Barcelona, Spain- July 22

We sailed into Barcelona, one of the busiest ports in the Mediterranean, at about 2:00AM this morning. The captain promised he would dock us quietly so no one’s sleep would be disturbed. I guess he really does know what he is doing. Barcelona is the capital of the Spanish province Catalonia. Catalunya extends across the Spanish/French boarder and the Catalan people feel a strong sense of cultural unity. Their history, civilization, language and character have been distinct for almost 2,000 years.

There are lots of historical monuments in the Old Town but Barcelona is best known for the scores of buildings in example left by the artistic explosion of Modernism in the decades around 1900. Most notably is the work of Antonio Gaudí. He was a man well ahead of his time- even used recycled materials in his buildings. A hospital, a palace, entire neighborhoods and his masterpiece the landmark Catedral de la Sagrada Familia attest to his creativity. Gaudí didn’t intend the church to be a church but it became an obsession for him. He worked almost exclusively on the building for the last 8 years of his life until his death in 1926. The church looks like wet sand dripped into complicated patterns and is still not completed.

Barcelona’s whimsical, vibrant atmosphere makes it an inviting place for visitors and residents alike. The city architecture is unique to say the least. The people are very friendly. There are about 3 million people who call Barcelona home.

The port shuttle stayed busy all day taking people- both passengers and ship’s crew- back and forth to the city. We watched the shuttle and many, many taxis come and go.