Tracking Woody Allen in Barcelona and Paris

Barcelona was the backdrop for one of director Woody Allen's most successful movies, the 2008 release, Vicky Cristina Barcelona. I was a little disappointed the city didn't get a more prominent role in the movie, but still, it was in the title and there were a few glimpses of Barcelona's beauty. Now, the Barcelona-based owner of a company that has produced three Allen films wants to create a space that will tell Allen's story and those of his films. Read more about it here.

When we stayed at this apartment at the quiet far end of Passeig de Gracia, we were just a few steps from another place with Woody connections, the opulent Hotel Casa Fuster, where the director, also an ardent clarinetist, played with a jazz group in the evenings when he was in town to direct the film. This is a very pretty and calm area - not at all like the rest of the boulevard where streaming traffic competes with swarms of tourists buzzing in and out of restaurants and swanky shops.

Looking toward Casa Fuster from the median of Passeig de Gracia.

Casa Fuster was built in 1908 as a private residence for one of the city's wealthiest families, and was designed by the renowned Catalan architect Lluis Domenech i Montaner, a Gaudi contemporary who also designed the flamboyant Art Nouveau Palau de la Musica Catalana and the Hospital de Sant Pau, both now UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The proposed museum would be situated in a very different part of Barcelona, smack in the middle of the Barri Gotic on Placa de la Veronica, in a building that looks more suited to Rome. But there's some nice open space in the generally cramped part of the city, and it's a comfortable stroll from two Metro stations.

We've sort of crossed paths with Woody Allen in Paris as well. We were there just a little while after he finished filming Midnight in Paris, and while walking back to our apartment in the 5th arrondissement noticed this photo pasted in the window of the restaurant Polidor on Rue Monsieur le Prince.

The restaurant Polidor posted this photo signed by Woody Allen in its window.

The restaurant was the setting for a scene in the movie and I read later that Allen dined at this traditional - some would say old-fashioned - place several times. There are no reservations and credit cards aren't accepted, but I imagine they accommodated the famous American director.

This two-bedroom apartment is close by and makes a great base for a family or couples traveling together. From here, it's a short walk to the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens, the Pantheon, and the popular Saint-Germain-des-Pres area. Or, if you want to continue the Woody Allen experience, the steps of the Church of Saint-Etienne du Mont, where Gil, played by Owen Wilson, was picked up by an antique Peugeot to begin his nocturnal adventures, is just minutes away. The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations website has the full story of the movie's settings.

This 94 square meter, two-bedroom apartment has nice space for a family or traveling companions.

Place de la Sorbonne is just up the street.

So, while we haven't been stalking Woody Allen in Barcelona and Paris, we've managed to cross paths at least virtually, and it's been fun to also visit some of the filming sites.

To see more vacation rental apartments in Barcelona and Paris, visit www.likelivingthere.com for a sampler. Better yet, complete a Trip Plan on the site, or drop an email with your basic details (number traveling, dates, must-haves) to info@likelivingthere.com and we'll promptly reply with suggestions based on our experience in both cities.