2015 - Pisa and Florence

Port of Livorno, Italy
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

ONE OF my pet peeves with cruise lines is the "selling" of port stops that really aren't the ports at all For example, Livorno and LaSpezia as: "for Florence and Pisa." Neither Florence, nor Pisa is on the water and the closest deep water port is Livorno, some 45 miles from Florence and just under 15 miles from Pisa. Some of the cruise lines "sell" it from La Spezia (which is even further away from both cities). Misleading, in my view. A short day in Florence is possible if it is a full day on shore. Getting both Pisa and Florence in is tougher. An overnight mooring might be ideal from Livorno, but a day stop is challenging no matter what. In this case, if I recall correctly, it was one of the days where it was a slightly shorter stop, due to a pretty good run to the next port (Civitavecchia). But from La Spezia, it just doesn't seem feasible to me (though there are those who do it).

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Duomo Pisa) - Pisa, Italy
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reviewed

FROM LA Spezia, it is 50 miles to Pisa and 90 miles to Florence. Given local driving conditions the trip to Pisa is probably well over 90 minutes and to Florence, between 2 and 2 1/2 hours each way. That cuts into a port day in a big way. Unfortunately, most of the current Celebrity ships seem to be docking in La Spezia these days. On-line and website resources suggest that the reason for this is for better access to Cinque Terre. I suspect there is more to it than that and that we won't see it publicly discussed. In the early years, there was no deepwater pier in La Spezia for cruise ships, despite it being a major commercial and military port. In 2013, a cruise pier was completed, allowing for at least 2 ships to dock. The couple times we have been there, we have docked. I personally believe that the La Spezia port - for whatever reason - is giving cruise ships a better economic deal; enough so that they are moving from Livorno. I also think it is a less congested port as cruise ships go. This is unfortunate in my view, as I do not think it is tenable to visit Florence and/or Pisa from there and do either city justice, unless you are overnight. If your ship is going to dock there, I recommend that you plan your on shore visit around Cinque Terre. It is very easy to get there and you will not be disappointed!

Leaning Tower of Pisa (that thing really leans!) - Pisa, Italy
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

THIS TRIP, however, our Emerald Princess docked in Livorno. On this day we had a private guide/driver for just the 4 of us. He met us down on the pier as early as we were able to get off the ship. He wanted to get a fast start and felt that if we did Pisa first, we would be among the first to arrive there. He was right, and for most of our visit there (we were there for maybe about an hour to an hour and a half), we had the place virtually to ourselves. That was very nice for photography and I got a few very nice images of the Tower and of the surrounding church and buildings.

Marble stonework - Leaning Tower of Pisa - Pisa, Italy
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

I OFTEN photograph small, closeup segments of a subject I am photographing as a whole. Revealing the precision, shape and color of the underlying stonework is often not only photogenic, but gives us insight into the skill and artistic talents of the creators. In this case the marble work, in terms of geometrics, craftsmanship and color, is really spectacular. The interior of the cathedral, like many of the classical churches in Europe, is also impressive.

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Duomo Pisa) - Pisa, Italy
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reviewed

BECAUSE WE had one of our shorter days, we were really only able to do Florence in pretty much a whirlwind fashion. We were there on the day the Accedemia Museum is closed, so that wasn't an option anyway. We mostly drove around the city with a couple quick stops at some of the most important parts of the city. We started with a view from high up of the city as a whole. Florence is one of those places you should probably plan to visit over a minimum of a 2 - day period. Once the home of the rich and famous Medici family who were instrumental in bringing Europe out of its "Dark Ages," with its emphasis on art and commerce, Florence is a pretty impressive place.

Florence, Italy
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

THE DUOMO in Florence (The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore) is one of the most famous in Italy (if not in the world). Designed by the famed Renaissance architect, Filippo Brunelleschi, it is a double-domed design (a dome inside a dome), which can be climbed via a spiral staircase between the two domes. Constructed in a mix of Gothic and Renaissance styles, it was one of the primary new buildings of the Renaissance. It is a central feature of the center city.

