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As a landscape architect, it is the public spaces of Barcelona that I consider the heart and soul of the city. While there are many things to love about Barcelona, things that you can find in any guidebook or travel blog, there are subtle, nuanced bits of magic crammed into the nooks and crannies of Barcelona that simply must be experienced in person to be fully appreciated. These things exist primarily in the city's many open spaces. Virtually the entire history of Barcelona can be experienced on foot.

Every chapter in Barcelona's history is somehow reflected in the landscape. Walking along Las Ramblas, it is possible to see the works of Gaudi and the breathtaking waterfront redesign created for the 1992 Olympics. Remnants of Roman walls carve out their niche of history alongside Gothic cathedrals and art nouveau details, all seamlessly contributing to a city that overwhelms the senses with design and beauty.

The largest metropolitan park in the world, Parc de Collserola, is 22 times the size of Central Park and is the only park on earth where it is possible to encounter medieval ruins, Romanesque churches, amusement parks, and works by famous modern architects while strolling. At Tibidabo, the park's highest point, a Parc d'Atracciones offers antique rides from the 1920s contrasted by modern roller coasters. Nearby, the 288 meter high Torre de Collserola -designed by British architect Norman Foster- provides Barcelona's most impressive view.

While Barcelona appears tailor-made for tourism, the social makeup of public spaces indicates the city actually caters to its own. Public art and performance by locals peppers every step, and Catalonians coexist with foreigners in every public venue. Sidewalk cafes lining the streets create a gentle cacophony of world languages, as guests from every corner of the world convene to enjoy the mild Mediterranean climate and cuisine. Public holidays in Barcelona are marked by the closure of most retail outlets and a migration of the city's population to parks and plazas. During holidays and festivals, the open spaces of the city bring her inhabitants together.

Anyone who has every been to Barcelona recalls their time there with their eyes starry and out-of-focus, their voices soft and dreamy. For me, this dreaminess stems from a city whose culture is preserved in public spaces, like insects in amber. Catalan culture is a vibrant and beating thing, best represented in the open air, beneath the sky. Old and young, ancient and modern, all coincide in Barcelona's landscape, its gift to the modern world.

Floridita, Hemingway's favourite bar in Havana, immortalised in the above line from his novel Islands in the Stream, became the inspiration for another bar nearly a world away - Boadas in Barcelona.

A 1930's atmosphere greets you as you walk in the door of this tiny bar tucked away in La Rambla in Barcelona. It's smoky, it's noisy. And it's entirely authentic. You would only be mildly surprised to bump into Hemingway at the bar. Surprise, surprise - he drank here.

Opened in 1933 by Miguel Boadas, this cocktail bar (cited by many specialised guide books as one of the finest cocktail bars anywhere in the world) remains exactly as it was in the year it was opened. Fitted out in brass and wood, with a curved bar counter and photographs and drawings covering the walls, you can immediately feel that this is the real thing.

Miguel Boadas was born in Havana in 1895 and by 1910 was head barman at the Floridita. He left Cuba to marry in the land of his ancestors, Spain, and after working in different bars, opened his own one at no. 1 Carrer de Tallers, on the corner of La Rambla.

73 years later Boadas is an "institution with cocktail drinkers the world over and the City of Barcelona alike. However, when it was opened , critics (and there were many) gave it a definite thumbs down. "People complained that it was too small, you couldn't sit down, and it was too modern,', says Dolores Boadas (current owner and Miguel's daughter). What's more, only three years after the original opening, the Spanish Civil War broke out! But even these turbulent times couldn't stop Boadas from opening its doors and serving cocktails and today, 73 years later, the bar has been awarded the Traditional City Establishment Award, granted by the Barcelona City Council to only 12 businesses with a long pedigree.

My discovery of Boadas was accidental. Having just celebrated a birthday in Barcelona, and in that birthday-high mood, the kind where you want to squeeze every last drop out of the day - and night - we stumbled upon this gem. Boadas is a bar for the locals and in spite of being just off of La Rambla, doesn't go out of its way to attract tourists.

