2009 - NCL GEM - TRANSATLANTIC - BARCELONA - THE END

COMING TO THE END OF THE CRUISE NOW .. JUST CANNES & BARCELONA TO GO.

I WAS TEMPTED TO NOT EVEN GET OFF THE BOAT IN CANNES.

IN THE END I JUST TOOK A FEW SNAPS INTHE HARBOUR & WENT ASHORE FOR A BRIEF WALK AROUND AND A NIBBLE ON SOME PASTRIES.

CANNES

THESE ARE TAKEN IN THE HARBOUR..

SOMEONE HAS SOME CASH.

IT DID NOT SEEM THAT BIG FROM A DISTANCE & THEN I SAW THE HELICOPTER ON THE BACK.

AND ANOTHER NICE ONE. MUST BE SHORT OF CASH - NO HELICOPTER..

BARCELONA

LA SAGRADA FAMILIA AS SEEN FROM THE DECK. I WILL MAKE A POINT OF GOING THERE

BUT FIRST, IT'S NICE OF THE CAPTAIN TO PUT OUT THE BUNTING TO WAVE ME GOODBYE. THEN IT'S A TRIP TO SEE THE MONASTERY AT MONTSERRAT, IN THE HILLS NOT FAR FROM BARCELONA..

NOW A WALK THROUGH BARCELONA TO GAUDI'S MASTERPIECE

I WALKED ALONG LAS RAMBLAS AND BRANCHED OFF FROM THERE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY HOOKERS IN ONE PLACE OR PERHAPS I JUST DON'T GET OUT TOO MUCH.

A BIT FURTHER ALONG SOME MORE OF GAUDI'S WORK.

I WILL GO INSIDE SOME OF THESE IF I EVER GET BACK HERE.

A PEE STOP - YOU DON'T SEE THESE TOO OFTEN ANY MORE.

LA SAGRADA FAMILIA

ON ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD

AND ON THE OTHER.

I HEAR THAT THE CHURCH IS NOW OPEN FOR SERVICES BUT IT STILL LOOKED A BIT OF A SHAMBLES WHEN I WAS THERE.

I WAITED AROUND FOR NIGHT TO FALL TO SEE IT LIT UP BUT THAT WAS A BIT OF A DISAPPOINTMENT.
JUST WHITE LIGHT, NOT VERY FLATTERING.

IT WAS VERY HARD TO TAKE PICTURES WITHOUT A CRANE IN THEM SO LOTS OF CROPPING WITH THESE PHOTOS.

OVER THE PYRENEES & PARIS & HOME

A VERY GOOD TRIP & AND EXCELLENT WAY OF GETTING TO EUROPE INSTEAD OF BY PLANE. IF YOU CAN AFFORD THE TIME & COST.

THERE ARE SOMETIMES SPECIALS OR RE-POSITIONING CRUISES THAT A ARE GOOD DEALS..