Raincity's international man of Drupal should be rolling in jetlagged and brimming with anecdotes from a exhausting and exhilarating trip to China ... whoa and right on cue, here he is, Robert Scales ... still on China time and with a bulging in-box to sort out and an empty stomach.

I'll surely get the full recap on the podcast recorder but, suffice to say, Scales was in China with Kris Krug of Bryght (and noted Vancouver fashion photographer) to promote Raincity and BC business in general at GDC Shanghai, confer on best practices at China Access and to catalyze Bar Camp "un"conferences in Beijing and Shanghai.

Between all the business appointments and conferences, he and KK also managed to see many sights, hear great jazz and snaps heaps of pics.

"Robert," I say, "No use getting used to the time zone since you leave to Barcelona on Friday."

Indeed, Scales, plus RCS developers Erik and Francis, are Mediterranean-bound for DrupalCon and a newly-added component - DrupalShow. Drupal's roots are in Europe and the Con will be a gathering of heavy lifters in the developer community.

Additionally, with the interest growing in Drupal, a free-to-register Show (geared towards newbies and burgeoning Drupalists) augments this year's schedule.

While there is little I can add to that conversation from a technical standpoint, I have been to Barcelona and can offer a few tidbits of tourist advice.

Stuff to See:

Picasso's museum - a wide-ranging collection from youth paintings to pottery to blue period classics by the local boy made good housed in a classic manor house

Antonin Gaudi's architecture - especially Parc Guell and Sagrada Familia - this master is less known in the west but will blow your mind with melting buildings and a bewildering rethinking of space and material

Las Ramblas - this is *the* main strolling drag of the city, put on big sunglasses and stop a dozen times for a glass of wine here, tapas there, rent a chair to gaze a little while, take your time - every one else is ...

Make sure to:

Eat lots of Gelato - better for ya then ice cream so eat more! a variety of flavors makes hard to choose especially when each is laden with fresh fruit

Tip the posers - along Las Ramblas you'll see are elaborately-costumed street performers striking poses for tips - throw in your coin and get a brief performance and a chance for a photo

Mmmm serano ham - it seems in every cafe you'll see ham aging, tied from ceilings - this marbled meat is served impossibly thin and tasty and makes a great picnic - This guy agrees

Tapas - the aforementioned ham along with hundreds of other small tasty snacks are the norm for eating - be sure to stop along the way for one or many of these small appetizer plates most are displayed in counter case for easy ordering

Boqueria Market - this meandering indoor market displays the finest the region has to offer from fresh seafood to whole piglets - load up with bread, cheese, meat, olives and Mediterranean fruit for movable feast

I haven't even mentioned the street musicians in cobbled courtyards, the happening late night vibe, the cable car over the harbour, the fabulous beaches, Columbus statue, clubs and pubs galore, huge steaming paella feasts ...

More Tourist Resources:

Tourcaster - Getting To Know Barcelona - Getting to Know Barcelona feed

National Geographic Walks of a Lifetime (.mp3)

"Take a ramble with Traveler on tree-lined Las Ramblas, a thoroughfare in Barcelona that actually incorporates five streets and comprises one of Europe's most electric pedestrian foot fairs. Some say it's the most famous street in Spain. For our money, it's one of the world's greatest promenades--with no intersections and no motor vehicles. Our walk can take you several hours--or all day--depending on how much you decide to sample the city's world-class art, street performers, and tapas bars. And if you venture the route at night, well, you'll probably see the sunrise before you get home."

Rick Steves' Travel in Europe podcast on Spanish travel and culture

You probably already know that the flamenco, Sunday evening bullfights, tapas, and sangria are some of the flavors of Spain. Now, as part of the European Union, Spain is a re-energized democracy that might also provide us examples for coping with the threats of terrorism.

Also, we'll learn how the Spanish tradition of taking a midday nap - "the siesta" has been helping Spaniards beat stress for centuries...and how its days may be numbered in modern, urban culture. Julio Astor of the Spanish Tourism Board joins Rick to explain the role of "the siesta."

Thanks to my Mom on Flickr for Barcelona photos

Here's an interesting Barcelona tag on Flickr in case you want fancier photos