August 27

We spent a wonderful day in Barcelona.  We arrived early and set out to see La Familia Sagrata which we last visited in 2003. We wanted to see how much more has been completed.  Unfortunately, we didn’t think to book our tickets online ahead of time, so when we got there (after a 4.5 mile walk) the first tickets available were for 1:30, which we couldn’t do – even though we were in port until 9 –  because I had an ICF Board meeting at 3, a safety drill at 5:30 and a Spanish dinner at 7.  So we had to be content with viewing from the outside, still awesome!

So many churches take  hundreds of years to complete so there are many architectural styles in one structure.  Gaudi’s masterpiece… will it ever be finished?

We had a walk on La Ramblos and visited the marketplace – so many wonderful sights and smells, and then those that are a bit over the top like the sheeps heads and feet and the ham with the pigs feet still attached…

They are very crazy about futbol here (or we call it soccer).  Many people wear jerseys and there are shops everywhere.  Also we have noticed there is a lot of smoking and many men wear pony tails!

I love the way they pronounce my name… Patreeecia.  Sounds so sexy. And here is a store with my name!

We had a lovely lunch at a sidewalk cafe, had paella and croquettes of course, and look at the size of these drinks!

While we were there, a man sitting next to us asked if we would take a picture of he and his son.  I did, and we got chatting.  They are from Haifa, Israel and he is a tour guide there!! We will call him because while we are doing a full day tour to Jerusalem on our first day, the second was cut short due to the transit schedule through the Suez canal the next day. He will take us on a half day guided tour to the Bahai temple and gardens and other sights we wanted to see.  Isn’t travel amazing?!

Now here is a picture you will NEVER see anywhere again. What is it?

Wait for it…..

Norm getting his hair cut in Barcelona.

We had a nice Spanish dinner in Toscana with the other world cruise travelers, had a seafood appetizer, including octopus, a choice of rack of lamb or freshly caught sea bass, more paella, and spanish wines.  Dessert was wonderful too.

Another great day!