Go early as the queues get in to Gaudi's Casa Mila, La Pedrera in Barcelona are very long. It is worth while going around the open apartments. They have been preserved in a time bubble from the 1920s. The roof is amazing.

Barcelona's shopping street Las Ramblas

Las Ramblas is Barcelona's most famous street, a boulevard lined with trees, which is almost 1mile long and is full of hotels, cafes, restaurants, banks, news stands, lottery ticket booths, shoe shiners, bars and street performers. You will find it on the map running from the harbour, down to the square called Placa Catalunya. In medieval times this street was a gully that ran parallel to the old city walls, and carried rainwater down to the sea. Arabic word 'ramla' means gully or riverbed. A relaxed stroll from the statue of Columbus to the Placa Catalunya will take you about 20-25 minutes Las Ramblas has a wide pedestrian walkway that is always packed, and narrow single lanes of traffic on either side.

Las Ramblas can be split into different sections each with its own name and characteristics. At the seafront is La Rambla de Mar where you can find the beach, an aquarium, restaurants, movie theatres, popular nightclubs, the maritime museum in the old royal shipyard buildings and a statue of Christopher Columbus pointing out to sea. In one part known as the Rambla de Santa Monica, you will find street artists drawing and performing. The next section is known as Rambla del Centre followed by Rambla de les Flors home of flower sellers stands. This is also where you find the century-old Boqueria Market.

Inside this market you can find the freshest produce, meat, fish, and dried fruits. The next section is called La Rambla dels Ocells (avenue of the birds), because of its many places selling birds and small animals. Lastly is the section called La Rambla de Canaletes which was named after the fountain Font de les Canaletes. Legends says that whoever drinks from this fountain will forever keep returning to Barcelona. The whole street is never h dull. It is crowded at all times of the day.

Make a point of finding a cafe with seating outside. Sit down with a cold drink and watch the world go by. Please be aware of pickpockets and bag thief's. In any large city in Europe there are always thieves about. Barcelona is no exception. Always put your bag strap around your leg and do not leave phones, wallets, purses or cameras on cafe tables. Distraction thieves will come up to you to ask a question and the next thing you know your property has gone.

There are a number of interesting buildings along las Ramblas. One of the strangest is the Bruno Quadros House or the Umbrellas' house. The owner made his fortune selling umbrellas. Look at the building facade and you will see he has used them to decorate the building. If you are traveling with children get them to look for the Chinese dragon in the corner. The building called the Teatro Principal is the oldest in the street dating from the 16th Century. It was the main theater. It is not a theatre any more but have a look at the collection of busts depicting actors of long gone eras attached to the outside of the building.

WARNING - There are hustlers running 'tricks' where you will have to guess where the ball ends up underneath some cups or find the card. A member of the crowd will always guess correctly and win some money. They are hustlers as well, friends of the man doing the trick. This is the con. It makes members of the crowd think they can win as well. As soon as they start to play having put their money down on the table the hustler uses slight of hand to make sure they do not win.

Look out for eastern European women suddenly picking up what looks like a gold wedding ring near your feet. They will ask if it is yours in good English and then ask if you want to buy it from them for 20 euros as they do not want it. If it was real gold that would be a bargain but as it is a polished 30cent bit of plumbing copper pipe you will get ripped off. Notice these women have already spotted that you are tourists and what language you speak.

Be very careful if an eastern European woman asks you for directions on a map. Whilst you are speaking to her your bag is being opened by her friends who are now behind you and steal items from your bag. Street Performers moving statues - This is not a con but understand that you are expected to pay at least 1 euro to the street performers dressed as living statues if you take their photograph

Mercat Boqueria - La Boqueria market - Las Ramblas

La Boqueria Market is located in the middle of Las Ramblas. It is an upbeat and colourful place. It is full of hams and salamis, fresh fish, cooked shrimp, chocolate covered cherries, fruit and vegetables. Some of the produce is so fresh, it is still alive. If you have not eaten there are a lot of food stalls that seemed to offer really fresh cooked food at reasonable prices. The market is in a big hall, and is open from Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 8 pm. It was built between 1836 and 1840, and has an ornate sign over the entrance way.

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