Barcelona is a city of funny looking buildings.

Like other really beautiful cities, you can get a sense of it by simply getting lost and wandering around, staring atthings. Gaudi, the famous architect, made so many interesting and uniquely goofy buildings that are placed all around Barcelona that it is hard not to run into them, stop, take a picture and mutter, "Who gets away with sea foam green and gold on the same window frame?"

If this is a positive sensation for you, then a must-see is Parc Guell - this park has a tropical feel and is full of some of Gaudi's masterpieces, including one of his lizards. You'll also hear music from the sidewalk performers and find a lovely terrace to sip sangria in the main courtyard.

For a "Barcelona feel" try La Rambla; it is the most famous street in the city, and thus is full of both souvenir shops (yay!) and terraces (outdoor cafes). For a little bit more authenticity, go a couple streets over in any direction - you may find yourself in a handmade ceramics store, or in a locally-run paella joint that charges less and tastes better then the on-avenue bistros.

At the statue of Columbus, La Rambla turns into La Rambla del Mar, a beautiful boardwalk along a bay next to Barcelona. Consider buying your meal to-go (in Spanish, "para llevar") and sitting out on one of the benches or just dangling your feet off the edge. The boardwalk ends at Maremagnum, the mall of the Old Port, and is next to a large open green space, a small amusement park, a cinema and an aquarium. Old Port could occupy an afternoon all by itself, and has lovely views.

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