January 14, 2019 - 9 Historic Facts About Barcelona Cathedral and Tanya at Sea in the Mediterranean - Trip Day 3

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​CURRENTLY: FLOATING AT SEA SOMEWHERE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

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9 Historic Facts About Barcelona Cathedral
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What a productive morning!! 

After dropping off the kids, I headed over to do food shopping.  Got back home and unpacked it all; emptied my dishwasher, fed Punkin, started dinner,  made the beds, straightened the kitchen and bedrooms - Whew!  Great start.

Now, I'll be digging into today's Scoop and heading out to do a few more errands.

Tanya's Barcelona Mishap - update
Well, as you know, Tanya is in Europe on a Mediterranean cruise, for which she arrived early in Barcelona on Saturday morning local time, only to discover that her luggage had been lost.  As of the last update, she located her luggage, thanks to the help of the Delta Skymiles department - which hadn't made it on the plane to Barcelona from her first connection in San Francisco.  Whew!  

Well, the initial story was that it would arrive on Sunday (yesterday), but that came to a screeching halt when she found out that her baggage would not arrive until Thursday - and it would be delivered to her in Morocco (her port of call on Thursday).  Oh gosh, I really hope there are no more mishaps.

In the meantime, she did a bit of shopping to get through the next few days and I'm sure, even though, she is freaked out and feeling icky with this delayed luggage situation, she probably looks amazing and enjoying her trip nonetheless!

She's at sea today, so I'm not even sure if she will be checking in to blog, so we will both be surprised as the day progresses!!

Have I told you how much I love "following" Tanya around when she is on her trips?! 
It really gives me a chance to delve deep into knowing more about the places to which she is visiting.

Today, I thought i would tell you guys about Barcelona Cathedral.  While in Barcelona this past weekend, Tanya made her way to this centuries old structure with was constructed from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries and completed in 1448.

Barcelona Cathedral (c) travelincousins.com

9 Historic Facts About Barcelona Cathedral

1. Official Name of the Cathedral
The official name of Barcelona Cathedral is The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia.

2. Locals refer to it as La Seu
In Catalan, the word seu means "seat" and it is used to refer to the Church because it is the seat of the diocese of Barcelona. 

3. Gothic & Gothic Revival Architectural Style
Architects Josep Oriol Mestres and Esplugas, Augusto Font y Carreras designed the edifice in Gothic and Gothic Revival architectural style. 

4. The cathedral was built over the span of nearly two centuries Construction began in the 13th Century in the year 1298, and continued through the 15th Century. Although the cloister was completed some 150 years later, the building was consecrated in 1339 and has been a major place of religious worship ever since.

5. The cathedral is dedicated to Eulalia of Barcelona
Sant Eulalia is co-patron saint of Barcelona and her body is entombed in the cathedral's crypt.
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6. Eulalia of Barcelona was martyred
A young virgin, Eulalia, according to Catholic tradition, suffered martyrdom during Roman times in the city.  One story of her death says that she was exposed naked in the public square and a miraculous snowfall in mid-spring covered her nudity. The enraged Romans put her into a barrel with knives stuck into it and rolled it down a street, which is now called Baixada de Santa Eulàlia.

7. 13 White Geese are Kept in the Cathedral
Within the cathedral is a secluded Gothic cloister where 13 white geese are kept, representing the number explained by the assertion that Eulalia was 13 when she was martyred​.

8. The adjoining cloister was completed in 1448
Located just around the corner from the cathedral is an adjoining cloister with a covered walkway which encloses a lovely courtyard.  

9. The Tradition of the Dancing Egg can be seen on Corpus Christi
A local tradition that dates back to the 17th century, the 'Dancing Egg' sees approximately 12 fountains around the city of Barcelona topped with a small egg which appears to 'dance' in the water jet.  This custom is believed to represent the cycle of the life of Christ in the Catholic faith.


​Very cool stuff!!  

Enjoy your monday!!
-Travelin' Elisa
xoxo

Tanya at Sea in the Mediterranean - Trip Day 3

Greetings from the Mediterranean Sea! 

Before I get on with the updates and status of my current Mis-Adventures, I would like to fill you in on some of the scoop from yesterday when we had meandered the streets of Barri Gothic in Barcelona. Yes I know that it was in my original plans to also explore Barceloneta Beach - but this has to be postponed either to the end of this trip or to the next one.

Although it is winter you can immediately tell that the streets of Barcelona are still quite bustling (although no where near at the level of crowdedness as it gets in the summertime). 

