BARCELONA 1

Sunday 16th. May
We are thrilled to be back in Barcelona. Boat issues are going to hold up our schedule but this is a wonderful city to be delayed in.

Port Olympic

The Fish as seen from Port Olympic - built for the olympic games

We planned to have the boat lifted out of the water before we left Melbourne. She is now on the hard stand at port Olympic for her annual anti-foul treatment on the hull, propeller and seal check, and anode replacement. It rained heavily for that first week so all the exterior work was post-poned eg. the preparation and new gel coat over the damage to the hull from the storm at Elba last season.
The rigging work has been delayed until the boat is back in the water, because it is considered too dangerous to do it on the hard stand (we quite understand this!)
It has just been discovered that the rudder is full of water. Perhaps it has been knocked at some stage which could have opened up the seam. It has to be dried out by putting it a de-humidifier. Ross has quite a full day helping to build this equipment and getting the rudder to the workshop.
It is quite a common problem with rudders but it is important to check thinking of our Atlantic crossing next year. The internal steel frame is sound so we just have to wait until it dries out.
We are very pleased Impulsive has been so well cared for while we have been at home. We really appreciate the great effort by the team here.
Ross has the usual frustrations with the Custom´s agent, but in a few days has arranged to have the custom´seal to be taken off the boat. (We had this put on to exempt us from the 8 months we were not using Impulsive. You are only allowed 18 months in the Mediterranean before they charge a V.A.T. tax valued at 16% of the value of the boat. This just allows us the time we planned for before heading across to Morocco).

Barcelona has so much to offer with its culture, history, architecture , art and marvellous cuisine. We are very careful to try to avoid pick pocketing, and have only heard of a few cases of mugging.
We are told here any theft under €300- is not considered a crime, so there is not much deterrent. Apparently the instances of other crime are not high.
The city is very much updated and improved by all the preparations for the Olympic games.
We are staying in the Hotel Neri, a renovated medieval mansion, near the cathedral in the Barri-Gotic area. The hotel looks over the small and well known square, Sant Felip Neri and the church there. It is very central so we can walk to many places from here. We soon become experts on the metro. The narrow, paved streets which cars are unable to pass through add to the atmosphere of this old quarter. The famous tapas bars are scattered throughout Barcelona.
During our first week here we have a surprise visit from Scott and Jeanette. It is very brief but great fun. We certainly make the most of our time together including visits to some of the famous Gaudi architecture and experience some delicious cuisine.

At Tapioles 53 with Scott and Jeanette

Our English friends, Carol and Keith join us for a few days and we manage to do lots of exploring together, including a day riding bikes along the foreshore and a cable car ride up to Montjuic. The views are magnificent back across the city and along the coast.

Riding bikes in Barcaloneta


View across to port Olympic

Our other treat for the week is catching up with Peter and Andrea Churcher and their family, including seeing Peter´s art studio, and having the most wonderful dinner at their home.

on the hotel Terrace with the Churchers

Two Australian couples are staying in the same hotel. It is amazing how often we bump into each other and enjoy exchanging information and ideas.
Intermingled with all this are regular visits to Impulsive to check on progress there. Since we arrived here every day has been perfect with clear blue skies and a temperature of about 24 degrees. This is perfect weather for exploring Barcelona, and more importantly for us , for exterior work on the boat.