The Duomo of Florence, Italy
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

PONTE VECCHIO is yet another famous feature in Florence. A unique, enclosed bridge, it once housed artisan shops (originally butchers and tanners, but re-purposed for artisans - in particular goldsmiths and jewelers) during the Renaissance period. It was also know for the secret passage Vasari Corridor, used by members of the Medici family to travel between palaces on either side of the bridge. Ponte Vecchio is both the oldest bridge in Florence (originally built by the Romans) and the only bridge in the city to be spare from bombings during WWII. "My" image here, was actually shot by our driver who stopped ever so briefly on the road heading toward the bridge. He was unable to stop for us, or even for me to get out for a quick shot. I really would like to have some time to explore the city on my own in a more leisurely fashion. I have determined that it will require at the very least, an overnight stay in Florence some day.

Ponte Vecchio - Florence, Italy
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

WITH OUR time running short, our driver took us past one other notable site in Florence, Palazzo Vechio, where Mussolini made his impassioned speeches asserting the dominance of Fascism from a balcony (pictured) on numerous occasions in Florence. From there, sadly, we had to return to Livorno in order to be back on board for our sail-away.

Palazzo Vechio (Mussolini's Balcony flanked by 3 flags) - Florence, Italy
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

2015 Provence

 

Fontaine de la Rotonde - Aix-en-Provence, France
Copyright Andy Richards 2015  - All Rights Reserved

THERE WERE a few things on our previous cruise on the Royal Princess that left us wanting. I have mentioned the odd dining experience in previous posts. The Emerald Princess was different. The Emerald is a member of Princess' Grand Class (much like the Ruby Princess we were on for our first Caribbean Cruise); smaller and older than the Royal Princess had been. For us, that actually was a positive. One of the things we had disliked on the Royal Princess was the dining room. Their redesign of that space created some odd (in our opinion) out of the way spaces. We had gotten tucked back into one of those spaces on the Royal. We were seated at a table that seemed more like two end-to-end booths each for 4 people, with 2 other couples (one with us and one at the adjacent table. One of the couples we only saw on the first night. We never knew if they asked to be moved, or just didn't show up for dinners (though we would not have been surprised if it were the former). The other couple was older (than us - imagine 😊) with children our age. But they were very pleasant - if a bit reserved. They were from New Zealand, though their son actually lived and worked in Midland, Michigan, just a few miles from our home in Saginaw. There were no other diners near us, and it just felt odd and isolated.

Emerald Princess

WE HAD Paul and Linda on this trip, meaning our dining experience would be fun, no matter what. But also - a first for us - we also elected the "flexible dining" option for this cruise. This meant we could arrive at any time during dinner hours, but weren't assigned a table or waiters. After the first couple nights, we did find a table we kind of liked, and we asked and were seated there every night from then on. It was a table for 8, so we had 4 new table mates each night, which was kind of fun. Same waiters, though, so we got accustomed to each other. Like a few other things over the years that changed, I had reservations about the flexible dining thing (no pun intended). But I knew it would work to our advantage around our short time schedule. And it did. Over time, I have realized that it works just fine and actually appreciate having some control over the timing and seating.

a first for us - we also elected the "flexible dining" option for this cruise

BY 2015, we had swung our "cruise line allegiance" to Celebrity, and this would be our last Princess Cruise for a long time. Even though we had yet to cruise on a Celebrity ship outside of the Caribbean, I was already thinking about how our next trip across "the pond" would be a Celebrity Cruise. That prophecy came true, and we wouldn't cruise on Princess again until late 2121, as we came haltingly out of the more or less world-wide "lockdown." There were two events early on in the cruise that underscored what to me were important differences. The first was the approach Princess seemed to be taking regarding cocktails. Our boarding process having gone smoothly, we decided to find a quiet spot on one of the mid-decks to watch the sail-away. We found some chairs facing the port, and Paul and I headed to the nearest bar to get us drinks. That happened to be adjacent to the casino. As we approached the bar, I saw something that made me go: "oh oh!" Prominently displayed on the shelf behind the bartenders were a long row of jiggers. That was a new sight to me and not necessarily a welcome one. By this time in our cruising we had decided that premium drink packages worked for us. I had never seen them "measure" them so tightly. Generally, once we become familiar with bartenders in some of the areas we frequent, we can count on generous pours. Apparently not to be on this cruise. Thankfully, we don't usually see that on our Celebrity cruises.