The cocktail Gods must have known that our little party of two had a celebration going on as miraculously two seats became vacant right at the bar (and in a bar not more than a few square metres big, with standing room mainly, this truly was nothing short of a miracle). Seated in front of three barmen in full tuxedo and one sporting very snappy glasses, we had front row seats to some of the best entertainment in the city.

Ingredients mixed in cocktail pitchers shiny enough to reflect back at you, quick stirs where you are left in no doubt that it is all in the wrist, a julep strainer on top and with long arching motions the contents are poured into a pint glass held a metre or so below. This is done four times, then the drink is strained into your glass. Snazzy…

Not one menu makes itself known in Boadas. The barmen are passionate about cocktails, and Maruendo, Dolores' husband, admits to owning over 600 cocktail books from around the world. It's all in the head (although on a tiny board a cocktail of the day is written in block letters). The birthday boy has an idea in his head. He wants a cocktail that is creamy "with a different taste". I wonder secretly to myself what exactly that is and settle back to enjoy my Margarita. Some concessions should be allowed on birthdays. Within minutes the barman is serving the creamy birthday cocktail with a different taste. It's a frothy mixture with crushed ice and a hint of cinnamon and after one sip, I'm a convert. The barmen invent cocktails along with making the traditional well-known ones, and I'm sure the birthday cocktail has just been born. Another six follow between the two of us after the first one. I'm sure I feel Hemingway nod his approval.

Extremely well-priced at approximately 6 euros a drink, Boadas really is a must-do anytime you find yourself in Barcelona. You'll find yourself in the company of famous 20th century artists; Dali, Picasso, Garcia Márquez - who all had a seat on one of the six chairs at the bar (and stood far more than they sat) and who often left a momento on the walls of one of their favourite watering holes.

Ending the birthday close to 2 in the morning the following day, the birthday boy looks at me and says, "That was grand. We"ll be back'. I'm now certain Hemingway's nodding…

If you plan to take the cruise that leaves from Galveston, Texas on April 27th and departs for 13 nights to Barcelona, Spain then take this to heart. When you get to Barcelona, don't just get on the plane and head home. Please don't leave this beautiful city without visiting some of the sights such as the Sagrada Familia, the quirky buildings in Park Guell and the site of the Olympics game.

Being in Barcelona for three days last December, I can tell you that the city has a lot to offer. Don't plan to see it all in less than two days because you won't enjoy it. Staying three days was not enough but we managed to get around the city and take in most of the sights. The best way to see Barcelona is by bus. I recommend the Bus Turista, a double decker bus that circles the city, covering all points of interest including the Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Casa Mila (or La Pedrera), Casa Battlo, the Olympics site, Montjuic and the Gothic Quarter. Along the route, the bus passes by the University, Barcelona Cathedral and La Ramblas. You can get on and off at any Bus Turista stop with a valid ticket. Tickets may be purchased on board or in advance from tour companies such as the tour company that we are affiliated with.

The bus circles the entire (red) route in an hour but will take longer during busier traffic hours. On the first time around, we decided to stay on board and take in the audio program. When the bus circled around, we decided to get off at the Sagrada Familia for a closer look. Inside, Gaudi wanted the church to resemble a forest of trees, reaching towards the heavens. He was a genius, creating plaster models and leaving drawings behind for today's builders to finish his work. It truly looks like a forest inside, with the columns made out of different materials. A lift is available to take you high into one of the pinnacles, which has been dedicated to one of twelve apostles. The view from up top is spectacular.

The other architectural wonders of Gaudi are equally impressive. The man was certainly ahead of his time when he had designed La Pedrera, Casa Battlo and Park Guell. Be sure to give yourself ample time to visit each of his work which can be found throughout Barcelona.

