Norwegian Cruise, Epic (Day 5) - Return to Barcelona, Spain

Columbus Statue getting some work done  and wearing a snazzy smock

Deloris and Melody at dinner last night

Deloris, Maxine, Melody, Mom and Larry at dinner last night

Columbus Statue

Sagrada Familia Cathedral Chapel where we had mass.

Sagrada Familia Cathedral - Visiting choir who sang for mass standing around Gaudi's tomb stone

Sagrada Familia Cathedral

Sagrada Familia Cathedral - Jesus' Alter

Sagrada Familia Cathedral
St. Joseph's Alter with baby Jesus

Sagrada Familia Cathedral
Virgin Mary's Alter

Sagrada Familia Cathedral

Mom in front of Sagrada Familia Cathedral

We had a nice breakfast with the solo group. The whole group but us were leaving today to either go home to the States or stay in Barcelona for a few days before their return home. We said our goodbyes and then headed out on the public bus to town for the day. And then another public bus to Sagrada Familia Cathedral for 10:30am mass. The mass is held in the downstairs chapel which the guard, I believe was trying to tell me was one of the original parts built by Gaudi before he passed. His tomb is in the chapel as well and interestingly "The great Spanish architect studying and creating mostly in Barcelona. His most famous work is the cathedral Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, starting at 1886 and still not completed. His surrealist buildings had a formative influence on the whole picture of Barcelona. On occasion he had expressed a desire to die in a hospital among the poor people. This came to pass when he was run down by a street car. The city police didn't recognize him and seeing him as a poor man, they took him to the Holy Cross Hospital of Barcelona, where he died. "

And we are now in Starbucks across the street from the Cathedral to do some quick internet and then we'll be off again to explore a little bit more of the city before heading back to the ship.

Church of St. Joan - So beautiful inside and out

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The crazy crowds down the Ramblas

The sculpture in the middle of the window for the Pharmacy is so interesting as well as the rest of the exterior

The wonderful food market was closed because it was Sunday

Yummy chocolate shop

Bridge and Groom with photographer. We couldn't figure out why he had them  lying down on a dirty pier
but I'm sure the shot will be fabulous and worth the bird poop on her gown

Norwegian Cruise, Epic (Day 4) - Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Our Ship, the Epic with our balcony circled with yellow

Mom as we walked through a flea Market

Alexander Calder Sculpture near Cathedral

Jan Miro Sculpture

After a nice breakfast chatting with two women from England we were off to tour the gorgeous Spanish island of Palma de Mallorca. As soon as we disembarked we found the hop-on-hop-off bus which took us around the entire city in comfort with the a lovely breeze from the open top.

We eventually after doing one full round about the city we got off and toured the area around the cathedral which has so many charming and couture shops as well as discount venues. We stopped to use the internet at McDonald's again and met some people from our cruise doing exactly the same thing. We chatted for awhile with a British couple who cruise a lot and gave us tips on other cruises they've taken. I've found most people we meet go regularly on cruises, some 2 and 3 a year.. But it is a convenient way to travel, only unpacking once and in some cases for those who have done the 30+ day cruises seeing most of the world.

So back on the bus we went and were on the boat in about and hour, had a quick snack and then rested for a bit before dinner with the solo group who all get off in Barcelona tomorrow.

Dinner was lovely with the group and then up stairs for yummy crapes for dessert, well that was after a little coconut sorbet first. There really is so much food to choose from but thankfully we stopped at crapes and didn't indulge any further at the late night buffet.