THE SECOND thing was a change that seems to have become a "thing" across most of the cruise lines (warning: rant coming on 😅). Smoking has not only become disfavored in public places. It has become a vile and mortal sin. I get it. It is not good for you. Kind of like 90% of the food offered in the Buffet. And the gallons of alcohol consumed on board. 😏 But seriously, I also get the distinction. You can choose to consume or not to consume the food or drink without that affecting the others around you (for the most part). Smoking can affect others by its invasive and non-stationery effect. I am all on board with the stance virtually all the cruise lines have taken regarding smoking in staterooms, on private balconies, and in most public areas aboard. But I emphasize "most." Today we seem to have a "totalitarian" view (just read some of the comments by the folks who are 100% intolerant of smoking - anywhere; any time - on the various sites like Cruise Critic and FB pages) that I find somewhat astounding. Especially in Europe, where smoking appears to me to be more prevalent (my quick and dirty research suggests that just over one-quarter of the European population smokes tobacco of some kind. Sometime during the past several years, I had picked up the (apparently vile) ritual of enjoying a hand-rolled cigar from time to time. While my habit originated on the golf course, it quickly became a beach and vacation kind of thing. Including cruises. Given that people are going to do this even in light of the fact that it isn't healthy, it seems appropriate to create (or preserve) spaces where smoking is allowed aboard cruise ships. And it seems like most of the mainline ships have done so. My gripe here, is their choice of venues. On Princess, the only real, viable smoking alternative is in the so-called smoking lounges on most of their new ship configurations (though I was recently informed that they have now done away with these humidor rooms in favor of a kid's play area). These areas are (were) cold (physically and as a matter of ambiance), small, and surprisingly not well-ventilated. There are said to be open areas on some of the side decks, but we found them to be small, with little seating, and really purposed for the quick smoke that many cigarette smokers engage in. In other words, uninviting. We did our smoking in the "lounge" but the enjoyment factor is much lower than on other ships (notably, Celebrity - which I believe is the most cigar-friendly line).

Smoking has not only become disfavored in public places. It has become a vile and mortal sin

AS I like to say, "First world problems." Still a good cruise, with a pretty full itinerary. Our first stop was in the port of Marseille, along the French Riviera. We did not ever go into the city of Marseille (and at this point still never have). For today, it would be wine tasting in Provence. Our Somolier-Guide picked up our group of 8 relatively early in the morning at the port. We then drove out into the Provence countryside. Someday, I would love to take a day or two and just drive into some of the small villages and farming communities with my camera. Picturesque. You bet. But we didn't stop because we were on a mission. We had two vineyards to visit, and then a stop in Aix-en-Provence (a city we would learn over subsequent visits that seems to be a cultural center of the Provence Region).

Chateau La Dorgonne - Provence, France
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

OUR FIRST vineyard was Chateu La Dorgonne. Because she was also a sommelier, our guide was not only very knowledgeable, but basically handled the entire tour of both of the vineyards herself. Aesthetically, this vineyard was my favorite. It yielded some nice photography.

Rose - Chateau La Dorgonne
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

THE PREMIERE product from this vineyard, according to her, was its very good Rose'. We tasted a Sauvignon Blanc, and the Rose'. The Rose' was tasty. Every time we do a vineyard tour, we have the opportunity to purchase and carry or ship wines home. We don't generally do so for three reasons. First, carrying bottles back to the U.S. with air flights is a hassle and a calculated risk (potential breakage - though we have done it and so far never had any breakage). Second, historically, getting alcohol back on board the ships has been a hassle. They take it from you and keep it somewhere until your final port, where you have to go claim it. And third, we are just really not that enthusiastic about wine. More recently, I did bring 4 bottles of liquor back - but we were in and out of Ft. Lauderdale, which meant we were driving. At any rate, the vineyard was beautiful, as was the region in general.

