Barcelona

We left the ship about 8:30, heading for the taxi stand right in front of the cruise port building. There was a long line, but it moved quickly, as the black and yellow taxis flowed in. We checked in at the Hotel Cuatro Naciones and left our luggage, but we couldn’t have our room until 3:00. The hotel is right on La Rambla, a wide tree-lined pedestrian walkway with souvenir shops and restaurants along the way. 

La Rambla, with op-art paving stones

We walked to the far end, Placa de Catalunya. There were two tourist bus companies there. The first said they had a strike so we should go on to the other. The second was the traditional Hop-On-Hop-Off bus. It had two routes around the city. We got tickets and climbed on. The first route we were on went to the eastern part of Barcelona, including the Sagrada Familia, the famous cathedral by Antoni Gaudi. There were mobs of people around it and the plaza across from it. It is indeed an amazing sight. When we arrived back at our starting place, there was an enormous line to get onto the second route. Fortunately, it moved quickly, as several buses arrived. This route went to the west and up on a mountain with wonderful views of the city. We also went by the Olympics stadiums from 1992. 

La Sagrada Familia

Front of Sagrada Familia

Dan enjoying the bus in comfort

Interesting decor on building

Another Gaudi building

Olympic Stadium

By the time we got back, it was after 2:00 and we were pretty tired. We found an Italian restaurant on the walk back to our hotel and had some lunch. At the hotel, they had moved our luggage from storage into our room, so we went right up. It is fairly basic, but comfortable once we opened the window to get some air and finally figured out how to operate the A/C.

Monday was a relaxing day. Breakfast at the hotel was good. We walked out around 10:00, back behind the hotel, where there is a large open square, then down several side streets. I found a place to get a ceramic shield on the front of my phone.

Lovely plaza

After some down time in the room, we headed out to find some lunch. We wanted Spanish tapas, and there were plenty of restaurants along the La Rambla pedestrian walkway. We settled on one and had a combination platter— dishes of potatoes brava, shrimp scampi, Spanish omelette, chicken croquettes, fried calamari and a salad. It was perfect and delicious. After lunch we walked back to a bakery we had seen earlier and got some curried chicken pasties for a light supper in our room. We’ve had more than enough to eat the past two weeks!

Calamari, Spanish omelet, potatoes brava, shrimp, olive salad, chicken fingers

Tuesday was our last day before heading home! Another relaxing day, out for several walks in the nearby Gothic neighborhood, another tapas lunch, packing up, arranging a taxi for the morning. Our flight to Madrid was at 9:00, with about an hour to transfer for our Chicago flight.

Chicken balls, peppers, spaghetti-wrapped shrimp, calamari, potatoes brava

I wish we had had the energy to see more of Barcelona. The overview on the bus was good, but we didn't get back to tour the Sagrada Familia or any of the other wonderful places in the city. Maybe next time!

View of La Rambla out our hotel window