We went into Barcelona on our own today on the shuttle bus.
It cost 3.50 Euros each for a round trip. The bus let us off right in front of
the statue of Columbus in the harbor. Some of the shuttle buses are set up for
handicapped and have a space for a scooter or strollers.
Today was a holiday similar to Valentine’s Day in the U.S.
but bigger. It’s called St. George’s Day and it is only observed in the
Catalonia region. All kinds of loving relationships are celebrated including romantic
and family relationships. Many people have the day off. We weren’t sure if the
museums and shops would be open but they were. Barcelonians celebrated by
giving flowers or books to their loved ones. We saw many young ladies with a
single red rose which were being sold everywhere.
We walked around looking for an internet café. The
information booth lady said there was a café in the Subway sandwich shop on La
Rambla but when we got there the man said no. He said to go to number 31 on the
next cross street up. It was a good place and we were glad we did it. It cost
two Euros for an hour.
La Rambla is a famous street. The name means river and it
used to be an outlet to the ocean. Now it is a river of people, day and night.
It’s a big, broad street lined with trees and with lots of little shops. There were
bicycles that were available to anyone. Bill said he saw a man moving the bikes
in an official van, presumably to other parts of the city.
We were only a short distance from the Maritime Museum. It’s
housed in a building from the 13th century but they have extensively
remodeled it. There are not many exhibits but the ones they have are
spectacular. There is plenty of room to grow their collection of ships. I
expected to see Columbus’s sextant or some such but it’s not like that.
There is a cute little submarine outside from about 1860. It
is made out of wood and in the shape of a fish.
Inside there is a huge boat inside from the 15th century.
Bill said it is called a Caravelle. It had gilt decorations on the stern.
There is a sailing boat at the port that you
can visit using the same entrance fee. We paid 3.5 Euros for both of us because
we are pensioners.