Chateu Vignelaure - Provence, France
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

CHATEAU VIGNELAURE, a short distance away was our second vineyard for the day. In my view, it was not as photogenic (perhaps because not as "quaint") as the first one, but still, there were some opportunities. Importantly, I didn't care as much for the wines there either.

Chateau Vignelaure - Provence, France
Copyright Andy Richards 2015

WE DID, however, get a more detailed tour of the winery, including much of the operations. within. I liked the image of the barrels stacked while aging.

Old Wine - Chateau Vignelaure - Provence, France
Copyright Andy Richards 2015

WE ALSO got to see some really old wine.

Chateau Vignelaure - Provence, France
Copyright Andy Richards 2015

WE FINISHED out the day with a stop in Aix-en-Provence. Our guide dropped us off at the center of the city on a roundabout called La Rotonde. There is a wonderful fountain that is in the center of the Rotonde. It is a great spot in the city to use as a meeting place and we would experience this again whe we revisited this remarkable city in 2022.

Fontaine de la Rotonde - Aix-en-Provence, France
Copyright Andy Richards 2015  - All Rights Reserved

WITH A population of 145,000, Aix was once the capital of Provence. Originally settled by the Romans just before B.C., like many cities in this part of Europe, it endured centuries of invasions and occupation by tribes like the Visigoths, and later the Francs and Saracens. During the Middle Ages, it was ultimately occupied by the Franks (Charles Martel), and by the 12th century had become an artistic and educational center, primarily under the house of Aragon. It became officially part of France under Louis VII in 1487. It continues to be a cultural and artistic center, often habituated by famous historical figures such as Paul Cézanne, Émile Zola and Ernest Hemingway. It remains an educational center, today housing, among others, Aix-Marseille University (widely attended from all over Europe and other countries) and The American College of The Mediterranean.

I generally only drink bottled water when on shore these days

WE DIDN'T know any of that at the time. We primarily were making a stop for lunch. She gave us about 90 minutes, and suggested we walk up one of the spoke-like avenues (Rue Espariat) a ways to a small courtyard with a few outdoor restaurants. We could easily see the charm of the place as we walked both in and out. We learned a bit more about the city from our guide and a short tour he gave us in 2022. The last two photos here incorporated the two unsuspecting couples who had joined us that morning for the tour. They made good subjects for my Aix-en-Provence photos.

Aix-en-Provence, France
Copyright Andy Richards 2025 - All Rights Reserved

I WILL close with another one of those "humorous anecdotes" (in this case humorous for everyone except me, perhaps 😒). We found a seat in one of the outdoor seating areas in the courtyard and ordered lunch. When asked what we would like to drink, two of us opted for water. We were given the choice of bottled water or local tap water. Linda ordered bottled water. I had the temerity to tease her about paying the requisite euros (whatever it was) for water, and blithely ordered (and drank) the local water from a carafe of ice water. I cannot guarantee that the water was the culprit. It could well have been coincidental and I may have picked up a "bug" from any of a number of other sources. But my teasing would come back to haunt me. Either way, two days later, I had a case of something, with stomach cramps, headache and perhaps fever. It hung on, and put a damper on the last couple days (and stops) of the cruise. But not right away. For the most part, lesson learned. I generally only drink bottled water when on shore these days.

2015 - Return to the Mediterranean

Barcelona, Spain
Copyright Andy Richards 2015

FINALLY. OUR (triumphant?) return to the Mediterranean! In 2013 we had excitedly booked, planned and departed for our first ever visit outside the continental U.S. It was the dream trip of a lifetime for me. And even though it didn't work out the way we planned it, looking back, it was still a dream trip. With planned visits to Venice, Turkey, Greece, Rome, and Italy's Amalfi Coast, we fulfilled the majority of those destinations. With a voucher for the cruise that didn't complete, we were now - in 2015 - getting ready to embark on the one that would cover those places we missed out on. Our "makeup" cruise.

