Paris vs. Barcelona
 

I look forward to returning to Paris this May for a week. I do love Paris. I like the idea of returning to a place where I am comfortable and know my way around as well. It will be my 3rd visit in 3 years. However, I have been hearing alot about Barcelona, a place I have not been yet. I like the idea about being close to the water but I was thinking about hopping down to Neice, from Paris, for a few days. Any suggestions, pros or cons? Thanks!<BR>Ellen

Barcelona is a beautiful city rich in culture and history. I love driving out of the city up the coast and stopping at the little villages and going into the town "pub", for lack of a better word, and having a meal or "tapas" .

Barcelona is our very favorite European city. We have been to Barcelona each March for the past 3 years... this year we will in Austria, Hungary and Czech Republic in March.<BR><BR>The arcitechture in Barcelona is amazing... staying on La Ramble (at the Citadines - our favorite) and just walking the streets, visiting all the small shops, tapas bars, and literally dozens and dozens of small pastry and sweet shops is just wonderful! They have a very go "on and off" tourist bus system and the night life is great too.. for young or old...<BR><BR>Barcelona is just a stunning city and I look forward to my next trip :&gt;)<BR><BR>Barry

For me, Paris is the most charming of Barcelona, Madrid, Sevilla, Prague, London. Liked the Spanish people, Barcelona architecture, Spanish ice cream and the huge market off of Rambla. But the hotels, food and charm in Barcelona aren't in the same league as Paris.

Hi Ellen. Hopping down to either Nice or Barcelona would be a great idea. I love Nice -- and would highly recommend it -- but Barcelona would be a different country and has fascinating moderniste architecture, especially that by Gaudi, that Nice does not have. Both have the advantage, as you know, of being interesting big cities which are also right on the Mediterranean.<BR><BR>Since you love Paris so much (as do I), Barcelona actually reminded me quite a bit of Paris, with its cafes, boulevards like the Passeig de Gracia, and all the plane trees. However, Barcelona has the wonderful pedestrian thoroughfare, La Rambla, and I can't think of anything quite the same in Paris.

Barcelona is definitely worth a visit for the museums, architecture, etc! If you decide to go down to NICE you should try to take some side trips to St. Paul De Remy (just outside of Nice)--it's beautiful or to Arles, or Aix-en-Provence as well. The countryside is beautiful in the South.