The automatic doors slid open, and a gust of warm, unfamiliar air greeted Daniel Carter as he stepped out of Barcelona-El Prat Airport. He adjusted the strap of his duffel bag, his muscles aching from the long flight. The scent of jet fuel lingered in the air, mingling with the salty breeze drifting in from the Mediterranean.
Daniel exhaled, rolling his stiff shoulders. He had made it. After months of planning, weeks of uncertainty, and a twelve-hour flight that felt twice as long, he was finally in Spain. But he wasn't here for sightseeing. He was here for his uncle.
Reaching into his jacket pocket, he pulled out his phone and tapped on the last message from his uncle:
"See you in Igualada, Danny. Safe travels."
Igualada. A small but charming town about an hour away from Barcelona. He'd been there once as a child, but that was a lifetime ago.
Daniel scanned the area outside the terminal. A row of taxis lined up, their drivers either chatting or checking their phones. A nearby sign pointed toward the train station entrance, and further ahead, a row of buses idled, waiting for passengers.
His uncle had mentioned that the easiest way was by bus or train—but which one? Daniel wasn't fluent in Spanish, and he didn't want to get lost on his first day.
Approaching an information desk, he smiled politely at the attendant. "Excuse me. I need to get to Igualada. What's the best way?"
The woman, dressed in a crisp blue uniform, nodded and switched to English effortlessly. "You can take the R6 train from Plaça d'Espanya. Or, if you prefer, there's a direct bus from Sants Station."
Daniel weighed his options. A train ride sounded more scenic, but a direct bus meant no extra transfers. "Where's the bus station?"
"Just take the Aerobús to Barcelona Sants. From there, you'll find buses to Igualada every thirty minutes."
"Got it. Thanks."
Thirty minutes later, Daniel sat by the window of the Monbus, watching as the city gave way to rolling hills and open countryside. He let out a breath, allowing the tension in his shoulders to ease.
This wasn't just a trip. It was a reunion—one long overdue.
As the bus sped down the highway, he found himself wondering: How much had changed? Would his uncle still recognize the boy who used to visit during summers, now grown into a man with more questions than answers?
One thing was certain—by the time the bus pulled into Igualada, Daniel would find out.