Hello again, Barcelona

Our cruise launches from the Barcelona port in 2 days.

Transportation. Always. We looked into our options for getting from the Barcelona airport to our hotel. A taxi would cost 45 euro. We decided to do public transportation. (4) 48 hour passes cost around 66€ and are good for all public transportation around the city, including the Metro, buses, and even the funiculars. Public transportation is a good way to see the people of a city and a cost-effective way to travel. When you do the unlimited rides, it really makes you want to go wherever the system can take you. It didn’t hurt that we packed light, and we carried no souvenirs at this point.

Both the metro and the buses that we rode on were clean and easy to navigate. I tried to download a metro app but nowadays you can just use Google or Apple Maps and choose the public transportation option. Technology!

Another nice thing about the Barcelona airport is that you don’t get surrounded by those annoying touts that come up to you as soon as you exit the plane and try to get you into their taxi or tour group or whatever while you’re still tired disoriented and clueless.

We checked in at the Gaudi Sagrada Familia apartment.

Somewhat meager but an amazing location. The price is right though so I’m not complaining.

After a well-needed quick late afternoon crash out, we forced ourselves to get up and ate at the tapas place literally below our place…

…and I had a chat with the Pakistani manager who told me the story about how his 19-year-old moustache got ended when he went to apply for a visa to study in Russia. The government said he looked like a terrorist so he had to cut it off. Uncool. Look at Russia now.

We lunched on a tapas mix, churros and chocolate, and a pitcher of cava sangria.

And lookey there. I was wondering if the hotel’s name Gaudi Sagrada Familia was an overstatement!

One nice thing that I reconnected with is enjoying a nice sit out on these wide sidewalks to just eat and hang out. Doing this back in Hawaii just doesn’t feel the same. More like poke and beer on the hot sand.

For most of the day we were a step behind and a bus late. We’re still jet lagged but this is our final timezone, so it’s time for us to re-acclimate. Our first destination, even though it was already late afternoon, was to the Barcelona cemetery-Cementiri de Montjuïc. Here’s where we came apart. After missing the bus by 10 seconds, June decided to look for a bathroom while the rest of us waited for the next cemetery bus to show up. June said she’d first find a bathroom then jump on the same bus we were on at a different stop, but that didn’t happen. Me and the boys ended up at the cemetery, so June went in a different direction to the Parc del Laberint d’Horta. We got to the cemetery 15 minutes before closing.

I know it sounds strange to visit cemeteries while traveling, but the unique designs and builds are beautiful and peaceful at the same time. This cemetery overlooks the ocean where we’ll be embarking on the cruise tomorrow.

…and I’d be happy getting cremated and sprinkled in the ocean.

Afterward, we tried to time our meet up with June at the parc del laberint d’horta (labrynth) by leaving the cemetery via fence jumping and shimmying blocked off areas to no avail. After scaling the main outer wall to exit, we missed the bus again. Again. Now we’re waiting for the next bus with pokie green things on our shoes.

Anyway the ride should take an hour and 10 minutes up to the top of the city above Parc Guell. Good thing we’ve got our unlimited ride metro passes.

I guess the story of the minotaur and the labyrinth traverses a few countries. This maze is made of hedges, not rock, and cost the 4 of us 7 euro and change to get in. We arrived 10 minutes before close but found out that they stayed open for an hour so after closing time (yes!) so we gave it a shot.

The park was peaceful and uncrowded. We made it out alive and Metroed back down to town to try to find June’s parents who needed 1) a travel power adapter and 2) a bite to eat.

So it turns out we couldn’t find June’s folks because there are several MH branded apartments throughout Barcelona, and no one was answering their business phone. We ended up buying some groceries-milk, a bottle of wine and random candy. For hot food this late I was willing to eat anything.

This empanada store had pockets filled with different fillings. Rochefort, ham and cheese and spinach cheese. Food was meh, but the personal interaction was fun.

Wherever we go, people like to ask where we’re from after we hem and haw in their native language. Turns out one of the girls behind the counter visited Hawaii in 2019 so we gave her a mini mac nut chocolate and walked home.

Day 2

Today’s going to be good. We know how to get around, we’re getting used to the time difference, and we’ve slept in an actual bed last night. What will today’s adventures hold?

After waking up and eating food we gathered the night before, we Metroed 2 stops to Diagonal and walked a few minutes to La Pedrera, a contraversial home built around 1905 by Gaudi for the Mila family.

June preordered entry tickets and at 915 am it wasn’t very busy. When we left 2 hours later the lines looked long.

The uppermost floor was lived in by the Mila family and the lower levels were rented out by wealthy renters. We’re here on the rooftop now.

Afterwards we walked by a paella place that didn’t open for an hour so we decided to walk to my favorite Barcelona used clothing store-Humana. It’s like Goodwill but more color coordinated and mostly all of the stuff is kind of nice.

On the way there we ran into what appeared to be orange garbed construction workers protesting the Deutsch Bank.

We got some snacks along the way to tide us over until paella and tapas time. Buying flat bread by the kg/cm is fun.

June went to get nana and papa to meet up with us for lunch. Lunch was amazing

We ate and drank for two hours…

Here’s when things went bad. We were eating outside on the sidewalk. After I went to the bathroom with papa and Hudson, I asked for the check. The waiter said it was paid for by mom. Oh great! I walked outside to thank her.

That’s when I saw her reach into her handbag and say “Where’s my wallet?” Oof. After a minute it hit me that we just got swindled. While her bag was left on the chair, a pair of con artists did the ol distract and steal. Her wallet was taken. Fucking fucks. June and I were able to chase one of them down and she was arrested but the wallet was long gone.

Anyway we decided to keep on keeping on. After cancelling the cards, we rendezvoused at La Rambla. June’s sister and niece met us there.

We went to the market and snacked our way through. Sliced meat and cheeses, fresh oysters, gelato, and a variety of seafood.

Then we went to the Fountain of Canaletes and drank from the waters that when doing so ensures that you shall one day again return to Barcelona! Well it worked last time!

Then we went to Humana again (but a different location) just because. I got another long-sleeved dress shirt to wear on the cruise that I’ll probably never wear again.

We sent nana and papa back to their hotel in a cab and the rest of us metroed back to our place for WiFi and wine. Goodnight!

This morning we leave to the cruise port of Barcelona. A taxi is arranged to pick us up from in front the apartment. June went to church in the crypt of La Sagrada Familia. Since we visited here last time we were in Barcelona, we didn’t spend any effort to go to the main cathedral. Amazing place. I picked up breakfast and lunch-pastries and wine, all from the same place nonetheless!

A taxi should be here in around 45 min and we say goodbye to our apartment and waking up to this.