Sunset from the MV Explorer

Final Day in Barcelona

These past 3 days have gone by so fast and I can’t believe that it is already time to leave the wonderful Spanish city of Barcelona. The first stop today was the Boquadia Market. This was the largest fresh food market that I have ever seen. Fish, crabs, octopus, tuna, strawberries, cactus fruit, tangerines, oranges, papayas, coconuts, olives, eggs, hazelnuts, walnuts and so many more other types of fresh produce were everywhere. All of the colors were so overwhelming. I had a very yummy papaya coconut smoothie and delicious flan bread with crystallized pine nuts on top- delicious!

After the market, I took the metro with a couple friends to the Sagrada Familia. Before entering to the church/museum we stopped at this local café for some café (coffee) and sandwich. It was delicious and attempting to order in the very poor Spanish I speak was interesting (thank goodness the café owner was so understanding.)

After lunch we went into the Sagrada Familia. It is a church that has been in construction for about 90 years and the architect was Gaudi. There is literally no way to describe the splendor that is this church. The way that Gaudi uses spatial awareness, creates a very modern looking church, but still has just as much symbolism as the churches of old. Imagine a huge forest made of trees that are made of stones with a ceiling as high as the heavens. This is the inside of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia. The outside is just levels and levels of gorgeous sculptures: the nativity, Jesus’ birth, three wise men, and so many more.

Then it was a quick metro back to the bus and on to ITALY!

 

Tarragona and Montblanc

6-30-2012

Today I ventured out to the two ancient cities of Tarragona and Montblanc. But, the first stop on the bus was to see the ancient aqueduct of the Roman Empire.

Many years ago, the Roman Empire spread into many parts of Europe, including Spain. The aqueduct that they used functioned as a way of getting water into and out of the city. But, pretty much like everything the Romans did, it is constructed with beautiful architecture and design. The aqueduct is made up of two huge arches stacked on top of each other. It was amazing how intricate the architecture was and even more amazing when I considered the types of primitive materials that the Romans were using. After the stop at the aqueduct we proceeded on to the quaint town of Tarragona. It is a coastal town built during the 9^th century. The town itself is fairly run down with many small tourist shops scattered throughout. But, the center and masterpiece of the town is the giant cathedral that looms over all in the center of the city. Originally a synagogue, then turned into a mosque, and finally a cathedral built on top of the other two, it is made of intricate architecture and laced with symbolism in every curve.

Once I toured around Tarragona and sat periodically in under the palm trees shade (sidebar- I still get excited about seeing palm trees. It is such a refreshing difference from the evergreen forests that are prominent back home) I proceeded to the Medieval town of Montblanc. One of the highlights of the trip was a wonderful 4 course meal at El Cortijo, a local Spanish bar in Montblanc. The courses included 1. Salad- containing hazelnuts, fresh green olives, corn, tomatillos, and delicious leafy green lettuce. 2. Bread covered in 3 different types of melted cheese 3. Crème de Catalan- essentially the Spanish version of Crème Brulee. 4. Café (that is, good Spanish coffee.) The meal was just the perfect break from the exhausting heat and walking around that Tarragona required.

After the meal, I walked around Montblanc for a bit, watching the locals and taking in all of the medieval ruins. One of the coolest parts was the remains of a castle that was located in the middle of the city. There was one turret left standing (I use this term loosely because it was very much starting to crumble) that jutted out of the rock. It was quite the breath taking view of the entire city. At this point in time my camera died, but I have a couple pictures I will post as soon as I get internet. After the castle, I wandered around the giant cathedral in Montblanc. The stain glass windows of this chapel were the most intricate designs that I have ever seen.

Finally, I boarded the bus and ventured on home. I spent the night on Las Ramblas, wandering around, doing some shopping, and just taking in the general splendor that is Barcelona. For dinner my friend and I stopped in for some beers at a local bar (there were no English translations and none of the waiter spoke English, which made the experience much more authentic.) The picturesque day ended with a nice walk back to the beach, a taxi driver stopping us on the bridge and saying he would give us a free ride because he was going down to the port anyway, and them him speeding and getting pulled over by a cop as he dropped us off. Overall, quite the amazing day!!

 

 

The Wonderful Mediterranean Sea

Fish, coral, minnows, sea fans, and seagulls were just some of the wonderful aquatic animals that I saw today while snorkeling in the picturesque Medes Islands. My favorite memory was when I was just heading back the boat to take off my goggles, snorkel, and wetsuit, when I looked down and saw at least 600 fish all about half a foot long. They were swirling in a tight ball, frantically swimming around and around. Then, all of a sudden, the broke rank as a giant rockfish (2 feet long) bolted through the middle of the pack. They’re dense mechanism thrown off, they were all in it for their own safety and preservation from the predatory fish. It was an intense and fascinating scene to watch from the surface of the water. This was the most exciting of the aquatic organisms that I saw as I was snorkeling today.

