Hi Gregg,
thanks for message. in fact yes...i've got lots of ideas and lots of time since i'm working in the emergency department and there are no patients right now. I suggest you take a look at my favourite low-cost companies based in barcelona:
www.vueling.com
www.clickair.com
they are flying to many other spanish cities at, sometimes, ridicolous prices; as well as to other destinations in Europe and North Africa - specially clickair.
www.alsa.es
this is the most important bus company in spain. it will take you wherever you want within spain.
www.renfe.es
this is the national railway company.
if still you don't have ideas 'bout where to go. i would recommend you my favourite places of course:
Girona - by train 1 hour away from barcelona
Sitges - by train 30 min away from barcelona
Granada - by plane 1 hour
Menorca - by plane 30 min
Madrid - by plane 45 min + toledo (30 min by train from madrid) + segovia (45 min from madrid by train).
You could consider a trip to portugal. its a relatively small country with friendly people and nice weather. and to get to there you've got good connections with spain. there are many cities to explore and enjoy .... lisbon, porto, sintra, évora and coimbra are my favourites ones.
another option is to take one of those cheap flights departing from barcelona. paris and stockholm are amongst my favourite places in the world. you may want to flight to prague and travel then down to nearby vienna, bratislava and budapest. or alternatively to amsterdam to later go to nearby belgian cities of brugge, antwerp and gent...
man i'm writting too much already, i will freak you out... if you've got any other question let me know.. i will be please to answer.
toni tobarra
barcelona