European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 18, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A amps photos by Jim Derheim perhaps Barcelona s most famous a and bizarre a sight the unfinished seeing double in the gothic Quarter a stroller and courtyard Are Sagrada Familia is selected in a Pool. Reflected in a Mirror erected in an archway near the  Vince Crawley staff writer forget the olympics. Visit Barcelona two weeks before or two weeks after. It s definitely a place for those who appreciate great cities with 2,000 years of landmarks and a population of 2 million people who Don t go to sleep until Long after Midnight. After watching a rerun of the summer Carnes on your Var you can leisurely visit the stadiums where the medals were won and mull Over the weird melting buildings of eccentric architects. Then after a late afternoon lunch you can nurse a Coffee or a Beer at one of the hundreds of outdoor cafes or navigate the twisting medieval streets where Christopher Columbus made his Homecoming in 1493 after completing that first controversial trip to the new world. Food is one of the main obsessions of Barcelona especially the less expensive but Quot Down Home Quot places that serve the local catalonian Chow a variation of Mediterranean fare featuring lots of seafood and vegetables. The Best seafood joints Are in a neighbourhood called Barceloneta Little Barcelon where dozens of outdoor restaurants line the Harbor front. They All have chalkboard menus vying for your attention and if you scout around you can get a two or three course meal with wine for under $15 each. But beware the meal hours differ from those in the states. Dinner does t begin until 9 . Or so. Lunche Barcelona a Lively slightly crazy and very appealing Are usually served from 2 to 4 . If your appetite is out of synch there Are plenty of snack bars pastry shops and outdoor cafes to tide you Over. The Public Beach lies on the tip of Barceloneta where the City s Sun worshippers congregate at midday. Barcelona s most famous sight is the Sagrada Familia or Church of the holy family a modernist Cathedral towering Over the Northern part of the City and designed by a perplexing Genius named Antonio saudi. Like the cathedrals of old it s been under construction for More than a Century and is far from being finished. Unlike the cathedrals of old it is a bizarre achievement with melting lines and soaring towers that resembles the Emerald City in the land of of. The other More traditional Cathedral is in the Center of the gothic Quarter. After pondering the dark somber Interior step out into the adjoining walled gardens. With marching geese exotic plants and bubbling pools it is one of the most restful retreats in this otherwise frantic City. Museums abound. The most famous is the Picaso museum on a narrow Street in the gothic Quarter featuring hundreds of works that the Spanish artist donated to his favorite City. Admission used to be free but they were charging $5 during a recent visit. Roman ruins Are the main attraction at the City history museum on nearby Plaza Del Rei. Medieval Barcelona was built Over the ruins of a roman settlement and these have been excavated in recent years. The Plaza is also the place where Ferdinand and Isabella welcomed Columbus Home. A statue of Columbus atop a 200-foot column looks out Over the Harbor and an elevator ride to the top is rumoured to offer a splendid View of the City. Closed for renovation it s scheduled to open again for the olympics. Owing to a quirk of geography the disputed discoverer of America is actually pointing East toward Italy. Locals joke that their town has its Back to the sea. Behind Columbus Are the City s enormous 14th-Century shipyards renovated and now housing a maritime museum. Mon Tjui a a Mountain marking the Southwest Corner of the City is Barcelona s playground and the main venue of the summer olympics. Along the slopes Are the olympic stadiums tree lined walkways and picnic spots and to amusement Park that opens on weekends. Also on the Mountainside is a Spanish Village called Pueblo is Parol that was built for the 1929 world s fair. The ersatz medieval town features examples of historic architect lure from All Over Spain. At the Summit of month Pic is a huge 1 dts Century fortress overlooking both the City and its Harbor. But the Best View is from Tib Idabo Hill at the opposite Corner of town offering a Fine Vantage Point during the evening when the Mediterranean Sun melts away replaced by lights of a City that does t go to sleep until Dawn