Adventures in Hervey Bay

Saturday, June 8th

We bought breakfast at the local bakery and enjoyed it on the balcony of our Airbnb apartment. Although we were sad to be leaving Barcelona, we were excited to start our cruise. After packing up and leaving the Airbnb apartment behind, we walked to the ship (via N and S piers) and took a bus to E pier to board the ‘Emerald Princess’. It was a seamless embarkation and we soon arrived at our assigned cabin (A512). After a buffet lunch, we checked out ship. After 'muster', we unpacked and, by this time, it was time for dinner. The evening show in the Princess Theatre was a show titled ‘Let Me Be Frank’ - a musical tribute to Frank Sinatra performed by a singer named Erik Bryan. After the show, we participated in a trivia game called 'Are You Smarter Than The Cruise Staff?’ We teamed up with a couple called Lynn and Bob - we always enjoy trivia games when we are cruising. It's a great way to meet new people, learn new things and have a bit of fun. After watching the 'Sail Away' from Barcelona, we picked up a late evening snack of chili and cheese over nachos and headed to bed.

Steps for the day - 13,417

Sue and Mike enjoying a pastry for breakfast on the balcony of our Airbnb

Mike and Sue in their stateroom cabin

Sue and Mike ready for dinner on our first evening of the cruise

Erik Bryan singing Frank Sinatra tunes for the evening show in the PrincessTheatre

Night view of Barcelona on our sail-away out of Barcelona

Friday, June 7th

After doing some laundry at the Airbnb unit, we went on the 'El Born’ walk from Rick Steves.

After lunch at ‘El Hacienda’ (nachos/tacos and quesadilla/fajitas), we completed the ‘El Born’ walk. We ended up at the waterfront and walked across to the bottom of ‘Las Ramblas’ checking out some market stalls. After that, we walked to Palau Guell and then walked to the ‘City Hall Flamenco’ box office and bought tickets to the 6pm show tonight. The show featured singing, dancing and guitar playing and was very good. We stopped at the bakery on the way home for some more goodies. :-)

Steps for the day - 15,908

Mike enjoying breakfast on the balcony of our Airbnb

Sue on the balcony of our Airbnb

View from the balcony of our Airbnb

Caixa Catalunya Building - the historic headquarters of Caixa Catalunya which was a Spanish bank

Fruit stall in the Mercat de Santa Caterina Parada

More laundry hanging out

Another narrow street

Mike holding a 'Double Cherry' Magnum ice-cream we found in a convenience store

Sue enjoying her 'Double Cherry' Magnum ice-cream

Filming on Passeig del Born (Born Promenade)

El Born CCM - El Born Centre de Cultura i Memoria is a cultural space with excavated city ruins

Some of the excavated city ruins

More Spanish architecture

La Hacienda - where we are lunch - we just happened upon this restaurant and decided to stop and eat there - the food was plentiful, inexpensive and delicious

Sue drinking Fanta Naranja (orange pop)

Mike with lunch - nachos and a quesadilla and a fajita

Sue eating a quesadilla

Mike with tacos

Mike beside a store front security roller door of a cocktail bar

Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar - elegant 14th-century church

Font del Geni Catala (Source of the Catalan Genius)

Mike walking along a footpath keeping out of the sun

The independent professional trade union of Post and Telegraphs building

La Cara de Barcelona (the face of Barcelona) - an abstract sculpture by Lichtenstein

Sue standing in front of Marina Port Vell

Mike sitting in front of Marina Port Vell

Agencia Tributaria (Tax Agency building)

Columbus Monument with 'Govern Militar de Barcelona' building in the background (Military Government of Barcelona building)

Columbus Monument

Mike standing beside one of the lion statues at the base of the Columbus Monument - we had to take a pic of him here to prove that he was at a Geocache location (an Earth cache)