Spain on my brain

We have talked about meeting somewhere in Europe since Marshall began his sojourn to the Middle East, and now it seems we may actually do it.  Spain is on my brain. 

Planning has begun.  First, Marshall will return to Miami as planned for a few days.  Then, we'll board the transatlantic BA flight to London together, and connect into BCN.  I've booked my roundtrip ticket courtesy of Marshall's Executive Club points. His ticket (and possibly Bri's) is still to be purchased, given the inflexibility of airline rules.  I've also reserved 11 nights in a cute little apartment on Passeig de Gracia in the Eixample bari, (the heart of the Gaudi district); and an economy car from National.  Now it's time to research the logistics. 

I am using the following resources to guide me:  New York Times.com suggests three days in BCN (Barcelona), plus 1-day trips each to Monsterrat, Girona, Tossa de Mar (Costa Brava) and Sitges/Tarragona.  Rick Steves suggests adding Figueres and Cadagues to see the Dali Museum and Dali's house.  I've yet to figure out if these are truly day-trip experiences, and we can easily return to our apartment in BCN to maximize our full-week rate, or whether to make arrangements to stay at local B&Bs.  And, while there is good public transportation to/from these areas, is it more economical to rent the car for these trips, yet worry about parking it in the city? 

Tripadvisor.com provided the vacation rental information, contrasted with barcelona30.com, which also had ample listings.  My primary criteria for choosing accommodations: air conditioning, followed by neighborhood, kitchen and laundry facilities, cleanliness and chicness and/or charm.  This after rejecting chicandbasic.com for it's inferior user experience, and nn-hotels.com despite its convenience and brand reputation.  CarRentals.com provided the best selection of cars and did not require advance payment as did economybookings.com. 
I purchased Rick Steve's Spain 2010 at Barnes & Noble, along with Barcelona & Catalonia by DK Eyewitness Travel, both recommended by Tripadvisor.com. 

Now I need to figure out how to best experience the Basque region, namely Bilbao and San Sebastian, and perhaps La Rioja for some wine tours.  Again, train transportation is available, but something tells me we will benefit from the flexibility of having our own car, especially if we are three traveling together.  We may even have time to cross into France before returning to Barcelona for our respective returns to the U.S. and Qatar.

While I am mindful of budget constraints, I also long to extend my stay beyond the time Marshall has allotted.  Spain is a big country, and there are so many other areas I'd like to explore.  I have already foregone my trip to Pamplona for the San Fermin Festival which coincide with my original flight plans.  Since I can remember, I have always fantasized about running with the bulls, or at least being a part of the experience.  If Brianna comes along, will she be adept at traveling to Seville and Madrid, Toledo?  Or will she resist these opportunities and lament her friendships at home?  At 14, there is much to learn on a trip like this, if only she'll allow it.