While browsing the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter there was a particular store window that had caught my eye…2 Espadrilles from Barcelona. While you probably have no idea of the significance (and that is because I’ve never shared it with you) but during our last cruise back in August (Aruba, Curacao, Turks and Caicos) I decided that I wanted a pair of cruise shoes before this cruise to the Canary Island + and the cruise shoes that I had in mind were Espadrilles. So once back at home I put some efforts into my search and sadly found nothing to my liking. 

So as I’m sure you will agree with me that it was a sure sign for me to walk in and try some shoes on!
Immediately I found a pair that caught my eye and that I knew would fit the bill as my idea of cruise shoes. Perfect! (However at this point little did I know how badly I would come to need these cruise shoes). 

Eventually we would find ourselves back at the hotel collecting our belongings and cabbing it over to the port….

We checked in and sadly my luggage never arrived. At the last update (which was once I was already onboard) did I find out that my luggage which was scheduled from San Francisco to Amsterdam to Barcelona might not have ever made it to Barcelona. My only question is why oh why couldn’t they be more transparent and inform me of this earlier in the day. 

Here is why - because as I had mentioned I had no choice but to make purchases to get me through Saturday night and Sunday, all while still expecting to connect with my bag before departing Barcelona. The shopping is Barcelona is lovely. I would’ve happily made the additional needed purchases while in Barcelona. 

But rather I was not informed until onboard - leaving me to make purchases onboard. Okay I guess I can do that. I mean there are some cruise lines that have a lovely Galleria of shops and some fashionable items that I wouldn’t mind donning.

That being said, once the Galleria of shops had opened I quickly came to the realization that my choices were oh so very limited and that I was going to look like an absolute FRUMP today!

Keep that in mind when I tell you that today happens to be one of the “Elegant” dress nights. 
Doesn’t this Mis-Adventure of travel just keep getting better?!

Of course you know I am also without any makeup, toiletries, etc…

Luckily I’m not incredibly vain and have no problem in my own skin. Although being on vacation sans makeup is not whatsoever typical. 

Oh by the way - sunset last night was nothing short of gorgeous. The colors were absolutely vibrant! 


Currently we are floating around on the Norwegian Spirit spending the day at sea.

Now as you know, I was hoping that if I didn’t get my bag while still in Barcelona that I thought I could get in at our first port (tomorrow) in Casablanca. 
However I found out that this is not the case, as the port in Casablanca will not allow for port agents to pick up anyone’s luggage and/or belongings. The person would have to be present. This causing me to now have no other option but to shop for more attire while in Casablanca and at this point I could only imagine what I will find and how I will be dressed come Tuesday and Wednesday. I’m sure you can’t wait!!

The earliest port of which the port agent could pick up my luggage at the airport will be at Arrecife, Lanzarote - the fourth largest Canary Island (of 7) and the first island to inhabit humans. Woohoo! 

I do so hope that they have decent shopping for us humans, because I will not find out if my luggage makes it on board until the end of the day (Thursday) and I will still continue to shop for something to wear and apparently add to my around the world wardrobe! LOL 

This morning after going to the Port and Tour presentation I definitely have my doubts about my luggage being sent to me in Lanzarote. My feeling is that I won’t see my stuff until Las Palmas (Friday).

What I want you all to know is that I am actually quite proud of the way I’m handling myself through this mess. It’s quite typical for me to “freak out” and to be quite “pissed off” but I’m experiencing a very relaxed demeanor and a level-headedness that most friends and family would be absolutely shocked by. 
I know that many of them might fault me for my high strung behavior, but I somehow have a strong feeling that in my shoes, they might’ve opted to stay hidden in the cabin rather than walk around, have pictures taken, go to meals and shows eat… with a completely NAKED face! 

This situation has also go me thinking about a “fantasy trip” that I imagined quite a many number of years ago. The fantasy trip would be something of ultimate spontanaity - that of which I certainly had none of - this trip would be a huge surprise where I would be swept away by a travel mate who has my passport in hand and takes me to the airport without any flight tickets!  We purchase flights on the spot (the worst and most expensive way to do it - heck it’s a fantasy so why not!) We venture off to some far off land. I of course have nothing with me because the trip was unexpected and I had no chance or opportunity to pack. And then I need to shop at the destination! 

Well let me tell you - this is probably the closest that I’ll be coming to that said fantasy. So I’m gonna continue to totally embrace it as such and enjoy my vacation!!

I’ll be back at you tomorrow, from the continent of Africa.

Signing off,
-Travelin’ Tanya