Malaysia

Like other parts of the world, Malaysia too, celebrates the New Year's Day with great excitement and joyful. Malaysians prefer to celebrate New Year's Eve with much merry-making at public squares like Dataran Merdeka, hotels and restaurants. Though Malaysia is a multi-racial country with races includes Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sikhs, Eurasians, Portuguese, indigenous people and other minority races, we are here celebrated the New Year's celebration in harmonious and tranquility, regardless of religions, customs, languages and races. This unity spirit marks the strong unity among the citizens of Malaysians without bios and racism, which highlights the beauty of Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malaysians gather one hour earlier at the Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur. Dataran Merdeka is just like the Times Square of New York. Almost all the restaurants and shops have their premises decorated with colorful bulbs, balloons and steamers. The Malaysian flag or “Jalur Gemilang” and the state's flags are swinging gracefully on top of the premises. People prefer to come out in the streets and stay until daybreak to cheer for the arrival of New Year rather than sit in front of the television, as they want to capture the full excitement moment in the mood of New Year's celebration. People will gather at stadiums, coffee shops, café, restaurants, KLCC, Genting Highlands and all parts of states in Malaysia shouting Happy New Year or “Selamat Tahun Baru” to each other when the clock strikes 12 at midnight.

The unique of Malaysians here are unity and family oriented. A day before the New Year in Malaysia, all family members from far of places return to their hometowns for the reunion dinners. We are proud to be Malaysians!

China

In the early morning on January 1, 2008, the Beijing Tiananmen held a grand flag-raising ceremony.

Flag-raising ceremony in China

People from all parts of China gathered here to watch the ceremony while greeting the arrival of 2008.

A child was sitting on the adult's shoulder while watching the flag-raising ceremony.

Japan

Every year on 1 January, Japanese celebrate their New Year or also known as Oshiogatsu or shogatsu. In general, the New Year in Japan commences on 31 December and lasts until 3 January. On every 31 December at the midnight, Buddhist temples ring their bells for 108 times on the last night of the passing year all over Japan. This event is also another major attraction called The Watched night bell held every year in Tokyo during the New Year's Day. The night bell is stricken 108 times symbolizes the 108 human sins in Buddhist belief and get rid of the 108 worldly desires regarding sense and feeling in every Japanese nation. Japanese believe that the tolling of the bells can get rid off their sins of the previous year.

Dezomenshiki in Japan

In Tokyo, the capital of Japan, people bid farewell to the past year and welcome the New Year by undertaking some activities such as Dezomeshiki (New Year's parade of firefighters. Traditional acrobatic stunts are performed by the firefighters of Tokyo in the parade during the New Year's Day in Tokyo) and Special Opening of the Imperial Palace Grounds.

Tokyo, Japan

Japanese eat Herring roe or fish egg (symbolizing fertility), black beans (symbolizing health), dried chestnuts (symbolizing success) and prawns as omens (symbolizing happiness) on the mood of celebrating the arrival of New Year. They also have their traditional mouthwatering delicacies called mochi or white rice cake breakfast called zouni.

Before the New Year's day, they sent cards to their relatives and friends but the postmen will keep them and only deliver the New Year's greeting cards or nengajo at one time on 1 January. All Japanese put on beautiful and finely knitted Japanese traditional costumes to greet their guests. Females will wear Kimono or Yugata on this day.

Japanese children play karuta or a card game, some play hanetsuki or a badminton type of game, and some have takoage or kite flying during New Year's Day. Parents give their children money or otoshidama on New Year's Day. In Japan, Japanese will do hatsu-mode by paying holly visits to Shinto temples and shrines to pray for a healthy and Happy New Year. They put decorations outside their house with pine and bamboo or Kado-matsu to celebrate New Year. They display a large steamed rice cake or Kagami-mochi in a place of importance in the house until 11 January.

South Korea

On 1 January, Korean people rush to sunrise sites in the eastern Gangwon Province and Southern city of Busan (the largest port city in the South Korea) to see the first sunrise of the New Year. Some gather at the east coast cities of Gangneung and Donghae to make wishes as the sun rose on the New Year. Korean Folk Village features at hosting some traditional games and events all over the Korea on New Year's Day. The festival mood of New Year's Eve Celebration includes a series of Korean cultural performances in central Seoul.

