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Glamorous and sexy, Barcelona is the cover girl of Spain. Since
Barcelona hosted the 1992 Olympics, the city has undergone an extensive
makeover. From the Olympic Village to the futuristic World Trade Center,
Barcelona has been injected with a wealth of confidence that suffuses the
entire city. The major pedestrian thoroughfare, Las Ramblas, is thronged
with people, offering an eyeful of elaborate street theater, musicians,
and vendors selling their handmade wares. There is great shopping to
be found in the Barri Gotic or Gothic Quarter, however, just meandering
the narrow corridors is a pleasure in and of itself. One can still
feel the pulse of the Old World in the cobblestone streets. However, with
the architecture of Gaudi, the sculptures of Frank Gehry and the
Picasso Museum, Barcelona is as rich in Modernism as it is in history.
The playful genius of Gaudi is evident throughout Barcelona - most
notably at Parc Guell and La Sagrada Familia. His fanciful architecture
captivates the eye and the imagination. The rippled facade of Las Pedreras
is a good place to start a Gaudi tour - the rooftop sculptures are
majestic and amazing. A few blocks away is La Casa Batllo, done in
hallucinogenic color, design, and texture. Parc Guell is where Gaudi turned
his hand to landscape design. The entire park is given over to Gaudi's
particular brand of genius and the result is something from a page out
of Hansel and Gretel. At La Sagrada Familia, don't miss the walk up
the spiral staircase to the roof. The views from the windows offer
amazing close-ups of the intricately decorated towers.
Barcelona is also home to the Picasso Museum and houses the most
important collection of Picasso's work. Residing in a medieval mansion, the
museum focuses on Picasso's Barcelona period from 1895-1904. One
interesting room is devoted to Picasso's fascinating interpretation of
Velazquez's masterpiece, Las Meninas. In addition to the Picasso Museum,
the Fundacio Joan Miro also offers a superb collection of modern art.
Barcelona is a prosperous, alluring, and stylish city. Simply enjoying
a cafe con leche or a cerveza on the Plaza del Sol, a prime people
watching spot, is an enjoyable way to pass the afternoon. Dotting the
city are a number of tapas spots offering tasty little bites to curb the
hunger. And Barcelona lives up to her reputation of having some of the
most fabulous nightlife in Europe. People continue to pack the clubs
well past 5 in the morning. The energy buzzes throughout Barcelona - in
the numerous bars and cafes, in the far out architecture, and the
constant stream of people enjoying this beautiful city.
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