We Finish Our Cruise in Eclectic Barcelona

We sailed from Toulon into some really stormy and heavy seas on our way to Barcelona.   The next day, Christmas, would be spent at sea , not necessarily because we probably make Barcelona in a day and a half day (we were going at a really slow pace), but more likely because there would be nothing to do in port on Christmas day as all of the businesses would be closed. We arrived in Barcelona at around 0230 on the 26^th, and we would do a driving/walking tour later on that day.

Gaudi’s Casa Batlló

Next to Casa Batlló

Barcelona is the capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia in the Kingdom of Spain. With 1.6 million inhabitants it is Spain’s second largest city and boasts a metropolitan population of around 4.7 million. Founded as a Roman city, Barcelona was besieged several times giving it a rich cultural heritage and making it today a cultural center and popular tourist destination. The city is renowned for its architecture and it has 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites, five of which are attributed to the genius of Antoni Gaudi, a modernistic architect that designed in the mid-19^th century. We tried to get the optional tour dedicated to Gaudi’s works, but it was sold out and we were relegated to the included riding/walking tour.

Castell del Tres Dragons

Casa Vincens

We boarded a shuttle bus and rode around the city so that we could view the various architectural masterpieces, with some old and some much more recent. Viewing the Barcelona in general, we were taken aback by the city’s cleanliness as well and the marvelous architecture. We went pass several structures our guide called out as noteworthy and tried to capture some images as the bus sped by. Specific works we were able to view were Gaudi’s Casa Batlló, a remodel in the modernistic style located in the city’s center and decorated with snowballs for winter; the Castell del Tres Dragons (Castle of Three Dragons) built as a café-restaurant for Barcelona’s 1888 Universal Exposition of Barcelona; the Arc de Triomf in the beautiful Parc de la Ciutadella and the main access gate for the 1888 World’s Fair; and Casa Vincens one of the first buildings designed by Antonio Gaudi in the modernistic or art nouveau style.

Arc de Triomf

Picasso's first gallery

It was a lot to take in given the short contact time we had with these impressive works.

With the bus-ride portion of our tour concluded, we were deposited for a walking tour of the Gothic Quarter in the center of the old city. As we were walking toward the quarter, our guide suddenly detoured to show us Pablo Picasso’s first gallery; a small, corner shop that is now a restaurant. We entered the quarter, and after viewing the Bishop’s living quarters, we headed for the 14^th-century Gothic church Santa Maria del Pi. This beautiful church was restored after it was gutted by a fire in 1936. Outside there is an octagonal bell tower and the interior features 6 side chapels and a beautiful Baroque wooden choir stalls.

Santa Maria del Pi

We viewed the cloister and the 13 geese that serve to protect the church. We were fortunate that no mass was being conducted which allowed us to enter and roam the vast interior. Finishing our church tour, our guide gave us a little over an hour of free time.

Santa Maria interior

We hooked up with Pam and Kit and walked down to a closed market place that featured a multi-colored ceramic tile roof. Since this was the day after Christmas, most stores and shops were closed with the exception of the church’s gift shop.

Another interior shot

Pam and Jane went shopping, while Kit and Capt. Larry had a beer at a nearby street café.

Rejoining our guide we next headed for Palaça del Rei, or King’s Square.

Entrance closeup

When Christopher Columbus returned from discovering the Americas in 1493, he presented his findings to Spanish King Ferdinand II of Aragon in this very square according to our guide.

Colored roof marketplace

It was moving to be at a site where world history was made and changed. This square is also bordered by an ancient Roman building and also has some underground Roman ruins.

Church exterior

We left the square and made our way to the Plaça de Sant Jaume, home to the Barcelona City Hall and the Palau de la Generalitat, the seat of the Government of Catalonia and the Presidency of the Generalitat.

Roman ruins

These two buildings lie directly across the square from each other. This concluded our tour and we were given the option of returning to the ship with the guide, or staying in town and finding a shuttle bus later.

Palaça del Rei

We started to go back to the ship Kit and Pam, but at the last moment decided to stay behind. We headed back into the old city where Pam and Jane started looking for souvenirs.

Palau de la Generalitat

We had lunch of pizza and beer at a delightful café, and found a tapas bar we had seen earlier on our way back to the ship.

City Hall

We finished off our Barcelona visit with assorted olives, spicy chorizo, beer, wine, and great company.

Statue of Columbus

This concluded our cruise and we would have to disembark tomorrow. Pam and Kit would fly back to Florida, and we would extend our vacation with a trip to Madrid.