A Day in Barcelona, Sailing On

Quest day1 dinner sunsetHere we are – on the Mediterranean Sea, enroute from Barcelona to Tangier.  Sounds like something out of Casablanca but we’re really on our way – another great adventure is born.

 

Barcelona folks at the Placa Reiale fountain
Tourists symmetrically resting at Barcelona’s Plaça Reial Fountain.

Barcelona was amazing; we only had a day and a half and, exhausted from our flight, slept through the half and awoke just in time to go to the pier and board our ship.

Barcelona terraces 2
Look carefully: lots of different things take place on Barcelona balconies – from sunbathing to gardening to laundry.

No Zara, no mementos or gifts, but a brief wander around the old Jewish neighborhood and a spectacular walking tour of the great Gaudi buildings that add so much to what is already a vital, beautiful, cosmopolitan city.

Once aboard* we recalled what is so great about this sort of trip.  The word “cruise” may summon visions of blue hair and stodgy folks but the truth is that people who choose this are gregarious (pretty tough to be otherwise in this collective environment) and love to swap travel stories – as well as tales about almost anything else.  In our brief first day, we’ve already met and spoken at length with people from Australia, Canada, Minnesota, Florida, Arizona and Arkansas.  All of them are avid explorers with amazing back stories.  You’ll meet them too, right here, as the days pass.

It’s late though, so I’m keeping my post-a-day pledge without too much detail.   Know only that our flights were comfortable and on time, Barcelona enchanting and exhausting and our first half day at sea lovely and a great preview of all that is to come.  You’ll hear about all that, too.

*The Seabourn QUEST