Barcelona. Home to Gaudi, Miro, Picasso, where Mies van der Roh introduced the Barcelona chair, an amazing visual and historic mix and simply the most astonishing city you can imagine.

Port Olimpico, where we are currently snuggly tucked (in the background above and the lead photo), is surrounded by restaurants, and night clubs.

There is an open 60 base here for the Barcelona World Race non-stop singlehanded, and all manner of mega and minor yachts.

We have a ring side seat to fireworks, launched a few hundred meters away.

What is so interesting is the recent (in historical terms) rejuvenation of Barcelona. It is the manufacturing heart of Spain, and while the rest of the country stayed with the agricultural/colonial economic model Barcelona embraced the industrial age. By the 1850s the city fathers had the wealth to embark on an unparalleled visual uprgrade.

Antonin Gaudi took over the design of the new cathedral, Sagrada Familia, in 1883, and spent the next fourteen years living on the sight, dreaming, designing, arguing, cajoling.

One hundred and twenty five years later his vision is nearing completion. There are no words to describe the design, detail, and execution. You simply stand in awe.

Absorbing this creation into your psyche could be a life altering event.

In the next couple of weeks we’ll put up a high res slide show Barcelona and Sagrada Familia.

Barcelona is a city of amazing contrasts. From the street performers on Las Ramblas,

to the most avante garde design cheek by jowl with traditional, Barcelona is a visual treat.

The Palau de la Musica Catalana will take your breath away inside and out.

There is traditional entertainment everywhere you look.

And modern ( the traditional has bigger crowds).

Even the microwave/cell towers are sculptured.

Cathedral spires dot the skyline.

And there are a proliferation of coffee shops (and not a few Starbucks) at which you can conveniently quench your thirst while discussing the events of the day.

The Boqueria is a traditional stall market on a grand scale where virtually anything you might want to imbibe, and a few things you might not want, are available.

Barcelona  is home to what some say is the best chocolate on the planet, essential faire for long  night watches.

The Romans were here early and left their indelible mark, these columns being in the foyer of a modern building owned by an alpine club,  on the sight of the original 1st Century BC temple site.

For us, it is this contrast in styles which is so attractive. From Roman ruins, to gothic, 20th century modernists like van der Rohe, and of course Gaudi, every street is an amazing sight.

We’ll leave you with a few more images to wet your appetite to visit.