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Assuming you arrive in the evening, your best bet is to head into the Barri del Carme/Barrio del Carmen in the heart of the Old City for some eating, drinking and partying. There's plenty to suit all tastes from the wackiest to the most refined and the neighbour- hood has a great late-night buzz. A good starting point to suit everyone is the traditional Bar Pilar, where you can tuck into fantastic mussels as the waiters weave expertly around you. From here, you can bar hop as late as you like, or simply spend an hour or two people watching at a pretty café-terrace like the Sant Jaume. The following morning, enjoy a leisurely breakfast at one of the tiled counters in the gorgeous Modernista market. Don't miss the fish section with its pretty cupola and resplendent heaps of glistening seafood. Then visit the beautiful Gothic Llotja, conveniently situated right opposite the market and follow up all that culture with an hour or two in the funky shops of the nearby Carme neighbourhood. Head towards the cathedral and climb the Micalet/Miguelete tower for spell-binding views and enjoy a lazy lunch nearby (a good choice might be Casa Mario). In the afternoon, stroll down the gardens of the Riu Túria (or take a bus) and hit the spectacular Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències. This stunning, futuristic new building complex was designed by Santiago Calatrava and contains a brilliant, high-tech science museum and fabulous aquarium, the Oceanogràfic. Head down to the port area for an hour or two on the beach and finish up with a long, lazy dinner at one of the great seafood restaurants like Hemingway's former haunt La Pepica overlooking the beach.
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