I have been to Barcelona, but I do speak a little Spanish. I don't know what there is to see and do in Madrid, though, whereas there's lots in Barcelona, and I think it's easy enough to get by without Spanish.

I've only ever been in Madrid so I'm biased, but I loved it. One day in the Prado was nowhere near enough, and the hot drowsy afternoon siestas are ridiculously decadent, and it's a great place to have insomnia and not feel like it's making you suffer, because there are so many places open until long past midnight, big public squares with people milling around snacking and drinking and kids chasing each other and musicians noodling around and endless peoplewatching.

But Barcelona probably has all that too, just minus the Prado but plus Gaudí.

So, uh... that. I am now officially done being not helpful.

I think you'll find more English speakers in Madrid. Or at least, there weren't very many in Barcelona.

My favorite museum in Madrid was actually not the Prado (...I OD'd on Virgin and Childs and medieval art. Which is not my thing) but the Thyssen-Bornemiza.

3 hours to clean my room, but I did all clothes put away, drawers ordered, bed changed, floor vacuumed, and half the surfaces decluttered. I have too much stuff and too much of it in my bedroom.

In Barcelona you get to see Antoni Gaudi architecture like the Sagrada Famíllia. And pretend you're a character in a Whit Stillman film.

Thanks, everyone. I'm tagging along with ND on the Nick Family Cruise this summer, which sails out of Barcelona (yay frequent flyer miles and being married to a guy who does shit like that!), but I will be flying in and out of Madrid and then taking a commuter hop down to Barcelona. I will have one night before the cruise and two nights after when I'll be on my own. Right now I'm leaning towards Barcelona (I've been reading a bunch of traveler reviews who say English isn't generally a problem in either city), but I'll bring a basic phrase book along regardless. Honestly the weather is what's tipping it now. End of July/early August is going to be hot and humid, and I think I'd rather do that with sea breezes.

(...I OD'd on Virgin and Childs and medieval art. Which is not my thing)

Whereas I could not possibly OD on either, not even if I tried. Possibly the most predictable statement I've ever made in a lifetime of predictable statements.

ION, I've been cleaning and cleaning and the difference is just barely discernible, if you squint. If I weren't soloing Matilda this weekend, I'd totally be soaking my head in gin right now.

I didn't have a problem in Barcelona 15 sob years ago. I loved it and found tons of people to talk to (I was travelling solo.) It's simply beautiful geographically.

My shoulder is cranky. I think it wasn't the swim, but the yardwork on top of it. It's happened before. Who knew raking and scooping could do that? Oh, and at one point when was reaching to scoop some stuff up, a muscle in my butt twanged and went useless and for the next several iterations, I had to keep that leg out straight behind me when I went to scoop and lift. I probably looked like I was doing some sort of bastardized ballet move. It went away. I don't like reminders my body is steadily falling apart.

I prefer Barcelona; Madrid is a new city that's a little like NY. Barcelona is close to the water and has the Ramblas and Gaudi. Maybe I'm biased because I was harassed in Madrid and didn't see the Prado. But in either city you just won't have language trouble -- English is the lingua franca of Europe, and for the rest, just brush up on your skills in international communication.