By dumb luck, I ended up staying in Bourne, which turned out to be my favorite neighborhood in all of Barcelona. Like
Barrio Gotico, the neighborhood consists entirely of winding little alleys and walkways, with plazas interspersed with plenty of outdoor cafes. But unlike Barrio Gotico, El Borne is not completely over run by tourists - though it's an easy walk to both
La Rambla and the
Barclelona Beaches. It's also a bit more residential, with plenty of locals hanging out smoking cigarettes.
