With apologies to Facebook friends who may already have seen a slightly modified version of this, but with mostly different pictures!

"We will never use the train again" said the two ladies seated behind us, very loudly, in English.  They had flown intercontinental  into Madrid a couple of days prior, found that the food there wasn't to their taste. "Some of the worst food I have had - tapas isn't like tapas at home" and were headed to Barcelona for a couple of days before joining a cruise to Italy, from where they would fly home. 

They were particularly incensed at the lack of station staff to help them with their luggage (cruiser-sized cases) and the lack of space for those cases on the train.   Apparently, someone was rude to them when they asked for their cases to be stored on the train, but it seems that someone DID help them in the end, as they were then looking for someone to get their cases down off the racks as we approached Barcelona.  They asked me - well, I'm not fit enough to lift an unknown weight off the rack above the heads of others where it had ended up, and didn't wish to risk hurting a third party as the case came crashing down.  I expect I was in for a slamming for that when they talked with others as they continued their holiday.

Their travel agent was a recipient of their wrath too - apparently that agent should have advised them that the train might be very busy ... "should have booked us a car" though they admitted to having had that option and electing for the cheaper train.

"We will never use the train again" ... and I replied "Good - that will leave more space for the rest of us".  I don't know if they noticed that comment - it clearly passed them by as they carried on engaging in a loud conversation with me, which I found to be a fascinating study of how different we all are.  I explained to them that the people on the long distance train on a holiday Saturday would likely have far more luggage than on most days when it would be business travels and commuters with far less luggage.  I did point out the Ts and Cs that say your should be able to manage your own luggage on the train - and they found those and agreed that's what they said. Not sure why they felt the Ts and Cs shoouldn't apply to them! Cruising is probably right for them, and I understand that they are with an up-market cruise company - one wher they can snap their fingers and get the service they want ...

""You can also expect a higher level of service than most cruise lines. Tasteful staterooms offer luxurious comfort. Plus, 24-hour butler service on Oceania will cater to your every whim.""

Thank goodness we are all different.  And thank goodness that it's Lisa and I travelling together.

We started the day in Madrid, that place of "awful un-Spanish food", train left of time, 12 minutes late into Barcelona (Spanish trains have all been a bit laid back in timekeeping) and 9 minutes to change across Sans Station - so please forgive the lack of pictures there.  Onto the much more relaxed medium distance train to Port-Bou - left on time and arived about 15 minutes late.  Changed to the French train - another 10 minute change but a much smaller station, and onwards to Narbonne for a couple of nights.   Notable that this train has generous stops along the way and in on time at Narbonne.

Narbonne Station has wheelchair loading devices on the platforms.  It has disabled loos. It has tactile edgings and leader strips. Pity that the platform can only be reached by stairs, and we found ourselves on the mid-station platform with marvellous stuff around us, and a challenge to exit the station.

The Spanish flag flies at half mast over Atocha



Pasties are not the sole preserve of Cornwall and the smelly subway at Temple Meads





Breakfast on the train



The one decent picture I managed to grab at Barcelona. There must be things we missed in the city?



Spanish side of Port Bou Station



and through the booking hall to the French train



Narbonne Station and the train we have just arrived on



Leading the people who need that extra little bit of help to .. the steps



Later (!) confirmation from Google.  At least we know to plan our escape!



And at large in Narbonne!