The Beauty of Barcelona

Hola!
Only a city this great could have an airport this annoying.
Arrivals is fine, but the car rental locations are in the departures terminal, so depending on where you arrive, you may find yourself in for a long and confusing trek to reach your car. Bag it, and take a taxi-- its about €30 into the city. In the center, you can get around quite easily, especially if you don't mind hoofing it. If you want a Mercedes and private driver, dial 34-93-307-0707 to get a radio pickup at reasonable rates.

accommodations

Barcelona hits its stride in the summer, so you and everyone else will be vying for the best hotels. Consider the Hotel Pulitzer and the Hotel Majestic, both perfectly located and supremely interesting. The Pulitzer features the best lobby scene in the city and rolls with a contemporary art vibe. When you book, ask for Susana Mari, the hotel's general manager, to see about an upgrade, as the normal rooms are small.

For the real experience, check out the Hotel Majestic, located right on the Passeig de Gracia, the grandest of Barcelona's boulevards. The Majestic is pleasingly eclectic and features a hot rooftop pool with great views of the city. You can walk to most locations, and the only thing that will shock you is the color palette of the room interiors and cozy to the point of nausea. But it grows on you after spending a day or two perched on the balconies overlooking the Passeig de Gracia.

If you're broke, may we suggest the lovely Barri Gotic area, the gothic quarter of the city with a maze of winding alleys and cheap rent. It's
actually kinda cool, especially if you like feeling arty. The quality of the establishments varies, so the operative words here are "locally authentic experience." Just wander, you'll find something.

The charming Barri Gotic area is a maze of winding alleys. Photos by Glenn MacDonald, furia.com

all about the weather

Spend some time walking the city, and you will find pockets of great cafes and restaurants situated along the major avenues. Tapas are everywhere, but probably the best spot is Quimet & Quimet, a large casual tapas bar located in Poble Sec. Like many tapas bars, Quimet & Quimet is open late, (serving until midnight) and is a great place to refuel before a big night on the town. Across town, Santa Maria takes the tapas concept upscale and is always packed. The chefs here are trained by famed Spanish food guru Adrian Ferra, which means that the cuisine will surprise you. "That's tapas?" is often heard at some point during the evening, so just make sure you're in on the joke.

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