Barcelona

[Raymond Leach]

Instead of our usual one here, and the next there we spent 2 weeks in Barcelona. The city is one of beauty and contrasts. Great food in almost any direction, fine museums, and the architecture is sublime. The people themselves are among the friendliest I have ever met. My rule of thumb for travel is this: Walk away from the tourist hot spots and go to the neighborhoods for better priced, and great food. We loved the farmers markets and grocery stores to get food but the little markets don't over charge to much and are convenient. The mass transit is easy to use and if you have a laptop you get access to all the buss/metro stops so you can plan ahead. As far as the whole pick pocket that you here about you just have to use your common sense. Carry a photo copy of your passport, just what you need-don't carry all your cards, money that you own just in case. I had one time where someone clumsily tried to hustle through a metro gate to close to my wife and that was it. In the metro you can generally find a place to keep your butt against the wall but this is easily the safest city I have visited. Golden rule: One credit card, some cash but this safety thing you might hear about is way overblown. Great trip

[Raymond Leach]