#FlyWashington Magazine Summer 2019 | Page 47

Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art Credit: Rafael Vargas Fonda España Credit: Jorge Franganillo around the city on three separate lines. Just be sure to make one of your tram rides to La Barceloneta, where the city’s long sandy beach awaits, but be careful, the Mediterranean Sea here is often cold, even in the summer. After a dip in the water, stretch out on a beach chair or towel and soak up the sun, or rent an umbrella to find shade. For more sweat than tan, join a game of beach volleyball. Later, hop off the bus at Barcelona Shopping Line, one of Europe’s largest retail areas. The miles of boulevard completely devoted to retail therapy are made all the more elegant by the buildings themselves, many of which are architectural gems. Other good shopping areas are in Old Town and El Born Barrio, wonderful places to wander and GETTING THERE: window shop. To up the hip in your wardrobe game, aim for shops like Pinza’t, Lydia Delgado, Boo, Trait Store, and Coquette. The art extends from the boutique display windows to the art galleries, too. Barcelona is home to many world-class museums. Among the city’s best are the Picasso Museum, Joan Miró Foundation, and European Museum of Modern Art. To explore the history of the city’s sea-bound history, head for the Maritime Museum. No matter which of Barcelona’s diverse and exciting elements strike your fancy, by the time you depart this incredible city, you’re likely to be plotting a way to return — and perhaps never leave. F LY TO B ARCELONA -E L P RAT J OSEP T ARRADELLAS A IRPORT (BCN) FROM W ASHINGTON D ULLES I NTERNATIONAL A IRPORT (IAD) NONSTOP ON U NITED A IRLINES . SUMMER 2019 45 FLYWASHINGTON.COM