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| A boarding pass ... the beginning of our 59 days of happiness ... |
Wyona is the one with travel status, which lets her take everyone (that is the two of us) travelling on the same ticket with her, into the elite lounges.
People sit on leather chairs and do their email, snacking their way through healthy vegetables and finishing off with cookies.
I tried to use the airport email to lure Rebecca onto the trip with us. I was unsuccessful.
I have asked three other people ahead of her to accompany us in the fourth spot. I was unsuccesful in each attempt.
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| Small wooden tables for patrons |
She is right. He carries the bags, has brought the electronic adaptors, brings the travel maps, and is sucessful in intervening when Wyona's luggage falls off of her trolley as she is driving it done the moving elscalator
Greg and I left Wyona sleeping in Quatre Naciones and we went out to discover Barcelona on our own, walking down to the pier, on the tree-lined boulevard of La Rambla.
We peered in small restaurants, waiting for their 9 pm customers.
Greg studied the knives in a speciality shop. We walked down the flea market at the harbour's edge.
Greg was looking for old lanterns that he loves.
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| Clams waiting to be cooked |
He has an eye for architectural detail. He would point out small alleys where there were 30 foot walkways, or where you could see the spire of an old church.
I am the one who has a passion for the beauty of the claims in this restaurant window.
Greg was drawn to the pastry windows -- and we both agreed, if Wyona had been with us, she would have purchased at least 2 of every kind.
"When I look in these windows, I am reminded again, of why MacDonalds doesn't cut it for me at home."
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| Pastries we didn't buy |
On our walk we stopped first at a small church, and then at the big cathedral, where a service was going on.
As well, on the way home, we stopped at another church,in this one the lesson was led by different people and a guitar was initiating a musical call and response from the congregation.
If I am walking with Greg and there is a any sign of a church, he says, "Let's go in and take a peek."
If there is music going on that makes it even better for me.
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| ... a stained glass window, high in a dark church corner ... |
We saw gothic arches, Roman spires and steeples being refurbished.
We walked through the courtyard of the church that houses geese in one of its
When Wyona is tired, Greg goes out to explore cities on his own.
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| The top of a celebratory wagon |
- who was Garibaldi? (a politician who united one part of Europe)
- what is the difference between a ship and a boat? (a ship has at least 3 masts)
- what is the modern day word for gypsies? (Roma is what the Canadian government calls them Roma)
I do have some residual guilt about taking this indepth tour of the Mediterranean. Wyona tells me we are only doing it once which does not make me feel better. It is 9 pm at night, 26 above, the streets are alive with excitement -- and this is my last time here? Wahh! to that.
Arta
Wyona here. I was so tired for the last hour of the trip from Calgary that I grabbed a barf bag and kept it near. Nothing anywhere could have enticed me from the hotel bed. So happy for Arta and Greg that they walked Barcelona together. I ironed and packed green scarves to go with my beautiful green sweater which I believe is at Lurene's house.
ReplyDeleteGreg is a delight when traveling. Great to pepper questions with as you walk down the street of a new city, but never go up against him in Trivial Pursuit if your goal is winning. If your goal is just to count how many questions Greg can actually answer in a row and how fast he can get all the pie pieces, then enjoy the game.
ReplyDeleteWyona and Greg both come very prepared. As much as we tease Wyona about her Nivea, many cans of Coke, and plethora of scarves, when she is around I can rest assured that my hands and mouth will be well moistened and I will be fashionably warm. Keep having a marvellous time!