Watching sunrise in South Korea

Seoul, South Korea

On New Year's Eve, more than 150-thousand Korean people gather in Jongno district to witness the striking of an old temple bell at the Bosingak (Bonshingak, made in 1468,is the largest pavilion among the Korea's national treasures) pavilion. The bell rings 33 times to greet the coming of New Year. As the festive mood in Korea mounted, Korean people attend a variety of ceremonies and events, including parades, fireworks and traditional cultural performances till the end of the New Year's Day on 1 January every year.

United States of America

One of the unique and unusual New Year's celebrations in United States is the Mummer's Parade (This custom is brought to Philadephia by European settlers and dates back to medieval England, where troupes of costumed performers went house from house presenting a folk drama or Mummer's play at Christmas time. “Mummer” in German refers to a mask. The earliest known Mummer's club was formed in the 1840s and the first official "Mummer's Parade" was held in Philadelphia in 1901) held in Philadelphia on 1 January every year. This parade features at elaborating costumes with ornate costumes that rival those in Mardi Gras parades, comedy and string bands of accordions, saxes, drums, violins, banjos, bass fiddles, glockenspiels, and clarinets. A slide show of the parade is available from Mummer's museum while its photographs are available from Mummer's Picture Gallery.

New York Times Square, U.S.A

The New Year's celebration at Time Square, New York was the ball drop, and its streaming video clips are available at EarthCam.com. The first Ball lowering celebration held on headquarters in Times Square, New York on December 31, 1907 and has proceeded for the past 100 years.

The Waterford Ball is a geodesic sphere with six feet in diameter, and weighing approximately 1,070 pounds. During the New Year at Time Square, New York every year, people there lower the ball. There are 504 Waterford crystal triangles engraved with the names of those lost in the World Trade Center on the ball, with the decoration of 696 multicolored light bulbs, 96 high-density strobe lights and 90 rotating pyramid mirrors.

In celebrating the arrival of 2008, the Bow Tie of Time Square (42nd to 47th Sts. between Broadway and 7th Ave.) was unavailable to traffic. After lighting the New Year's Eve ball, city officials and guests at the Countdown Stage in the center of Times Square will ring a commemorative bell. By pushing the Waterford crystal button, it marked the final sixty-second countdown prior to the Ball Lowering. The numerals of the New Year “2008” shone high above Times Square, with the light bulbs on the New Year's Eve Ball turned off. A two-minute pyrotechnic display illuminated and glistered with the bursts of custom-mixed colors in the sky above One Times Square accompanying with special effects of computer. The release of the world-famous New Year's Eve confetti from the rooftops of buildings throughout Times Square marking the start of New Year and the people cheered happily and contentedly in the mood of New Year's celebration.

United Kingdom, U.K.

New Year in Britain is a time to drink, eat and dance either at homes or with friends in a club or pub when clock strikes 12 at midnight. Different countries and cities in Britain have their own unique ways to welcome the New Year but the spirit to celebrate the New Year in each person's heart is the same all over the Britain.

The other main feature of New Year in Britain is the tradition custom of “First Footers”, which believes that the first person over the threshold on the New Year's Day will dictate the luck to bring to the particular house on 1 January. Scotland and Northern Ireland had followed this tradition with the first footers bringing in a piece of coal, bread and whisky while crossing the threshold.

London, England

Chinese New Year's Day Parade, London

London's New Year's Day Parade, also known as Hogmanay is famous all over the world. Over thousands of people, more than 10,000 musicians, dancers, clowns and acrobats gather and feast at Trafalgar Square while waiting eagerly for the arrival of New Year. London is by far the best city to be on the New Year's Eve for some of its excellent bars and clubs. Last but not the least, is the traditional dragon dancing, music and entertainment at London's Chinatown.

