If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Barcelona may have a reputation for glitz and glamour with its Michelin starred restaurants and the designer shops of Passeig de Gracia which could eat up some peoples yearly salaries within a matter of several purchases. However the city has many more sides than that and one of its more edgy ones is that of its street art.

Across the city, perhaps it is more common in the less well-to-do areas, you will find graffiti (or street art which is probably what the artists prefer it to be called). The majority of this is simply writing on a wall where some extremely bored soul has bought a can of spray paint and decided to scrawl some sort of signature. This could hardly be referred to as street art and generally only helps to bring the image of the city down.

In Barcelona, unlike most places, graffiti is embraced and not always thought of as a form of vandalism like it is in so many other places. This attitude towards street art has resulted in some public walls of the city being transformed into giant canvases ready to be used to showcase some modern art.

What could be referred to as street art is what Debens and Mister do. These are two of the most respected names of Barcelona’s underground street artists. Despite the fact that graffiti is technically illegal in the city it hasn’t stopped them from doing what they love.

But these two street artists are now transferring their work from the concrete of the city to the canvas of the art gallery. Starting Thursday 14^th June and up until 26^th June, you will be able to check out their work at the Montana Shop & Gallery at Carrer de Comerç, 6. The display entitled ‘Survivors’ or ‘Supervivientes’ is showcasing the work from the artists’ collectives, 1980 and Double Cobra.

For more information on the artists visit their official websites below:

http://www.deliriumdebens.com/

http://www.krop.com/elmistersomostodos/

Technorati Tags: Barcelona Street Art, Carrer de Comerç, Debens, Mister, Passeig de Gracia

Last weekend in Parc Ciutadella and el Passeig de Lluís Companys, La Fira per la Terra-Catalunya was celebrated. It is an annual event organised by the group La Día de la Terra-Catalunya. Its general theme is to raise awareness of the abuse by society on our natural ecosystems. The overriding subject of this years fair was global warming.

It’s a topic dominating not only environmental affairs but something that is hitting the main news headlines. Anyone who takes any interest of the news via the TV, radio, internet or newspaper will have surely heard the term ‘global warming’.

It the major environmental issue of our generation and it is one that is not going away in a hurry. Scientists predict that a failure to address this issue could be catastrophic for the planet.

Greenhouse gases are mooted to be the primary cause of global warming. Various factors are to blame for this, including heavy industry (in which fossil fuels are used) and the number cars used on a daily basis.

The massive increase in commercial flights in recent years has also greatly contributed. Even things as simple as hair and body sprays have taken their toll. Natural events like volcanoes have played their part but it is the human factor which has played the biggest part in this issue.

The consequences have already begun. Melting of the Artic glaciers and ice-caps has been taking place for years and rising sea levels can be directly attributed to this threatening the lives of many people of lower lying countries, like those in the Pacific islands (ironically somewhere which hasn’t contributed to this problem at all).

Further consequences include the shrinkage in the Amazon rainforest, an increase in the intensity of extreme weather events and even the extinction of species. There are even threats to water and food supplies should the problem worsen!

It’s up to mankind to change this situation and you Barcelonans can play your part! So ask yourself if you could take the metro instead of your car in the morning! Is it really that hard to walk an extra few metres to put your rubbish in the bin? Do you really need all that hairspray? Maybe next time you fly you could pay that voluntary carbon-emission tax that some airlines now offer which goes towards helping the environment?

While Barcelona’s fair probably did little in the grand scheme of things to help things, it serves mainly as a reminder of how careful we should be.

It’s up to you….we only have one world!

PS. Check out this link on a few tips to become more eco-friendly… http://www.myecostore.co.uk/html/ecotips.html

Technorati Tags: Barcelona, eco friendly, environment, la fira per la Terra-Catalunya, recycling barcelona

Another of the bands that breathe life into Barceloneta during spring and summer is ‘Gadjo’. They are a very original group from Eastern Europe, who will delight you with their Gypsy sounds made by their instruments; the accordion, cello, flute, drums, guitar and trombone.

This band does their concerts just at the start of the beach so if you are visiting Barceloneta on foot and have arrived at the beach you will find them easily. They do four shows beginning at 1, 2, 3, 4 in the afternoon.

Along with the other shows in this area, it is totally free although at the end they do ask for a little, which I recommend giving so that this beautiful tradition in the city never dies.

‘Gadjo’ is composed of seven members of different nationalities and all of them in addition to being excellent musicians are excellent entertainers so during the shows the public will be able to see interesting dances and choreography that will surely result in admiration or bring about a laugh.

