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Das Barcelona- Buch

Wahrscheinlich kennt ihr schon den wunderbaren Roman „Der Schatten des Windes“ von Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Wenn nicht, wirds allerhöchste Zeit. Man kann dieses Buch einfach nur lieben, wenn man ein Fan von Barcelona ist. Das Buch kam 2004 auf Platz 16 der Lieblingsbücher der Deutschen und wurde 2001 auf Spanisch unter dem Titel La sombra del viento und 2003 erstmals auf Deutsch veröffentlicht. Im Mittelpunkt der Handlung stehen Jugend und frühe Erwachsenenzeit von Daniel Sempere in Barcelona in der Zeit von 1945 bis 1966.

Hier eine Zusammenfassung um was es sich eigentlich handelt...

Daniel wird von seinem Vater, der Buchhändler ist, zu dem „Friedhof der Vergessenen Bücher“, einem Ort an dem zahlreiche vergessene Bücher versteckt sind, geführt. Er ahnt nicht, dass in diesem unwirklich scheinenden Labyrinth sein Leben eine drastische Wende nehmen wird. Er darf sich ein Buch heraussuchen für das er allein die Verantwortung trägt. Das Buch, das er sich greift, Der Schatten des Windes von einem gewissen Julián Carax, wird ihn nicht mehr loslassen...

Daniel, der allein mit seinem Vater im grauen Barcelona der Franco-Ära aufwächst, ist fasziniert von der Geschichte, die er liest. Er macht sich auf die Suche nach dem geheimnisvollen Autor, will wissen, wer dieser Mensch war, was ihm widerfahren ist, warum nur noch so wenige Exemplare seiner Bücher erhalten sind. Was als neugieriges Spiel beginnt, wird rasch zur Bedrohung, als ein Mann mit narbiger Ledermaske auftaucht, der hinter Daniels Exemplar her ist. Das Unheimliche bekommt beängstigend konkrete Gestalt. Daniels Leben gerät mit den Jahren mehr und mehr in den Bann des mysteriösen Autors, von dem keiner weiß, warum jemand all seine Bücher bis aufs letzte Exemplar zu vernichten sucht. Alle Menschen, denen Daniel begegnet, auch die Frauen, in die er sich verliebt, scheinen nur Figuren in diesem großen Spiel zu sein. Sie alle haben es darauf abgesehen, Daniel in die Irre zu führen. Und eben dadurch gerät er mitten in die abenteuerliche Handlung seines Lieblingsromans; es ist, als ob die vergangene Geschichte sich in seinem eigenen Leben wiederhole, das von den Schatten furchtbarer Ereignisse verdunkelt zu werden droht.

Zafóns gleichnamiger Roman erzählt vom Leben seines Autors, von der Entstehung seines Romans und von der Suche Daniels nach der Lösung der Rätsel.

Zafón erzählt in Der Schatten des Windes „eine Geschichte von einsamen Menschen, von Abwesenheiten und Verlust“, wie Daniel es einmal formuliert: Abwesenheit und Verlust eines Gebirges der Kultur im Friedhof der Vergessenen Bücher, Abwesenheit und Verlust von Daniels Mutter, von Claras Vater, von Freunden und Geliebten. Die Kraft der gemeinsamen Erinnerung und die Hartnäckigkeit, von der sie lebt – das sind daher die eigentlichen Themen des Romans.

Kommentar von dem Autor:

Diese gothic novel Stimmung gehört zu meiner ganz eigenen Welt. Das war schon immer so. Seit meiner Kindheit habe ich geheimnisvolle Geschichten erfunden. Ich habe 11 Jahre auf einer Schule verbracht, die wie ein englisches Spukschloß aussah. In meiner Erinnerung ist vor allem diese Kulisse zurückgeblieben. Für mich war es ein Glück, in dieser Umgebung aufzuwachsen. Ich liebte den Ort, er war faszinierend (...) Manchmal verforme und verwandele ich ihn. Dann wird meine alte Schule zu einem verzauberten Schloß wie in "Der Schatten des Windes".

