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Barcelona Barcelona offers a unique opportunity for the tourist on foot to walk from Roman remains to the medieval city, and then to the modern city with its open thoroughfares and grid-iron street pattern. The historic city center is fairly flat, while the modern city fans out towards the surrounding hills, bordered by steep streets that are vaguely reminiscent of those found in San Francisco.
La Rambla near the waterfrontA notable feature is La Rambla, a boulevard that runs from the city centre to the waterfront, thronged with crowds until late at night and lined by florists, bird sellers in the higher part, craft sellers in the lowest, street entertainers, cafeterias and restaurants. Walking along La Rambla one can see the world-famous opera house El Liceu, the food market of La Boqueria and the Plaça Reial (literally Royal Square), with its arches and palm trees, amongst other interesting buildings. There's also a Wax Museum near the end. It is also worth keeping an eye out for pickpockets, for whom the boulevard is a favourite haunt. |  |
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Madrid Madrid is also noted for its nightlife and discotheques. Younger madrileños sometimes dance all night, stop off for chocolate y churros at dawn, go home, shower, shave, and go to work. Also popular is the practice of meeting in parks or streets with friends and drinking together (called 'botellón', from 'botella', bottle), but from a few years back drinking in the street is sanctioned with a fine and now young madrileños drink together all around the city instead of in some well known places. Many places show bands (concerts in Madrid). Nightlife and young cultural awakening flourished after the death of Franco, especially during the 80s while Madrid's mayor Enrique Tierno Galván was in office, called la movida and initially focussed on the Plaza del Dos de Mayo (Malasaña area). |  |
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Marbella Marbella is an important beach resort of the Costa del Sol. The town is famous for being a favourite destination for wealthy tourists from Northern Europe. The area around Marbella is particularly popular with those who like Golf.
It is easy to reach other places, like Malaga and Algeciras, by bus. The area is also served by the A7 autovia, and the closest airport is at Malaga. |  |
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Puerto Del Carmen Puerto del Carmen is the main tourist resort on the island of Lanzarote, Canary Islands. It is part of the municipality of Tías. Puerto del Carmen has about 7 km of tourist attractions, three beaches and has hotels for up to 30,000 guests. It attracts tourists from all over Europe, particularly Ireland, the United Kingdom and Germany as well as from Scandinavia and Spain. The downtown area is fabulous with shops along its main street Avenida de las Playas, beaches, hotels, apartments, restaurants, boutiques, supermarkets and nightlife. The apartments and hotels aligns within 1 km of the coastline. The docks includes Puerto Tinosa. |  |
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Torremolinos Most visitors are here for the beaches, not the mudéjar architecture. There are two: El Bajondillo (also known as Playa de Bajondill) and La Carihuela, the latter bordering the old fishing village that is now engulfed in development. The bad news is that the sands aren't golden but a gritty gray.
These beaches are packed in July and August, when you'll find yourself lying next to a dishwasher from Hamburg, a shoe salesman from Leicester, and a janitor in an office building in Stockholm. Let the rich and famous enjoy Marbella. Torremolinos is blue collar -- and proud of it. |  |
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Valencia The largest square is the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, which contains the town hall (ayuntamiento), a cinema which shows classic movies (Filmoteca), and many restaurants and bars. This is where the noisy fireworks of the mascletà can be heard every afternoon during the Fallas.
The Plaza de la Virgen contains the Basilica of the Virgin and the Turia fountain, and is a popular spot for locals and tourists. Around the corner is the Plaza de la Reina, with the Cathedral, orange trees, and many bars and restaurants. |  |
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