Barcelona - an onboard electrical malfunction works to our advantage
At approximately 8:00am we docked in Barcelona roughly on schedule. To our surprise the Commodore announced that the entire ship lost electrical power at 4:00am. Power had been restored but the crew needed time to investigate the cause of the malfunction. So the QM2 would be departing Barcelona at 1:00am, not hours earlier as previously planned. This meant we could saunter around Barcelona until midnight, after our Gaudi tour ended at 1:30pm.
The tour was nice, as we got to see inside Gaudi buildings and a park designed by him, which we did not have time to do when we visited Barcelona for a day and a half 2 years earlier. The park was originally meant to be a garden with houses for the wealthy, but it never took off. The owners donated it to the city as a public park. I would have been content to stay there most of the day among the columns that looked like trees, the colourful mosaics and the lovely grottos. The final stop on the tour was a private apartment in a Gaudi building. All of the doorways, ceiling etc. were designed by Gaudi himself and were a marvel. Roy has photos I'm sure he'll put up later.
By the time the tour ended our empty bellies were complaining, so we headed up La Rambla in search of sustenance. Fortunately for us their lunch break was just beginning, so all of the restaurants were open. We popped into a quiet, serene place that served traditional Catalan cuisine. After some salad, beer and a deliciously spiced seafood soup, we were ready to ramble along the rest of La Rambla and into the old town.
We'd been here before so we wandered down streets we'd missed on our previous trip and revisited ones we remembered, including a huge marketplace that makes Granville Island Market in Vancouver look puny. There we purchased some spicy sausage to bring back to make paella.
Down another street we came upon a very small square where a natural food market had been erected. There were half a dozen tables with canvas tarps over them selling honey, essential oil, chocolate, nuts, etc. We picked up a few gifts to bring back for family.
Barcelona has a fashion district, so there are wonderful shops everywhere. To my surprise, Roy became quite interested in one particular mens wear shop that had a wide range within a small space. There were modern shirts and ties next to what could only be described as modern versions of aristocratic tux 'n tails made from jacquard fabrics. Many of the shirts were bright jewel tones, but Roy found a black shirt with thin white stripes and two ties, one black and one white, that he liked. He doesn't often shop for dressy clothing, hence my surprise. He's going to look very smart in them.
After some supper (paella, what else?) we tootled off to the traffic circle where the shuttle busses were supposed to take passengers back to the ship. Seeing no sign of one after about 10 minutes, Roy flagged down a cab and we had a good vantage point for a few minutes from the bridge to the piers to watch the fireworks. One of the things I love about big European cities: lots of taxis. In Calgary, there never seems to be one when you need it.
Back on board the QM2, a bit footsore and over-stimulated after a day in Barcelona, we were soon in bed. I don't recall the ship getting underway, I must have zonked out soon after my head hit the pillow.
Friday we'll have a shortened stay in Monte Carlo, Monaco, due to the delay in Barcelona.
Connie
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