The music of this band brings with it a very festive atmosphere but with the mysticism of Eastern Europe to which this city is not accustomed. However after seeing one of their shows you will agree that Barcelona beach and Gadjo were born to be together.

Another advantage of this band is the fact that their shows happen so close to the sand, since this will allow you to listen to the music while you are lying resting on the beach or you can see the spectacle up close, whatever suits you!

Their shows last approximately 30 minutes during which you will hear 6 different tunes, with English and Spanish lyrics. Just in case you’re going during April you ought to bring a jacket as there is a strong wind in that part of Barceloneta.

‘Gadjo’ have 3 CDs which are all priced at 10 euros. I have not listened to any of them but if these CDs have the same tunes that they play live then I am sure that you will like them.

The closest metro station is Barcelonesa on the yellow line, however you can take the no. 59 or 64 bus which leaves from the Ramblas and will leave you at the beach only a few steps from this magnificent band.

Technorati Tags: bands in barcelona, barcelona beach, barceloneta, free music barcelona, music in barcelona

It’s that time of the year again, the annual ‘Torneo Godó’ is returning to Barcelona on 20th April. Usually billed as Spain’s second most important competition after the Madrid Masters, it attracts not only the top players Spain has to offer but from around the world as well.

This year the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona will welcome back reigning champion and world no.1 Rafael Nadal. Having won the tournament for the last four years running and playing in the form of his life, he is odds on favourite to take home the ‘Trofeo Conde de Godó’

Although competition is sure to be fierce for Rafa as a selection of the world’s best will be joining him in Barcelona. He will be accompanied by several of his countrymen in Fernando Verdasco, who has given some stellar performances in recent months, and David Ferrer who finds himself ranked no.12 going into the tournament. Veteran Spaniard and former winner of the Open, Juan Carlos Ferrero, has been given the first of five wildcard entries for this years competition.

Three of the last four finals have been all-Spanish affairs and it would be no surprise if it were to happen again given the talent Spanish tennis is currently blessed with but there will be plenty of other nationalities out there looking to upset the home crowd.

Argentineans have had some success with three reaching finals in recent years and David Nalbandian has a good a chance as anyone else in trying the pry the trophy from Rafa Nadal’s hands.

With Gael Monfils, currently ranked no.9 and the energetic Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 11, the French may fancy their chances of causing an upset.

You would be stupid to bet against Nadal walking away champion for the fifth time but you never know!

The tournament begins on Monday 20^th and runs through until Sunday 26^th. You can reach the stadium by taking the green metro L3 to Maria Cristina or Palau Reial, it is located on the crossing of Carrer del Marqués del Mulhacén and Carrer de Bosch I Gimpera. Tickets are selling out fast with some days already sold out, visit the Barcelona Open official website below to see if you can still get yourself a piece of the action!!

http://www.barcelonaopenbancosabadell.com/index.asp?lang=eng

Technorati Tags: barcelona open, barcelona tennis, barcelona tourism, what to do in barcelona

When the sun begins to beat down more strongly on the coast of Barcelona, it is difficult to ignore the holiday feeling that it brings to atmosphere of the city.

People walking through Barceloneta dance in sync to the different beats of music from bands of various genres. I will comment a bit on one of my favourite bands from this area.

There is a band that is located just moments away from the Museum of the History of Catalonia which is known as “Made in Barcelona”. The band is composed of 10 members of varying nationalities and any visit to the port is made better by their very distinct Latin style.

Within their music they give attention to well known issues in Latin America and they have even done a remix of Bob Marley’s famous tune, “No woman no cry”, which has been edited to suit their style.

It doesn’t cost a thing to watch these artists, though they do ask at the end of the concert that you make a small contribution saying in a few words that it will go towards finishing building the Sagrada Familia.

You can find them on Saturdays and Sundays from 3pm and if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to see 1 of the 2 daily concerts.

There is the chance of buying one of their CDs at the end of the concert for 10 euros. Always ask for the most recent CD as if you buy a previous CD then you may end up listening to the voices of previous members of the band who were not performing with the band at the concert.

So if you find a spare 30 minutes during your pleasant walk under the sun in Barceloneta then you should check out this great group amongst others that breathe life into this part of the city.

Check out the video below to see what you’re missing out on!

