You may have already been, but a quick trip to Girona is fantastic. It’s old Catalan at it’s best! It’s a short train ride from Barcelona. It’s a university town to the north of Barcelona on a beautiful river. It’s in some way’s a trip back in time. It has a vibrant life with the students and professors on the Rambalas enjoying academic life and it give you a view into student life and the interaction of professors and students. The river is lined with earth tone building and is picture perfect. Many hotels in the business section on the weekend have shuttered windows that swing open to the street (although it is winter in February). The winding streets are great to get lost in without the craziness of Barcelona. If you have the time stay a night and eat at the fine restaurants or go to a student hangout and be a fly on the wall. Visit the university, churches and great shops on Saturday as the shops are closed on Sunday for the most part.