Destination: Barcelona

Backed by green heights and fronting on a curving bay, Barcelona is one of the great cities of the Mediterranean. It's been around a long time; the central Gothic Quarter; was once defined by Roman walls. But it's never been more vital than it is today.

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, the part of northeast Spain adjacent to the French Riviera which has its own language (Catalan) and in many ways considers itself a separate country. Its traditions in trade and finance go back many centuries (the Bank of Barcelona, founded in 1401, is the oldest public bank in Europe!). Barcelona was home to prosperous industrialists and cutting-edge art by the turn of the 20th Century. But ironically, its current position as a hip, innovating center of culture, technology, and style in many ways dates from a time of hardship -- the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s, when Barcelona was a haven for supporters of the Spanish Republican (anti-Fascist) movement.

The depression brought on by the Civil War caused many Spaniards to emigrate to this relatively prosperous area. Despite oppression by Spain's long-lived dictator Francisco Franco, this burgeoning population sparked the creative energies of the city. It has had a tremendous flowering in the post-Franco era, hosted the 1992 Olympics, and is now one of Europe's favorite travel destinations, brimming with culture, World Heritage sites, sophistication and personality.

We'll be seeing much of Barcelona's best practically at our doorstep. The regal Majestic Hotel is in a hub of museums, shopping, and the amazing cluster of buildings and parks designed by Antoni Gaudi, the architectural genius who put his imaginative stamp on late 19th-early 20th century Barcelona. Many of the World Heritage sites are his works, and we'll have a day tour to enjoy their fantastic complexity and beauty. We'll also have a day to devote to optional tours and/or exploration on our own: the Gothic Quarter, the Picasso Museum, GoCar touring and a catamaran sail in Barcelona's splendid bay are among the possibilities. In the balmy evenings, we visit selected restaurants for our introduction to the delicious variety of Spain's modern cuisine.