Wandering Wallaces

Well, it is clear to me that we did NOT retire from life...rather we jumped into living and hit the ground with feet running!

Returned from Robyn's wedding (the next blog of note!)...only to re-pack and leave for Barcelona, Spain, first class flyin'...enjoying complimentary beverages, two appetizers, pumpkin bisque and a mixed green salad...followed by beef tenderloin and shrimp scampi..topped off with a vanilla ice cream sundae "over the Atlantic! Then laying back with your own personal headphones and TV...geeze...talk about "dacadence and lovin' it"... Wow...well, we are not in Kansas anymore! DeGaulle airport in Paris and then on to Barcelona for four days. The Hotel Arts afforded us an incredible room with a view of a marina on the Med...pinch me please!

A first night of Flamenco dancing and dinner at Botafumeiro...now all the plaudits of that restaurant are true, and then some.
Three days of a private guide gave allowed us to experience parts of Barcelona to the fullest...and the Happy Pills helped us keep up the pace! The Church of the Sangrada Familia, still "in the process" of construction since 1882...offered us not only the two facades dedicated to the Birth of Christ and the Passion of Christ and the incredible innards of light and elevated sights...but who knows, at its proposed completion in 2030, the 18 towers and two additional facades will truly be a Gaudi testiment and even more of a Barcelona landmark...and a gorgeous cathedral. Gaudi lives on in Park Guell (green space before the monicur was even invented!)...La Pedrera and Casa Batllo.Barcelona...land of the motos...Mediterranean, Land of the "Smart" car.

Fourth Day...we boarded the Royal Caribbean Radiance....and started our Tour of Other Lands...St. Tropez might be a monied place, but have to say, when it rains, without adequate run-off, it is a flooding place too! Umbrellas out for Tropez, Tuscany, and The Field of Miracles in Pisa...an architect's fiasco-a tourist unperpendicular photo-op! Then on to sun in Rome...and the histories of time. An 11 hour tour tried to focus on the majestic Roman highlights of old, the Colosseum, the Pope' Vatican City's museums and grounds, and the unbelievable Michelangelo's magnificent masterpiece in the Sistene Chapel. Naples offerd us a taste of Limencello (tasting to the toes!) and also its acute need for waste removal services (striking at the time). Around Italy's boot and on to Venice...water, water everywhere (and a bit stinky too!) No singing from the hired gondolier, only that of "my" gondolier (romantic...even if he is tone deaf!). Heading south to Croatia...rebuilt, reenergized yet celebrating the historic walled-city, moat and all. Last stop, Corfu, Greece...where we enjoyed the sights, foods, homemade wines, and carvings of olive wood in Paleokastritsa... ate and witnessed more olives than I ever thought could fall from trees!

And then, exhausted, educated, fulfilled, pleased...all the decsriptive adjectives affordable...and we headed back to Barcelona..and then home again. Traveling, touring, cruising is FANTASTIC...we are so very blessed..but coming home again has its plusses too...you better believe it! Now off to sailing the Caribbean with Captain Jim and his First Mate Jan...welcome to 2011!