Land & Sea - Live from Barcelona & the Oosterdam Transatlantic - November 5th, 2022

[BetsyS.]

That's a great picture of you! Thanks for posting it and also the other pictures.

I'm glad your sisters and BILs are with you. Have a wonderful time.

[erewhon]

Thanks for your updates.

Was that a lie flat business class seat?

[kazu]

2 hours ago, erewhon said:

Thanks for your updates.

Was that a lie flat business class seat?

 

Yes it was.  Not that you get that much sleep 😉 

[ski ww]

Looking forward to following along on your cruise.

[kazu]

Boy oh boy, CC doesn’t like me all of a sudden.  Wouldn’t let me post - and it looks like a couple of pics I posted yesterday are blank now?  WTH?  Hoping this post takes.

 

Discovered a fabulous tapas spot last night.  I had read about it on Tripadvisor and went looking for it to check it out.  Stupid me - turned to the right - If I had just turned to the left it was literally across the street from my hotel

 

Asked the concierge about it and he said “that’s where I’m eating when I get off”.  That’s good enough for me so my sister and BIL walked over and the 3 of went.  OMG - it is your typical little busy tapas place.  Waiter is quick, efficient and very pleasant despite the business. And the place is packed with mostly locals 🙂 I think we were the only tourists,

 

The tapas were fabulous. In fact they were so good that without Jose there to remind me with “picture” I forgot about food porn until all that was left was this:

 

 

Hopefully I’ll do better next time - above is octopus (and yes, it was finished off) and below the calamari:

 

 

The calamari was perfect and kazu is very fussy on her calamari.

 

along with those we had 2 types of croquettes - ham & fish, olives, anchovies,  capresse salad,  wine and beer I think I forgot a tapa or two 😉 Bill was 58 euros for the 3 of us - service included.  Our waiter nicely pointed that out but said if we wanted to add more he would happily accept. LOL. (We did - I might be back) It’s a little place called la Masia on Carrer Elizabet. If you are going down las Ramblas turn right onto Bonsuccess which turns into Elizabet  - a 5 minute walk from Las Ramblas.   kazu recommends 🙂 

 

Lots of church bells chiming this morning.  Far enough away not to be deafened but close enough to enjoy them 🙂 

 

Off to try to see some things in Raval I haven’t before assuming my jet lagged legs can hold me up.  LOL.  My sisters all took naps yesterday - maybe I should have too (I’m not a good napper - would have slept and woken at 3 am) 😂 

 

 

 

 

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

DH and I visited the Sagrada Familia in 1977. Is it closer to being completed now? Hope you can post a photo.

[BlackJack2]

Glad you arrived in Barcelona and are having a great time.  See you soon! 

[highland cruiser]

So enjoying all your commentary about your trip to Barcelona.  Will be interested in see pictures also of Familia Sagrada.  We have visited several time and it was in various states of repair. 

Thank you for all your posts and looking forward to hearing how the cruise goes.  

[VMax1700]

Your cheese plate on the flight reminds me, to remind you...........

 

crackers

😉

[Tbay]

On 10/29/2022 at 1:06 PM, kazu said:

I did get the cheeks and it was pretty dam edible (the cod was gone to choose from and I was in the 2nd seat - LOL.

 

Elite and Super Elite  Aeroplan members are given the first selection, no matter where they are sitting.

[*Miss G*]

4 hours ago, VMax1700 said:

Your cheese plate on the flight reminds me, to remind you...........

 

crackers

😉

 

Interestingly, I received two Ryvita crackers with the room service soup our head waiter sent up.  Never did see any in the Lido market but I did not ask.

[erewhon]

16 hours ago, kazu said:

 

Yes it was.  Not that you get that much sleep 😉 

 

@kazu  thank you for your reply.

[Dunmore2]

We are happy to hear that @ger_77 was able to find suitable flights. We are sitting in a very quiet maple leaf lounge in Calgary, enjoying spring rolls, and adult beverages.
The holiday has officially started. Barcelona, here we come.
 

[BetsyS.]

5 minutes ago, Dunmore2 said:

We are happy to hear that @ger_77 was able to find suitable flights. We are sitting in a very quiet maple leaf lounge in Calgary, enjoying spring rolls, and adult beverages.
The holiday has officially started. Barcelona, here we come.
 

Bon Voyage!

[rafinmd]

From the Daily, in case it becomes useful:

 

24 minutes ago, mamaofami said:

Jacqui Special Needs At Sea at 800 513 4515. rents scooters and wheel chairs for ships. Also scoot around at 888 441 7575

Roy

[TiogaCruiser]

Oh my gosh- thanks for reminding me-maple cookies.

