We highly recommend Barcelona to anyone interested. Here are a few tips:
1) Many things are closed Sunday, Monday and even Tuesdays.
2) Graffiti seems to be a National art form - it doesn't designate good or bad areas of town.
3) If you get a hotel room with a balcony, don't stub your toe on it - it will HURT.
4) Bring sunscreen, the weather is fabulous, at least in May/June.
5) Don't trust advice you get from "helpers" at the Metro station - it will cost you money - thanks lady.
6) Don't eat at tourist traps - there is way too much delicious food there.
7) Just resign yourself to not seeing the Dolphin show at the zoo - unless you love standing in crazy long lines for hours.
8) Almost all taxis can only take 4 people, so if you have 5 (even if one is a baby) prepare to have to take 2 taxis from the airport to your hotel.
9) All posted hours are approximate, meaning, they are completely useless. And expect everything to be closed mid-day and again between 5 and 8 when you are starving.
10) Whatever you do, find a way to take one of the air-trams, the views are unbeatable. But don't trust your spouse's directions - especially if they involve walking up a very long, steep hill.
Seriously - we had an incredibly great time in Barcelona. I would go back again tomorrow if I could. Here are some pictures and more of a re-cap.
Sunday afternoon we flew from Leeds to Barcelona, took two taxis to our hotel the Splendom Suites and took a quick break before heading out for dinner at a crappy tapas place - but the only thing reasonably close and open.
On Monday we mastered the metro and visited the Christopher Columbus statue before crossing a bridge and watching it open up for yachts to pass through, and heading to the Aquarium. The highlight of the Aquarium were the sharks and the play area at the end. Then we ate at a nice Seafood restaurant called Casa Delfin where Enoch insisted on ordering Mussels - and after trying one - insisted on not eating them. At least he is adventurous. We found a few great Boulangeries and visited the zoo. We saw each of our animals - wolf (Dave), lion (me), tiger (Hilde), bear (Enoch) and panther (Phineas). Then we walked through the park and saw the Triumph Arch before going to the Hotel to rest. After having no success finding a good place open to eat - Dave got some decent take-out pizza. We would have done even more, if things were open, but they weren't and we enjoyed the rest.
On Tuesday we had our hotel find us a taxi big enough to fit all 5 of us, and then headed out for a day of fun. We walked down La Rambla looking at the human statues, pets for sale, flowers, etc. Then we went to the Bocqueria market where we found some pretty amazing food, and tried a few as well. It turns out that Phinn loves dragonfruit. Dave and Enoch were pretty enthralled with everything there, I think they were pretty sad to leave it behind. We went to a really old Roman cemetary. While Dave and I were looking around and trying to teach some history, the kids were completely engrossed in a cat, this would become a theme of our whole trip. Cats are a big draw I guess. We went to a fun clown/circus shop where the kids saw a million things they wanted to bring home. For lunch we had quick baguette sandwiches and headed over to the Maritime Museum. It is in the actual buildings where old Galleys were built and had one inside for us to look at - it was awesome. After that we took a LONG walk, including a long walk up and then back down a long steep hill, to take the air tram up to the top of the Mount and see the castle. It was worth it, the view was terrific and the kids loved running around there. Afterwards we traveled back home shopping for breakfast and shorts for the kids (we don't own more than 1 pair anymore) and took a break until dinner. For dinner we ate at a very fancy (read expensive) restaurant. The food was good, but Enoch fell asleep right at the beginning and slept through it. Phinn was everyone's favorite and at one point a woman came and took him from me, then proceeded to walk out the door. Luckily, she didn't go far and Dave went out to talk to her and make sure he was safe. He came back a few minutes later with Phinn and I felt a LOT better.
Gaudi built some pretty amazing buildings in Barcelona and we only saw a few. A few apartment buildings and La Sagrada Familia. The Sagrada was so loud inside - they were jackhammering - that it was a total bust for our family. A couple of minutes inside and everyone was crying and we were running out as fast as we could. Maybe next time we visit it will be more welcoming.
We got a quick bite to eat before meeting our taxi at the hotel (the same one from the day before) to take us to the Port to board our cruise. You wouldn't believe how excited we all were. In short, Barcelona rocked!
Day 2 on the ship was spent at Sea. We only had one other day at Sea and that came the last day. We spent the day exploring our new home, finding out what food was where, and letting the kids try out the kids clubs and nursery. I cannot say enough for how well our kids were treated, and how much they loved the cruise. They would beg us to let them play in the kids clubs - and when we would go to pick them up they would beg to stay longer. It was awesome. And Phinn was the star of the nursery. The workers loved to have him there because he is a super happy kid and he is used to daycare, so he wasn't fussy. Other kids were being left for the first time in their lives, and they were not OK with that, so Phinn was like a breath of fresh air to the workers. And he loved all the freedom there after being couped up in his stroller, the cabin, or the highchair.
