Post #30 Barcelona, Day 1

Waiting on the ship with all the others.
Waiting for our luggage.
On the bus.
Saying good-bye to the Millennium.
We are heading up into those rocks.

And so is he...I'd rather be on a bike than the bus!
Getting closer.Quite a place.
The monestary.

The tour guide telling us what we are seeing.
The cathedral.

Inside.
Beautiful.
Having our lunch.
As we left we saw these cars. They are not parked, they are waiting to get in...a very popular place!

Approaching our hotel.
Our room (balcony in background)
See, it is just a little cheesy.
And the furniture is very fancy.
But the view from the balcony makes up for it.
The crowd on Las Ramblas.

One of the Tapas places on Las Ramblas.
One of the street performers.Another performer...she really did look like a marble statue.
A view down the street adjacent to Las Ramblas.

My pick-pocket buddy is in the yellow, hiding from me in the crowd.
The Christopher Columbus monument.
Where we ate dinner.
We were a little early.
One of the fountains at Placa Catalunya.

Talking with our CC friends at that Placa.
Our hotel all lit up.
The entrance to the hotel.

The Blog:

Up at 6:25 to meet at 7:25
We had decided to do a ship’s tour to Montserrat
to see the famous monastary.
Yes…a bus!
Then the bus would drop us off at Placa Catalunya
Just around the corner from our hotel.
Many tours met in Champagne lounge
Since we had a ship’s tour thought we got priority
Well, there must have been a LOT of priorities,
The place was jammed packed!
Our bus was called
Hereded down to baggage carousel around 8am
Just like an airport…wait and wait.
Collected all our baggage,
Then wheeled stuff to the bus…last one of course
Had to wait until after 9:00am
Someone had some lost luggage
Drove to Montserrat…60 kilometers
Quite a drive
Narrow roads
Lots of cyclists…I was envious!
Marcia would NOT like the roads (steep and with LOTs of curves)
We had a tour guide on board that was very good.
When we arrived we had to walk a ways
He told us they would be closing viewing
Of the famous Black Madonna shortly for Sunday mass.
We got in line…the person ahead was the last one accepted.
Drat!
Went into the basilica…beautiful.
Mass was going on (very full) so it felt awkward being inside.
I didn’t see the no camera sign until after I took lots of pix
Went for a snack on way back to bus…something and wine
Then an ice cream bar
Then the bus ride to Placa Catalunya (nap time)
Didn’t think the tour was worth the money
Interesting, yes, but a lot of driving…on a bus!
(But at least we were dropped off close to the hotel)
As the bus crossed Las Ramblas
we were blown away by the crowds
Knew it was popular/busy, but not like THAT
Helped the bus driver unload bags (everyone else stood around)
Then the short walk to our hotel thru the throng
Found the hotel, and up the small elevator to the front desk.
Ran into Monterey Girl (from CC board) at the hotel
She recognized me from blog pictures.
How funny! They were headed to board the ship
And would be on it as I type…sigh.
Our hotel room is pretty cheesy…but just as expected.
Quaint, clean, and really pretty nice.
Everything worked, so that was great
Staff wonderfully helpful
(maps, pharmacy location, dinner reservations)
Buffet area is great…24/7 there is something available.
Free water and sodas and cheap wine
But no ice! Welcome to Europe!
Wifi in the room…great!
Hit Las Ramblas looking for Tapas and wine
Took CC board advise and went down side street
Found a place that looked good…and was.
Four different tapas and wine. Very nice
Were going to go for a nap but then kept walking
Street performers were amazing
Headed to the Christopher Columbus monument
Which is at the other end of Las Ramblas
Wanted to check the HoHo ‘process’
(Hop On Hop Off tourist bus)
Got separated…I thought they were ahead of me
But they were behind (that hardly ever happens)
Had a young man ‘bump’ into my fanny pack
As I bent over to take a picture of the
Slight of hand guy (pea under the boxes)
I quickly turned and he turned his head
I followed him swearing at him and
Taking his picture…he kept trying to hide his face
I got board with that game and continued my walk.
(You really have to be paranoid out there!
Pick-pockets are everywhere!)
Reconnoitered with the group
Got our bus information
Walked around the mall at the port (across street for CC monument)
Could see Millennium…sigh again.
Enjoyed just strolling, people watching and gawking at the yachts
Then headed back to rooms (5:30?)
We all seem to have picked up colds
Probably combination of dehydration, lack of rest,
Over-exertion…and alcohol consumption.
Cough, congestion, sniffles, sneezing, sore throat.
Not debilitating but a bother.
Thought we were over the worst part yesterday
But the walk seemed bring it back again
Took a nap then went to a pharmacy to buy cold stuff
Met R/L for dinner
2 recommendations from front desk
1st place full (8:19 pm). The ‘famous’ 4Cats.
2nd place huge, and almost empty…Barkeno
Very nice. Upscale. Trendy.
Some language issues but we struggled through it fine.
Seafood Polentas for four…very good.
They brought the big pan out to show us before they dished up
Not sure why I didn’t think to take a picture of it.
Must have been the cold medication (like Thera-cold)
Nice walk back by the fountains in the square
Bumped into Bob and Gail from CC
Had a nice chat.
Back to room for the night.