Holy Sight Seeing....

So even though we have been to Barcelona 4 or 5 times and for months at a time, we have never really done the 'Full Blown' sight seeing thing, as in get on the topless bus, get off at every stop, queue up in the huge lines to see inside these places.
We have been on the topless bus twice before this stay but both times we were either too hungover to get off or the line ups were to long to bear or both!
So this day we woke up determined to get through it all, well atleast the main attractions.
We got up early and started the day the best we know how and headed to the beach, Scotty went for a run and I for a stand up paddle board session. We usually spend most of our weekend mornings this way then head home for omelettes and fresh squeezed juices. There seriously is no better way for us to start our day.
NEXT was time to walk into town and let the sightseeing begin!
First we started with one of Gaudi's churches which we didn't actually go into, hmmm not the best start maybe.
Right out the front of his church there was a awesome antique market which we spent about and hour scavenging through. I could of walked out with  half of the stalls if only I knew a way to get it all home. The things I could of bought over the years if only we had the space or the way to get it all home. So out I walked with only a cool vintage 'Popeye' clock. Hey it had character alright!

Well the time has come to jump on the topless bus and insert our headsets!
First stop Casa Mila, the apartments Gaudi designed.
Started out fabulously with a 45min line up in the 34 degree heat! The whole time Im thinking 'this better be worth it'!
Well it was luckily. I was surprised at how far ahead of it time  the outside of the building is but how the inside seemed to match the era that it was built in (the year being 1906 when built) . Strange.

    Roof top of the builing.

Right so thats Casa Mila checked off the list, time to insert head set again and get back on the bus.
Next stop Gaudi's Sagrada Familia, the most iconic place in the whole of Barcelona.
My jaw drops everytime I see this beautiful church. We did get off the bus but again didn't go inside. The line up was along the street and around the corner then around another corner.
We did decide it was time for lunch though and picked a nice little italian restaurant across the street so we could sit and admire the beauty of the church still.

 

PARC GUELL.
Yet another Gaudi attraction. Beautiful huge gardens with Gaudi designs throughout, so unique just like everything he did.
It sits at the top of a hill overlooking all of Barcelona. He certainly designed it well to get the most of that gorgeous view.
Like its not  lovely enough  walking through the gardens but tucked away you will find musicians  playing to sit and be taken away with.

Down the road from Parc Guell there is a store that sells all things that are Gaudi. Inside there is all the information you could ever want to know of him. On walking into this place we were welcomed by a guy at the door, he told us that there was also a 3D theatre where we could pay 9 euro's to see the story behind his work. So we bought our tickets, put on our nifty 3D glasses and sat excited about the movie. Well we sure as hell were robbed of 18 euro's I tell you. It was so bad that it was funny. People in the theatre were actually laughing at it along with us, the whole 10 minutes that is that it went for!
So if you do happen to go to this place save your cash and dont bother seeing the movie!
I find Gaudi very intriguing,  even the story of the way he came to die. The fact that his work seems so ahead of even our time now, yet he did all this in the late 1800's and early 1900's.

Gaudi died in 1926. He took a step back to admire one of his buildings and was hit by a tram. He was knocked unconscious and people passing by ignored him as they thought he was just a BUM as he was dressed in tattered clothes and had no ID.

It wasn't until the next day that a police man came along and took him to a hospital that he was identified but died shortly after.

    Scotty workin those 3D Glasses!

                            Just Chillin with my mate Gaudi.

                           I just liked this colourful little place thats all !




The final stop of the day on this sight seeing bonanza was TIBIDABO HISTORIC FUNPARK, which sits up on the highest point over looking Barcelona!
I had seen this funpark in the Movie, Vicky Christina Barcelona, which is one of my favourite movies.
The funpark is 100 years old and just so classically beautiful. It is from when funparks  very first began. It was so great to see how all the rides were first made. The first roller coasters, ferris wheels, carousels. Was just devine.

               

So that wraps up our  MASS sight seeing day! Man it was a great and exhausting day but ticked off the main things on the list! We walked our way back through the Gothic area back home, taking in all the goings on down every street we passed by.
THE END! Whoo that took me about 7 sittings to get through writing that post! The post was as big as our day!

