10 Things to Do In Barcelona

See the Sagrada Familia. Marvel at its intricate, strange spires and sculptures, as well as how unfinished it still is after over 100 years. Antonio Guadi's passion, and the handiwork of the many artists and architects who are working on it since his death, the basilica is like no church I've ever seen. Take the elevator up into the spire and view the fruit topped spires, the square headed sculptures on the facades, intricate surfaces everywhere.

Go to the drag show at the Hotel Axel. I only understood one third of it, and laughed until I couldn't breath. Of course, I was one of the stars of the show.

Eat dinner at Flauta. One of the best meals I've ever had. Order the Jambon Iberico, the bacalao, the tenderloin, the ham and cheese sandwich with dates; avoid the fried egg on the french fries.

Make your way to Montjuic, the site of many of the 1992 Olympic events as well as a host of museums and to die for views of the city and water. Stop in to the Joan Miro museum. Check out the Palau Nacional for the organ in the grand hall, the view from the stairs, and the cafe. Eat lunch there; have the botifarra. Really.

Take the cable car up to the Castell de Montjuic. The ride is horrifying but the view, glorious.

Walk around L'Eixample. Look up at the gorgeous facades, which look like wallpaper. Listen to the Catalan, Spanish, English, Italian. Window shop. Breathe in the city.

Visit Gaudi's other treasures: Casa Batllo'. La Pedrera. Don't skip the roofs. Some of his finest and oddest work is on to be found on the top of his buildings.

Go to the Boqueria. You'll never be able to look at the Safeway produce section again.

Watch the Castellers build human towers. Men stand in a scrum, while others climb on top of them, and still others on top, until a small child (8ish?) climbs to the very top, waves, then slides down the backs of the others. You have to see it. A Catalan tradition. Like cheerleaders gone wild.

Appreciate the uniqueness of the Catalan culture and its place in Spain and Europe. Franco tried, as so many other despots did, to supress it, to no avail. Why do they try? Barcelona is a modern city, which appreciates its history, revels in its place as the center of architectural innovation, (although one has to wonder about Torre Agbar )and is plain fun.

To see my photos, visit Picasa.