Port of Barcelona, Spain
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

THIS CRUISE added a fun spin. For some time, we had been talking to our friends, Paul and Linda, about joining us on a cruise. This time, they decided it was time! At first, we were planning to do something we hadn't ever done (and still haven't) - a back to back (B2B in "cruise talk"). They didn't think they could take that much time, so we were going to do the first leg (being 10 years ago, I don't even remember what it entailed - probably some of the Italian or French Riviera), and then they would join up with us for the 2nd cruise. A funny thing happened on the way to the cruise, though. My son decided to get married. In Tokyo. I was still working full time at that point, and I just didn't think I could do 20 or so days in the Mediterranean and a week in Japan, having already take a week in the Caribbean earlier in the year. It is one of two times I made that call and have "kicked myself" since. I think I could have taken the time and it would have been just fine. But ultimately, we dropped one of the B2B legs.

WE FLEW from Michigan to Barcelona, Spain where we would board The Emerald Princess. 

We fell in love with Barcelona! 

OUR CRUISE would go from Barcelona to Provence, France; Livorno, Italy (for Pisa and Florence); Civitavechia (for Rome); Montenegro, and finally finish in Athens. But as we now pretty much routinely do, we planned 3 days in Barcelona before departing. Barcelona had been the terminal stop on our "aborted" Royal Princess Cruise back in 2013. But we had not planned any real time there, flying out the same day we were to dock and disembark the ship. So this was a bonus to our "makeup" cruise.

The Catalonian National Museum of Art - Barcelona, Spain
Copyright Andy Richards 2015

WE HAD no idea. We fell in love with Barcelona! By now, my wife had become expert in finding and booking tours - covering all the important details. This time, she arranged for a pickup at the airport and a 1/2 day tour of the city before dropping us at our hotel. There were two "rain events" on this cruise. Otherwise, we really had great weather, especially as we headed east and then south. The first event was the day we arrived. We had showery conditions most of that day. I was sporting a new "travel" camera (I had carried it for our week in Japan earlier that summer, too). It was a very small, compact Sony RX100 and I was having fun with it. I took the shot of the windshield of our van as kind of a "fun" photo, but it shows the weather we started with. Fortunately, it didn't last. We saw the Olympic Village, a drive-by of the La Sagrada Familia, the Catalonian National Art Museum, a view from high above the city, and another drive-by of Parc Guell (where we had tickets for later).

The influence of Gaudi can be seen everywhere in the City - this scene was about a block or two from our own hotel - Barcelona, Spain
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

FOR OUR stay in Barcelona, we chose Hotel Diagonal; fittingly, on Avenue Diagonal, which runs diagonally through the city center. It was modest, but clean and had a really nice - small rooftop bar area that we were able to use a couple of the nights. It was also very centrally located for most of what we planned to do while in the city. We had a full schedule. Following our drive-around introduction to the city, we had a walking tour scheduled for later that afternoon - early evening. Part of our tour was spent in the Gothic Quarter, where we saw the wonderful old Gothic Architecture of The Cathedral of Barcelona (one of few places in the city where Gaudi's influence isn't the central feature - because it was built long before his time).

Cathedral of Barcelona - Barcelona, Spain
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

THE NEXT morning, we had a Gaudi walking tour of the main parts of the city where much of Antoni Gaudi's architectural influence can be seen. Later that afternoon, we were booked for Parc Guell (a proposed luxury housing complex by wealthy industrialist Eusebi Güell, who commissioned Gaudi to design it).

