I will be leaving for Barcelona on Thursday and while I am very excited I also know very little about the the city. Any must see parties or places to be? Also I speak no Spanish, will that be an issue?

ankou-- have a lovely time in barthelona. A couple of recommendations: a day trip (or longer if you have time), to Sitges, a tiny town 40 minutes south of the city, easily accessible by train. Old and gorgeous. I was there last November and it was totally deserted (it's off season), but it's really so beautiful. Nightlife in Barcelona starts verry late: dinner at 9 or 10, bars midnight, 1 a.m., dance clubs don't really get going till 2 a.m. or later. And that's on weeknights! There's a concert venue called Nitsa that usually has pretty good parties (I ran into Larry Tee and W.I.T. there randomly - much fun.) Between the late hours and the mid-day napping, it's a wonder that anything gets done in Spain. (maybe that's why there's nothing on the scale of Big Ben, Eiffel Tower, or Empire State Bldg en espana! ) The Picasso museum is very nice. Sagrada Familia, the cathedral designed by Gaudi is fantastic (be sure to climb to the top), and Parque Guell, also designed by Gaudi, is a magnificent park that affords lovely views of the entire city. Let me know what else you might be intersted bar/club wise. I can make a few suggestions on the gay side of things.

Thank you, luv, very useful info...

and any gaybar/clubs suggestions...lay them on me!

...since I am very active at the motherboards lately.....a few tips to come to Barcelona.

- early feb (actually today) 16 degres at the beach (celsius...ups).
- no crime.....but everybody very opinionated.
- maybe a little bit too trendy lately....but still bohemian
- lots of attention ...comming from NYC.
- the "forum of the cultures" is taking place this year....like bush...no conference for you.
- no cabaret law......nightclubs schedules....drug control....
- we love to smoke everywhere...including....airports..public library...banks......anywhere public.
- lots of NON-PRODUCTIVE PEOPLE....love that one.
- another grammy to the food!
- OK.....I will leave it there.

I LOVED Barcelona and would go back in a minute. Even though we were there for a week it seemed much too short, (due, in part, to the constant lingering hangover, followed by the constant partying, followed by...). Yes, the nightlife was a treat. After Bloomberged NYC, to smoke, drink and dance all night (and legally) felt like Nirvana. Speaking of dance, one thing I did notice, Catalonians seem to favor the white frat boy two step, I kept turning to my companion and saying "These guys can't be gay and/or Latin, they don't know how to dance" As far as fashion, they proved themselves to be true homosexuals, even the straight boys wore tight hip hugging rock star jeans with no underwear...such a pleasure after all this generic baggy hip hop crap that passes for style here. Another interesting fashion trend I noticed was the preponderance of mullet-like haircuts, interesting. The city itself was stunning, we stayed at the ultra trendy "straight friendly" Hotel Axel, which I would highly recommend, the ambiance, food and staff were great. All in all, a great time was had.

..ankou, a pleasure to know that from anybody that comes to BCN. you stood at the axel hotel.....yes is the latest homosexual super trendy hotel, extremely famous in the homo-BCN. After been in NYC for that long (about 6 years) I am back to my roots. Very much changed since I left....but what a pleasure to live in a city where things are still kind of permitted, even it is also getting a bit more ruled controled by the administration......we still can smoke anywhere....party until early in the morning...etc etc.....hope NYC gets more the way it used to be...otherwise will keep going down to hell, until will be no attractive for anybody to be.