Scotland

People celebrate Hogmanay (Hogmanay's culture roots back to the pagan practice of sun and fire worship in the deep mid-winter. This fire symbolizes how the light of the knowledge to be handed over from one year to the next, which carries forward the light of hope to a better world) or Scottish New Year on 31 December every year. It has become a great festive season at the large city of Glasgow and Edinburgh. To view “1000 pipers” gathered at Edinburg castle and piping their way down to Holyrood palace, go to Homnanay.com and click some of the video clips.

Fireworks display, Hogmanay's Street Party, Dornoch, Scotland

When the bells of Big Ben chimed at the midnight, everyone sang Auld Lang Syne with lots of kisses. The words to this song are as follows:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o'kindness yet
For auld lang syne!

Scotland “Firstfooting,” (Each year, groups of friends or families do a tour to each others' houses and each family takes turn to provide the meal for the group) and Ceilidhs (Scottish dances) took place in the most remote parts of Scotland. The children in Scotland went from house to house collecting oatcakes. Grand parties were held everywhere at this night, and people celebrated the arrival of New Year with Scottish dances or Ceilidhs.

Spain

Eating 12 grapes is a custom that makes New Year celebrations in Spain unique and New Year in Spain is worth visiting for his nightlife. The night view during the New Year's celebration is amazing, so make sure to be a part of the New Year in Madrid. Spanish people keep 12 grapes ready at the beginning of the New Year and eat one with each chime of the clock symbolizing the 12 months of the year. The grape eating custom dates back to the King of Spain, who gave grapes to everybody to eat on the New Year's Eve with jest and enthusiasm.

As soon as the clock strikes 12, people gather at the Puerta del Sol Square in Madrid cheered happily for the entry of the New Year. New Year in Spain indeed enchants the visitors with the atmosphere dipped in true festive mood, atmosphere and decorations all over the Spain.

In Barcelona, people also participate in 12 grapes eating tradition when clock strikes at 12 midnight. People here are having party, dance, music, drinking and feasting with great enjoyment, enlightening the New Year's atmosphere. Visitors may come to experience countless surprises while having rock band performances to salsa, and from ballroom dance to gourmet delights. Another feature of New Year celebrations include the arrival of Magos who distribute candies and lollipops to all in The Procession of the Three Kings, bottle rockets and other aerial fireworks are being shot off all over the city particularly in Barcelona, furnishing Spain with an aura of jollity and festive atmosphere.

Spanish people celebrated the arrival of the New Year or Año nuevo

A buffoon shakes his hands during a New Year's celebration in Spain's Madrid on December 31, 2007

Germany

In German language, “Silvester” refers to New Year's Eve as the name suggests that a pope who lived in the fourth century has his feast day of Saint Sylvester on 31 December. People here celebrate New Year by dancing, singing, drinking and getting merry. Many Germans prefer playing games to foretell the future of the arrival of the New Year. Dropping molten lead into cold water is one of the famous games that predicting the future according to the shapes it takes in the cold water. Some prefer to share this special moment with their friends and loved ones.

When the clock strikes at 12 midnight, Germans hug and wish each other Happy New Year. To celebrate New Year's Eve, Germans usually splash a bottle of fine champagne, burn eye-catching fireworks and party hard.

Germany Brandenburg Gate

In Frankfurt, a city rich in culture and tradition, the sky is dazzling with brilliant firework display. On the New Year's Eve, in almost all the pubs and clubs in Frankfurt, one cannot stop from munching the delicious almond cookies called Brenten, Bethmännchen and drinks like Kinderpunch and Apfelwein. On every 1 January, the traditional New Year's concert is held annually at Alte Oper with performances include Maurice Ravel's Alborada del Cracioso, Klavierkonzert G-Dur, Boris Blacher's Orchestervariationen über ein Thema von Paganini and Mazeppa. Meanwhile in Hamburg, as soon as the clock strikes 12 at midnight, the church bells toll and ships sound their horns, which marks the merriment of the New Year. New Year is a gala event where dance, party and usher in the New Year bidding adieu to the old in the stylist city of Germany has become an important festival in Hamburg, Germany.

