Barcelona was our first two-day stop and our first one in a really big city.  We didn’t really know what to expect, but we weren’t optimistic.  The first day was quite chilly and overcast - no rain, though.  I had booked us an audio walking tour.  They gave us each an iPod and a map.  We were supposed to walk to the points on the map and play the iPod.  It was a good concept, but the recordings were quite long-winded and we had to play them all to get directions to the next spot.  Adele gave up after 90 minutes or so of looking at buildings that were somehow supposed to be special.  I stayed with it a bit longer.  The good part about it was that it took me down some quaint little alleys & byways that I never would have seen otherwise.  However, after the 4th or 5th stop at memorials for “St. Aurelia,” I gave up.  I found my way over to the big Gaudi Cathedral which is a must-see in Barcelona.  It was very interesting, but I couldn’t sync up with the audio guide to hear what I was seeing.  Then I really gave up and headed back to the ship for a late lunch.
The second day, we decided to just go for a walk along Las Ramblas, the main thoroughfare of Barcelona.  Somehow, during the night, 4 other, very large, cruise ships had arrived.  It also seems that Friday is the traditional shopping day in Barcelona.  In short, Las Ramblas and the side streets and markets were jam-packed.  Since neither of us appreciates crowds that much, we headed back to the ship after only about an hour or so.

Barcelona Photos