Chapter 10: Barcelona Turn Around
Most got Off; Many Stayed Aboard
25.09.2023 - 25.09.2023 75 °F
View Fjords & From Barcelona on Cunard on paulej4's travel map.
"Barcelona"
Monday, September 25, 2023
Upon arrival back in Barcelona, we open our curtain to find other ships in port include the 690-passenger Azamara Journey and the 670-passenger Azamara Pursuit. Royal Caribbean founded the Azamara Cruise Line in 2007 to diversify its operations. But, in 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Azamara was sold to a private investment group, Sycamore Partners, for $201 million.
On the other side of our ship, once again, is the massive 5,224-passenger Costa Smeralda. Carnival owns Costa. The Smeralda is currently the seventh largest ship in the world. The five largest are all owned by Royal Caribbean and the sixth largest is MSC's World Europa. Also here is the Enchantment of the Seas which holds 2,446 more passengers. That's a lot of us to dump into the city all at once.
And, this is Spain, the country where, by law, every employed person gets 14 paid holidays and 25 paid vacation days per year. As an American, I come from a nation where there is no law mandating paid vacation days at all, and where, in 2018, of the 768,000,000 vacation days earned, half were not taken. It is amazing to me that we Americans wait until we are old and unhealthy to finally attempt enjoyment of leisure. Europeans—Spaniards in particular—scoff at that. So, of course, there are lots of Spaniards here on holiday.
What to do here in Barcelona? HOHO anyone? On a turn-around day such as this, for two people who have been here before, a Hop-On Hop-Off Barcelona Bus Tour is a fine option, particularly if walking is difficult. From the double-decker tourist bus, you Hop On and Hop Off as many times as you like for as long as you like. In Barcelona, unlike some cities--like New York--you can alternate between two different routes. There's an audio system with earphones. Your open-top, double-decker bus meanders winding streets while you are enjoying the view of medieval buildings, some from the Roman settlement of Barcelona.
We get on and grab a map and guide with all the stops of each of the routes so we can follow along and see where we are in relation to where we aren't. There are two bus routes that run every 20 minutes taking approximately 2 hours to complete either of the routes without getting off. When you see something you want to explore, well, you get the idea.
Amazingly, there is little traffic on this Monday. I surmise that the cost of having a car keeps the traffic down.
Of course, we drive by Antoni Gaudi's perpetually unfinished La Sagrada Familia taking it in from both a wide angle and close up.
There's Columbus and Marc at the Plaça dels Voluntaris Olímpics.
There's the Reials Drassanes Maritime Museum and its Gargoyles.
There are ubiquitous street sculptures and the cucumber shaped Torre Glòries building.
But there are also residential streets illuminated by ornate streetlamp, many holding laundry to dry in the breeze. There is some air conditioning here but most apartment balcony doorways were open inviting the outside air in. If there is a window screen in this city of 1.8 million people, I didn't see it.
There's the Obama Store--We really don't know what the heck that was and sidewalk cafes galore. Locals and tourists alike linger at tables under the sun or under umbrellas sipping wine or coffee, feasting on this and that, many of them smoking. Women and girls dress provocatively, couples hold hands, tattoos a plenty, bicycles and motor bikes seemingly everywhere and not a horn honk to be heard. We didn't see an angry face or a confrontation even when one Balcelonian cut in front of another. This isn't New York.
Buildings of bizarre design are everywhere but homeless people, except this guy, were unseen by us.
Hundreds dotted the beaches. And, yachts abound--perhaps oligarchs' in hiding?
The place seems upscale to the max until you look at the wiring.
And all of that under clear skies and 75 degree temperatures adorned by a slight breeze. Perfect weather. On the way back to Queen Elizabeth, we walked La Rambla--the bustling tourist pedestrian street--enjoying an ice cream along the way. We were able to enjoy all of that while keeping B4's walking to a minimum. It was a great day for a turnaround.
Now, we shall see what the newly boarded passengers look like as we embark on week two of our Queen For A Day/Two Weeks adventure. Oh, and enjoy the company of our tablemates, Lisa/Mike and Jo/Mary, who remain aboard for another week. The former were off early for dancing while Joanne and Mary patiently listened to me brag about my Queen. We found, as they hail from Omaha, common ground regarding the Oracle of Omaha. From Diamonds to hotels to our children, the conversation sparkled. We are so lucky. But, you knew that.
