16April 2nd day in Barcelona, Spain

It was crispy and fresh early morning on our second day of Barcelona.
We started walking from Columbus Square to La Rambla where street venders opening up.
On our half way through La Rambla, we got into the most famous market in Barcelona, La Boqueria.
We were busy with our cameras for what spread out in front of our eyes.
Fruit salads, assorted fruit juices are nicely displayed along with seafood shops, chocolates, nut, fresh meats include game, aged ham, exotic mushrooms and fresh flowers…

We did not want breakfast on the ship so that we could have it on the market.
There were about 4 or 5 breakfast coffee bars in the busy market.
We chose one of the busiest and we were right about our choice.
Coffee and Spanish Omelets were so good. One is with potato and the other is assorted grilled vegetables. Yum.

A view of Plaza de Catalunya from the café on top floor of department store, El Corte Ingles at the Plaza

Our Hop On Hop Off bus on Red route today

One of Gaudi’s building on Pg. de Gracia near Plaza Catalunya

Gaudi’s Casa Mila

A colorful tower in Park Juan Miro

Plaza dÉspanya

Once infamous Bull fighting place, Arena of Barcelona now turned into a shopping center at the Plaza Espanya

MNAC (Museu Nacional dÁrt de Catalunya) at the Plaza Espanya

Beach Platja Nova Mar Bella on Green route of HOHO bus

The Cathedral on Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter) in the old town center

A flamenco dancer performs on Plaza Reial for restaurant patrons

Tobogan restaurant on Plaza Reial where we had lunch. They were surprisingly good as we only expected tourist food on this plaza with full of tourists.

Cute art gallery next to the museum of Picasso

We did know it was closed today but we had to come and tick on our list. Hi Picasso~~ hh

In front of a shop with giant paella pans are displayed.

15April Barcelona, Spain

This will be the last port as an overnight stay and the second last port before returning to Fort Lauderdale.
It was not even a full day visit when we arrived in Barcelona with the Costa Luminosa one and a half years ago.
That was too short for this beautiful and magnificent city of Catalunya.
I am so happy to be back for this time.

The Face of Barcelona (Cap de Barcelona)

Torre Agbar the Barcelonan gherkin

Go Cart is on the road?

Plaza de Catalunya

It would take more than half an hour walk from the ship to the town through the bridge and heavy traffic of cargo trucks, so we purchased the shuttle bus return tickets for 3.50 EUR.
There are few companies operating Hop On Hop Off (HOHO) buses.
We, with Renee chose one that has three different routes.
Red and Blue routes take about 2 hours each to circle around and the Green route is only for half an hour.
It was 31 EUR with special discount for two days.
We started with the red route of HOHO bus from Columbus Square where the shuttle bus dropped us off.

It was already lunch time when we got off at the big Plaza de Catalunya.
A kind young man at the information kiosk advised us the direction for restaurants and Tapas when asked.
We saw a nice looking place called Txapela Euskal Taberna on Pg. de Gracia not far from the Plaza.
It reminded me of interior set of typical Sushi train restaurant at first but without circling belt.
There are so many variety of Tapas displayed around the bars.
We were all fascinated by the presentation of tantalizing seafood assorted Tapas.
Most of them cost range from 1.60 to 2.20 EUR each.
We ordered 4 each but they were so good that we ended up ordering few more. So delicious.

Tapas restaurant Txapela

Tapas restaurant Txapela

Sagrada Familia Cathedral

Plaza de Catalunya is also one of the stops to change to the blue HOHO bus.
After passing Gaudi’s Casa Mila, we got off for the Sagrada Familia Cathedral (Sacred Family), Gaudi’s masterpiece which still has few decades to complete.
We gave up getting a ticket as queue was too long and just started raining as well.
I was quite happy that I had enough time to go around the Cathedral this time and had taken some photos leisurely.

Sagrada Familia Cathedral

Then, Gaudi’s Park Güell was our next stop.
We had to walk up the steep hill for 10 minutes but we all were so proud of ourselves to make it to the top of the hill breathless.
And, it was worth it and even sun came out for us for a while.
As if I were in a fairy tale book, Gaudi’s ideas and creative works in the park are beyond my imagination.
I was so looking forward to seeing them since I have first contacted the interesting photos.
With a little surprise, the park was packed with tourists.
The most famous feature in the park must be the statue of gecko lying on the steps and is made of colorful mosaic tiles.
It was impossible to take a photo of it without anyone around.

Park Güell

Park Güell

Park Güell

Famous gecko mosaic

Ping from ship’s spa salong bumped into us on La Rambla

Temperature dropped dramatically as rain got heavier in the afternoon.
It was too cold and windy to stay on top of the open air bus even with plastic ceiling cover on.
We all moved downstairs of the bus to keep warm for the rest of the bus route which was not much of scenic except for Barcelona soccer stadium.
We basically returned to the Plaza de Catalunya and strolled around the most famous and busiest street La Rambla.
La Rambla was full of interesting shops, restaurants and cafés, needless to say about thousands of tourists.
To rest our poor feet, we went inside the small café inside one of narrow lane ways.
We were so content that our café latte was strong enough and excellent!

Plaza Reial lovely court surrounded by restaurants

After taking countless beautifully ornate medieval style buildings, it is already time for dinner.
We were tourists but we always try to find a place where locals go.
There is a restaurant on Calle de Ferran in Barri Gothic, the center of old town.
It has black marble floor with dark mahogany timber ceiling and walls.
Assorted Tapas were also displayed in the middle of bar section of the restaurant.
Middle aged waiters were professional and we were so appreciative for their English ability.
I was thinking that the service was rather casual to its classic and formal look of interior.
Their seafood paella, calamari and Tapas were so delicious.
It was getting chillier and windier as night fell but we continued to walk around where this attractive old town offers to foreign visitors.
We had beautiful day and were so satisfied with it, yet we have another full day in Barcelona.

Restaurant Ferran

14April Ajaccio Corsica, France

It is actually pronounced as Ah jah show
It was Saturday morning when local market is on until 1pm

Ham, formage, olives and Corsican traditional bread and sweets were fascinating us.
Local specialty here is nougat and market venders are all nice and generous in free sample

Nice beach promenade around the corner of fortress La Citadelle
Napoleon statue as Caesar with his 4 brothers

We found a small restaurant tucked in a small lane outside of town center called Columba
We ordered mussel cooked in wine and garlic as well as another mussel dish cooked in cream and cognac.
The combination of good French bread dipped in mussel sauce was so good that any words cannot be describable
Two dishes of mussel and a grilled king prawn dish was more than enough for 4 people

Another statue of Napoleon in town center where market was on
Souvenir shop next to the house where Napoleon was born in 1769

Quite short bed in Maison de Napoleon. He was indeed a short guy.

Citadelle