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| Norm and Marie; after a day with us in Barcelona, they headed off on another cruise, all around Italy; they'll rejoin us in Paris in a week |
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| On terra firma again; two big Celebrity ships were already in the Port of Barcelona...10,000 tourists hitting Barcelona from this quay alone (there were other lesser cruise ships around the harbor); Barcelona is to the Mediterranean what Miami is to the Caribbean... |
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| Bye, Epic; no longer first-time cruisers, we might well see you again... |
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| Chris Colon welcomes us to Barcelona... reminding me of the old bumper sticker that said "Welcome to Texas! Now go home!" |
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| A last look at the Norwegian Epic, over the roof tops, from La Pedrera |
Not pictured department: the restaurants, and particularly the Garden Cafe buffet, where, alas, we spent most of our waking time. We enjoyed the cruise greatly, Vicki even more than me, and are sure to do it again, but the food thing en cruise can be a bit disturbing. I had lost 15 pounds while in New Zealand, then gained much of it back while at Fiji and with Rebecca and then at Carole's. Then comes the cruise and Norwegian's free-style gluttony approach...really good food, incredible variety, available at all hours and in whatever quantities...e.g., 2,400 lbs. of lobster tail served at the Garden just on seafood night. Even at the sit-down-and-be-served restaurants, the food, though not to rave about, was quite good, with the exception of a few Thai dishes, and the variety was fairly stunning. At one of the nutrition seminars we attended (!), it was observed that the average cruiser will gain 7-14 pounds on a week-long cruise. Looking around at the largely American, and therefore largely obese passengers, it appeared that many had already enjoyed quite a few cruises. A whole new meaning for heavy cruiser. So despite trying to eat sensibly and walking 10-15,000 steps a day and doing the stairs often, I am afraid I did not succeed in keeping a few more pounds off. I have to credit Marie and Norm for cruising as much as they do and still keeping very fit.
Also not pictured department: other passengers. Initially I felt like observing--you hear this often at assisted-living facilities--that we were among the younger (and therefore more attractive, well, photogenic) people on board. ("Everyone else is so old"). Imagine my shock at learning that I was eight (8) years older than the average passenger on board. So I spent more than a little of the cruise in reflection and self-examination (looking in the mirror: "do I look that old?"). But not very much. There was always another meal to go to. Pass the coconut flan, whippersnapper!