 

Und hier noch ein paar Lieblingssätze von mir:

„Noch ein Verrückter. Barcelonas Nacht sammelt sie scharenweise. Und Idioten wie mich ebenfalls.“

„Diese Stadt ist eine Hexe – sie setzt sich einem auf der Haut fest und nimmt einem die Seele ohne dass man es überhaupt merkt.“

„Die wirkungsvollste Art die Armen unschädlich zu machen bestehen darin, dass man sie lehrt, die Reichen imitieren zu wollen.“

„Das Fernsehen ist der Antichrist - es werden drei oder vier Generaationen genügen bis die Leute nicht einmal mehr selbständig furzen können und der Mensch in die Höhle, in die mittelalterliche Barberei und in einen Schwachsinn zurückfällt, den schon die Nacktschnecke in Pleistozän überwunden hat.“

„Paris ist die einzige Stadt der Welt, wo verhungern noch als Kunst gilt.“

 

Als ich dieses Buch in die Hände bekam, habe ich es geradezu verschlungen, da ich Barcelona an sich schon sehr faszinierend finde. Also jeder der diesen Sommer ein paar Tage in Barcelona verbringen will und vielleicht die Orte, die in „Der Schatten des Windes“ erwähnt werden, besuchen will, der sollte dies machen. Natürlich kann man in Barcelona auch andere Dinge machen (wie feiern ;-) oder auch spezielle Events) als nur der Spur eines Buches zu verfolgen.  Es gibt viele hübsche Ferienwohnungen Barcelona, die den Aufenthalt perfekt machen. Also macht euch auf nach Barcelona, die Stadt der Geheimnisse...

Bicing in Barcelona...

Bicing ist ein öffentliches Dienstleistungsangebot in Barcelona zur automatisierten Vermietung von Fahrrädern für kurze Distanzen mittels eines flächendeckenden Netzes von Fahrradstationen. Dieses System ist sehr praktiksch wenn man nicht immer mit der Metro unterwegs sein will, besonders im Sommer, wenn es stickig ist und heiß ist... Außerdem hat man dann nicht so ein Problem wie die "Fahrradbesitzer", da du dir dann keine Sorgen mehr machen musst, dass dein Fahrrad geklaut werden könnte...

Das Angebot wurde nach sorgfältigem Studium des Lyoner Vorbildes Vélo'v am 22 März 2007 eingeweiht und verfügt Anfang Juli über ca. 100 auf der Fläche des Stadtzentrums verteilte Fahrradmietstationen, die ca. 1500 Fahrräder bereithalten. Ende September 2007 haben sich 90.000 Nutzer mit der Zahlung eines bis 6. Juli gültigen Startpreises von 6 Euro für die Nutzung von Bicing im ersten Jahr entschieden. Danach beträgt die jährliche Gebühr 24 Euro.

Wie es funktioniert...

Das Angebot soll vor allem internetgestützt bedient und abgefragt werden. Interessierte Personen können sich über die Webseite von Bicing oder direkt im Kundenbüro von Bicing anmelden. Bei der Anmeldung, für die man eine Kreditkarte, eine Ausweisnummer sowie eine spanische Adresse braucht, wird ein Kundenkonto eingerichtet, auf das der Kunde dann online zugreifen kann und seine kostenpflichtigen Nutzungen einsehen kann. Die Karte wir dann meist innerhalb schon von 2 Wochen

einem direkt nach Hause in das Apartment in Barcelona geschickt...

Bicing funktioniert mit Hilfe von automatisierten Fahrradstationen, die im Stadtzentrum im Abstand von 300 bis 400 m verteilt sind, oft auch an den Haltestellen der Metro. Jede Station hat zwischen 15 und 30 abschließbare Stellplätze für die Fahrräder und ist informationstechnisch in Echtzeit mit dem Zentralcomputer verbunden.

Wenn man ein Fahrrad haben will, dann muss man einfach zu einer Station gehen, die Karte an den Leser halten. Dann wird einem eine Nummer zugewiesen. Zu dem Fahrrad mit der Nummer hingehen und das Fahrrad rausnehmen. Und schon kann man seine Runden in Barcelona drehen.

Falls irgendwas mit dem Fahrrad nicht stimmt sollte, am besten das Fahrrad da lassen, kurz warten (man muss 10min warten ca um ein neues Fahrrad zu nehmen). Oder einfach zur nächsten Station laufen... Tut ja auch mal gut.

Zum Zurückgeben einfach zu einer Station und an einen Platz verhaken, wo das grüne Licht immer an ist und nicht blinkt. Wenn es blink, stimmt was mit dem Anker nicht... Ein bisschen warten, und dann kontrollieren ob das grüne Licht jetzt blinkt. Dann ist das Fahrrad fest verankert.

Falls kein Fahrrad da sein sollte, die Karte an den Leser halten, dann werden dir die nächsten Stationen bei dir in der Umgebung angezeigt...

Und wenn alle Stellplätze einer Fahrradstation besetzt sind und der Benutzer also „sein“ Fahrrad nicht zurückgeben kann, kann er sich die Nummer und den Standort der nächstgelegenen Fahrradstationen auf einem Plan an der Station ansehen.

Das System ist gedacht für die selbstständige d.h. benutzergeführte Verteilung der Fahrräder. Zusätzlich gibt es derzeit zehn Lieferwagen mit Anhängern, die die Fahrräder gleichmäßig auf die Stationen verteilen.

