niksmom630

this ceiling 🤩

sagrada in the distance….

The last two weeks have been a blur, I keep forgetting to finish up with my final photos of our last day in Barcelona and Parc Guell …..these tickets sell out quickly so I’d advise booking at least a day or two ahead of time. You have to choose a time slot for arrival. also advise wearing good walking shoes…. The views are stunning here. As are the mosaics ♥️

Gothic Quarter

reflection in from the stained glass windows…

There were some extenuating circumstances this weekend (protests, weather, a Cold Play concert…etc….) but getting a taxi was hit or miss. And miss in the times when you really needed it. Like when we had to meet our tour Thursday. Granted, it was raining. But we walked out of our AIRBNB 1/2 hour before our tour was to begin at la sagrada. No taxis anywhere in sight, the Free Now taxi app was also a bust. No drivers available. Same for Uber. Thankfully my daughter still remembered how to navigate the subway system, and we made it to our meeting place at Sagrada with a SINGLE minute to spare. Our guide had purchased tickets for 10 am, and you have one half hour window to arrive and claim them. they were otherwise sold out for the rest of the day 😔 what can I say about La sagrada???? She’s beautiful!

Day 2 was a pre reserved tour https://runnerbeantours.com Again, I booked based on the great reviews. We were not disappointed …..well, except for the weather, which was horrible. Cold, damp, and a steady rain all day 😒 we did a 6 hour tour (for 4) which included a lunch stop, Sagrada La Familia, Gothic Quarter and the Picasso Museum. it was $150 EU per person. Our guide was Anna, and she was excellent…. the taxi situation in Barcelona, was not tho….😠

As you’ve probably figured out by now, I love flowers. Growing, cut, or in any art form 💕 the organ This ceiling ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

The museum was huge and it will take some time to get thru each section. We were able to buy tickets that day onsite (Wednesday) but I would recommend trying to secure tickets for venues in advance. We didn’t have as much luck in other places….

You need to be in decent shape to tackle Mont Juic. there are escalators, but probably 1/2 the way up is steps. The views are stunning and worth the effort 🥵

Cinnamon roll pancakes avocado toast with poached eggs… salmon and cream cheese toast

I’m going to wrap this up with a deluge of photos. 😂 sitting on the flight now from BCN to ORD. we had a great three days in Barcelona post cruise. My youngest daughter and her boyfriend were doing a land trip to the same areas, and we overlapped a few days in BCN together. She had been at University of Barcelona as part of a study abroad program for a full semester when Covid hit, and she was sent home early in March. It was a tough time for many kids in full language/classroom immersion programs who had to finish the semester online from home. anyways, she’s always dreamed of coming back to do some of the things she didn’t do the first time around. 🤗 day one arrival was brunch, followed by some exploring, Mont Juic, and the museum. this spot was very “no frills” , and those can sometimes be the best dining experiences 😉

@DaKahuna thanks! My next few sailings are on Celebrity so I’ll be over here until next June and Alaska on Royal again 🤗 I did not get that martini. But I’ve ordered a pretty basic French Martini on Royal and was able to use my D+ voucher. Im happy with Tito’s tho, so perhaps the alcohol choice matters? Also was able to order a Pina Colada with a Myers floater and never paid extra. A few of the girls paid a $2.00 surcharge for a better Sauvignon Blanc.

mehhhh, not fantastic. 😒 Not only is the ship small/fewer venues but the choices were pretty limited in the evenings. We would usually spend some time in the casino, and maybe a drink or two after dinner, and we were done. mind you this is coming from a girl who has predominately sailed RCI and the bigger ships most recently- where the options are plentiful

In happier backtracking news?? the views leaving Palma were stunning 💕 and the saddest sunrise ever in the Port of BCN

Have quite a bit to catch up on! Debarkation? It was not so great. 😣 I would not plan an early flight from BCN. our luggage tag (26) was called around 8:30. We were eating in the trellis. Walked off the ship around 8:45. When you exit the terminal, there are conveyer belts like the baggage claim at airports. There are only a handful, So there are several tag numbers at each one. Collecting the bags was easy, then you had to exit the terminal, and get in the taxi line….beginning …. middle approaching the end. One hour in line total. Dragging suitcases and carry ons way too heavy. Do not recommend. 👎😣 we went to the taxi line because it seemed an easy progression. A passenger in line commented that Uber wasn’t even loading. Maybe more experienced others can chime in? 🤷🏼‍♀️

Happy planning! We loved this itinerary and the overnight in Lisbon…. no testing requirements. So much simpler than our Rome /Greek isles cruise last May!

Todays plan was some R & R ….. https://balnearioilletas.com/ you can pre reserve a lounger for $40 euro Pics coming up next…. Packing is getting in the way 😢

Dinner last night at Tuscan. It was good, not positive worth the “full price” surcharge, but if you got it as part of a package, then yes. plus the menu in Trellis was not very appealing last night. my only food photo of the evening. I more than made up for it with the 10 course tapas photos from yesterday a few photos around the Martini bar. I heard a few people commenting that martinis were not included in the basic beverage package. I may order one this evening to confirm or refute that. 😉 today we are in Palma de Majorca. Last day cruise blues are settling in ….

it is after the security line!

I didn’t get a photo on the wines, but it started with sparkling (champagne) a few whites, a few reds, then a dessert wine. 🤪 I wouldn’t call this a “tasting”. These were fairly full pours of each kind. Rather surprised I’m still upright 😂 so much fun! And the guide was so personable. This has definitely been one of the highlights of our trip ♥️