A lengthy flight from Liberia, Costa Rica via Atlanta courtesy of Delta Airlines, took me to the Catalan Capital of culture, art, and vibrancy – Barcelona. Condensed into 48- hours were several meetings, key sights, a musical experience, and of course, the all-important Catalan gastronomy.
According to locals, our presence represents the end of rainy season and the transition to summer marked by over 60 million visitors arriving in Barcelona by land, air, and sea. Known for its non-stop life in a casual, slow-paced fashion to appreciate long hot Mediterranean summers, Barcelona exudes an extroverted attitude of an outdoor lifestyle in harmony with nature where the balance of work-life skews towards life!
Less than 10% of visitors get to experience the masterpiece (the city’s heart so to speak) of the world-renowned Sagrada Família cathedral designed and started by legendary architect Antoni Gaudi. Our group was privileged to go behind the scenes where for over 100 years workers and artisans have been bringing to reality his vision of turning the story of the bible into a monument for the ages.
While far from completed in its entirety, this year marks a major milestone with a papal blessing on June 10th 26 of the main tower dedicated to Jesus himself. Now, as you know, churches are not my thing but in this case, an exception was warranted for its architectural relevance and the monumental scale of the project. The only way to see this is in a private tour, large crowds otherwise dominate.
Cathedral visit behind us, we were treated to a delicious Catalan tapas table and some bubbly before a vibrant flamenco show stole the show. this is not a touristy trap btw, it is culturally relevant to hear the stories of love, betrayal, and lament through song and dance but helps to understand Catalonian passion and intensity.
My final activity during my 48-hrs in Barcelona consisted of a ship inspection of the completely revamped Regency Seven Seas Voyager – fresh out of a 26-day dry dock in Marseilles.
From bow to stern, no effort was spared to elevate this ship to new heights of luxury in a perfect blend of Explorer and upcoming Prestige class. Neutral tones in high-end materials paired with whimsical touches of gold and glass make this ship a piece of art in its own right.
Seven Seas Voyager is the perfect blend of style and size for exploration voyages around the world’s smaller ports of call. She matches the elegance of the Explorer class of ships while also preserving its intimacy of 698 guests. At the pinnacle of luxury, this major update sets Voyager (and its sister Mariner) up for many more luxurious years of sailings.
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