Barcelona

Every time I go I leave a bit of my heart in Barcelona and depart with the promise of returning sooner. There are world-class museums, resturants, and plenty of sites to see. But this author's craving for loud music, skantily-dressed beautiful people, and the Three D's (drinking, dancing, and debaucery) means that morning/early afternoon/early evening trips to the museum are always in jeopardy while in Barcelona.

Beaches

Barcelona borders the Mediterranian Sea and it's beaches are walking distance from downtown and accessible using public transportation. In the summer it gets very warm in Barcelona, so of course a great way to cool down is head to the beach. The beach typically has a great mix of locals and tourists, which is great for people-watching or making friends. There are plenty of places to rent things like paddle boats and lots of vendors eager to serve you a cold beer. Many people travel to Barcelona in search of love because the Catalan city's warm beach air is laced with sexual inuendo, and half-naked people roaming around downtown in the summer. Barcelona is listed first among the Top 10 Beach Cities in the world by National Geographic.

Fun and Night Life

The night life does not typically get started until midnight, with a lot of clubs only opening their doors then. For travelers eager to get the party started there are tapas bars everywhere (tapas bars are bars that serve only Spanish appetizers/snacks and drinks).

It's common to start a night out on the town with a late dinner at 10pm (late for Americans anyway) and make your way towards a discoteca (dance club) through a stroll down La Rambla is a famous street that cuts through the heart of Barcelona and is packed with vendors, supremely talented street artists, and ends at the beach. So take your time strolling to the discoteca, because I often found myself waiting outside of a club I planned on going to because I was too early. Yes, I felt like a loser. What's worse is I thought I was fashionably late. Tourist fail.

Many of the world's best DJs come to spin in the city, and lots of them are blasting American music. Once you get in a club be prepared to be there for a while because most clubs in Barcelona don't close until 5 or 6 in the morning. That's a good thing if you're not crazy about Euro-pop, not such a good thing if you're looking for an authentic Spanish experience. 

The Sights

Gaudi's Parc Guell - A wonderful park with huge modernist stone structures, outrageously detailed tiling and fascinating buildings. This Catalan Modernist park has fairly easy trails that lead to stunning views of the city. Lots of hidden beauty in this place.

Picasso Museum - What's so special about this museum ,dedicated to one of the most recognized names in art throughout mankind's history, is this this museum doesn't show his most famous painting, but instead it shows his early years.

It's fascinating to see and learn about young Pablo during his childhood, how he struggled with rigid art education and was bursting at the seems with what would become some of the most sought-after works of art ever.

The city offers so much more: an aquarium and zoo, lots of historical architecture, and some of the best shopping all of Europe has to offer. It's fondly referred to as the Spanish New York (by Americans, of course).

Love

The warm Spanish sun  and cool Mederterrainian breeze leave your senses in a frenzy and entice you to be with someone to share the moment with. Barcelona's charm is having so many wonderful things to do with someone else (possibly on a date?), all in a city where you could also simply go to the beach all day and do nothing. Each day can be an adventure shared with someone you love or in pursuit of finding someone to connect with.

In the summer sunset seems to last forever in Spain, and with the rose red sky comes an overwhelming sense of romance and love.

Other cities have beaches, some have the cultural sights, and others have great dining and shopping. Rarely will you find such a robustful combination of those qualities in one place. But I'm biased, because Barcelona stole my heart a long time ago.