And, even if you don't get a chance to see a match at Camp Nou, it's well worth visiting the stadium and touring the Museu FC Barcelona (Aristides Maillol 7/9, 902/1899 00, metro: Collblanc) which has a huge array of trophies, photographs and audio-visual displays of the century-old club. Learn FC Barcelona's slogans--"Mes que un club" ("More than a club") and "Visca el Barca!" ("Go Barca!") and you'll make new Catalan futbol buddies in no time.

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Overland Park, Kans.: I would like to take my daughter to Barcelona at the end of September for a week. She is a chef in NYC with an impressive resume and can be a bit of a food snob. Who am I kidding? She comes home to Kansas, and I get sick thinking about eating out with her, she is so critical. I'm not a foodie, but would like to take her to a few really special places in Barcelona. I got the idea of taking her when I saw the market in Las Ramblas. I would rather it not be the most well-known, expensive places she has probably heard of, but rather hidden gems. Any ideas? Thank you.

AnneLise Sorensen: Dear foodie's mom,

Barcelona is brimming with culinary surprises--and one of the choicest spots for market-fresh Catalan cuisine is, in fact, the very market you mention on Las Ramblas--the pungent, cacophonous La Boqueria. Tucked away in the market are a variety of small, lively tapas bars, where you can pull up a stool and dive into tasty Catalan fare that's been whisked right over from the nearby market stalls. For further details, check out my article "Browsing La Boqueria."

As for restaurants, if you're up for a splurge, try Abac (Rec 79-89, in the Born-Ribera neighborhood), where chef Xavier Pellicer serves up inventive takes on traditional Catalan favorites. Buen provecho!

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Stuart, Fla.: Anybody can shop at Armani and Chanel. We will be in Barcelona from the 1st through the 5th of July and want to visit truly Spanish designers. Any ideas? We prefer clothing of high quality, taste and sophistication. We have discovered new designers in Milan and Florence but this is our first venture in Spain. Thank you for your help.

--Sarah

AnneLise Sorensen: Sarah, you're absolutely right: you can find Armani and Chanel everywhere--including in Barcelona--but when in Spain, why not go Spanish? Head to Passeig de Gracia and the Eixample, the stylish street and shopping neighborhood that unfolds north of Placa Catalunya. Here you'll find all the fashion heavy-hitters, plus a variety of Spanish designers, including the high-end Adolfo Dominguez (two locations: Pg de Gracia 35 and Av Diagonal 570). Designer Toni Miro has a sleek store named Groc (two locations: Muntaner 382 and Rambla de Catalunya 100) which showcases modern threads for men, women and children. David Valls (C Valencia 235) also features a number of up-and-coming Spanish designers. Another area you might want to explore is the Gracia neighborhood, sprinkled with unique boutiques, many of which have clothing, shoes and accessories by Spanish and Catalan designers. And--a reminder that the funky, rubber-soled Camper shoes are Spanish (in fact, Mallorcan) so if you're fan, this is the place to buy 'em! Have fun shopping in Barcelona.

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Princeton, N.J.: I am going to Barcelona in October...how many days do I need in the city to get the most from the trip i.e.: flavor of the culture, good sampling of the museums, historical sites, restaurants, night life, sports, etc? I enjoy walking and getting to know the locals and am fluent in Spanish.