and it was fantastic.

Old forts and castles renovated as hotels, with much of the old flavor kept.

One resource would be: http://www.paradorsofspain.com/

Not much about Barcelona there, but maybe with some more searching...

8 years and only went to Madrid and Pamplona when I took a trip there.

fountains on every corner, or so it seemed.

Flew to Madrid, stayed a couple of days rented a car and headed south-- Toledo, Seville, Ronda and Marbella. Never got to Barcelona or Gibraltar. Might have gotten to Cadiz.

One of the best vacations.

Dinner in Ronda; drove through Seville. YEARS before, visited Toledo (when family toured several countries and stayed in Madrid a few days.)

having a terrible drought, so the food wasn't that great.

LONG time ago, a detour for family (of 4, including 3 year old!) around France. (NOW you've got me thinking!!!)

For our honeymoon, my wife and I flew from NYC to Barcelona where we rented a car. We drove to Arles in the south of France and spent a week exploring the Mediterranean coast. Then we drove back to Barcelona.

We rented a one-bedroom apartment in the and we were tremendously comfortable with laundry available. The flat was very affordable with a full kitchen and we spent 5 or 6 days exploring this wonderful city.

Here's where we stayed:

Apartaments Sant Jordi Comtal 33, +34 932 08 2111

When we were there, it was remarkably inexpensive and we found it on Expedia.

A word of advice: Pickpockets are all over the city. Beware and keep your wallet and documents inside your clothing or safe in other ways.

Hope you have a great trip!

The hotel was on La Rambla but I'm drawing a blank on the name. It might have been Hotel Arc La Rambla.

Lots of stuff around the hotel, but we also walked over 10 miles a day exploring the city and seeing different things.

We looked at sites for "Barcelona Neighborhoods" like this one to decide where to stay:
https://theculturetrip.com/europe/spain/articles/the-trendiest-neighborhoods-in-barcelona/]

Bring up maps of the neighborhoods and see what is near what you want to see and then look for a hotel in the area you want to stay in.

We loved Barcelona. Funny that we did the same thing but in reverse. Spent some time im Paris, then took the train to Barcelona and came back home from there.

Hope you have a great time.

Because I am so old, this might very well be my last trip to Europe. I'm starting in Barcelona cuz I never got there back when I traveled to Europe every year for art. I'm pretty old now, altho I feel OK. But you never know...

Thank you. I value your opinion highly!