Globetrotting Tigers: May 11, 2015

We depart from the ship in a timely fashion except the wait for a taxi. When our turn arrives we are passed to a second driver who says he can fit our luggage into his taxi, and to our surprise indeed he does. We are off to the Marriott Renaissance Barcelona Hotel, located only 2 blocks from Las Ramblos and the Hop on Hop off bus! After successfully checking into our $187 Euro room (thanks to Rob) we are off to explore the great city of Barcelona- hotel retails for 600 Euro a night- each for a savings of $880! On the way to the HO HO Debbie is looking too hard for the bus and misses the curb, falling face first to the pavement. A frequent fall risk she manages to not twist the often twisted ankle, this time cutting her lip and spraining a wrist, but at least able to move on with Tylenol.

After taking the Blue line past Sacred Famila and other sites they stop and transfer to the Red Line and head toward the famous Bull ring and 1929 and 1992 Olympic site. Along the way the weary travelers stop and take a break for lunch, observing the site from the elevated bull ring (now a shopping center) and eating on what was once the floor of the arena. Back on the HO HO after a long wait in the sun as the buses today have become VERY busy and crowed! We get off at the place we think the cable car across the pier is, however we end up walking two stops further after discovering the first cable car is only for the castle. 11 Euros is spent on the cable car across the pier only to some disappointment as a ton of people are pushed into the car, making it warm, crowded, and difficult to take photos in! On the other side we descend a glass elevator, Becky refusing to look down. Off to the HoHo again we discover the coastal green line where Becky and Tina mostly nap on the 40 minute tour. Back on the red line and the group has managed the entire HoHo tour and feels they have conquered the overall look at the city.

Snacks and drinks are in order before some shopping. Dinner had a few translation issues with the waiter but was delicious. Tina and Debbie are exhausted and head back to the hotel to enjoy a very hot bath! Becky and Lilly shop for two more hours and don’t purchase a thing, although Lilly is tempted with a set of lights. Good night Ladies, tomorrow we head home.