Barcelona/Spain

9.7.2024 Barcelona

Today I had a full program. First of all I had to take the shuttle bus from the port area (for which I had to pay). We were dropped off in front of the World Trade Center.

From here I walked to the city center. I was supposed to be at a certain meeting point by 12.15pm.

I felt comfortable in Barcelona. Beautiful buildings, everything was fairly clean, unobtrusive locals and the weather was good too: hot but bearable.

I made my way into the city center. The spacious streets near the riverbank became narrow, overcrowded streets and alleys. Along the way I discovered a LIDL supermarket that I wanted to take a closer look at. It was huge and even had a section for unpackaged frozen seafood that you could weigh yourself. I contented myself with a chilled coffee, which I drank on a public bench, of which there are fortunately many in Barcelona.

As I was passing by, I found a very well-reviewed restaurant where I wanted to eat later. Shortly afterwards, my destination came into view for the first time: the Sagrada Familia. I first admired this church, which was still under construction and designed by the architect Gaudi, from all sides. Since I still had time, I sat down in front of a bar under a parasol and drank a Caipirinha with a view of the Sagrada Familia.

I was in time to meet my tour guide in front of the church's souvenir shop. The tour of the church's interior started at around 12:30 p.m. First, we had to go through a strict security check, during which I even had to put my watch and belt through the x-ray machine.

We were then given radio receivers with earpieces so that we could hear our guide somewhat. First he pointed out details of the facade to us. Then we went inside.

Inside, the tree-like columns, the colorful windows and the play of light they create are fascinating. For the first time, I saw elevators in a church and, through a window beneath the altar, I could see an underground church that also seemed to be well attended.

We left the church through a different entrance and were given an explanation of the "Passion Façade". After that, the 75-minute tour was over.

There is a museum under the church where you can learn more about Gaudi, his works and the creation of the Sagrada Familia. I was even able to see a state-of-the-art workshop where models are made using 3D printers.

It was now about 2:30 p.m. and I was hungry. I went back to the "Bistro Sagrada" I had chosen earlier and ordered sangria and pulpo a la galega, i.e. octopus on potato slices. I really enjoyed it.

Now I was feeling adventurous again and decided to go to the "Mirador torre Glòries", the observation deck of the highest skyscraper in Barcelona. It was a long walk, but I finally made it. The elevator had something I had never seen before: a glass roof. So you could see where you were going. Unfortunately, there was no glass floor.

The view was great, as expected. I could see the Sagrada Familia from above and my ship in the distance. And of course a sea of houses. Finally, I moved on because I had another appointment.

I had booked the "Ghosts and Legends in the Gothic Quarter" tour for 6:15 p.m. I arrived at our meeting point, the "Travellers Nest Bar," half an hour early. I ordered a beer and chatted with the waitress. Then tour guide Ewan arrived, followed shortly afterwards by the rest of the participants, and we set off. Ewan told us about the vampire of Barcelona and took us to a beautiful square, the "Plaça Reial," where an underage noblewoman who was forced into marriage was said to have been drowned, and whose ghost is said to still appear sometimes. We also saw a castle wall that was built using Jewish gravestones. All in all, an entertaining tour.

I had missed the last shuttle bus, so I was able to stay in town. Among the attractions I had found was one called "Nightmare" which was only open in the evenings and was very close by. So I went there.

On the outside, "Nightmare" was designed in the style of a ghost train. According to the descriptions, it was supposed to be really scary. I wanted to test my composure and went in.

Two young ladies from Bulgaria were waiting in front of the curtain into the unknown. They seemed happy about my arrival. Perhaps they already regretted taking on this test of courage. We were given instructions ("Always follow the red lights, abort the adventure with the safe word NIGHTMARE") and I was chosen to go first.

It was pitch black behind the curtain. I tried to find the red light that I was supposed to follow. Finally I found the small LED. Then shots rang out right next to us, the women screamed and clung to me. I smiled into the darkness. This was going to be fun.

Twenty minutes later, we had made it: we had been groped by invisible hands, heard horrific noises, seen gruesome scenes in the flashlight, been threatened by sinister figures and by a not-quite-real chainsaw. I had been amused, while the two ladies must have been really scared. They wanted to have their photo taken with me, which the friendly staff were happy to do.

Then I started my long night-time journey home. I rejected the idea of taking a taxi, even though I would have liked one later on the endless harbor bridge.

I was on the ship shortly after 10 p.m. Dinner was over, but a cold drink is available around the clock. After that, I fell into bed, pretty exhausted.