Never boring... Barcelona

Many Europeans have an absolute love affair with Barcelona - Norwegians, Germans, Brits, the French, it goes on...We made a point of asking people on the cruise their favourite place; the answer invariably comes back as Barcelona (with Aussies too). I ask why Barcelona? Obviously we missed something on the trip from the airport to the Port. No one gives us a logical answer, it is more a shrug and a raising of the brows. What the? Hmmm - no city (or person for that matter) is so perfect that everyone just breathes their name and it's enough said. We missed the je ne sias quoi that is Barcelona...time to find it! From the Port we catch a taxi to the centre of town and a street known as Las Ramblas; famous for markets, restaurants, performing statues, life etc. We arrive, with our bloated luggage, at Via70 a small Tapas bar, and are offered a Sangria. I say, 'Do you have white Sangria?' (not that I'm racist, red just gives me a headache). 'Ah Sangria De Cava; champagne. A glass?' Asks the lovely Spanish waitress. 'That would be great. Por favor'. The plan is for Frank to look for an apartment on booking.com using their Wifi. The least we can do is order a glass of Sangria and some drinks for the kids. The glass turns out to be a bowl on a stem.

Three sips in I'm liking this place better already. The Sangria is goood... even Frank likes it. We find an apartment a few minutes walk away. Frank meets up with the owner while I mind the kids, the luggage and the Sangria (in no particular order). When Frank comes back we finish up our Sangria with me declaring, 'I'll be back'. We then take our luggage to the apartment before setting out to explore.

The food markets are under a minutes walk from our apartment; with fresh fruit and veg, seafood, chocolates, cheeses (and the odd rabbit) the market is alive with action and cries of 'Ola, Ola' (Hello)

Is it the sun, the soul of Barcelona or the Sangria? Am I falling in love? Yes. As with any romance you extend your holiday and thus we have extended again and again...ole!