Technorati Tags: Barcelona, barceloneta, dancing in barcelona, free concert barcelona, music in barcelona, spring in barcelona, walks in barcelona

I was recently speaking to a friend, a local of Barcelona, and was asking about any big music festivals that were happening in the city soon. That is when he told me all about the ‘Festival Primavera Sound’ that takes place at the end of May every year. Naturally I was intrigued so as soon as I got home I had to do my research and find out all about it and who would play at it!

So I got on the internet and discovered that this is the 9^th year that it has been held and each year it has offered music fans the chance to see the newest bands while mixing in some of more the well known and established artists. It gives unknown or less reputable groups the chance to showcase their talent and make their name in the cut throat world of the music industry.

The concert takes place at Barcelona’s Parc del Fòrum and lasts for 3 days from 28^th – 30^th May. The music seems to be pretty wide ranging with a lot of it coming from the Rock, Pop and Electro genres. There is a massive line up of bands and I couldn’t go into naming them all now, but after glancing through list of names of the bands you can get a fair idea that its certainly not a concert for mainstream artists!

Names like ‘Tokyo Sex Destruction’ and ‘Fucked Up’ certainly grab your attention, even if it’s just to offend you! 90’s Brit Pop fans will no doubt recognise the name of Jarvis Cocker, the former frontman of the popular Pulp. And a more popular British band of recent times will be making an appearance in the form of Bloc Party.

You can your ticket now from various stores now (see link below for a full list). From now until 15^th April you can get a 3 day ticket for 145€ and 1 day ticket for 60€. The venue is locate on the coast very close to Diagonal Mar shopping centre.

Don’t miss out! Get yours now, I certainly will!

http://www.primaverasound.com/index.php?idioma=en&sec=home

Technorati Tags: bands, Concerts, music in barcelona, Tourism, Travel, what to see, Whats on barcelona

The ‘Can Paisano’ bar, best known as ‘La champañería’ is one of the most frequented in Barcelona for locals and tourists alike. They serve hot and cold sandwiches, relying on a small stall at the back from which you can get cava, cheeses and meats.

The experience begins when we arrive at the place as its very individual, traditional décor will catch your eye immediately. Remember to arrive early (before 2pm) as you will undoubtedly find a queue to get in.

Once inside you ought to get yourselves near the bar in order to set your drinks down, as there are no tables in here, however it is all part of the unforgettable experience that it provides us.

The selection of sandwiches on offer is as big as its history and tradition, so I’m sure that you will find something according to your own tastes. For people that have a king’s palate and the stomach of a worker like me, I recommend that you try the rib and pepper sandwich.

In this place the simplicity in the way things work is always emphasized, just like its décor, and in the way in which you order and continuing in this way la champañeria only offers 2 types of drink, cava or water. For groups of 4 or more, remember that for every 4 sandwiches that you buy, you can get a bottle of cava for only 5€.

That is why a visit to la champañeria is always a pleasant experience which you will undoubtedly enjoy.

If you want to visit it, it is situated in Barceloneta on Calle Reina Crisitna and the closest metro station is Barceloneta which is found on the yellow line L4.

For more information, visit their website at www.canpaixano.com

Technorati Tags: Bars in Barcelona, bars in barceloneta, cava, champañería, Tourism, what to do in barceloneta, where to go barceloneta

Sunday is traditionally a day or rest, something taken quite seriously in Spain, a day that most people laze about on. Some use it to clean the house or to simply read a book. With many local shops and businesses closed it may seem there’s nothing else to do but sit in or go for drink. But your time could be much better spent!

They say nothing in life is free, but that certainly isn’t true in Barcelona. There’s good news for the culture-vultures out there or those wishing to broaden their horizons. Museums are free on the first Sunday of the month!!!

Of course being the cultural city it is, Barcelona has a plethora of museums to visit and with the majority of them only opening between the hours of 10am – 3pm you obviously have a limited amount of time in which to see what you want. Each museum varies in size and the amount there is to see so I’ve picked 4 worthwhile ones that geographically ensure you don’t waste too much of your time travelling between them.

1. Zoological Museum (Parc de la Ciutadella) – The museum itself is located in the Castel dels Tres Dragons (Castle of the Three Dragons), which was built in the 19th Century to resemble a medieval castle. It is home to a comprehensive insect collection and on the ground you will find a skeleton of a whale and mammoth. Upstairs in the museum houses many stuffed animals, birds eggs and preserved reptiles and amphibians. You can access the museum from Passeig de Pujades outside of the Parc.

