Lost in Barcelona

Well we were in Barcelona for 3 days and we are ready for a new port.  Barcelona is actually pronounced Bar thu lona like with a lisp by the locals.  We’ve had fun pronouncing it that we to each other maybe a little to much fun.  Our first day in Barcelona Char and I escorted different tours.  I went on a 3 hour bike tour that started at 1:45 in the afternoon.  I’m not quite sure what I was thinking as it was 85 out with about 75% humidity.  It wasn’t so bad.  I did get a little flustered when the bus dropped us off and there was no guide to meet us and we had no address for the bike shop or the bike shop name and it wasn’t right where we were dropped off.  We had to wander around a little bit and ask in a few shops where it was.  We did eventually find it.  It was a fun way to see the city.  I did have to keep an eye on the kids in my group because they kept falling off their bikes and I was worried that they would get run over. 

Our second day was actually the day everyone got off the ship and the new passengers arrived.  We headed into town and walked up Las Ramblas which is a pretty famous street apparently.   It was quite crowded as the port in Barcelona has room for 15 cruise ships and there were 11 here with a total of about 50,000 tourists.  Not only that but it was super hot and humid.  We didn’t last very long.  We did go to the open market but as it was so crowed we cruised through there and then headed back to the ship.

Yesterday we woke up really early and decided to head in before the tourists got there.  We took a cab to La Sagrada Familia that Gaudi built.  We got there a little after 7 am and it was perfect out.  The temperature was cool and there were no tourists around.  The church is amazing.  Gaudi began building it in the late 1800’s and it’s still not complete.  The sculptures on it depict the life of Christ.  Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem, Christ’s birth etc.  The detail on the building is just fabulous.  We opted  not to go inside because it was about 8 am and it didn’t open until 9 and we didn’t want to wait.  We then began the walk back to the ship.  We actually got a little lost and some local lady helped us get back on track.  We walked back down Las Ramblas and the difference was drastic from the day before.  It was about 9 am and the vendors were just starting to set up shop and the tourists weren’t quite out yet.  We stopped at the open market and got some fresh fruit.

We each had separate tours yesterday afternoon.  I went on a tapas tour.  We basically drove around and the tour guide told us about the sites and then we went to a restaurant where we had Tapas or appetizers.  I thought we were just having appetizers but they pretty much served us a full meal.  We then went and walked around La Sagrada Familia and then we went to a 2^nd restaurant for more Tapas.  They just kept bringing out the food.  Keep in mind this was later in the afternoon.  We got done at about 6:20 and then I had dinner after that.  I didn’t have much for dinner.  I can’t believe that I’m going to say this but I’m kind of sick of food.  Don’t get me wrong the food is great but I swear that’s all we do is eat.

Today is a sea day and let’s just say this is the first time that I can feel the boat moving.  All the employees tell me it’s not bad but I can feel it.  I’m not sea sick or anything but I can definitely feel us moving.  Tomorrow we are in Cannes for 2 days should be fun.

 

This is me being an escort one of the guys on the tour hopped in the picture without me knowing it.  His name is Scott he and his wife were actually at our table for dinner.  There is also a photo of the Christopher Colombus monument.  I also took a few photos of sky scrapers for my niece Claire as she’s really into sky scrapers right now.

Valencia & Paella

Yesterday Char and I did totally different tours.  Char went for a 4 and a half hour bike tour through the city.  I was jealous after I heard where she went but I’m doing that tomorrow in Barcelona.  I went on a tour of the Lladro (pronounced yadro) factory.  It’s the only one in the world.  I had no clue what it was but it was really neat.  They make porcelain statues.  We got to see the whole process of how it’s made.  It’s quite expensive but I can see why.  Each piece takes forever to make but I pieces are quite stunning.

After that we went into the city and had horchata.  I was surprised at how good that was.  We went by this beautiful church made out of alabaster marble.   They had security guards around the church to make sure no one touched it because alabaster is extremely soft and it would be destroyed in a few years if everyone went around touching it.

After our tours we came back to the ship and then went back into town.  We took a cab to the beach and found a restaurant and had paella.  Apparently paella was founded in Valencia.  We had seafood paella and it was fabulous.  I’m a huge fan.  It was interesting taking a cab and eating at a restaurant where we didn’t speak the language but we managed to get it taken care of.  We ate so late that we decided to skip dinner.  We came back and had a nap instead.