Barcelona Bliss...

I really need to keep more up to date with this whole blogging thing. Before I know it three weeks has gone by and sooo much has happened.

So anyways! We finally made it to Barcelona, it took us 17 days to get here instead of 5 but WE ARE HERE!!!!

It is so great to be back and instantly Barcelona doesn't let us down with excitement.

I  must admit we were all pretty shattered by the time we had arrived and really just wanted to go and sleep but all that excitement inside of us knew that was never going to happen, so instead we dragged our tired asses out and hit the strip of La Ramblas! 

There is an immediate buzz in the air and always so much to see. We just walked around for hours taking in all the atmosphere then settled into a spot along the strip. While I was in the bathroom Scotty had ordered me the largest glass of Sangria you have ever seen and philby the larger beer he had ever seen. Basically just a jug with a handle! So we sat back and people watched and drank our giant glasses of booze till it was all gone and  we 'stumbled' home (once we eventually even found our feet that is).

DAY 2. Was all about cruising. Jumped on the bikes and cruised along  the strip of Barcelona beach and then hit the sand for some chill time, baking and swimming. there's never a dull moment on Barcelona beach with people from absolutely every different walks of life. I cant just go down there and read a book cause there is always just too much to see. Seriously never a dull moment!

We ended up at this great outdoor Fab chilled Burger joint that has just opened and chowed down on a burger and some of the best fries I've ever tasted.

For some reason all but one photo worked that we took over the weekend on Scotty's Iphone so that will have to do. It's of me at the burger joint.

L'Italia Addio, Hola Espana...

Goodbye Italy Hello Spain!!!
We finally got the call up to take the boat to Barcelona with a few stops along the way.
Our first stop was Loano, Italy still !! As in only 20mins from our leaving point of Imperia. Unexpected stop but a nice little town to be holed up in for which ended up being almost a week.
Lots of afternoon bike rides, swims and afternoon cocktails at all the new white outdoor lounge bars/clubs etc. Sleepy fishing village looking to turn all funky new school! Fine by me!

 Still keeping an eye on the boat whilst sipping cocktails! Hmm my cocktail must of been still coming!

Next unexpected stop Olbia, Sardinia. Was nice to be back in Sardinia and have a few days to ourselves to hangout. Another bonus being here without guests onboard for a change. Once we got in got all tied and cleaned up we took ourselves into Olbia town and out for dinner and a few drinks.

My new favourite drink 'Lychee  Cosmopolitans'. They taste like yummy lollie water but then when you try to stand up BOOM legless.


The next day was a pristine beach day so we put on our bikini's and grabbed some trashie magazines and took ourselves to the closest most beautiful beach we could find. The view was stunning and the beach bar helped set the scene too!
Once the sun started to fade we headed back to the marina to a little Italian Restaurant/Bar for a feed then home.

Next stop Tunisia.  Didn't know exactly what to expect from Tunisia but didn't expect what we saw for some reason. We were in Port Yasmin which is a holidayers playground full of huge hotels and beach bars.
Not exactly super cultural. The place is made up of all  Muslim Indians and the language is french! Interesting .......  We had also turned up smack bang in the middle of ramadan.
So we jumped on our bikes (as we do) and took off to see what was around and basically came across horse drawn carriages, horses leading camels along the beach for rides, tuk tuks and a ton of souvenir shops.
It is beautiful by night riding along the streets, there is a lovely atmosphere in the air if you can get past some of the rank smells in that air also!!
Oh and the strangest thing was when Scotty and I were riding along on our bikes people kept asking how much was my bike, like literally EVERYONE. We would fly by and people would be yelling out HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH... Still cant figure that one out.

 There were these crazy packed pirate tourist boats that come in with music blaring and people dancing and singing. I asked whats that all about and our agent told us that they take people out and have lunch and party all along the coast. I said that sounds fun and then she told me there is NO ALCOHOL onboard! What tha??? Wont see me on there!