Barcelona Bits

Rubbish night sleep on 16th floor. Aircon not working so slept with window and curtains open (hardly interesting eh?). 

Foxed Amy on to the back of the bike 😱, then the 11:00 ferry tonight for Palma, Mallorca where we plan to stay a few months and live off the land (paella and frito Mallorquin), 

Sunny start and nicely warm.
We’ve got the day to see some of this funky old town. Last time I was here about 40 years ago, bunch of port monkeys stole loads of stuff off my bike....while I watched on...stupidly thinking the local peasants were admiring it!

We biked over to La Sagrada Familia, big gawky Gaudí cathedral which I had been keen to see since reading a Dan Brown book. Can’t say we were even tempted to enter. Back on bike for a little tour then fab lunch in the Gothic Quarter.

Amy mid-gulp and phone in hand...kids eh!

Great dark and cramped alleyways

We hadn't planned a serious sightseeing trip here, so by
afternoon, we just wanted to chill. Amy booked a massage at hotel and I snoozed in the spa...then got fidgety and went wandering. 

Weird way to board ferry!
Queued at terminal then we were told to put hazard lights on and everyone drove in convoy for about 3 miles to New Port, then onto the skanky, stinky old nail. Makes the Santander boat look luxury cruise liner.

Secured bike with old bits of rope...(well nearly), but crossing so flat, nothing was needed.
Made my way up to meet Amy over sticky stenchy Lino.



The whole boat’s made out of old plastic and sticky Lino and they've hung advertising posters on the walls....just like we did as teenagers to our bedrooms, not framed pictures...posters with blue-tack and peeling corners...!
At least the cabin doesn’t stink of piss!

Not sure why age has made me so intolerant (and intolerable), 40 years ago I made this journey with ex-friend Tony and bikes on a ferry that’s no doubt long since been broken up for scrap...or just sunk....or perhaps, we're on it!!  We happily slept the night in sleeping bags on hard deck, consumed by diesel fumes and beer. Now I’ve got a perfectly good cabin with a beautiful wife in it and all I do is grumble. In fairness, back then my blindness to all the grunge was probably caused by raging hormones and an island full of rampant scandie girls patiently awaiting my arrival.