Have camera will travel

Sept 14
Last full day
Another sleep in day except……
A text message at 2am, a phone call at 4am, and a wake up call at 6:30am – which we forgot to cancel. We finally crawled out at 9:30 along with a few others.
Technology is breaking down still. Got the phone to work ( obviously because of the call early this morning). The camera is still not working properly- 1 out of 6 presses if the shutter it might work. Now my Fitbit is falling apart, and the phone has the no SIM card message again. FUN.
Went for a walk around the block and watched Barcelona wake up. We didn’t walk far we thought we would take it easy because we knew we had some big walks ahead of us this afternoon.
We got picked up around 1130 and off we went to the old Gothic centre of Barcelona to take a walk. We’ve been here before 11 years ago. The place was crawling with tourists not at all like it was 11 years ago when there was no one around. We walked around the cathedral and back out into the Square where they were having a book fair. Didn’t buy any books because they were all in Spanish.
Back on the coach and then down across diagonal which is the main street of Barcelona we went by two of Gaudi’s houses, the same two that we went by last night, they look totally different in the daylight. On down the street towards Sagrada Familia. Because the streets are narrow we had to walk 2 1/2 blocks up to the cathedral. Past lots of shops selling trinkets and football gear. Looks the same as it did 11 years ago except there’s maybe one or two more spires but still three or four cranes. We walked from the back door around to the front door and then he let us go for an hour to get something to eat or shop.
We crossed the street and picked a small little place to go into and had ham and cheese on a bun. The bread was great and the cold Coke that went with it was even better. We sat at the back and enjoyed the cool air and the cold drink.
When we were done we wandered out into the street and met up with some of our gang. We stood around and discussed how crazy you had to be to have an idea to build that church. Last time we were here we couldn’t go in because there was some construction rather going on. This time we got to go in. We all congregated across the street and once we were there we wandered across the street and up through security had a bag check just like at the airport and then stood outside and marvelled at the outside. Two days ago there was a security scare at the Cathedral there was a strange van parked outside so they blocked off the cathedral closed it down and then went about checking it out. We think maybe that the security check on the highway had something to do with it.
Then we went it was kind of big on the inside not as big as the other one we saw earlier this trip but still it was huge. Lots of columns and stained glass. The south side of the building was all reds and yellows. The other side was blues and greens. The one High Point had almost yellow white light streaming in and it look like there was linen in front of it so it looked kind a hazy in ripplely.
We went in the back door and came out the front door and then walked around along the side where the Pope entered. This door is blocked off for ordinary people. You can take a photo of a photo if you need to.
Now we track the 2 1/2 blocks back to the coach. We are all pooped, the temp isn’t that high, only 27, but the humidity is about 75%. All of us said back to the hotel please, no one was up for shopping.
We got our bags weighed just to make sure we were ok, we were. We didn’t buy a lot, just a few trinkets, no worries. We took the bags up to the room and then back down and over to the Pasteria shop to have a coffee and something sweet with some of the gang. Nice place, lots of dainties, and chocolate stuff. Toni says it’s the best and his favourite place.
Back to the room and organized our suitcases and we are ready to go. Tonight is our “celebration dinner” whoopee more chicken. We haven’t been impressed with the food this trip, not flavourful, and some I didn’t like (fish). The weather has been great, hot and sunny the whole time, Seville was a bit much at 39, but on the whole very good. Today was sunny this morning but it’s overcast now (5pm).
Went down to join the group and it’s pouring rain. O well, it lasted about 10 minutes and then quit. Ya!! On the coach for the last time and away for supper. The best meal of the tour. Lots of tapas to begin and then pepper chicken. And great deserts- 3 small pieces of sweets and some fruit. Lots of wine flowing. Very loud. It’s was a great night and sad to say hasta la vista amigos.
A loud trip back to the hotel. And then lots of hugging in the lobby and another Insight tour wondering what the heck is going on, all these loud people standing on the street talking and laughing and not Spanish.
Bummer, trip is over and we need to get up early to catch the first shuttle to the airport.