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Barcelona at night from Missy Bear. Missy Bear passing Barcelona at night, from MarineTraffic. We motor-sailed passed Barcelona in the small hours of Saturday night and Sunday morning; a shimmering band of light between the rolling sea and the hazy clouded sky, filtering the moonlight and hiding all the planets, save Venus. We had had a rollicking sail in 18-25 knots of wind, with a sea on the quarter and maxing at 2m-high waves. The broad beam and twin rudders of Missy Bear

Flag of Catalonia: The Estelada (right) is almost identical to the Senyera (left) , but it is unofficial and has the addition of a blue triangle with a white star. The concept of the star is based on the flags that were seen in Cuba during its fight for independence from Spain. The star means this flag is therefore used as a political statement of independence from Spain. Although the Phoenicians probably traded in the area, Barcelona was a Roman town. It was sacked – as usua

One for the ladies... Life isn’t always rosy in the Missy Bear household. [Ed, Ever? ] As you know, we celebrated our check out of France at Port-Vendres, and were confident we would be able to check into Spain via Port Ginesta. The very helpful staff at the capitania (harbour master's office) here in the marina had taken photos of our passports on our arrival and sent them off to the local police as is the requirement in Spain. They told us to present ourselves on Monday mo

At the Duoannes at Port Vendres. You may remember M. Albrich? He was the charming man at the border police in Port-Vendres, who said they would check us out of France and stamp our passports. We need this in order to sign off our French visa days, and then start our Schengen days when we check into Spain. We had emailed him to say it would now be Friday morning before we were in Port-Vendres, and he had emailed us back to say he would see us then. So, on Wednesday afternoon,

Port Vendres Port-Vendre, looking east (c) Mike G. Port-Vendres is an ancient deep-water port of the Mediterranean Sea, close to the border between modern France and Spain at the eastern edge of the Pyrenees. The Phoenicians and Greeks would have influenced and traded with this area, probably bringing vines and olives. Ancient writers called it Aphrodisium (after its sanctuary to Aphrodite), so that perhaps bodes well for the start of our romantic cruise? The Romans developed