Just found this thread from the discuss.tennis days... I was about to open a new thread but checked out first for existing ones. Not surprisingly, Billie had created this one, and others already contributed, like the fantastic pics
@Moxie posted.
I won't (at least for now) post any pictures, just share some thoughts regarding the days I spent in Barcelona (first time) and Lisbon (third time).
Barcelona is indeed a wonderful city to visit. A bit of everything with the historical (ancient, medieval and contemporary) buildings, good museums, a beautiful sea side, nice food and, in general, polite and warm people. Not exactly cheap but you still spend less than in Italy, France or the UK I guess (as a tourist, even if I am a quite experienced traveler). You can use the public transport easily to move around and enjoy the city's many options. The
Museum of Catalan Art is fantastic in my opinion.
Obviously, there are the Gaudi works, which are spread on the city and curious to say the least. I confess that I am not a fan -- I used this trip also to give it a fair chance, but the fans would surely love it, as they can enter places like "La Pedrera" and "Casa Batlló" quite easily. On the "La Sagrada Familia" the interior is interesting (nice work with the stained glass lighting effects), but quite different from what one expects from the outside. Going up the towers is not exactly worth it, you have very short time up there, not a particularly good view of either the building or the city, and you spend much much more time on the long way back through the stairway (you go up by elevator). So, if you are merely sight seeing, I suggest you save your money and just walk around it, not even buying the tickets to go inside the church. if you have interest in Gaudi, then go in but think twice before going up the towers (and spending more money).
By the way, the Barcelona Card is good deal for tourists.
I particularly ate much better in small restaurants inside the town, than in the "La Barceloneta" shore restaurants, but it could be a coincidence. Anyway walking around there is a very pleasing experience.
A lot more options, Santa Maria del Mar and the Picasso Museum, which are close to each other, are places I would happily go back, by the way going to the roof of Santa Maria del Mar is very very interesting, so there is where I suggest one should go to see the city from a good spot (or in the roof of the Barcelona Cathedral). In both places you have time and a lot of details to learn.
Much more to do around there and this is no way a comprehensive list, just notes from memory. Oh, and I watched a Paco de Lucia tribute by some fantastic musicians and dancers at the Palau de Musica Catalana that was surely one of a kind... the "guitarra flamenca" sound (as I was quite aware previously) is simply fantastic. You wonder how many hands these people have....
Ok, I leave Portugal and its many many wonders for other posts....