barcelona beat

On a recent visit to Barcelona, I did not sightsee; no Gaudí tours (although I did have a nice view of La Sagrada Familia from my sleek room at Casa Fuster), no crowds, no pressure to run around. I’d already done the city; this was strictly a catch-up weekend with KB, my dear UCSB college amiga who lives there with her family. I did however make time to stroll KB’s charming Gràcia neighborhood and its adjacent shopping streets (don't miss the casual-chic tote bags at Paulina Barcelona). At Jaime Beriestain Studio you can shop for everything from flowers to fabrics, and dine from morning until dawn in their café-home boutique-nightclub (I loved their black and cobalt blue enamel dishes). Oh, and I did manage to sight see - because hiking Montserrat was too spectacular to pass on - especially dinner in the 16th century horse stables! It’s hard to beat a long weekend in Barcelona. ¡Viva España!