Barcelona

We loved the old buildings, passageways, and "La Rambla" that is a giant street/square with kiosks for vendors.  There are an amazing assortments of restaurants, representing so many cuisines.  We loved the Tapas, the ability to eat and share small plates, which we did quite often.  The metro and bus services are fantastic and we had no trouble getting around once we loaded new SIM cards into our phones.  It is a priority to get to a new area, get a SIM.  You never know how much you rely on technology until it doesn't work:)  Vodafone for the win this time.

The cabs in both Paris and Barcelona were professional, clean and courteous.  Such a change from NYC and Denver.  These are professionals with pride in their cars, their service and their capabilities. I just can't say enough.  Maybe it is the steep competition from great public transit systems.  But I digress.

We did another bus tour, buying a two day pass, and while stepson was in his Magic the Gathering, we were touring the city.  We recommend the hop on hop off Turista, they were very easy to find, clearly marked and hit all the highlights.  We also bought the museum pass, but we're keeping it for our next visit, as the National Museum was free on the day we went.

This was a weekend getaway and we all slept in one big studio with a private bath and kitchenette.  I cooked dinner at home most nights, and we ate breakfast at home as well.

Finally, stepson was done and we were able to show him more of the city than the inside of an exhibition hall!  We took him to Sagrada Familia and up to Park Guell.  Lovely Gaudi everywhere and a fantastic outdoor experience, plus those harbor views from the mountains above Barcelona.   Just gorgeous.