From Amsterdam to Barcelona

Last day in Amsterdam - I really want to come back here someday. It just has a terrific feel to the place. And the cheese! The cheese here is so much more REAL (?) than ours at home - it is so smooth and flavorful but not too flavorful. My friends who have immigrated to Canada must really miss this - European meals are very mindful, relaxed and shared. Breakfasts at our hotel were a help yourself offering of several types of fresh breads, cheeses, some deli meats, yogurts, granolas, jams and usually fruit. They also had an omelet bar and the brown eggs must have come straight from the farm - there was a chicken feather on the cardboard flat that held the eggs! Nobody hurries and the meal is simple and healthy - just nothing processed in sight...hurray! The only time I felt uncomfortable while here was when we had the obligatory visit to see the red light district. It is just as they say - women skimpily dressed standing in front of windows while people "window shop"...so hard to understand and sad. Interestingly, we saw a number standing there texting while posing...seems weird. Sarah was disturbed by the signs for the live sex shows. Thankfully, this is a fringe element and not the society as a whole. It feels really odd to be on this type of trip without my entire immediate family. I love spending time with Sarah but find myself wanting to share some aspect with Bob or the boys. Trying to really feel ok with it. Barcelona is so different - doesn't seems as relaxed as Amsterdam. I didn't like that the hotel clerk suggested we remove our jewelry before walking down the plaza toward the pier. The cruise agent at the airport warned us that theft is common and then the hotel staff made a point to instruct us on the use of the safe. It is a very nice hotel but that was a bit unnerving. And then we walked a long distance down to the pier and decided to take a taxi back. The driver said he didn't speak good English but was happy to take us. We drove a very long way - I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt with the one way streets and all but after so much driving/turning through the streets I left feeling that he'd take us for the "scenic route". What I spend so much time looking at is the amazing architecture in Europe. I just cannot get over that these very ornate buildings (and many are 5 or six floors high) were built in the 1800s! The centre of Amsterdam is preserved with the original buildings for the most part. Here in Barcelona at the heart of the city there are very old buildings that have carvings, very ornate balcony railings on every window. How did they do that? Old fashioned scaffolding, pulleys and hand carved stones - would have loved to have seen the building of one of these back then. Barcelona is interesting in that it's very old buildings might have a newer one squeezed in among the old architecture. The buildings we've seen in Europe are connected at the sides so in essence it appears as one large building but if you look closely you see that they are built distinctly with different rooflines etc. Makes me wonder if they performed a demolition somehow to build in the"new" one. Can also see where they have added a couple of stories on much later - usually with minimal attempt to replicate the original architecture. This city is 2.5 million people and though beautiful, I am not convinced I would want to return... Did go out for their common "tapas" for dinner. You order several small plates and share them - it is a neat way to share the meal - you don't find yourself wishing you'd had what your friend ordered! Tomorrow we are onto the ship. Haven't turned on the tv once - yeah!!