Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to explore

[Pushka]

Re: Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to exp

Embarkation is delayed until 2pm so sailaway at 5pm not looking good. One guy on our cc rollcall says he might cancel. Their insurance must be bullet proof.

Yesterday we visited Pablo Picasso's museum. It is just around the corner and set in a wonderful old mansion. I'll post all pics in a different post so I dont loose this one.

We found that Catalan Museum down by the wharf FM.

 

[Pushka]

Re: Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to exp

No photos allowed in Picasso' museum but wonderful street art along the way

 

[Pushka]

Re: Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to exp

These are all painted on rolladoors and wooden doors and look fabulous

One of the downsides to cobblestones is that when dogs pee or poop, if their owners ignore the poop then there is nowhere for it to go. It just sits in yellow puddles. The laneways here stank and clearly the owners dont do pickups here. The wonderful art lives in a smelly place.

 

[Pushka]

Re: Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to exp

Ladies, loved the colour pop here


Gaudi's first Cathedral - didnt get to the Sagrada

And a nice place for lunch


We generally arent doing well with dinner. Last night we found a restaurant near the sea, mid price not upmarket. Ordered paella and waited a bit for the food. The wine waiter was a learner and her trainer did something weird with the wine but let it go. Received the food - mixed for MrP and Pollo for me. Commenced eating and the waiters removed the table next to us then heard some conversation. They had a large group and couldn't fit them in. Next thing they said to get up (in mid bite) and they picked up our table and chairs and shifted us down the restaurant. We just said - this is bad, the waiters said, this is not good, but the old A hole running the restaurant couldn't care less. People around us shaking their heads. We got the bill - they had items on there we hadn't even ordered. I ripped it up and gave it back to them. Then proceeded in a heated discussion in the middle of the restaurant with the owner. No apologies given at all. MrP posted a review on TA on the spot and we made a big deal about taking photos of him. He hated that. After we left we saw all the involved waiters on the street arguing with him. Hope he continued to have a bad night.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Re: Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to exp

Really need a dislike button! That is dreadful.

 

[love_the_life]

Re: Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to exp

Agree - that sounds a dreadful place. Will check out MrP's review. What was the name of the restaurant?

 

[Pushka]

Re: Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to exp

I just did a report too - you know my user name Dame - not hard to guess. It isnt up yet. We just saw they did exactly the same thing to the most recent reviewer! Scumbag. It is called Restaurant Portonovo. There seem to be a couple of review threads for it though? I'll post a pic of the TA page shortly.

 

[Pushka]

Re: Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to exp


Funny reading there..

 

[love_the_life]

Re: Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to exp

Moving tables mid meal (and diners mid mouthful) seems to be a common occurrence at this place by the looks of the TA posts above Pushka!
On board yet? Enjoy...lucky Dame you are!!!! Green, green, green.
But then we will be in Victoria Falls this time in 4 weeks so probably should not complain....too much.

 

[Pushka]

Re: Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to exp

Saturday is the day Dame. Last day in Barcelona. Sunny and warm. Hotel busy with people arriving today. Welcome to my new 3000 best friends.

 

[amaroo]

Re: Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to exp

May you have fine weather and no gastro...

 

[Pushka]

Re: Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to exp

May you have fine weather and no gastro...

Small pleasures hey?

 

[Pushka]

Re: Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to exp

A large contingent of female Sassenachs have arrived this morning. They are awaiting room availability. They have taken over the pool area - probably better than the lobby. They are yawning (loudly) their heads off. The 2 hour flight here seems to have exhausted them. I am half Brit. So I can ask this. What is the equivalent of bogan? Please give them their rooms. And they aren't on the cruise. Phew.

 

[Pushka]

Re: Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to exp

This is how they clean the lanes

 

[Pushka]

Re: Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to exp

Struck gold last night for dinner. Walked back into the laneways of the gothic quarter and found this gem.

It was 7.30 pm and still to early to order meals there so we had spicy potato tapas which were nice and spicy

When we were able to order mains we chose lasagne and ravioli beetroot. It was worded much nicer than that but you get the drift.
Forgot to take photos :eek
But the ravioli was sooo good we ordered a second round. Then I remembered

While we were eating a large thunderstorm rolled in but we couldnt care less as we sat under our umbrella having a lovely meal with lightening flashing around us

 

[love_the_life]

Re: Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to exp

Glad you finally had success with a dinner spot - you seemed to not be having much luck on that front. Something lovely about eating in a thunderstorm (as long as you are not out in it). Food looks very tasty I must say.

And your TA reviews of the last restaurant are up, plus the others. Good reading.

 

[Pushka]

Re: Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to exp

We have a theory about this cleaning thing on the ship. The cruise after ours has been chartered by Atlantis. Megadollars of money. They dont want anything to go wrong. Maybe we are the suckers for a preventive clean...

 

[TheRealTMA]

Re: Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to exp

We have a theory about this cleaning thing on the ship. The cruise after ours has been chartered by Atlantis. Megadollars of money. They dont want anything to go wrong. Maybe we are the suckers for a preventive clean...

Make sure you wear new and nice underwear for the security shower and body search as you board!

 

[Pushka]

Re: Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to exp

Make sure you wear new and nice underwear for the security shower and body search as you board!

I feel somewhat like that about the stupid embarkation photos they take. I can imagine the angst if having already delayed people by several hours they then make us wait for those awful "just got off plane/bus/taxi, queued up for ticket processing then given a number to board, more waiting, more queues, bag security search, forced queue for the photo and you want me to smile when all we want to do is board" photo?

 

[love_the_life]

Re: Chasing the lads in Lycra down the Champs Elysees - and other fancy places to exp

I sidestep the photographers - especially the ones with the assistants in dumb costumes. Oh I wonder what gems of costumes you will have on this cruise.