Mastersingers in Barcelona — 2005

Arriving in Barcelona

There were 58 singers who made up this version of Mastersingers USA, accompanied by 23 wives and significant others.  They arrived from all parts of the U.S. (and one from Germany), and for the first time in Mastersingers’ European adventures, we all had separate travel arrangements, instead of traveling as a group.  About half the group was scheduled to arrive at Malgrat de Mar on Friday or earlier; the remainder on Saturday (or later).

We had tried to get details of travel arrangements between the Barcelona airport and our hotel, but the best we could get were vague assurances that we would be met and that transportation would be provided for the hour-long journey.  Our hosts were given our individual travel schedules, and for our part, we each knew that it was possible to travel from the airport to Malgrat de Mar by train.

As things worked out, one bus was provided for us on both Friday and Saturday mornings, but very few of us arrived early enough to take advantage of this transportation.  Most of us emerged from the international arrivals gate full of anticipation, only to find no clue of what to do next — no bus, no contact person, no sign, nothing.  The reality of the situation hit some of us quickly; for others it took an hour or more of waiting, but we all eventually realized we were going to have to figure out the train connection (all except for a few who grit their teeth and spent the 100+ euros for a taxi).

It was a 20-minute train ride to the city, then a change to another line and another hour and 15 minutes to Malgrat de Mar.  All of this wasn’t bad if you spoke a little Spanish, were clever enough to get a train schedule, or were adept at figuring out train lines with a minimum of signs.  Without those advantages and traveling at commute hours with all your luggage, the stress was unavoidable.  Although we each had a long train ride to cool down and relax, it’s probably not an exaggeration to say that we each arrived angry.  That quickly dissipated though, as we greeted old friends and relaxed in the new surroundings.

Despite the picture above, our accommodations at the Hotel Reymar were spartan and amenities were few.  The hotel’s dining room served 3 meals per day of which we could select 2 without charge.  Food was served cafeteria style, including what seemed like local dishes, enhanced with some fresh fruit and vegetables.  Still, the quality seemed to deteriorate as the week went on, and most of us sought out other restaurants, looking for a good cup of coffee and some relief from the sameness of the hotel fare.

The Hotel Reymar was across the street from some of the better-class hotels, and the beach itself.  Up and down the street on either side of us, hotels, restaurants, shops and other tourist amenities stretched for what seemed like miles.  And except for a brief period in the early morning hours (3 a.m. to 8 a.m.), the wide sidewalks were crowded with tourists.

Many of the hotels featured live music every night of the week, and Hotel Reymar was no exception.  The loud music played until midnight each night, dictating the bedtimes of those of us whose rooms faced the pool and the street.  But very few of us ended our days at midnight.  There were various nighttime activities to explore, bars and restaurants to check out, and long-standing friendships to rekindle — besides the new friendships to cultivate.  Thirteen of us had never been on a Mastersingers overseas tour before, and another half-dozen or so had missed last year’s reunion in Chicago or the 2003 tour to the UK and Ireland.