suddenly lighter in your travel!

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Sevilla-Barcelona picnic:

- cut-up apple and pear chunks
- leftover Tres Molinos red wine in a small water bottle
- Sandwiches: extra chorizo, jamon, fresh manchego and olive oil on crusty buns
- anchovy-stuffed olives, drained and stored in a small water bottle
- assorted goodies from our travels: Antequera cookies, swiss milk chocolate, torrone from Barcelona, candied nuts from Ronda
- mandarines
- orange juice, and water
- expensive, albeit decent, train coffee

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And now for the continuation of the day in Barcelona!

Upon our return to Urbany Hostel Barcelona, we were thrilled to be recognized by the young man at reception from our stay here two weeks ago. We asked him for his suggestions of what to do with our one night left in town. He sent us across town, past La Sagrada Familia, and down Passeig de Gracia, through Placa de Catalunya and down La Rambla. On our walk, Mario and I played a little game of "spot the Gaudi" - searching either for actual Gaudi architecture, or inspired by his work. There's a lot of it, let me tell you. Once in La Rambla area, we began searching for somewhere to snack for the evening, ultimately ending in the Eixclot neighborhood next to the hostel, at a wonderful local place. We sat at a table outside, watching people walking up and down the pedestrian mall, while cars and scooters buzzed by behind us, and the metro rumbled underneath out feet. We shared a bottle of Vinho Tinto and a plate of tapas that tasted like it came out of someone's home kitchen. It was the perfect ending to Spain.