The former president of the United States, Barack Obama, and the former first lady Michelle Obama have landed tonight in Barcelona. They have done so a little later than planned – their arrival was expected around 9:00 p.m. – and they are already resting at the Gran Hotel La Florida in the Catalan capital, where Bruce Springsteen is also staying.
As the leader of the E Street Band already did last Wednesday morning, Barack and Michelle Obama have arrived at the corporate terminal at El Prat airport, exclusive for corporate and private flights.
However, as he is a former president of the United States, the presence of security forces in the area has been much greater than the one to receive the Boss, who arrived last Wednesday around 2:00 a.m., also on a private flight but from Atlantic City, New Jersey.
To receive the former president and the former first lady of the United States, a dozen large vehicles, together with some crews from the Mossos d’Esquadra, were waiting in the vicinity of said terminal. Subsequently, the same vehicles have accompanied the Obama couple to the hotel located in Tibidabo, leaving the image of a large security procession that has toured some streets of the city.
Back at the Gran Hotel La Florida, it was Bruce Springsteen himself, who this afternoon did a sound check at the Estadi OlÃmpic, giving some clues about possible songs that he will play in his first concert of the European tour, who was in charge of receiving to Barack and Michelle Obama at the accommodation reception.
The Obamas are expected to carry out several cultural visits throughout Friday -they are talking about the Picasso museum and the Sagrada Familia- before going to the Boss concert, which they will witness at the foot of the track from a secure capsule specially set up for these guests so special, according to El PaÃs. They will be accompanied by filmmaker Steven Spielberg and actress Kate Capshaw, and there is also talk of the presence of actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson.
In total, some 55,000 people are expected to fill the Estadi OlÃmpic LluÃs Companys each night to witness the first two concerts of Bruce Springsteen’s European tour. The Boss had not performed in Europe for seven years and although the American tour has had a static repertoire with few changes, surprises are not ruled out for this weekend.