France

The French celebrate New Year on 1 January by exchanging gifts, cards and goodies as if Americans celebrate Christmas. Initially, people celebrated the New Year's Day known as “La Saint Sylyestre” in France since 1582.

Paris, France

During the French New Year's Eve, people celebrate with grand pomp and show. Various cultural programs too, take place during the New Year's Day. French make every moment approaching New Year by partying hard with family and dear ones, and bid a joyful farewell to the past year while welcoming the New Year with sparkling success, glorious and excitement. The New Year's holidays in France ends on 6 January with a tradition of cutting cake and types of cakes are in varieties depends on the place where you are in France.

Australia

During New Year in Australia, the Sydney Harbor Bridge is dazzling with more than 80,000 fireworks lit at the Circular Quay in vicinity to the Sydney Opera House. During the New Year's Eve, from a 16km radius around Sydney, one can see the fireworks sparkling with glorious, joyful, and more than 300,000 tourists from all over the world who want to capture the glimpse of the famous fireworks set their legs in Sydney. Everyone set eyes on the clock waiting eagerly for the arrival of the New Year.

Sydney, Australia

Australians prefer to go on picnics, outing and camping on beaches as ways to bid farewell to the past year and at the same time welcoming the arrival of the New Year. Meanwhile, people enjoy themselves by having New Year Party, camping and enjoying bonfires in Sydney. As soon as the clock strikes at sharp 12 at midnight, they ring the Church bells with excitement. People there make loud noises, blow car horns, whistles and shouting Happy New Year to each other. The spirit to celebrate the New Year is the same no matter whether they are at the seaside, in a dance club, at home, in the shopping complex, in a hotel and any other places all over the Australia.

In celebrating the arrival of 2008, people have party along with their beloved family, relatives and friends in Melbourne accompanying with the hottest rock bands performing on Melbourne beaches. For the community of Chinese-Australia, spectacular Great Dragon appears in the streets of Melbourne, marking the arrival of the New Year.

Good-bye 2007, welcome 2008!

For example, I have located a super vacation destination which I had little idea existed. It is demonstrative of the new trend in vacation destinations which are rapidly overtaking time share resorts as the inexpensive getaway resorts. In fact, these new resorts offer amenities every member of your family will find attractive. These resorts are so up and coming many travel industry pros feel they are ready to compete with major hotel chains for reservations of future guests.

These new resorts are actually campgrounds but not the traditional type so you can forget the tent. These are luxury camping resorts which feature all the comforts of home so there is no roughing it. In fact, with these trendy new sites there is little need for anything except perhaps your swim suits. Many of these are even located in exotic destinations such as this one near Barcelona Spain.

Paramount Places has created an ultimate family holiday package which every member of your family will enjoy. What is more important is the community style living arrangements in mobile home units which sleep six comfortably. Plus, this particular location offers perfect summertime weather practically all year round.

Conveniently located near Barcelona Spain, this adventure also features the opportunity and potential for experiential learning as well as fun and leisure. Other amenities include a gymnasium, sauna, and fitness programs such as aqua aerobics, aerobics classes daily, an indoor swimming pool, two full size outdoor swimming pools and volley ball courts, tennis, etc. There is also a Championship 18 hole golf course nearby, a Hacienda style restaurant overlooking the pool area. There is nightly entertainment both young and old will enjoy.

Finally, there is a botanical garden and a mini petting zoo for the kids. Plus a full market for shopping so you can stock your self catering unit. But, not to worry, your short or long term rental will be completely stocked with all the necessities including appliances, pots and pans, and linens.

So there is no reason for you to stay home during the holidays whether it is in season or out you can hop on over to fun at Paramount Places to book your reservations. And don't forget to bring your camera. You will want to remember this trip forever. Explore Barcelona Spain while you are there, it is a lovely historic learning experience you are certain to enjoy.