The first thing I have to tell you about the Mediterranean is that I now know precisely where the term ‘deep blue sea’ comes from. I swear this is no exaggeration.. the Med is a deep navy blue, like a sapphire... not green like the Pacific or steely gray like the Atlantic or even the fabulous turquoise of the Caribbean. Deep, dark, true indigo blue without a hint of green. It may be the most amazing thing about the trip, this sapphire sea.
**Here’s a picture of me, enjoying the blue.
(actual Goddess Toes)
After leaving Lisbon, we were at sea for a day. This is when we discover that we will not be going to Palma on the Spanish island of Majorca, which was about 6 days hence, due to a tugboat operators strike. This is disappointing because I was very much looking forward to a day trip to a Majorcan winery, where we would sit in the Mediterranean sunshine sipping large quantities of local wine. Instead, we will go Valencia, Spain, home of the Valencia orange. Not quite the fruit I was hoping to imbibe, but, hey, I’m not at my desk...
Sidebar: Those little tugs are amazing. These big ol’ cruise ships would be nowhere without them. Every port, out they chug to push, pull or otherwise wrangle us into our berth. So, without the tugs, we’d just be cruising around in circles and looking longingly at France and Italy, wanderers on an empty sea...
At dinner that night, we enjoyed a beautiful Haut-Medoc Bordeaux, followed by a lovely Dow 20 year Tawny port. I love me some Bordeaux and this one was exceptional. And of course, when God cuts her wrist, 20 year old Port flows out. Aah, the life...
This is also the night I discover Horlick’s Malted Beverage, sort of a vanilla Ovaltine that the Indians and British use as a sleep enhancer. I am hooked, with a hard daily jones. Of course, it is not available in the US. Damn! the pusher man....
Early the next day, we dock at Barcelona, center of the Catalan culture. Two of the 150 pagans I am traveling with are former residents, so we got the hometown tour of the city, starting with the pedestrian mall in the centre of town, La Rambla, a dried up riverbed turned tourist mecca.
Whilst walking the length on our way to a tour bus to view the Antoni Gaudi buildings that Barcelona is so famous for, we chanced to see one of the locals making a purchase as one of the stalls. This gentleman was wearing what we though were tight blue shorts. Upon turning toward us, we realized that the shorts were a large blue, short-shaped tattoo, broken only by what one of our group assured me was a rather prodigious Prince Albert.
Though what Queen Victoria’s husband has to do with this, I do not know. And whatever you do, for the love of god, DO NOT Wikipedia it.
This is also the place where I saw The Cutest Guy Ever. Debating on whether to go over and lick his neck, I decided that that may constitute child molestation in some circles, so I settled for a picture of the darling lad taken by one of my group, who pretended to shoot over the cuties head, but got him center frame. I will be making wallpaper out of that picture.
After viewing Gaudi’s masterpieces, the Casa Batlla and the unfinished cathedral, Sagrada Familia, it was time to find us some tapas!! YAY!! Wine and food!
We find a little hole in the wall near the cathedral and nosh on tapas of shrimp, anchovies, local cheeses and a stout Spanish bread, all washed down with the house Rioja. We felt very Spanish, with our little fish and smelly sheep cheeses. This is what I was so looking forward to in Spain and it did not disappoint.
This day ended with a spectacular sunset over the city, as we sailed off to our next port, Monte Carlo, Monaco and the Cote d’Azur- the French Riviera.
And I say to myself, what a wonderful world...
Next: DMWTE, Pt. 3- The Cote d’Azur
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