2025 Volendam, Barcelona, Spain...

 The captain decided to arrive early in Barcelona as there were 8 ships expected in port today. We arrived in Barcelona at 4:30 am so no major sail in photos today for me. It was raining heavily so I only did a courtesy good morning Barcelona before leaving.  Ann, Cathy, Paola our crew friend and myself disembarked the ship at 07:45 and met our guide Ramon. Our mission today was to get outside of Barcelona and visit the Catalunya medieval mountain villages of Besalua and Castellfolitt de la Roca. It rained very heavy until we crossed over the Pyrenees mountains. The sun appeared just before arriving in Besalu. Besalu is located in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain, a quaint little medieval village renowned for its well-preserved Romanesque architecture, once a significant political and religious center during the Middle Ages. It is a spectacular site as you enter town by crossing its 12th Century Romanesque bridge spanning the Fluvia river. Ancient fortifications, the Church of Saint Vincent, the Abby of Sant Pere, a restored Jewish bath and a medieval synagogue made for other great points of interest. We walked along the banks of the river giving a different perspective of the bridge and the town's architecture. The reflections were absolutely outstanding. We continued the day travelling to Castellfollit de la Roca a small, picturesque village in Catalonia, Spain, perched dramatically on a narrow basalt cliff formed by ancient lava flows. The village is known for its stunning views and unique setting above the confluence of the Fluvià and Toronell rivers. To capture the views, Ramon took us on a walk along the river below the village to give us an excellent perspective on this narrow spit of rock. We continued back to the car and went up to the village. We walked the narrow streets of the town intersect at Church of Sant Salvador located at one end of the cliff, a viewpoint with privileged views. This village has a unique perspective of the narrow streets and houses, which are built right up against the cliff's edge.  That was our day….and spectacular it was…we loved every minute…we are so thankful we decided to tour outside of Barcelona with an amazing guide. We loved our guide, Ramon!  I can’t even imagine the crowds in Barcelona with 8 ships in port.  What a fabulous day!!!!