Die Stationen sind Samstag und Sonntag rund um die Uhr geöffnet, von Montag bis Freitag sind sie von 0 bis 5 Uhr für die Fahrradentnahme geschlossen, während die Rückgabe an freien Stellplätzen immer möglich ist.

Jeder Benutzer hat das Recht der kostenfreien Benutzung des Fahrrades während der ersten 30 Minuten nach Entnahme aus der Station. Die Anzahl der Rückgaben und Entnahmen der Fahrräder an den Stationen ist nicht begrenzt. Jedoch muss zwischen Rückgabe und erneuter Entnahme mindestens 10 Minuten gewartet werden. Nach Ablauf dieser 30 Minuten wird für jede weitere angefangene halbe Stunde 30 Cent bis zu einer Gesamtzeit von zwei Stunden nach Entnahme berechnet.

 

World Press Photo Exhibition 2007

Shocking, moving and utterly awe-inspiring since arriving in Barcelona last week, the World Press Photo Exhibition has been the talk of town. World Press Photo is an independent organization which was founded in the Netherlands in 1955 and has become the leading platform of photo journalism. This haunting exhibition brings together the winning entries of the prestigious 2007 World Press Photo competition which was held earlier this year.

From the harrowing aftermath of an oil pipe explosion in Nigeria to airborne descent of a swimmer into the pool this exhibition tracks world news of 2006. The 177 photo exhibition begins with the most shocking images, portraying war or post-disaster scenes. The photo which I personally found the most moving portrayed an American couple on their wedding day. Recently returned from Irak, the bridegroom’s mutant-like face is a direct and hard hitting result of military intervention and the impact on one individual citizen.

The exhibition is currently taking place in the Centro Cultural Contemporánia de Barcelona, just a few minutes walk from las Ramblas in the northern part of the Raval district. Admission is free and the exhibition is open from 11-20h every day (except Monday) and will remain in Barcelona until 11th November. If you are looking to stay in this vibrant area of the city near to the World Press Photo exhibition barcelona apartments

Barcelona International Jazz Festival 2007

From the opening concert on 20th October to the finale on the 1st of December, Barcelona's long anticipated Voll Damm 39 International Jazz Festival is soon to hit the streets and concert halls of the city and surrounding suburbs. Long considered a hub of European jazz, Barcelona will welcome some of the biggest stars of the jazz world to Barcelona International Jazz Festival 2007. Previously giving a warm welcome to stars like Jamie Callum and Herbie Hancock this year the festival boasts yet another star-studded guest list.

The festival will open with a free concert in Passeig Joan de Borbó on 20th October at 19.00 starring la Parco della Musica Jazz Orchestra who proud to be making their first appearance in the city. What’s more, for the first time, the festival will extend beyond the boundaries of the city centre with concerts also taking place in L'Hospitalet and Sant Cugat.

Highlights of the six week programme include The Manhatten Transfer. Performing on 6th November in L'Auditori this group boasts over 30 years of success as a group with a whole string of top hits to their name both in Europe and the United States. Most commonly known for their signature "Birdland" which earned them their first Grammy in 1980, this popular group has successfully managed to fuse genres, exceptionally winning a Grammy for both pop and jazz in the same year. With tickets from 28 euros this is surely an event of the jazzophile's calendar that should not be missed.

The city of Barcelona is also proud to welcome Omette Coleman to the Palau de la Música Catalana on 7th November at 21.00. Coleman is widely considered a free spirit and ultimate jazz icon, earning him a Grammy Lifetime Music award. His energy and passion ooze through every note he plays and it seems fitting that his concert should take place in what has been described as ‘one of Modernism’s chief exponents’. La Palau de la Música Catalana was constructed at the turn of the century and inaugurated in 1908. Declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1997, it is a renowned international venue and hub of Catalan musical life.

 
To make the most of this vibrant festival, why not stay in a barcelona apartment so you can explore the city on foot while enjoying this exciting festival.  

Mexican Fiesta in Barcelona

One of the biggest festivals happening in Barcelona this month is the Mexican festival for Independence day. This Mexican festival, Mexican Independence Day is celebrated September 15^th and is the most important non-religious holiday in

Mexico

. The fiesta is celebrated as part of the Semana de Mexico Festival which includes a wonderful array of food, mariachis which is the 5 piece guitar group playing traditional Mexican music. Also they have gritos which are ritual shouts or cries of freedom and independence and of course it wouldn’t be Mexican without tequila!

The city of

Barcelona

will be painted with all the colours of

Mexico

and the events taking place at Plaza Reial and Poble Espanyol.

