I'll be in Spain with my girlfriend for 12 days in October and we've decided on Barcelona (but not neccesarily if you can convince me otherwise) and the surrounding areas. Up front, we're not into super-touristy stuff and we'd also like to see some small villages where we can maybe experience some local color and utilize our somewhat mediocre Spanish language skills. We're thinking of Poblet and Gerona, but also the larger destinations of Tarragona and Sitges. How about taking an overnight train to Seville or Granada for a few days; bad idea? Thanks in advance!

Greg,<BR>Barcelona is a great city with lots to do. There are plenty of choices in that area. Try Taragona, Sitges, perhaps Figueres (don't hold me to the spelling), Besalau, Rupit in the mountains. There's a recent post about hiking in the Pyrenees; see that one for more suggestions.<BR><BR>I'd save Seville and Granada for another trip.<BR><BR>M.<BR>PS Check the Karen Brown guides for the "Costa Brava and Beyond" itinerary for ideas.

Barcelona is terrific. I second the suggestion of Figueres. Be sure to see the Dali museum. My husband professes to hate Dali and even he had to admit it was fabulous. If you can stand the drive (it's quite harrowing) see cadaque. It's a wonderful little fishing village with whitewashed houses and more Dali connections. Also closer to Barcelona, check out the monestary at Monserrat and the cava (sparkling wine) production houses--Frexeneit, Cordorniu.

Hi Greg. Gerona had sounded very nice and we'd hoped to get there, but ended up staying in Barcelona for our entire six days because we enjoyed it so much.<BR><BR>Regarding Barcelona, here's an AP article entitled "Barcelona birthday bash: It's Gaudi's 150th". It says that while a few of the [Gaudi] exhibits opened in January and February, most of the year's -- the "International Year of Gaudi" -- activities are scheduled for spring and summer. <BR><BR>(URL below split apart, so as not to mess up thread frame) <BR><BR>http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/<BR><BR>cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?<BR><BR>slug=barcelona03&date=20020303&que ry=gaudi

Hi Greg:<BR>If you and your girlfriend will have a car for a few days there is so much to see just outside of Barcelona. Maybe split up the time between the city and its surrounding splendours. Leave Sevilla and Granada for next time, it's another whole trip.<BR>Don't worry about your lack of spanish,but try to pick up some basic words out of respect.Do get yourself a Catalan/English phrase book /dictionary which will help if you find yourself in a small town in Catalonia and can't read the menu!<BR>I can second your ideas of Poblet the monastery and surrounding area are amazing)(there is a lovely inn near the monastery, the Masia del cadet where we stayed at 2 years ago,it had lovely views, and great food) I know Maribel has mentioned it also.... <BR>And time in Tarragona is worth while.<BR>Girona is wonderful too. We actually like the shopping and restaurants and atmosphere in Girona. Check out the cafe Mozart for lunch and (for the life of me I can't remember the name of this restaurant but it's right next door to the Cafe Mozart (In the placa independencia and serves excellent Catalan food....not open for dinner til 9pm and booked solid Friday nights) So take at least one day and night and explore this very ancient city.<BR> From Girona you can take a few hours drive around the Garrotxa region (an area of ancient, extinct volcanos that is so beautiful) See Banyoles where some of the 1992 Olympic events took place, lots of ancient little towns with great churches, squares, etc. If you want a drive into the Pyrenees from here isn't impossible. A trip up into the mountains from Ribes de Freser via cogwheel train along spectacular mountain terrain and a night at the hotel in Val de Nuria in the mountains would be the highlight of your time in the area! guaranteed!<BR>If you do like Dali (and even if you don't) follow his trail from figueres (his museum) to Pubol out towards the coast where his wife Gala's castle is situated and then try the (Yes harrowing drive for us people with no head for heights but if we can do it anyone can) to Cadaques(his childhood home out of town)<BR>and just along the coast to Port Lligat to his home on the sea. All fantastic and I guarantee if you don;t respect the man by the end you will at least like his work.<BR>Then a few kms along the coast to Cap Creus where the Pyrenees actually "fall" into the sea. It's wild and spectacular.<BR>Drive along the coast back towards Barcelona and check out Empuries, an ancient Iberian/then Greek/then Roman settlement/ archeological site. Have lunch just along the boardwalk from here in the medieval village of Sant Marti (mmmm the calamari ). Then drive the spectacular coastal road from San Feliu to Tossa de mar for great views and end up in tossa for a night or two in a village complete with medieval walls.<BR>I love Catalonia. Don't limit yourself to Barcelona, you miss too much.<BR>Regards,<BR>Lynn