For me, Barcelona and its Basilica de la Sagrada Familia was the first super anticipated stops of this cruise. We were last in Barcelona in 2011? 2010? When we saw the Sagrada Familia for the first time – the inside barely roughed in and the outside only 76% complete. Even still, it was the most stunning building I’ve ever seen.
So looking forward to this!
But first we had to get off the ship. We have all noticed that the senior crew (officers?) on this ship are particularly non-communicative and sometimes downright rude. Typically the cruise ship captain is on the air every morning, ridiculously cheerfully announcing the day’s port, the weather, and if you’re leaving the ship today, please remember <all sorts of really important details like where and how to get off the ship>.
Pretty sure we haven’t a word from this ship’s captain yet, and we’ve been on it since Saturday. Nor were specific disembarkation provided in the daily newsletter. It’s been a bit frustrating.
Susie had booked us a private tour that included Park Guell and the Sagrada Familia. To add to the confusion of the day, a conversation with the tour company insisted that we were now in a group tour (which we never agreed to) and that we had to be ready to be picked up at 9:00 a.m. Even though the ship docks at 9:00 a.m. and we have no idea when we were going to be allowed off the ship. The tour company guy told Susie to “tell them to get in earlier” (!?!). Yes, we’ll do that. Tell the captain we need the ship to show up earlier.
With our “private tour” voucher in hand, we went down to deck 4 to be told that we needed to be on deck 7. Susie commented that we never hear from the captain to an official like person, and he said, “Well, what would you like him to say?”
“Well, maybe good morning and welcome to Barcelona.”
To which he replied in an obviously sarcastic voice, “Good morning and welcome to Barcelona.”
Not sure we’ll be sailing on the Norwegian Spirit again any time soon.
We get down to the bottom of the gangway, and Marta is waiting for us. As we climb into the van, I tell her (like I tell all the tour guides) that I walk pretty slowly, so please don’t leave me in the dust. She assured me it would not be a problem.
It was a problem.
When we arrived at Park Guell (an Anton Gaudí creation), there were 7 other people waiting, for a total of 12. We were “late” (we were not), because the ship had arrived late (it arrived on time).
As soon as we entered the park, the other group bugged Marta to get going, and no surprise, I was left in the dust. Apparently Marta had told the people around her that they would stop at right after the entrance, but Andy and I were not any of the people around her, so we lost them almost immediately in the crowds. Marta carried no flag and with dark hair and dark clothes, just blended in.
Fifteen confusing minutes later, we were reunited with the group, with some nasty exchanges between us and one particular person in the other group. Sorry lady, but I just can’t walk any faster than I do, and no it’s not my fault the tour company screwed up, so too bad you’re stuck with me and it wouldn’t kill you to be considerate of someone who isn’t a perfect like you. {Note: these were inside words, not outside words 😀 }
This is exactly why we booked the private tour.
Fortunately, after that kerfuffle, everything chilled out, Marta figured out that she really needed to make sure I wasn’t left behind (as in talking to *me* about where they were going next, so I could follow along if they went ahead).
And Park Guell’s charms helped as well.
This fanciful house:
The world’s most comfortable bench (and supposedly the longest):
And of course the salamander:
Did a great job of smoothing over ruffled feathers.
And finally at last, to the Sagrada Familia.
If you’ve never seen it in person, photos don’t really do it justice. Here’s a photo of the “happy” side (the birth of Christ):
Marta did a great job of describing Gaudí’s designs on the happy side. We then went into the museum to look at Gaudí’s artifacts and the geometry he used to design and redesign and redesign the church.
This is a map of Gaudi’s design:
And then we went around to the “sad” side (the Passion):
And then at last, we entered the church. It is even more magnificent than the last time! Blue windows on the morning side, red windows on the afternoon side, the entire interior glowed:
We’ve decided we’ll all be back in 2027, the year after the basilica is planned to be finished, to see it in all its splendor.
So the next tour company mess up was discovered when Marta told us that the tour ended in the church. Of course, we had booked a tour to take us back to the ship. But, actually that was ok with us. We still had some time. We were planning on going to Las Ramblas for something to eat before we went back to the ship.
So we said our good-byes to Marta (and good riddance to the other group), and set out to find a taxi to take us to Las Ramblas.
Which was ridiculously easy, no surprise there. The cab driver dropped us off near “La Bouqueria”, a huge indoor market in the middle of Las Ramblas, with all sorts of restaurant choices. We picked the first one we could see.
Tapas! We had some cheese thing with a honey dip, chicken croquets, and cod croquets. Unbelievably good! Sitting outside in the glorious weather. Can’t beat it.
We’re back at the ship now. I figured I might as well knock out today’s blog before dinner. Who knows? Maybe I’ll stay awake long enough to see a show tonight…
Tomorrow: A Place I’ve Never Been To Before – Palma de Majorca
Maryland Meshugas 