Day 9 - Barcelona, Spain
I can’t believe how good a day I had today in Barcelona. The day started at 6:30AM when we had to get ready for breakfast and our tour. By 8:15AM we were on the bus heading up the mountain for a view of the city. What a city it is. They have really tackled their history and dealing with the present very well. The mix of modern buildings and architecture works with their very old buildings which date back 2000 years but mostly 500 years. This feels like a young city with young people everywhere with lots of life and action going on at every corner. I stayed around the main area which is definitely more touristy/shopping but the locals go there too. 1.5 Million people live in the city and 3 million in the whole area. Barcelona is way more modern than any of the previous cities. They have rules and laws which look like they are followed. Cars and motor bikes actually stop for pedestrians and red lights.
We drove down some streets checking out some of Gaudi’s work. He’s the architect who made some odd looking buildings/art. Lots of curves and different textures and styles. I think the term, “that’s Gaudi” came from him. That means over the top in design. Not usually a flattering term. Then we visited the Church for the people. This is a massive church project which has been over 100 years in the making. They hope to finish it in 2020. The people are funding the construction of it. They now charge to visit it and that money is used to keep it going. This church currently has 8 120M columns with 4 more at 160M soon to be built and then a center on reach 180M. (550 feet). Impressive what they have so far. We didn’t take the time to go in though.
We then headed to the Cathedral in the heart of the city. This church has some 2000 year old bricks but is mostly 800 years old. Seems like most tours we do focus on churches I guess since that’s usually the history of the city is based around the church. Not a religious guy but I do find it interesting, the history. Hey, I even waited around to see the Pope.
After the tour, we went back to the ship for lunch and dad had a rest and I went back into town on a shuttle (2.50E return) from the ship. I had 6 hours, what to do ? No map and no clue, I just wandered. Well, you can cover a lot of territory in 6 hours. I went to a place called Mare Magnum which is a mall by the sea. Not into shopping, I cruised through there to the back and around the yacht club. I kept walking and then ran into Spanish festival. What luck. Lots of people dancing and playing music. Everyone was having a good time. I continued on and then came upon a beach. Well, what a beach it was. The young poor college girls go there though. They didn’t weigh too much, and they couldn’t afford much clothing. They could only afford a small thong and many couldn’t even afford a top. I was going to offer these poor young things some money for clothes but decided to use my best judgment and just walk by. I took my shoes off and walked along the Sea. It was good fun. After my beach ogle, I mean walk, I carried onto the main area of shops. I enjoyed a San Miguel beer in an outside café people watching. The people seemed all nice, mostly young, and the women were mostly attractive. One couple did however comment that someone was trying to pickpocket him but he caught her in the act. I’ve heard both Rome and Barcelona have a lot of pickpocketers.
I then just walked and walked around loving everything about the city and the vibe. The market was bustling with major activity. The fruit and veggies on display were very impressive and looks like a fun place to shop on the weekends. Lots of street performers everywhere. I used an internet café for 1E per half hour. What a difference from my current fee of 50 cent a minute. Cost me $5 to check email each time on the ship since it’s so slow.
Had prime rib for dinner with cheesecake and banana ice cream. Had an MGD and now on the Coronas sitting in the piano bar as I write this up. It’s romantic ballad night. Sigh.
Tomorrow is an at sea day on our way to Cadiz, Spain, which is going to be nice. Do a lot of nothing I hope. Look forward to going through the Strait of Gibraltar. I wonder what that will be like and if the seas are going to get really rough. The captain has announced several times he expects rough seas but we haven’t noticed a thing. I guess being at the back of the boat we don’t rock as much.
I can’t believe how good a day I had today in Barcelona. The day started at 6:30AM when we had to get ready for breakfast and our tour. By 8:15AM we were on the bus heading up the mountain for a view of the city. What a city it is. They have really tackled their history and dealing with the present very well. The mix of modern buildings and architecture works with their very old buildings which date back 2000 years but mostly 500 years. This feels like a young city with young people everywhere with lots of life and action going on at every corner. I stayed around the main area which is definitely more touristy/shopping but the locals go there too. 1.5 Million people live in the city and 3 million in the whole area. Barcelona is way more modern than any of the previous cities. They have rules and laws which look like they are followed. Cars and motor bikes actually stop for pedestrians and red lights.
We drove down some streets checking out some of Gaudi’s work. He’s the architect who made some odd looking buildings/art. Lots of curves and different textures and styles. I think the term, “that’s Gaudi” came from him. That means over the top in design. Not usually a flattering term. Then we visited the Church for the people. This is a massive church project which has been over 100 years in the making. They hope to finish it in 2020. The people are funding the construction of it. They now charge to visit it and that money is used to keep it going. This church currently has 8 120M columns with 4 more at 160M soon to be built and then a center on reach 180M. (550 feet). Impressive what they have so far. We didn’t take the time to go in though.
We then headed to the Cathedral in the heart of the city. This church has some 2000 year old bricks but is mostly 800 years old. Seems like most tours we do focus on churches I guess since that’s usually the history of the city is based around the church. Not a religious guy but I do find it interesting, the history. Hey, I even waited around to see the Pope.
After the tour, we went back to the ship for lunch and dad had a rest and I went back into town on a shuttle (2.50E return) from the ship. I had 6 hours, what to do ? No map and no clue, I just wandered. Well, you can cover a lot of territory in 6 hours. I went to a place called Mare Magnum which is a mall by the sea. Not into shopping, I cruised through there to the back and around the yacht club. I kept walking and then ran into Spanish festival. What luck. Lots of people dancing and playing music. Everyone was having a good time. I continued on and then came upon a beach. Well, what a beach it was. The young poor college girls go there though. They didn’t weigh too much, and they couldn’t afford much clothing. They could only afford a small thong and many couldn’t even afford a top. I was going to offer these poor young things some money for clothes but decided to use my best judgment and just walk by. I took my shoes off and walked along the Sea. It was good fun. After my beach ogle, I mean walk, I carried onto the main area of shops. I enjoyed a San Miguel beer in an outside café people watching. The people seemed all nice, mostly young, and the women were mostly attractive. One couple did however comment that someone was trying to pickpocket him but he caught her in the act. I’ve heard both Rome and Barcelona have a lot of pickpocketers.
I then just walked and walked around loving everything about the city and the vibe. The market was bustling with major activity. The fruit and veggies on display were very impressive and looks like a fun place to shop on the weekends. Lots of street performers everywhere. I used an internet café for 1E per half hour. What a difference from my current fee of 50 cent a minute. Cost me $5 to check email each time on the ship since it’s so slow.
Had prime rib for dinner with cheesecake and banana ice cream. Had an MGD and now on the Coronas sitting in the piano bar as I write this up. It’s romantic ballad night. Sigh.
Tomorrow is an at sea day on our way to Cadiz, Spain, which is going to be nice. Do a lot of nothing I hope. Look forward to going through the Strait of Gibraltar. I wonder what that will be like and if the seas are going to get really rough. The captain has announced several times he expects rough seas but we haven’t noticed a thing. I guess being at the back of the boat we don’t rock as much.
posted by Slurpee Guy at 2:03 PM
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