We all know that magical transition of having your head above water, then moving it a few inches so it is in an entirely different underwater world. Travel can be like that. Take one world: walking down the Rambla in Barcelona with throngs of tourists. Take another world: a neighborhood in Barcelona just a few blocks from the Rambla rarely visited by tourists, but still with enough hidden cultural gems to make exploration more than worthwhile. I often find that the most memorable travel memories occur when exploring areas not overwhelmed by tourists.
