Mediterranean Cruise 2016 - Barcelona

Barcelona

Our final stop was in Barcelona, Spain. We had two full days here. We docked in the Port of Barcelona and drove passed Port Vell. There were some interesting buildings and an unusual sculpture.

We passed the Columbus Monument. The monument to Christopher Columbus is to honor his first voyage and is 131 feet high with a 24 foot statue of Columbus on top of the column. It was built in 1888 for the World Exposition.

We went to Montjuic Parc which has a spectacular view of the city. Sagrada Familia and Agbar Tower can be seen in the distance. 

We could see Calatrava's Tower on the site of the Olympics in 1992.
The Olympic Stadium photo is from the internet since I didn't get a good shot.

There was also a museum from the World Expo in 1929.

Bullfighting was banned in Barcelona in 2010 and was effective January of 2012. The bull ring was turned into a mall. However the ban was over turned in the courts in October.

Our first stop was at Park Guell. The park contains stone structures, lots of tiling and fascinating buildings all designed by Antonio Gaudi. He was influenced by natural shapes and living things and he used them in his work.

The house Gaudi lived in is now a museum and contains furniture designed by him.

From the Central Terrace we had a good view of much of the park.

There is a very colorful mosaic bench around the terrace. It may not look comfortable to sit on but it actually was.

Under the terrace there is a room with 86 columns. There are unusual and colorful mosaics on the ceilings.

There is a dragon as you exit the room and go down the stairs that is quite famous in the park.

We were told that many of his mosaics were made from wasted or broken pieces of ceramic cups and plates.

Our parting shots as we leave the park.

The next place of interest was the Sagrada Familia. This is a most unusual cathedral. This church is considered the master-work of architect Antoni Gaudi. This church has been under construction since 1882 and is not expected to be completed until 2026. Some think the completion date will continue to be put off since it is part of the attraction of this site. This is a massive, privately-funded Roman Catholic church. Our thoughts were that it was the most impressive and spectacularly hideous structure we have ever seen. It is such a conglomeration of styles that just didn't blend well in my book.

No doubt about it, it is quite a spectacular sight!
We saw this unusual little car as we left the city. It is a three wheeled car called a Gocar. It is the first ever GPS guided story telling tour car.

The next day we rode the bus to Monserrat. The ride up the mountains was scenic. We visited the Monastery of Monserrat near the top of a 4,000 foot rock mountain. We could have taken a cable car up but I really didn't think I could do it. A choice I now regret!

Monserrat means saw or serrated. You can see how they got the name.

The view from the top was magnificent!

There is an inclined railway up the mountainside. It looks like it goes straight up! We watched the cars pass each other where you see an oval like shape. There is also a train you can ride up the mountain.

The Monastery is home to about 80 monks. The basilica houses a statue of the Black Madonna made in the 12th century. It is also the home of Escolania, one of the oldest and most famous boys' choirs in Europe. They sounded heavenly!

We drove back down the mountain to Sitges, a small but artsy seaside city. It has very nice beaches. We walked along the beach and stepped into the chilly water.

A member of our group got lost here - this time it wasn't me!
We made it back to our hotel. It was an interesting place.

We walked around with a few others to find a place to eat. Then it was time to pack. We leave the Mediterranean tomorrow. This exceptional adventure has come to an end. It has been a remarkable and memorable experience! Thank you to our children for making this possible! We love you all!

Three things you may not know about Barcelona

Barcelona's beaches were completely over run by industries until the Olympics came in 1992 and the city moved industries improving two beaches and creating five beautiful beaches for locals and tourists to enjoy. 

Barcelona's drivers are the worst drivers in the world. It is said that an accident occurs every 19 seconds on the streets of Barcelona. 

The Museu de la Xocolota (Chocolate Museum) is owned by the Barcelona pastry-makers' guild and contains sculptures of various well known buildings in Barcelona.