Gizmodo
Hello. I'm still in Spain. Between jetlag, posting madness, and some insane hotel reservations, I ended up getting an hour of sleep each of the last two nights, which led to all sorts of vomiting and paranoia in between the blogging.
Since we posted very quickly on the two biggest stories of the show, the Xperia and Android hands ons, you'd figure we were organized. No. We booked hotels late, and apparently, Barcelona doesn't have too many of these accommodations relative to the size of Mobile World Congress. Rooms were going for 1000 Euros by the time we went hunting, so we ended up with a room in a place about 45 minutes outside of the city. At least in theory.
Our cabbie just wouldn't shut up. Later, Jesús told me he wouldn't stop bitching about his wife divorcing him. But while we were driving, all I could notice was that he was talking a lot more than he should have been, especially venturing outside of the city without a GPS or map. He overshot our exit by 30 minutes. And because it was getting late and he was sleepy, he insisted on turning the A/C off. It was freezing, and winding through the mountain roads, in the fog, exhausted and cold, I got motion sick or food poisoning set in. I puked a river at some random junction.
When we got to the hotel, turns out it was a quaint little monastery. To my American eyes, used to strip malls and 100 year buildings at the oldest, the place just looked incredibly similar to the scenery in Resident Evil 4. (The best zombie games of all time. Fact.) 
At this point, I was so sick and exhausted that I swore I kept seeing things moving in the dark corner of the room and got an hour of sleep. It sucked.
In other news, Nigel from Red Ferret hit 10k posts. And Adam Frucci is Geek Sugar's "Geek we love". Fine achievements on both their parts.
See you Stateside, hopefully with some Airtight package of Spanish Ham smuggled into my suitcase. Shhh!
Comments
Damn, that is a scary lookin' hotel. I hope you ran up those stairs with your knife out. Makes you faster!
That sucks Brian. Hope you feel better.
At least you'll have lots of fever-dream, paranoia stories to tell the grand kids in 40 years. Especially after the dementia sets in, and all your years of video game play start to become mixed up with reality...perhaps you'll see those things scurrying in the dark corners of your room again some day.
- Que the creepy music.
Brian is a fearless journalist. Myth.
I'd pee my pants. Fact.
And the most ironic, the game was based in Spain!!!
That Inn defiantely looks like some place that the Mystery Machine would break down on front of, making Scooby and the gang go in the meddle in a mystery. Put a Scooby Snack in the corner to scare away the Zombies and get some sleep.
Just alternate xanax and ritalin every 12 hours - you'll be fine.
Everyone knows zombies are weak against the Shoryuken. or in your case, the Shorypuken. HI-OOOOH!
@tehronin:
is bunny hopping enabled in barcelona?
Leon, look out!
Dude, this sounds awesome. Even the vomiting part sounds fun. Where do I sign up?
you might want to ask us europeans for some trip advice next time, don't let the dark side of the jamon overturn you.
It's not a Hotel, it's a Hostel.
@Kendra:
And if crappy movies are to believed we know what kind of psychotic death wish you have to have to stay in one of those places.
Dude, the REAL Zombies are in the STRIP MALLS!
Safe trip home - try these...[gizmodo.com]
If you're already sick and tired, based on this post, these may act as nasea-cancelling devices!
That dude with the Sony Xperia cursed you for touching his unit.
That looks like a GREAT place to stay...! do you have the details per chance? cheers. Actually there are LOTS of very cheap guesthouses to stay in in Barcelona, REALLY cheap, but pretty sleazy... and of course they often only speak Spanish...
Come to think of it, how come you didn't travel using coachsurfer?
So they just have the one light, eh? Were there just stone walls? Nuns? ZOMBIE nuns?
@nutbastard:
"Just alternate xanax and ritalin every 12 hours - you'll be fine."
Ritalin causes hallucinations of little pink Christina Aguilera bugs.
sure, if you book late what can you expect? How about going to Sitges. You can take the train (30. minutes to barcelona) and I am sure you can find something for much less. Bad luck you have!
Sorry you're illin. Good eye though man. Looks like they used that exact monastery for the game.
One word, Turista.
No, another one: Guiri.
BTW, I'm sure he got sick after hearing a speech of Zapatero.
BTW Madrid is the same. I had to move every day from hotel to hotel because (their excuse) they had sold out all the rooms. Each one was increasing Euros every night. I believe they dont see you as a costumer, they see you as a victim.
Enjoy the stay sir!
buddy next time ask around, i would've rent you a room at my place in barcelona for much much much less!
BLAM: Metoclopramide hydrochloride (Maxolon) is any travellers best friend, and in some places it's over the counter.
I never leave home without it.
@Z: Some europeans should get reading and comprehension lessons.
@Kendra: no, it was a three star hotel. Pretty cool too, but lost in the mountains.
@ecobore: I would rather fight with zombies than with cockroaches.
@Jesus Diaz: What do you mean by that? :D
How the hell did you remember all that shit?
Did you video tape it like Blair Witch Project?
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