Do you ever go on holiday to the same place? Some folk we know go to the same resort every year and I’d always thought that was terribly dull and boring. Now we have been back to Barcelona, I’m changing my mind.
I guess the reason why I’ve always resisted the idea of returning to a place where we have already been is that it’s a bit boring, especially when there are so many other compelling places to explore.
So are you one of those people who value the security of knowing what to expect? Knowing the weather, what food to expect and having already become familiar with a holiday destination might be important to you. If that’s you, perhaps I’m coming around to your way of thinking – but I’m not there yet – and would hate being completely there with you. We live in a truly incredible world, there is so much out there!
Last weekend saw us in Barcelona, somewhere we have already been, I think the year before I retired. Back then Rachel and I visited in February with its decent weather and few tourists. This year we took our daughter Hannah. We had planned to take our Ukrainian guests but that’s another story.
We found we recognised much and we enjoyed retracing our steps on occasions. We also revelled in seeing new things, including our hotel which was in a completely different place to where I thought it was! Embarrassing, or what?
There seemed to be a few magical moments in my mind when we were walking where we’d walked before. So much had happened since we had walked those streets before and so easy to have forgotten. And yet somehow our thoughts were retrieving memories from the filing cabinets at the back of our minds and it all came flooding back. What took me by surprise was about it being so romantic.
Naturally we are a bit creaky nowadays, so no dawn runs (amazing memories) or day long bike rides around the city. Instead quite a few taxi rides and, you might think, taking things easy. However, having Hannah with us ensured the pace was quite brisk!
As an example, on Saturday morning we embarked on our walking tour of the Gothic Quarter with an early start. Needless to say this involved quite a lot of Gaudi spotting, of the architectural type. We chatted easily to our fellow tourists, wealthy Americans who had escaped the rat race for a while.
Within no time at all, the tour firm bundled us into a taxi and took us to the little helicopter pad for an enjoyable bit of sightseeing from a noisy Perspex bubble. As soon as that had finished, our taxi took us to the harbour and a more gentle paced trip on a boat.
That first day saw a step count of 25,000 and frustratingly, this is about my limit these days (arthritic foot and all that). So on the Sunday we had a slower day and yet still as mesmerisingly beautiful. It involved more of Gaudi’s waviest lines and organic shapes in his constructions. We spent the morning in a park, again with a tour guide, before heading back into the central part of the city.
No trip to Barcelona is complete without seeing how the builders are getting on with the Sagrada Familia church. I’ll upload a photo later. It has been under construction since 1882 and may, allegedly, be finished in a couple of years.
When Rachel and I saw this before, we were completely gobsmacked at the beautiful architecture, the imagination, the majesty and the sheer craziness. Inside we marvelled at the unexpected beauty which I likened to what Heaven might be like. It was extraordinary.
For this visit, time wasn’t on our side and so we just allowed our dropped jaws to gawk on the outside only; you need a few hours on the inside to take it in.
Before we knew it Monday morning had arrived and it was nearly time for us to fly back home. Ironically it takes less time to fly home from Barcelona than returning from visiting my mother in Weston-super-Mare. However, before we left, we stuffed ourselves with the buffet breakfast which even offered champagne and a chocolate fountain (never had either for breakfast).
At dawn we went out for a walk and I found myself on strangely familiar ground, having run there early one morning from our earlier trip. It was quite surreal and strangely familiar, yet I had seemingly forgotten all about it.
It really is strange how our mind and memory does this kind of thing! Am I alone with this?
We regularly go back to Madeira. It’s much easier to relax into holiday mode when you know a place and don’t have to work out where things are, the best things to do etc
Glad you had a good time!
Ah thank you Sally. I can see the advantages of returning back to the same place but I’m not quite wired that way. Perhaps as time ticks by I might find myself with a different viewpoint as it does seem a more straightforward option.
Nevertheless, Madeira is a very nice place!