We're not in Kansas anymore

Nor, did we get to Liverpool. By the end of the day, we took a walk around near our Hostal in Barcelona, thinking of all the good things that had happened. The taxi ride to the airport in Santiago was on time and swift. The snack provided by the hotel was lovely, with fruit, biscuits, water and juice. And then in Barcelona airport, I located my purse only five minutes after noticing that it was missing. And the young man, running with his wife and me, through the bowels of the airport to get our boarding pass specially stamped, actually dragged my bag, so I could run faster. He was so nice, and was truly disappointed when I announced at the passport control, only 100 metres from our gate, that I had dropped my passport, somewhere, in the "great race". 

The Gardia Civil we're very concerned and checked all the various security lines and also all the cashiers at the duty free store, the one we'd had to weave through at break neck speed, hoping not to break bottles on the way. By this time I was back at passport control and Les was talking to one of the officers, who recognized me.......I'd had to go back through. I was, at first, angry with Les, for not flying on to Liverpool, bit quickly was quite relieved that he had stayed behind. 

On the return trip to the Gardia Civil in the security area, the senior chap actually walked us to the office a few floors below and outside the building, to fill out a police report. But oh, I had lost the passport between security and passport control, and that is international territory, so I had to attend another Gardia Civil office in a different terminal. Directions were clearly given and off we went. Again, we found them very helpful and I have a lovely police report. They were so helpful with directions to the Canadian consulate in the Plaza de Catalunya.....open until 5:30. On to the airport/city shuttle and made it by 4:30. Again, very helpful, kind, calming staff. Lots of forms to fill, pictures to take. And then the young man taking the pictures gave us directions to a Pension nearby. Again, kind sympathetic people, 120€ for two nights. By 8pm, I had filled in the forms, contacted four people to be references, and felt absolutely shattered. We went for a meal at the closest restaurant. Surprising good. Three courses, including beer or wine for 15.50€ pp. and the courses were great: huge salad, halibut and flan. 

So we are thankful that people are so kind. 

We returned to the consulate this morning with forms and photos, and the young, efficient woman told me that unless anything went sideways (what more could possibly go wrong?), my temporary passport would be ready by 10am tomorrow. So we fly to Glasgow tomorrow night.

Below is our view from our room at the pension.