Hang on to your handbag, Barcelona is notorious for bag snatchers and scammers!

While going up to Montjuic, definitely visit the Miro Foundation museum.

Take cable car from Montejuic down to San Sebastian beach and get a spectacular view !

Nikki (and everyone else) I have been watching a very good series on the food channel: "To Spain with Love". Today it was about seafood. They were digging for clams. I will definitely try them when I am there. They also went along on the boat with the barnacle gatherers. I won't try them.

I lived in Barcelona for 10 years and always took visitors first to La Pedrera at No 92 Passeig de Gràcia. This is one of Gaudi's fantastic creations. The reason to go here first is that there is a great exhibition that introduces you to the architect and his work through architectural plans, models and various multi-media. You also get to visit one of the apartments and, most importantly, the fantastic roof. Google it and you'll find tons of photos of the roof and its exotic chimneys.

And, as a bonus, in the same block on Psg. de Gràcia, make sure you stop in at the awesome design store Vinçon. Even if you're not interested in shopping, it's worth a stop.

http://www.vincon.com/web/en/infogeneral/barcelona.htm

Here you'll find all sorts of interesting design objects and some very unique souvenirs that you won't see anywhere else in the city. Make sure you go up to the second floor where the furniture is. Since this was once part of a fabulous apartment, there are still incredible Modernista details everywhere including a quite startling fireplace. Keep an eye on the ceilings, they're unbelievable. There's also a terrace with beautiful mosaics. It's a fun place to enjoy the air conditioning and see some great design objects that the city is famous for.

Of course there are a million other things you'll see and do in Barcelona, but by starting at La Pedrera, you'll feel a little more grounded and will understand better some of the things that are going to blow you away!

Enjoy!

Mark

I'll be having clams this weekend on Cape Cod, but they won't look like the ones we had in Barcelona.

Also recommend walking through the neighborhoods of Gracia & Sarria. Also go to Citudella Park & make sure you see the magnificent La Cascada Fountain. You can click on my name & read my trip report from last October. I give restaurant names, etc.

For a day trip, I definitely recommend Girona. We spent 2 nights there & loved it.

Just a few suggestions. Take em or leave em, but plan to walk a lot in Barcelona. Have fun, its my favorite city in Europe.

Boqueria Market – we made it there almost every day for fresh fruit.

La Rambla – fun walk and people watching. Just make sure you hold your wallet, forget any thought of carrying a purse in Barcelona.

Castell de Montjuic – take the cable car to the top. Not much to see at the fort, but the view of Barcelona is breath taking. Skip the Olympic park

Familia Sagrada – get there a minimum of 45 minutes before it opens. Lines stretch around the building by the time the church opens. This is a wonder of the world. If your muscles are in good shape, buy the ticket for the elevator ride and walk down.

Passeig de Gracia – an interesting walk for both shops and architecture, from Gran Via to Diagonal. Check out the shop Vincon.

Gaudi’s Casa Mila and Casa Batlllo – do al least one of these.

Park Guell – not the easiest to get to if you are prone to getting lost. Another interesting view of the city.

Old town Gothic quarter – try walking down every nook an cranny in this section of Barcelona. The architecture, shops, restaurants, and people are incredible. This is what most people will remember as “Barcelona”.

Port Vell, beach and waterfront boardwalk – long walk, stop a few times for Sangria.

El Corte Ingles department store – with the exception of Cosco, its now my favorite store in the world. Once you experience this department store, American stores will be sub-par.

Day trips: Montserrat 45 minute by train, is great for hiking, the family did 10+ miles around the trails. Tarragona 45 minute by train, great for roman ruins, friendly people, and laid back.

"El Corte Ingles department store – with the exception of Cosco, its now my favorite store in the world. Once you experience this department store, American stores will be sub-par. "



El Corte Ingles is o.k.,but nothing special .
Saks , Bloomigdales and number of other dep.stores in big North American cities are hardly sub-par.

Buy some almond sweets from the famous shop near El Corte Ingles, and have a look at the Lupo handbag shop nearby. The bags are beautiful soft leather in interesting colours, good quality and not bling-y.

DGRUTAN: Are you serious about not carrying a handbag in Barcelona? Are things that bad?

I go to El Cortes Ingles in Lisbon and it's an interesting store compared to US shopping. Not many stores in America have cocktail lounges where you can take your mind off shopping and have a glass of wine! Their Gourmet shop is fabulous for gifts if a little pricey.

Cyesq, Lots of people carry purses in Barcelona and do just fine. I recommend one you can wear across your body, purse in front, hand on zipper when you are on metro or in crowded areas.

I'm with danon on El Cortes Ingles. Fine but not extraordinary. The upscale department stores in our great cities in the US certainly measure up. And yes, you can have a drink in many of them. I think the great shopping in Barcelona (and probably our great US cities) happens in the small shops in the various neighborhoods. Spend some time wandering Born, Gracia, other neighborhoods to find some great shops.

"DGRUTAN: Are you serious about not carrying a handbag in Barcelona? Are things that bad?"

I don't know what some people do in Barcelona, but in my five visit I carried my handbag and behave the same way I do in any big city. Never had a slightest worry.
If one wishes to see a very nice (and upscale) neighborhood , shopping mall L'Illa on Diagonal is worth a visit.

Regarding the purse, that's good advice from Dgrutan. That's what I usually do. One less thing to worry about.

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