Oh, my goodness! Another day in paradise as we sail on ms Rotterdam of the Holland American Cruise Lines to the beautiful city of Barcelona, Spain and then on the Lisbon, Portugal. This is almost too much to believe, as each day get better and more exciting.

Barcelona is a city with a dynamic atmosphere. It is a city on the edge in terms of architecture, food, fashion, music and style. Bounded in 230 BC by the Carthaginians, Barcelona has had a turbulent past, caught between the various European powers in its allegiances against Madrid. The city is now a thriving port and a commercial center of Spain, covering only 6.3% of the country’s land area, but home to 15.5% of its population. It is the largest city on the Mediterranean seaboard.

Barcelona boosts both Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings, as well as many art collection by Picasso and Moro. The work of Antoni Gaudi is worth the trip to Spain. His architecture is outstanding and will have you running to see each of his works in Barcelona, especially the Cathedral. In 1992 the Olympic Games brought a new waterfront and new districts throughout the area.

While there you must take the open air bus tour. It is the best way to see the entire area. In most cases English is spoken and you will have no problem getting around. The people are delightful and very stylish. Their shops are very expensive and offer the finest quality in Europe.

Be sure to take the time to enjoy an outdoor café along the Ramblas, the city’s main thoroughfare. Have a glass of wine and relax. You will need it because there is more than you can imagine in the beautiful city of Barcelona.

After an exhausting day, it was back to the ship and another wonderful night at sea. Tonight we have the pleasure of dining in the Pinnacle Grill in the Odyssey Restaurant where “first class” got its name. For a nominal extra fee passengers are treated to outstanding service, and finest steaks money can buy and it is served on Bulgaria china. Forget the cost of the food, the china plate costs $300. It makes you feel like a King, but don’t drop the china! Each table is decorated with a fresh orchid. There is an extensive wine list and the dessert featuring four different flavored crème brule’s that is to die for! This is a special opportunity to enjoy a class of service rarely seen.

An now on to Lisbon, Portugal. Lisbon is the capital of Portugal. It is everything you have seen in the photo’s, but actually being there offers you a vista of beautiful hills, wide boulevards, black and white mosaic tiled sidewalks and Art Nouveau houses that are faced with beautiful tiles. It is something out of the movies!

It is a small city with a population of one million. Much of the city was destroyed in 1775 by an earthquake and tidal wave. The old Moorish quarter of town (Alfama) survived the earthquake largely because it rests on a foundation of dense bedrock. The Alfama is a legacy left over from the Moors who imposed their rule on Lisbon during the 8th century. It is a district of narrow winding streets, twisting their way up to the castle on top of the hill. The castle, Castelo de Sao Jorge, is Moorish in construction and was built on the site of a fortification built in the 5th century by the Visgoths. It is home to many peacocks, swans and ravens. The castle walls enclose an Arabian palace and a small village used by artist and crafts people.

The beauty of the hills becomes a work of art. There are so many colors spreading as far as the eye can see. Accent that with the beautiful blue/green sea and you have the perfect picture. I never thought Lisbon would offer such a wonderful day, needless to say, a fantastic vacation.

How sad it is to head back to the ship and ready ourselves for the final stop, the Coast of England. That is where everything will end. Fifteen days of traveling, seeing all the wonderful ports of call, sharing friendships that will be remembered for years to come, toasting champagne from famous cities of the world, and last but not least, knowing that you had an opportunity that can be shared with so many people. I thank you for all the comments and emails over the past few weeks as we journeyed on the flagship of the Holland American Cruise Line, the ms Rotterdam.

Now it is your turn. Go to the phone and plan a trip with the professionals at the Holland American Cruise Line organization. It is time to go! Go there is person. It is time to LIVE!

Join me next time for our introduction to the staff and members of the ms Rotterdam. What a crew! For your comments or thoughts, email me a VGArnette3@aol.com .
Until next time, keep reading and visit with us on our website at www.travelstorymagazine.com.