Gaudi Architecture dominates the center city (with the exception of the Gothic Quarter)
Barcelona, Spain
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

THAT BRIGHT red and yellow flag that prominently adorns so many of the Barcelona buildings in not the flag of Spain. While Barcelona is part of the nation of Spain, it identifies much more strongly with its history as Catalan. The dominant flag here, is the Catalonian flag. While Spanish is the official language, Catalonian is fluently and frequently spoken by Barcelona residents - and is taught in Barcelona schools as a co-primary language along with Spanish. Students of history and geography will know that Spain is more or less divided into 4 distict regions, whose history and culture are each somewhat unique. All were at one time separate kingdoms. There is strong sentiment for Catalonian independence and in the several times we have visited Barcelona, there have been huge, spirited (but always peaceful) marches and demonstrations for Catalonian separatism.

Catalonian Flag - Barcelona, Spain
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

ALONG WITH the prominent and unique architecture of Gaudi and his followers, the residents of Barcelona have some interesting, quirky, and often humorous touches to the city. I thought the museum below might be fun and interesting to visit, but before I could suggest it to my compatriots, I noticed the flashing orange street sign warning me not to cross over. Omen? Maybe. 😑 

Barcelona, Spain
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

OUR PARC Guell visit later that afternoon was our other "rain event." We had looked forward to a couple hours in the complex. I said "proposed" above, because the complex never really left the ground. Only two homes were ever built there. But before it stopped, there were several public buildings and spaces completed. The entire complex architecture was in Gaudi's signature style of no straight lines and a lot of natural shapes and forms - along with some - well - "gaudy" decorative touches.

Parc Guell - Barcelona, Spain
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

WE WAITED in a line for our time, and watched the skies as they grew darker and darker. Almost as if choreographed, just as we walked in, the skies opened up and dumped a deluge of rain on us. We were able to crowd up under the main pavillion of the complex as we watched literal rivers and waterfalls develop over and through the stairways and passages. It was forecast to continue, and we - regrettably - decided to abort the tour. I was able to make just a few photographs, mostly from where we stood under the pavillion.

A very rain-soaked Parc Guell - Barcelona, Spain
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

HEADING BACK to the motel to dry out, we had a "pub-crawl" style food and drink tour scheduled for that evening and kept our fingers crossed that it would stop raining. Fortune smiled upon us, and the rain stopped. It was the last serious rainfall we would see for the remainder of our trip. The evening was cool, but comfortable. We met our "leader" in a plaza about a block from our hotel, and he led us on a fun trip around the center city (I don't think we were ever more than about a half mile from our hotel). We were in Barcelona, on a sort of a pub-crawl. So what would you expect for the food portion? Of course. Tapas! It was a fun evening. So much fun for the 4 of us and our guide (we were in a larger group, but as the evening wore on, they fell off from us) that we kept going past our time and to a couple places we hadn't been to. He was a young gentleman (I would say college age), and when we began buying, he was more than glad to show a few more of his favorite spots. All good things, though, must come to and end, and it eventually did. When we asked him to help point us toward our motel, he pointed kiddy-corner across the street and said "its right there." 😁

Performance Hall - Palau de la Musica - Barcelona, Spain
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

WE WEREN'T done yet. I had a business associate who spent a month every January in Barcelona, and he gave me a few "must see" spots. He actually headed up one of the State Government agencies back in Michigan that I had frequent contact with. Rich and I had done a couple speaking engagements together, and hit it off. In his spare time, he sang in a barbershop quartet (and they were really good). So he was musical. I had played in the band and orchestra in high school, so we had another thing in common. He told me that we had to see Barcelona's crown jewel of the city's performance scene: Palau de la Musica. The performing center was not designed by Gaudi, but you would think it was. The designer of the performing center was an Catalonian architect from Barcelona: Lluís Domènech i Montaner, whose designs were from a similar school as Gaudi's unique spin on art nouveau architecture. With its copious art nouveau touches, and very colorful and grandiose decorative and design features, it is probably the most beautiful facilities of its kind that I have ever seen.

