Barcelona, Spain

Dates visited: June 1-8, 2002. June 4-13, 2003.
Things not to miss: La Rambla, La Sagrada Familia, Parc Gruel, Gaudi sites, cathedrals, Tapas, the nearby town of Sitges.
Things to forget: the water at Barceloneta beach (revolting). No complaints about the rest of the beach or the beach-goers, quite spectacular actually.


La Rambla is a long wide pedestrian street, full with people especially on weekend nights. There are many street performers, magicians etc, restaurants, live bands, just a really awesome place. It is next to the old gothic part of town, which must be visited.
La Sagrada Familia is a very impressive and unique cathedral. It is still under construction.
Tapas. Eat as much of these as you can. Fantastic Tapas-bars in the old town. My favorite typew are "montaditos" (must verify spelling), which are basically pieces of bread with something tasty on top, pinned on with a toothpick. You take as many as you want from the bar, they're just sitting there on different plates. When you're done, you count the toothpicks and pay accordingly! Based on the honor-system.
Sitges is a nice town about half an hour south by train. There are narrow streets to explore, a few good (clean) beaches, tourists, and it seems like it has good nightlife, although i couldn't stay late enough to find out.