D O C . 3 7 9 T R A V E L D I A R Y 5 8 3 [256]A similar fate befell the five pieces of luggage the Einsteins left on board the Haruna Maru in Port Said. The purser informed them that their baggage was denied landing at Marseille by the French customs officials. They were therefore shipped to Amsterdam (see Abs. 528). [257]Einstein had disembarked at Toulon and traveled by train to Barcelona via Marseille. Press reports stated that he had sent confirmation of his planned arrival in Spain while he was in Singapore, yet he had not given prior notification of the exact time. Therefore, he was not met at the station in Barcelona when he arrived in the evening (see Abs. 527 and Roca Rossell 2005, p. 29). According to the German consul-general in Barcelona, the definitive confirmation of his visit was only received one day prior to his arrival and did not reveal the exact date. There are contradictory reports in the Catalan press in regard to Einstein’s initial stay in Barcelona. According to one account, he proceeded to the home of Esteve Terradas prior to arriving at Hotel Colón (see La Veu de Catalunya, 24 February 1923). In contrast, another account claims that he proceeded to a modest pension, the Cuatro Naciones. The proprietor allegedly attempted to convince him to stay at the Ritz Hotel, where a room had been reserved for him (see El Debate, 25 February 1923 Ulrich von Hassell to Auswärtiges Amt, 26 February 1923 [GyBPAAA/R 64 677] and Sallent del Colombo and Roca Rossell 2005, p. 74). Esteve Terradas (1883–1950) was Professor of Acoustics and Optics at the University of Barcelo- na, member of the Barcelona Royal Academy of Sciences and the Arts, founder of the science section of the Institut d’Estudis Catalans, and one of the earliest disseminators of the theory of special rela- tivity in Spain (see Glick 1988, pp. 32–38, and Roca Rossell 2005, p. 28). Rafael Campalans (1887– 1933) was director of the Industrial School of Barcelona and a Catalan syndicalist politician and en- gineer by training. Casimiro Lana-Sarrate (1892–?), chemist at the Institute for Electricity and Ap- plied Mechanics in Barcelona. Presumably Ilse von Hassell (1885–1982), wife of Ulrich von Hassell (1881–1944), the German consul-general in Barcelona and daughter of Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz (1849–1930). The Refectorium was a restaurant on the Rambla del Centre, part of Barcelona’s main pedestrian boulevard, and was frequently patronized by Catalan nationalist politicians (see Glick 1988, p. 117). While he was in Barcelona, Einstein delivered a series of three lectures on relativity at the Institut d’Estudis Catalans in Barcelona. The lectures were held at the Sala d’Actes of the Diputació, the pro- vincial government building, and were sponsored by the Mancomunitat, the Catalan regional author- ity. The cost of tickets to the lectures was 25 pesetas each. Catalan nationalist symbols were prominently displayed in the lecture hall. The first and second lectures were directed at a scientifically educated audience, the third was intended only for experts. The audience gave Einstein “an extraor- dinary warm welcome and thanked him with loud applause” (“einen außerordentlichen warmen Emp- fang und dankte ihm durch lauten Beifall” Ulrich von Hassell to Auswärtiges Amt, 26 February 1923 [GyBPAAA/R 64 677]). On 24 February, the first lecture was held at 7 P.M. and dealt with special relativity. The lecture hall was filled to capacity and there was not sufficient seating for all the invitees (see La Veu de Catalunya, 20 February 1923 La Vanguardia, 28 February 1923). On 25 February, the Einsteins visited the Cistercian Romanesque Monastery of Poblet, approxi- mately 80 kilometers west of Barcelona. They were accompanied by Bernat Lassaleta i Perrin, Pro- fessor of Chemistry at the Industrial School Ventura Gassol, a Catalan writer and nationalist politician and others. Einstein signed his name in the guest book. He also toured the nearby town of L’Espluga de Francoli (see Glick 1988, p. 117). On 26 February, Einstein toured the city of Terrassa, approximately 30 kilometers northwest of Barcelona and home to a famous basilica. He was accompanied by the president of the Mancomunitat of Catalonia, the architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch. At 5 P.M., he paid a formal visit to Valentin Carulla, Rector of the University of Barcelona, accom- panied by Terradas. University Secretary Carlos Calleja y Borja-Tarrius, Professor of Chemistry Si- mon Vila Vendrell, and Professor of Physics Eduardo Alcobe, who was also the president of the Royal Academy (see Glick 1988, pp. 117–118). He also received a visitor from the Sociedad de Atracción de Forasteros (Society of Tourist Attractions), who presented him with an illustrated publication on Barcelona. At 7 P.M., he gave his second lecture in the relativity series, on general relativity, to a crowded auditorium. Following the lecture, he had a private meal at the Ritz Hotel with Josep Puig i Cadafalch. Acting Mayor Enric Maynés, and possibly also Campalans, attended the dinner as well