2. Picasso Museum – Arguably the most popular museum in all of Barcelona. It was first opened in 1963 but it wasn’t until after 1968 that Picasso himself made a significant contribution to the museum. Among items you will find there are; school books, academic pieces and paintings from Picasso’s Blue Period. The museum is located on Carrer de Montcada 15-23.

3. Barbier Mueller Museum of Pre-Colombian Art – Conveniently located directly opposite the Picasso museum on Carrer de Montcada, 14. Here you will find Latin American artworks dating from 1500BC up to the 16th Century. Opened in 1997, the collection isn’t very big but but still you are able to view jewellery, pottery, textiles, wooden and stone statues and metallic pieces.

4. MACBA – The Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art. Located in Raval, this gallery opened in late 1995. The collections come from three different periods of time; the first is the 1940s – 60s, the second spans the 60s and 70s and the third is the contemporary period. The museum can b found at Plaza dels Angels, 1.

Technorati Tags: Add new tag, Barcelona, culture in barcelona, free, Museums, sunday, Tourism, Travel, what to do in barcelona

Gracia was once an ancient village located outside of Barcelona until it became part of the main city after L’Eixample was built towards the end of the 19^th Century. Now one the many barrios of Barcelona it is characterized by its narrow streets, a stark contrast to that of the wide boulevards of L’Eixample bustling with traffic.

This once old part of town has now found itself as one of the modernist sections of the city and as such has become a haven for stylish bars and trendy restaurants. Many of these can be found in the squares or plazas which populate the area. These are always buzzing with activity and are particularly popular with the younger crowd who have been responsible for the spectacular boom with places to eat, drink or just chat the night away.

The well known square of Plaça del Sol is certainly worth a visit and if so a trip to the Envalira restaurant should be on your list of things to do. Its Eastern/Asian dishes are famous in the area and its atmosphere is welcoming to families and young people alike. Its opening hours are Tuesday – Saturday 1.30 – 4.30 pm and 9pm – 12am and with an average meal costing between €20 and €30 it is accessible to most budgets.

After a nice meal, the more youthful crowd can visit the Mond Bar also conveniently located in the Plaça del Sol. It offers a great variety of drinks and different DJ’s every month ensure that you could spend many a weekend dancing to your hearts content. If clubs aren’t your thing or you’r looking for a quieter end to the night with the kids then why not take them to the Teatreneu? Located on Carrer de Terol, only a short walk from Plaça del Sol, it offers a wide range of entertainment from plays to stand –up comics and even musicals.

Gracia – Easily accessible by metro on Line 3 (Green) at Fontana or Lesseps

Technorati Tags: Barcelona, bars in gracia, entertainment in gracia, evening in gracia, Gracia, restaurants in gracia, Tourism, what to do in barcelona

Maybe you think us Barcelonans have always had money for eating out…maybe you think that we’ve always loved snacking, going for ‘tapas’ and trying new restaurants every weekend…well let me tell you – you’re wrong!!!

30 years ago it wasn’t as common to go and eat out; the most typical and traditional thing to do was to eat at home, always at home. The most common a thing to do was to see the whole family sharing the same pot, and eating out was frowned upon.

In order for the father not to eat at home, something rather unusual had to occur, such as a very important celebration or a very special act, and all this made him stay at home to eat, apart from on very rare occasions.

As mentioned at the start of the article, in those days the gastronomic culture that you see in the city today didn’t exist. The passage of time has made people change their habits and fully open up to a new world. The range of possibilities that we can find in Barcelona is very wide and it’s not all expensive, although of course it always depends on the kind of restaurant we’re looking for. From European, Asian and African restaurants…I think Barcelona gives us the chance, out of pleasure, to get to know nearby, far flung, visited and well known countries, which we’ll never visit due to our financial standing.

Yes, yes, it’s fashionable!!! Everyone says they know or tried fantastic, amazing and well priced restaurants etc. In these cases word of mouth, more than ever, goes round at the speed of light, people share experiences and tastes and above all they recommend eating the restaurant’s speciality.

So don’t wait any longer, any excuse is good to get together with friends and what better way to do it than eating a good meal.

Try 3 of Barcelona’s top restaurants:

http://www.canmajo.es/ - Michelin star restaurant at Barceloneta, seafood to die for

http://lachachabcn.com/ - Argentine restaurant in El Borne, try the mixed platter “parilladas”

http://www.carlosabellan.com/ - Fantastic tapas restaurant “tapaç 24“, in the centre of Barcelona

Technorati Tags: Barcelona apartments, Barcelona hotels, barcelona restaurants, eating out in barcelona, hotels Barcelona