Getting Greedy

I'm finding that the more research I do about this trip, the more I want to see. I'm getting greedy. Lately, I feel like I'm constantly reminding myself that time is limited, and this cruise will be a sort of grand introduction to the Mediterranean - not an in depth study of every port, each of which could be an entire vacation in itself, so I really need to chill.

Case in point, thanks to the ever informative Mr. Rick Steves and fabulous program highlighting the Amalfi Coast, I want to see Paestum. I had no idea there were Greek temples in such good condition in southern Italy. These particular temples were used to worship Neptune, Athena, and Ceres and their very antiquity is mind boggling to me. It'd be so interesting to visit the site, but that will have to be for another trip because, hi, we'll be up to our eyeballs in ancient world porn when we visit Pompeii that day. I'm pretty sure I'll still get my antiquity fix!

I've always watched travel documentaries and subscribed to National Geographic, but looking with a purpose rather than aimlessly perusing has been much more fun. Instead of thinking, "Huh...that's a cool place I'd like to see someday," I get to think, "Woo hoo! I'll be standing there in under a month!" I've learned so much about the places we'll be visiting, and it's just added to my eagerness for Oct. 22nd to get here already. While Sofi is watching some a football game or one of those lame "guy" channels featuring massive auto crashes and sports bloopers, I'm parked next to him, Googling away. And the more I Google, the more I want to see. It's a vicious cycle!

There are only so many hours in a day. Barring Barcelona, we're only in each town/area for one day. Even a math moron like myself can figure out that there isn't time for everything. So, I shall content myself with photos of Paestum....and thoughts of future Mediterranean trips that venture into Greece and Turkey.....and all of the great places we will have time to visit.

That Montserrat Mystique

I always assumed that when the Beach Boys were singing about "that Monserrat Mystique," they meant another place like Aruba or the Bahamas. Kokomo just doesn't pull up visions of Europe for me. So, imagine my surprise when I finally caught a clue and realized that there's is a Montserrat (with a 't') in Spain, just a short distance from Barcelona. Is this what they're singing about? I still don't know...but this place is gorgeous.

Montserrat is a mountain-top monastery aproximately thirty miles away from Barcelona, up in the Catalunya mountains.

Viator (sooo glad we found that site) has a half-day trip from Barcelona to Montserrat:

Getaway to the Montserrat mountains on a half-day trip from Barcelona. You'll visit the Royal Basilica with its 12th-century carving of the Black Virgin and perhaps hear the children's choir sing.

After driving through picturesque little villages you will arrive at the incomparable setting of the craggy mountain of Montserrat, which rises majestically up from the plain to 4,051 feet (1,235 meters) and has spectacular views.

The Royal Basilica of Montserrat has been one of Spain's most important pilgrimage sites for hundreds of years, due to its famous 12th-century Romanesque carving of the Virgen Moroneta, the Black Virgin. At 1pm on weekdays there is the opportunity to hear one of Europe's oldest children's choirs, La Escolania de Montserrat.

On your way back to Barcelona you will make a stop at the harbor, where you may choose to visit the Barcelona Aquarium (entrance fee not included). There is a variety of restaurants, cafes, shops and cinemas in this area, so feel free to conclude the tour here and stay on to explore.

This could be a fun way to see a little more of the country around us during our few days in Barcelona. Frankly, I think Montserrat beats Gaudi, and his apparent hold over Barcelona, hands down. Just look at this place!

Check check!!

Things that we can officially cross of that mental (and physical) checklist:

**My passport came in the mail a couple of weeks ago. Huzzah!

**Airfare booked and paid for! This includes an awesome 12-hour layover in Paris.

**Tuscan Countryside--San Gimignano & Volterra Excursion booked and paid for.

**Ample research on things to do in Paris and Barcelona.

DONE and DONE. :)

Things that we need to work on crossing off the list:

**Purchase the rest of the excursions. This includes:
-Villages of Provence: Fayence and Seillans in Cannes (Day 1)
-Taste of Sorrento & Pompeii (Day 5)
-Deciding between the Cirque Terre or the The Taste of Ligurian Riviera in Portofino (Day 2)

**Purchase the Roma Archeological Pass

**Book hotel room in Barcelona for October 23, 31 and November 1.

**Decide on Paris walking tours and purchase

It's a good thing we have 43 days until we leave!

Airfare Officially Booked!

With the official purchase of our airfare, this trip is becoming more and more real to me. I know how lame that sounds, considering the fact that we already booked our cruise and that we've been pouring over excursions and making lists of things to do and see for nearly two months now. Somehow, this just makes it even more concrete. I have to say, pulling off a trip like this in four months? Not too shabby. Go us!

Barcelona: Archive of Courtesy

Congratulations on your lovely new passport, Susi! I have my application filled out, the check is written, I just need a picture of myself that isn't fugly. My current passport photo is no bueno. I took it on campus at BYU-H, just after I'd dashed over from Hale 3 in the pouring rain. It's not pretty!

In response to your post about Gaudi and Barcelona - I LOVED the lighting of the torch at the Barcelona Olympics. Even though I was just ten at the time, I've always remembered what a thrill that was.

