Barcelona

Barcelona is a very colourful city. The architecture is almost entirely interesting, there are heaps of people, quite a few beggars, lots of redeemably-talented buskers, and open air pet shops in the public squares sell turtles, chinchillas, ferrets, and baby squirrels (!)

After a late start, we went to the Museu d'Historia de la Ciutat to bone up on the origins of the city. Was originally a Roman colony named "Barcino", and there are excellent excavations under the museum showing the original streets, and Roman shops such as laundries, fish factories and wine-makers. There was also an interesting temporary exhibition on the new-wave modern architects who tried to reshape urban development in the 30s, but who were disrupted (and often arrested) by the fascists post-36.

Visited the ruins of nearby Roman walls (these originally circled the old city, but are now eitehr demolished or built over) and the Eglesia de Santa Maria del Pi with the world's reputedly largest rose window (stained glass, that is). We weren't able to find the remains of the old synagogue (if it exists), but we also stumbled into the Ajuntament (Town Hall) which was displaying a collection of parade floats - including another Tarasque monster!

SQUIRREL WATCH: You can buy them here!