The Medes Islands are locked on the north side of Barcelona, on the coast of the Mediterranean. The water was particularly salty due to the lack of fresh water flowing into the Sea.  There were many fish that swam to and fro in the rocky outcropping of the Medes islands. It is a different sort of ecosystem then that of a coral reef. There are much less colors, but lots of green, leafy plants that sway gently to and fro on the bottom of the water (named “Posieden’s Gardens” for the mythical Greek god of the sea.)

Well, it is definitely time for bed because tomorrow I get to tour Tarragona and Montblanc.. I will let all you rabid readers know how that goes J

 

Monserrat and Barcelona- Day 1

Nestled about an hour out of Barcelona proper is a magnificent piece of artwork. There are rocks, scaly looking, as they climb up the walls of the sky. Imbedded in the rocks is a monastery. A monastery made before the 10^th century. The architecture is beyond words. When entering the monastery (which is also a big pilgrimage destination for Catholics) there is a sense of peace that immediately envelopes every sense of your being. There really aren’t any emotions or descriptions that can be used to describe what I felt as I entered the great chapel, when I saw the beauty of Barcelona from 2000 feet up, as I walked along the path dotted with religious sculptures from many different artists and many different styles, and especially as I gazed into the beauty of the architecture and the sculpture itself.

Monserrat (the monastery I just gave a detailed description of) is home to 76 Benedictine monks. They have all taken a vow of silence and walk around passively on the grounds, in the mountains, and in the chapels. There are many tourists all over the grounds but there is an air of reverence that is inescapable.

Once I arrived back from the breathtaking monastery, I proceeded to tackle the wonders of Barcelona. Barcelona, home of pick-pocketing, is full of tourists and natives, all walking around in the scorching heat like it is normal (most likely because it is to all of them not from rainy ‘ole Oregon.) I proceeded to mill the shops with some of my friends, popping in and out, attempting to use what Spanish I remember from middle school (basically “si,” “gracias,” and “no habla espagnol,”) and taking in the general splendor of it all.

Barcelona is an ancient city that has so much old architecture and art scattered through it. Gaudi is one of the prominent painters/architects who helped put the city together and there are many examples of his influences everywhere.

Around 2000 we stopped in a pub to watch the Eurocup Semifinals between Spain and Portugal. With the help of some beer and many tapas (delicious Spanish food) the evening was quite enjoyable. Going into overtime and into a shootout, Spain managed to win the match. This sent the entire pub (full of native Spaniards) into raucous cheering and the streets of Barcelona were soon full of enthusiastic fans celebrating the victory. Arriving home at 0030, I am now ready for a nice cold shower, some band-aids for my blisters and some nice sleep until 0800 tomorrow morning when I will be going snorkeling J

Overall, it has been an incredible first day off the ship and in Barcelona. 

 

 

I SEE LAAAANNNDDD

Last night at 2020 the MV Explorer passed through the Strait of Gibraltar. Looking out from the observation deck, I could see North Africa on the right and Spain on the left.  Everything is covered in mist and paints the most romantic and mysterious picture.

Today I have conquered two midterms and the excitement that is Barcelona is pressing heavy upon me. Yesterday I attended a “pre-port cultural briefing.” Essentially, it was a time when a professor from Spain discussed what to do, what to eat, and how to fit in with the Spanish culture. It was very insightful and succeeded in getting me pumped and excited to see land and experience Barcelona at its finest. The high for the week is 82 and the low is 76, so there isn’t much more I can ask for.

On the docket for tomorrow is a tour of Montserrat (a Catholic monastery built around 253 B.C. that still houses around 80 monks.) The architecture of this building is incredible and considering the time period that it was built in, it is magnificent. After that, probably a walk on Las Ramblas (essentially the main street in Barcelona) and then lunch and dinner (they eat lunch around 3 and dinner between 9 and 11 in Spain.)

 

Two more days until LAND!

Well, I am officially ready to see some nice green trees, brown dirt, shrubs, houses, and everything else that land offers up. The constant rocking of the boat and giant storms in the night have lead me to appreciate the wonders that I took for granted on land. Today I saw a huge humpback whale about 30 feet from the boat! It was huge and magnificently graceful. I stood out on the deck this evening, looking out at the various boats on the horizon and feeling the ridiculously fierce winds of Gibraltar. Around 2000 we will be going through the Strait of Gibraltar (the entrance into the Mediterranean between North Africa and Spain. This first sighting of land is accompanied by historically strong winds that whip through the straight out into the Atlantic Ocean.

Barcelona is so close I can almost taste it. J After two midterms tomorrow, it will be right around the Gibraltar corner!