Palau de la Musica - Barcelona, Spain
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

ONE OF my law partners later decided to spend some time in Barcelona during Michigan's coldest, grayest part of the winter. He and his wife went to Barcelona for a 3 - week winter getaway, and I put him in touch with Rich (with whom he was alread professionally acquainted) and he consulted Rich at length. My partner's wife is a very talented professional voice teacher and performer. And Dave (my partner) is a hobbyist organ player (who built his own synthesizer organ which allows him to download the "sounds" of different unique and famous organs). One of the highlights of the Palau de la Musica tour is a few minutes of its world-famous organ (it is played automatically somehow). Dave was fascinated with that and when they were in Barcelona, they attended a couple live performances there. But perpaps more germane - Dave found and acquired the application for the "sound" of that organ.

Palau de la Musica - Barcelona, Spain
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

THE ARCHITECTURE is impressive, from the performance hall, to the lobby space (note the guilded stairway up to the balcony seats in the hall), to even the outdoor spaces. I couldn't get over the colorful columns lining one of the porches of the main lobby. It was a memorable morning. Over the years, I have had the privilege and pleasure to see the inside of some pretty remarkable buildings - I doubt I have ever been in one more beautiful and memorable than this one.

Sagrada Familia - Barcelone, Spain
Copyright 2015 - All Rights Reserved

OUR TIME in Barcelona was rapidly coming to an end. The next morning, we would board the cruise ship, bound for the Mediterranean and more adventures. But before we did so, we had one more "must see" spot. If you are an admirer of history, art, or architecture, you cannot visit Barcelona without seeing the granddaddy of all churches: the famed "Sagrada Familia."  The largest unfinished Catholic church in the world, construction in 1882 directed by architect Francisco de Paula del Villar. The original design and plan for for a Gothic Revival building. Shortly after contstruction began, Villar and the project commissioners came to significant diagreement on materials and costs, and i89n 1883, Villar resigned. Antoni Gaudí took over as chief architect, and completely changed the design, adding his Art Nouveau forms to the original Gothic design, and creating a mix of the two styles. Gaudí devoted the rest of his life to the curch, and is even buried in the church's crypt. At the time of his death in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete. Even today, in 2025, 100 years later, the church remains incomplete. The current plan is to have it substantially completed in 2026, by the anniversary of Gaudi's death. Time will tell.

Sagrada Familia - Barcelona, Spain
Copyright Andy Richards 2015 - All Rights Reserved

WE HAD tickets for entry, which included a ride up one of the elevators that flank the main entrance, all the way to the top (for a presumably commanding view of the city). Unfortunately, when we arrived, we were informed that there had been an unscheduled closing of the elevators. We assumed maybe due to windy conditions, but we later learned that we were pre-empted by someone or group apparently more important an/or influential than us mere tourists.

Sagrada Familia - Barcelona, Spain
Copyright 2015 - All Rights Reserved

STILL, THE remaining parts of the tour were pretty impressive. In addition to much of the Gaudi forms in the interior of the church, the stained glass - both in terms of color and grandeur and for their strategic placement, directing light at appropriate times of the day, was amazing. As you can see, it really is difficult to capture the massive structure, inside and out.

Sagrada Familia - Barcelona, Spain
Copyright Andy Richards 2015

IT WAS a great few days in Barcelona, which became our absolute favorite European City. This brief account doesn't really cover the depth of our experience. In addition to learning so much about the art and architecture of the city (dominated, of course, by Antoni Gaudi), our hotel was just 2 blocks from Las Rambla, a boulevard that winds through the city, with outdoor seating restaurants, shops, entertainers and people watching! We enjoyed the tapas style food, and just doing some bar-hopping in some of the small bars around our hotel. We walked back down into the Gothic Quarter on our final night to find a recommended restaurant where we had a splendid seafood dinner (my wife and I would spend more time and learn much more about the Gothic Quarter and the history of the old city when we stopped again in 2019 for an overnight stay in the port). We capped off our last night - it had finally cleared and there were even stars in the sky - up on our rooftop bar. We had a leisurely time frame for boarding our cruise ship the next day - just minutes by taxi or uber from our hotel. And we were just getting started!