Today was a sea day.  We actually have a few famous people on the cruise.  Hank the Hammer Aaron is on the cruise as well as James Carville and Mary Matalin.  I didn’t know who James Carville and Mary Matalin were because I’m not great at following politics.  They lectured today and that was quite interesting they were very entertaining.  We had our last formal night of the cruise.  It’s strange to think that cruise number one is coming to an end.  My clothes are all still fitting so I’m very pleased with that.  Tomorrow we are in Barcelona.  We spend 3 days here.  We’ve actually signed up for 5 more excursions next cruise.  Not sure what we were thinking there.  I will keep you informed of that.

Monaco & Monte Carlo

Our second day in Monte Carlo we did our own thing which was perfect.  We went to the Prince’s Palace and just as we came up from the path to the palace they were doing the changing of the guard.  We couldn’t have asked for better timing.  The palace was absolutely beautiful.  They wouldn’t allow us to take any photos but it was amazing. 

This is the coat of arms for Monaco.  Kind of a cool story the Grimaldi family years and years ago lead in an attack to take over the country.  They were all disquised as monks and then went in and took off their disquises and killed everyone and took over the country.   Kind of a gory story but interesting.

After the palace we went to the Aquarium.  The Prince of Monaco had just gotten married so they had all of the wedding photos on display at the Aquarium as well as a replica of what they wore.  They had some fantastic murals on the ceiling.  I took some pictures of those so you could see them.  On our walk into town we noticed a little beach so we decided it would be fun to go for a swim.  We came back had lunch grabbed our swimsuits and went for a swim in the Mediterranean.  The water was so warm and it is so clear and blue.  I can see why they call it the Blue Coast.  Char had to prepare for her class the next day so after we had dinner I ditched her and went into Monte Carlo.  I had to go in and see the Grand Casino.  I didn’t go inside but I walked around outside.  It was really hot and muggy that night.  Interesting note if you want to gamble at the Grand Casino it costs 10 euro just to go in also you can’t be a resident of Monaco to gamble they don’t let the residents gamble who knew….obviously not me.

Our next day was a day at sea so not to much to report there.  I was having a hard time staying awake in Char’s class so I felt a nap was needed.  I ended up having two.  All those excursions have been wearing me out. 

Today we were in Palma De Mallorca Spain.  This is a beautiful island.  We got suckered into doing another excursion but it was once a gain fabulous.  One of the nice things about the excursions is sometimes we don’t know exactly what we are doing.  Today we went to some caves.  I took a few pictures I wasn’t supposed to so I was trying to be sneaky and they didn’t turn out   so great.  If you got caught taking a photo they would shine a flashlight at you and say no photos no photos.  I only got caught once.  The cave was huge it’s 1200 meters long and has an underground lake that is 9 meters deep.  We walked down into the cave and there was this huge opening with these benches it seats about 500.  There were between 200 and 300 people in there today.  We get seated and a recording comes on and talks a little bit about the cave and then tells us to be quiet and that there was going to be a concert.  They turn out all the lights and we start hearing music and coming across the lake we see these lighted boats and on one of the boats is a string quartet and an organ playing beautifully.  They played for about 15 minutes.  I can’t say that I’ve ever heard a concert in a cave before but now I have.  We then went to a glass factory and museum and watched them make glass and we then of course went to the gift shop and bought a few things.

These are some of the molds used to make some of the glass items.  This was up in the museum so I am sure that they are pretty old.

We only had one day here and the boat was leaving at 5 we wanted to see this amazing Cathedral in town so we had to hustle.  The monk that brought Catholicism to California came from Palma De Mallorca.  As we approached the cathedral we came across this cowboy painted bronze we of course had to get our photo taken.  We ventured around the Cathedral and took a few photos.  The building is huge and just magnificent.

Tomorrow we are headed to Valencia.  Char is doing a 4 hour bike tour and I’m doing another tour.  We then have a sea day and then end our first cruise in Barcelona.  I’m doing a bike tour that day in the afternoon.  I’m not sure what I was thinking with that one as I’m sure it will be hot and humid that day.  Oh well no big deal I’m sure I will survive.  Until I blog again.  Adios!