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Hi All,

As you might have heard on the podcast.

Yes I'm getting married soon (April 17)
And I will be taking a little break to travel to Europe for my honeymoon.

I need suggestions for places to eat or visit while in Barcelona and Rome, since this will be my first time in both places.

Please note: I will NOT be renting a car so all travel will be by metro/taxi

Thanks,
David

Rome will be easy without a car.

I would definitely recommend the Borghese gallery. You need to book in advance, but it's well worth it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galleria_Borghese

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If you are in Rome for 3 days or more I would also recommend a Roma Pass. It gives you 3 days of public transport within the city, plus free access to the first 2 places you visit that are covered and discounts on others. It's worth working out what a couple of the more expensive sites are to visit and making them your first two to use the card. I think we started with the Coliseum, but a good guide book will give you an indication of prices.

http://www.romapass.it/

We also used the Rick Steves travel book, which had a lot of good tips.

I'm not a Barcelona expert but have been a few times, the Metro system is good so no problems getting around. Get a hotel either near the centre or by the beach. I stay at the Arts http://www.hotelartsbarcelona.com/ but there are reasonable hotels to suit all budgets.

I can't recommend places to eat as I have probably never eaten twice in the same place but I've never had a problem.

All the usual sights as listed, I like the run up the funicular to the Olympic park, try and find where the F1 circuit was and take the cable car over to the harbour.

http://www.justspain.org/spain/barcelona...culars.asp

For Barcelona, try tapas vascas in the restaurant Txapella, it is in Passeig de Gracia, the main avenue that leads to the main square (Plaza de Catalunya).
This restaurant is specialized in Tapas in basque style. For regular spanish tapas, there are plenty of restaurants, specially if you go down through the Rambla (main touristic street), then take any street to left side, when going downhill. There you find good tapas restaurants. Don't eat in any restaurant in Rambla itself. They are mainly tourist traps.
In Barcelona I advice you to take the city tour bus, and spend a good time to see the unfinished church Sagrada Familia and other architectural works by Gaudi.
If you get tired of Barcelona and you have time, try to visit Sitges (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g18750....Info.html ). It is 35km away from Barcelona and you can get there by train, from the Barcelona Sants station.
For Rome, try to eat in simple restaurants. They usually have the best food. Order pasta and table wine, of course. When asked, say you love Ferrari so the doors will open for you :-)
Make sure you visit the Vatican and Colosseum (besides above mentioned suggestions, of course).
If you get tired of Rome (that is difficult), try to visit Tivoli and Villa Adriana (google it for more info). You can also get there by train.
Pay attention that Rome is bigger than Barcelona and you'll probably need to walk more as well, so reserve more time for Rome.
Be careful with your wallet, backpack and camera. There are lots of pickpockets in both cities.

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Completely forgot to mention that you should also try to eat Paella when you'll be in Barcelona.
The most famous one is the restaurant Can Majo'. I tried it once and it was very good.
I also had some good ones in the restaurants located in the Olympic Port (http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/e...-port.html ).
They have different kinds of Paella, so don't be shy to ask the waiter to explain the difference among different types of Paella.
Enjoy it with sangria or wine.
The price of a paella in a good restaurant is a bit expensive, so I advice you to take your future wife for a special dinner in Barcelona and have a Paella. If she likes sea food, she'll love it.

In Rome:

- Alfredo alla Scrofa for a bit or Douglas Fairbanks/Mary Pickford honeymoon romanticism. Fettucine al triplo burro are a most (but notice that burro in italian means butter and you know what triplo means )

- Sabatini in Transtere was excelente 10 years ago, I don't know about today - since it's in Santa Maria in Trastevere at least the setting is nice, particularly at night (apparently it is still good http://www.travbuddy.com/Ristorante-Saba...e-v192786)

As for the usual places, Coliseum and Forum are of course a must as well as the Panteon (perhaps specially the Panteon).
Give a cursory glance at the Vatican and forget the 16 chappel - too many people, too much time wasted in line. Make sure you visit the Catacombs. I can't remember which one I visited but it's the thing that stuck most in my mind from my roman visit.

If you have the time to travel outside Rome, consider a day trip to Tivoli or a day trip to Pompey & Herculaneum.

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and of course you need to waddle barefoot in Fontana di Trevi, drop three coins in the water and remember Frank.

If you get tired of Barcelona and you have time, try to visit Sitges

Now we're talking motor racing histoire.

David, please check out the Montjuich Park also, more motorsports from days gone by. Adios, amigo.

A friend of mine went for a ‘romantic meal’ at the Quatre Gats joint not too long ago. It’s quite a historical place where Picasso once frequented. It is well known and popular, so you would have to book. The table for 2’s are on the balcony that overlooks the main dining hall. It has live piano etc. However I have been led to believe that the food, to some, is rather mediocre and so is the service. I’ve never been myself but it’s often mentioned to me.

I personally like the PLA because it has simply great service, quality and atmosphere. It’s not cheap, but then again not much of Barcelona is! When you arrive, the owner ( presume) usually sits with you at the table and explains the menu. It’s a very welcoming environment, and what makes the scenario complete is the simply amazing cheese board, which you have to try if you like cheese!

I recommend Casa Calvet in Barca for excellent food (well, it was about 4 years ago) in a Gaudi-designed building. Fine for lunch, when the prices are less monstrous for those of us paying in sterling...

http://www.casacalvet.es/

Also, you must visit Parc Guell while you're there, if you develop a taste for Gaudi:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_G%C3%BCell

Completely wacky

I've never understood it.

I've always wanted to go inside the Cathedral of Santa Eulalia, but never managed it.

+ Sagrada Família

Thanks all.

As luck would have it we are just going to miss "The Week of Culture" in Rome. This 1 week out of the year all museums are free of charge. We actually arrive on the last day it's valid. So looks like we are going to do the Roman Pass. (Thanks Chemics)

You're going to be too busy bumping to eat or learn.

bumping? is that a reference to the maniacal roman motorists?

Ha, I am sure that will happen plenty as well.

When in Rome...do as many Romans as possible.

Thanks all for the suggestions.

Now I have one.

Take it easy on Clark since he will be editing the show while I'm out.
So Good luck to him.

So we'll have 20 minutes of intro music then.

Bizet.

Followed by Saint-Saens, and then the f'ing Marseillaise.