We awoke at about 7:30 AM. Dolly decided that she wanted to take a walk around the community and burn some calories. I stayed in bed. She came back after about an hour with some bags and some breakfast goodies. She had found some inexpensive articles of clothing for herself as well. We sat and ate some cheese and bread with some juice for me and coffee for her. Dolly said that we ought to go back to the store where we got my shirt and see if they had any pants that would fit me. I had clean underwear and a clean shirt, but I wanted some pants. We went back to MareMagnum to the same store where I had gotten the shirt. The sales person said they had some pants to fit me. We left after the pants did not fit.
We walked back up Las Ramblas toward the Open Top Bus stops. I called Air France and inquired about our luggage. Finally there was some positive news. They had found Dolly's bag, but had not positively identified my bag. Dolly's bag went to another city in France. The agent stated that both bags would be delivered tonight after six pm.
We decided to buy a two day ticket for the tour bus. We boarded the bus and began our tour.
Upstairs on the Open Top Bus
The bus started down El Diagonal, a beautiful tree lined avenue with many upscale shops and eateries. The bus took us toward some buildings that were designed by the Spanish artist, Gaudi.
A Gaudi design
Another Gaudi design
As we traversed El Diagonal, there were many examples of his style of architecture. If you notice from the pictures above, much of his designs appear to resemble melting wax in many areas like around the windows and the decoration of the balconies.
As we proceeded down that avenue there were numerous beautiful examples of architecture.
Barcelona Soccer Stadium
We wound our way through the city discharging and collecting passengers as we went. As an interesting observation; when we stopped at the different stops we looked on top of the bus shelters and they were covered with discarded earbuds.
Most of our tour was of the downtown area to start. We were taken past the football (soccer) stadium of their famous football team, pictured above.
We next climbed a series of hills and went up to the Olympic Stadium and complex. It was built on a site that had once been the residences of many poor residents. These people were relocated to another area into new houses. There was the swimming venue as well as an Olympic museum on this site. There was also a tram that ran from the harbor area to the Olympic venue.
We next descended from that area and headed toward the Mediterranean Sea and the harbor. The view was magnificent as you can see from the picture below. That's the Mediterranean Sea in the distance.
Most of our tour was of the downtown area to start. We were taken past the football (soccer) stadium of their famous football team, pictured above.
We next climbed a series of hills and went up to the Olympic Stadium and complex. It was built on a site that had once been the residences of many poor residents. These people were relocated to another area into new houses. There was the swimming venue as well as an Olympic museum on this site. There was also a tram that ran from the harbor area to the Olympic venue.
We next descended from that area and headed toward the Mediterranean Sea and the harbor. The view was magnificent as you can see from the picture below. That's the Mediterranean Sea in the distance.
We toured the harbor area and saw Barcelona's largest mall, Mar Magnum with its accompanying marina. It was absolutely beautiful. While in the waterfront area, we were taken past a great beach and the Olympic Sailing Center and part of the Olympic Village.
The buildings that had once housed the athletes were sold once the Olympics had ended. The tour guide stated that it had once been believed that the farther away from the sea you were the more valuable your property was. The Olympics and their dwellings changed that thinking. They were sold after the Olympics were over and are very valuable real estate.
We proceeded through the financial district and an older part of Barcelona. Before we knew it, we were back where we had started our tour. We disembarked the bus and headed back to our apartment to receive our luggage.
We picked up some food on the way to the apartment and began our wait. We had left word with the concierge that Air France would be bringing our luggage and she placed a note on the glass door to ring the bell to our apartment. Now we settled in to wait for the delivery of our bags.
The hours seemed to drag by with no courier with our bags. I got tired of waiting in the apartment. I went down to the lobby and took a chair and propped the door open to wait for the driver. Some time near 10 pm, the driver arrived with our bags. HOORAY!!!!!!! We checked them and went to bed. We now have fresh clothing.
The hours seemed to drag by with no courier with our bags. I got tired of waiting in the apartment. I went down to the lobby and took a chair and propped the door open to wait for the driver. Some time near 10 pm, the driver arrived with our bags. HOORAY!!!!!!! We checked them and went to bed. We now have fresh clothing.
No comments:
Post a Comment