Carl

Hi,<BR><BR>We are going for our first trip to Europe this November and will be spending a week in Spain, Barcelona (arriving on Saturday morning and leaving Thursday afternoon).<BR><BR>Does anyone have any suggestions about how we might best spend our time in Barcelona ? Things to do, places to see, things that shouldnt be missed, etc ?<BR><BR>We are a couple in our late 20s and enjoy architecture, natural beauty, and sports.<BR><BR>Thanks in advance,<BR>Carl

Dali

Don't miss all the Gaudi - Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, Parc Guell, etc. Fantastic. Do the Ramblas, visit the cathederal, shop in the very upscale stores, just sit for hours at cafes and drink red wine or cortados. Catch the train for a day to Sitges, hang out on the beach, eat paella and drink cava, and then enjoy the wild night life there. Find a little out of the way resturaunt called Cal Pep and have a great meal. Visit La Boqueria, the old market and buy fresh veggies and fruit and check out the wild things for sale. Barcelona is a great city with friendly people, great food, even better wine, and lots to do. I miss it a lot.

Rex

Strongly urge a day or two out of the city - - up into the Pyrenees or at least their foothills, to Montserrat, and for an overnighter, Seu d'Urgell.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Maggie

Hello Carl<BR>I hope you enjoy Barcelona, the best way to see the city is by taking a two day pass on the Bus Turistic - ticket price 18 Euros. It leaves from Place Catalunya.<BR>It takes you to all the interesting sites and you can hop on and hop off as you wish.<BR>You can get off at the Tramvia Blue stop and take the ride up to Tibidabo, this gives you a superb view of the city and there are a couple of good restaurants near the funicular stop.<BR>The Barri Gothic (the old quarter) is a maze of narrow streets with the cathedral in the centre.<BR>You must see the traditional dance - The Sardana - which is performed at various times in the square in front of the cathedral. The tourist information office at Placa Catalunya will probably be able to let you have more details.<BR>Barceloneta, the old fishermans quarter, is also a good place to wander around with lots of excellent fish restaurants.<BR>Walking down Las Ramblas from Placa Catalunya down to the Colombus monument is an experience in itself with lots of living statues as well as various stalls selling flower, birds and bric-a-brac.<BR>Las Ramblas and the Barri Gothic are supposed to be the worst place for pick-pockets, but we had no trouble, just use common sense and don't flaunt any valuables such as watches and cameras.<BR>Hope you enjoy your trip as much as I did mine.<BR>Regards<BR>Maggie <BR>

anne

If you are interested in architecture, buy the book 'City in space - the inside and the outside of Barcelona architecture and design form the 50ties to the 70ties'.<BR><BR>Besides visiting the obvious things like la Pedrera, Sagrada Familia and the cathedral, a great guide with buildings, interiors of bars, shops, restaurants, hotels, entrance halls, cinemas, logos, etc.<BR><BR>They also made a website: http://www.cityinspace.com

anne

also the botanical garden on Montjuic is impressive

paul

just a cautionary note-we just got back from Barcelona but missed using the tramvia blau and the tibidabo funicular because it now only runs on weekends. Make your first gaudi visit the Casa Mila (la pedrera) after riding the bus turistic and getting your discount coupons, They have a multimedia display in the old attic which shows architectural detail you cannot get from just visiting the gaudi sites. In particular, I found a single screen showing via wireframe models how La Sagrada Familia gets it support to be very enlightening. Casa Batilo is open for the Gaudi year and is just marvelous. there is a little bar./coffee bar just across the street from La Sagrada Familia at the new (non-gaudi entrance. You can nurse a capuccino there and watch the sunset make the facade come alive--then go inside to enjoy the new stained glass rosewindow at its best.