| Barcelona is Spain's second city and the | | | | he was a very busy man! The museum is housed |
| capital of Catalonia in the north of the | | | | in two adjoining medieval palaces. |
| country. The city is a vibrant metropolis | | | | |
| with a great artistic and architectural | | | | The Rambla: A mile long walkway built over |
| heritage. Many of the building are art | | | | the remains of a dried up riverbed. A bi |
| nouveau with many being designed by the | | | | touristy but usually populated with street |
| avant-garde and occasionally bizarre | | | | performers and artists. A great place for an |
| architect Gaudi, of whom his professor, at | | | | evening promenade or an afternoon coffee at |
| his graduation said "I don't know weather we | | | | one of the many outdoor cafes, but in crowded |
| are graduating a genius or a fool!" | | | | parts keep you hands on your wallet. |
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| It is a well laid out city with broad streets | | | | Museu de Geologia: The oldest museum in |
| and wide walkways. The city transport and | | | | Barcelona and since 1882 has been home to a |
| tourist infrastructure underwent a massive | | | | large and fascinating collection of |
| program of improvement and modernization from | | | | paleontology and geological exhibits go on |
| 1987 to 1992 in preparation for staging the | | | | the first Sunday of the month when admission |
| Olympic games, and today that legacy still | | | | is free. |
| ensures good quality, plentiful accommodation | | | | |
| and good transport links. | | | | Tibidabo: The summit of the hill Collserola |
| | | | arrive by the tramvia blau to la Atalaya (the |
| The people here seem to have a passion for | | | | old watchtower) for a stunning view of the |
| all things artistic and as such you will find | | | | city, also at the top are a nineteenth |
| many street artists and performers and, as | | | | centuary amusement park and a mechanical |
| well as a profusion of the more usual | | | | museum. |
| galleries, concert halls, museums and | | | | |
| exhibitions. The nightlife is also good, | | | | Catedral: Work originally started on the |
| Barcelona is definitely a party city and the | | | | construction of this beautiful gothic |
| streets are generally safe at night although | | | | cathedral in 1298 on the site of a 1st |
| all the usual precautions are still | | | | centaury chapel the central spire was added |
| advisable. | | | | as late as 1913.The elaborate and decorative |
| | | | chorus should not be missed. |
| The food is generally of a very high standard | | | | |
| especially the tapas, selections of different | | | | L'Aquarium de Barcelona: Situated on the |
| foods such as olives, spicy chorizo sausage | | | | waterfront this transparent aquarium is one |
| etc which is a good reasonably priced option | | | | of the largest (if not the largest) in |
| in the bars. Seafood is especially good, as | | | | Europe. It has a large collection of marine |
| Barcelona is truly Mediterranean city. When | | | | life from all over the world and especially |
| eating in restaurants send back anything you | | | | the Mediterranean. You can walk through a |
| didn't order, those wonderful looking | | | | transparent tunnel while the sharks move |
| appetizers are not a gift from the kitchen | | | | menacingly above your head. |
| and you will end up paying for them! | | | | |
| | | | Museu Temple de la Segrada familia: A museum |
| Barcelona has a a temperate climate more than | | | | dedicated to Gaudi's great unfinished |
| hot enough to fulfill most peoples idea of | | | | masterpiece. A wonderful opportunity to see a |
| good holiday weather but without the fierce | | | | great work of art in construction. Take the |
| heat of the south that can render the middle | | | | lift up the tower to get a good overview of |
| of the day useless for anything other than | | | | the scale of the project. |
| sitting in a (preferably air-conditioned) | | | | |
| hotel room. | | | | Barcelona people are generally friendly and |
| | | | helpful to tourists but don't be surprise if |
| Must see highlights: | | | | your guide book Spanish are not as popular as |
| | | | you thought here as although the locals speak |
| Museu Picasso: On Carra Montcada the museum | | | | Spanish the real language is Catalan. |
| houses a large collection of Picasso's work | | | | Barcelona has all the ingredients for a good |
| especially his rose and blue periods and the | | | | holiday. Good food, good weather, Great |
| later cubist variations, and also his | | | | culture and wonderful people, A week there |
| engravings pottery sculpture and lithograph | | | | will always be a week well spent. |