As I type this, I'm watching "Barcelona: Archive of Courtesy," a travel DVD I checked out from Netflix, and taking notes. It doesn't start out auspiciously - stating that Barcelona is a city with a spirit that muses the bohemian and the modern. I don't have much interest in either of those. :)

Gothic Quarter
I think that we should definitely see the Gothic Quarter, which is the historical center of the city. The old cathedral there is surrounded by a street market with stalls selling art, fruit, jams, cheese and trinkets. It looks like a fun place, people performing the Sardona (ring dance and national symbol of Catalonia), and singing amongst beautiful buildings. As I'm watching this program, I'm rather surprised that there aren't more historical buildings seeing as the city was founded some 2000 years ago. I think one of the most interesting parts of our trip will be seeing how the ancient is mused with the present.

Guell Park
Guell Park is very interesting as well. It's a "Garden City," designed by Gaudi (how often do you think he was under the influence of something when he worked?) and is definitely worth a look. It reminds me of the "Alice in Wonderland" version of New York's Central Park.

Casa Mila - "The Puff Pastry"
One of Gaudi's works - it's very odd looking, but you gotta give the guy credit for his imagination and flair.

Golden Square - an area that reflects the work of modernist renaissance architecture and is described as an "outdoor museum." The photo here is an example of the buildings that make up Golden Square, or Quadrat d'Or, in Espanol.

Paseo de la Exposition - large, impressive looking building that houses large conventions and such. I thought it was a government building, but I think I'm wrong. :)

I think we'll be able to find plenty to see during our few days in Barcelona.

Opening Up A Whole New World

After making a deposit on our cruise back in June, I realized that I needed to get the ball rolling and get my passport! Couldn't get to Spain or Italy without a passport. Going on this cruise actually forced me to get a passport. I've had the paperwork for quite some time--filled it out on numerous occasions, but could never force myself to go down to the county building to turn it in. I actually took my passport picture at the local FedEx Kinko's (now FedEx Office) back in mid-April when I took a concealed weapons permit class. Never expected that of me, huh? Anyways...I filled out the passport application, and being super prepared, even went to the bank to take cash out in case I couldn't pay with a check or debit card. I had to scrounge around the house for a copy of my birth certificate (thanks mom for being on top of things). My arrival at the county administration building was filled excitement as I realize that obtaining a passport will open my eyes to a whole new world. Literally. I produce the necessary documentation, only to be told that a copy of my birth certificate is not acceptable. Well, I couldn't find the original! Luckily, because I was born in Utah, I quickly drove the five blocks to the public health department, paid $18 for another one, and returned to the county building. The cash came in handy--I had to pay $25 to the county and they didn't accept cash or debit cards. Wrote a check out for $75 to the federal government and away the application went! I was even given a compliment by the lady that both my passport photo and drivers license picture were nice! :)

Today, I received an email letting me know that my passport application has finished processing and is in the mail even as I type! Because it is being shipped priority, it should arrive by next Tuesday! The email was even kind enough to give me a tracking number! WOO HOO! I am one step closer! Spain, France and Italy here I come!

Incidentally, everyone has asked if I was allowed to smile in my passport photo. They didn't tell me I couldn't, so I did. I'm also assuming that since my application was processed and in the mail, it's not that big of a deal.

Gaudi in Spain? Gaudi in Vegas?

Besides the 1992 Summer Olympics taking place in Barcelona, what else is there? Maybe we're judging the city of Barcelona too harshly and rashly, but besides Antoni Gaudi architecture, what else is there? Yes, the Sagrada Familia is definitely something to see. Despite it's grandeur, it's still not complete. I did more research (thanks to wikipedia--who I know, is not a credible source) on Gaudi and he seemed like a troubled young man, too entrenched in religion to think outside the box. As he signed his award for the title of architect someone said "Who knows if we have given this diploma to a nut or to a genius. Time will tell." And given the look of many of his structures, that may be up for debate.

According to wikipedia (which you've linked to in your previous post), Gaudí was a devout Catholic, to the point that in his later years he abandoned secular work and devoted his life to Catholicism and his Sagrada Familia. He designed it to have 18 towers, 12 for the 12 apostles, 4 for the 4 evangelists, one for Mary and one for Jesus. He spent the last few years of his life living in the crypt of the "Sagrada Familia". Who lives in a crypt? I'm definitely thinking spiders and cobwebs now! And the coup de grace is that Gaudi was run over by a tram! Wikipedia says that "because of his ragged attire and empty pockets, many cab drivers refused to pick him up for fear that he would be unable to pay the fare. He was eventually taken to a paupers' hospital in Barcelona. Nobody recognized the injured artist until his friends found him the next day. When they tried to move him into a nicer hospital, Gaudí refused, reportedly saying "I belong here among the poor." He died three days later at age 73, half of Barcelona mourning his death. He was buried in the midst of La Sagrada Familia." Sad huh?

Based on the extensiveness (and craziness) of his architecture is that where we get the saying "That's gaudi looking?" Is that why things that are "over the top" are considered "gaudi?"

Considering we have three full days in Barcelona (Friday when we land, Sunday after we disembark from the boat, and Monday), we can definitely fill our time with all the Gaudi-like places! I like your idea of ranking them in order of weirdness! Or maybe we can visit the Olympic Stadium where they had one of the coolest torch lighting ceremonies ever!