Made some last year and Dad loved them. (His nuclear family were subsistence farmers and maple sap & eggs were their mainstays). Gotta make them again.

[grapau27]

@kazu. Jacqui.

The usual toll free number in Europe is 0800 followed by a 7 digit number.

In Spain it is 900 followed by a 6 digit number.

Sorry to hear about your fall and foot pain.

I hope you are feeling better soon.

Graham.

 

[kazu]

On 10/30/2022 at 3:39 PM, SJSULIBRARIAN said:

DH and I visited the Sagrada Familia in 1977. Is it closer to being completed now? Hope you can post a photo.

 

Oh yes it is.  We have been 3 times and the progress is amazing.  I’m not going this time because of circumstances but my BIL and sis are and they will share some pics for me to post.

 

On 10/30/2022 at 6:27 PM, VMax1700 said:

Your cheese plate on the flight reminds me, to remind you...........

 

crackers

😉

 

I haven’t forgotten - just hope I can wheel down the cobble stones to get some.

 

On 10/30/2022 at 5:59 PM, highland cruiser said:

So enjoying all your commentary about your trip to Barcelona.  Will be interested in see pictures also of Familia Sagrada.  We have visited several time and it was in various states of repair. 

Thank you for all your posts and looking forward to hearing how the cruise goes.  

 

Will post some for you.

[kazu]

14 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

@kazu. Jacqui.

The usual toll free number in Europe is 0800 followed by a 7 digit number.

In Spain it is 900 followed by a 6 digit number.

Sorry to hear about your fall and foot pain.

I hope you are feeling better soon.

Graham.

 

 

Thanks - didn’t think American toll free lines worked in Europe.

[grapau27]

 

29 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

Thanks - didn’t think American toll free lines worked in Europe.

They are free numbers to use in Europe but if you phone home there will be international connection charges.

Our phone company allows us to use our UK contract in EU and US to make calls etc.

 WhatsApp calls are free to another WhatsApp number.

Edited November 1, 2022 by grapau27

[VMax1700]

55 minutes ago, kazu said:

Thanks - didn’t think American toll free lines worked in Europe.

They don't!  Only within North America.  Most toll free numbers are geographically restricted to within the country of issue.  For example HAL in Rotterdam has two toll free numbers....one for within Netherlands and a different one for outside Netherlands, but within EU.  I cannot contact them using the 'Within Netherlands' number even if I put + 31 (Netherlands access code) infront of the number.

[VMax1700]

¡ Buenas! Jacqui,

So sorry to read about your continuing difficulties.  

Hope you continue to improve and can still enjoy your cruise.

 

 

[1of4]

1 hour ago, kazu said:

 

Thanks - didn’t think American toll free lines worked in Europe.

What happened and why do you need special needs?  We hope you are okay and still enjoying Barcelona.

[kazu]

44 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

¡ Buenas! Jacqui,

So sorry to read about your continuing difficulties.  

Hope you continue to improve and can still enjoy your cruise.

 

 

 

Thanks Colin.  I”m sure going to try.

 

18 minutes ago, 1of4 said:

What happened and why do you need special needs?  We hope you are okay and still enjoying Barcelona.

 

Ok, here is the long, sad story.  Just finished Palau Guell and coming down the 3 / 4 flights of stairs.  On the 2nd last one from the bottom and got jostled, lost my footing and reached for the bottom - wasn’t the bottom but the 1st step (same colour marble as the floor) twisted my foot and crashed on the ground screaming in pain.  

Iced it for 20 minutes and my BIL supported me to see if I could stand. Nope, more screams - Palau Guell gave me a wheel chair and we went to my hotel to see if we should have a doctor come.  They suggested we go straight to the private clinic.  It is not broken thankfully but the foot can’t even bear with crutches so this is how i am getting around.

 

 

my hotel and sis & BIL have been fabulous.I am trying to figure out if I will be recovered enough or if I need wheel chair assistance to board and if I need something on board to help manage..

My sisters and BILs are off on the tour I arranged and I am taking it easy hoping to help recovery.  But I will have pics and share.

 

I learned a very important lesson - take a picture of your passport to have with you.  In Spain, they can’t treat you without it or at least a driver’s license.  They would have accepted a pic.  My sister had to return to the hotel and get mine out of the Safety Deposit Box.

 

[canadianbear]

@kazu oh no. I’m so sorry to read about your injury.   Hoping the few days you have before boarding the ship helps to recover.  Thankful you had your relatives to help you.  Wishing you a swift recovery.