 

Check online for cheap Barcelona hotels during the month of September.

 

For a more comprehensive Barcelona guide.

Poble Espanyol

El Poble Espanyol is an open air museum located at Montjuic mountain, with 40 handicraft shops and a number of excellent restaurants and bars. It should be near the top of any list of things to do in Barcelona.

Built in 1929 it was made as the pavilion dedicated to art for the Barcelona International Exhibition and it was conceived as a real "village" from the beginning in the middle of a city, with a surface area of 49,000 m2.
The aim of the town was to act as an "ideal model" to give an idea of what a Spanish village might look like and contains the main characteristics and features of towns and villages in the peninsula. Therefore 117 buildings, streets and squares were reproduced to scale for this reason.

Poble Espanyol was built in just 13 months and actually had an expiry date which was the same time as the Universal Exhibition - just six months however its success as an open-air museum has kept it open until this day.

El Poble Espanyol combines history and art with more than forty art and craft workshops and shops working in the open-air museum. You can experience the wonder of historic handmade production techniques and qualities and appreciate how innovative elements of design and shape can enrich a traditional product.

The craft techniques that can currently be found here are: ceramics, engraving, decorative painting, glass fusing, puppet-making, jewellery, masks, sculpture, leather, embroidery, basket-weaving, musical instrument-making, espadrille-making and a long list of others.

Montjuic itself is a great day out for tourists renting apartments in Barcelona and during the summer months the central square of Poble Espanyol transforms into the open-air discoteca, La Terrazza which is very popular with tourists and locals alike.

Getting There
Take the metro (green or red line) to stop Plaza Espanya and from there take the escalators to Poble Espanyol. It is well signposted.

For a more comprehensive Barcelona guide.

Weekend Dance Festival Barcelona

I can't wait for the Weekend Dance festival to begin, is maybe what you are thinking, but if you don't know about it, then it is a September festival held in Barcelona. It is the first year of Weekend Dance so there is a lot of speculation as to whether it will be a success however at the festival you will be able to see a whole host of acts you would normally here from the nightclubs dance scene. At the festival this year artists headlining include; Massive Attack, Faithless, Deep Dish, Sven Vath, Vitalic(live) and Hernan Cattaneo to name a few. The dance weekend takes place on Saturday 15th September. The tickets are priced at €40 until the 26th August and then will probably go up by €5. The venue for the September festival is the Forum which is located at the north side of the city. To get there you can take L4 (yellow) line metro to Maresme de Forum.

For those looking for a last minute deal on Barcelona apartments, then this could be a great incentive to book up.

For a more comprehensive Barcelona guide.

Outdoor Swimming Pool In Barcelona

Barcelona is well known for its beaches but some people would prefer going to a swimming pool. One of the nicest places to visit in Barcelona is Montjuic and it is there where you can find three different swimming pools to enjoy. With plenty of Barcelona accommodation near Montjuic, you're never too far from the swimming pools in Barcelona.

The first is the Bernat Picornell swimming pool which is the flagship of Barcelona’s pools. This gym and swimming pool was opened in 1970 for the European swimming championships and was remodelled and modernised for the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992.

Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc  - Olympic swimming pool
When it comes to the view this is probably one of the best swimming pools in the world. It is the fabulous outdoor Olympic swimming pool that designed by Antoni de Moragas and built in 1992 for the diving events of the Barcelona Olympics. The swimming pool has a seating capacity of 4.100 spectators and the panoramic views of the city provide a unique backdrop for diving events, which is why this pool was chosen by Kylie Minogue for her video "Slow" in 2003.

Finally the third swimming pool is the Club Natació Montjuïc which is a members only sports club with fitness gym and outdoor swimming pool, which is covered in the winter. It has a fantastic location on Montjuic mountain. The membership fee for 2007 costs €160 membership fee and 48 euros a month.
More comprehensive Barcelona guide.

Cheap Cava in Barcelona

When you think of Cava, Spain is the first place that springs to mind, better yet Barcelona, Catalonia. The birthplace of Cava, spain of course and is the Spanish version of sparkling wine like those from the famous French region of Champagne. For those looking for cheap cava but also good quality then Barcelona has it for you. Although Cava spain is made out in the Catalan countryside, there are many many Cava bars were you can taste the region's wonderful wine.If you fancy sampling cheap cava along with a great selection of sandwiches and tapas then the bar Can Paixano is the best place to go. Commonly known to tourists as the Champaneria or Cava Bar, Can Paixano is known for cheap cava where a copa is about 50 cents and the most expensive own-label bottle a little over 4€. However there are no seats and if you go at lunchtime, you'll be able to find some space to enjoy your drink but if you go at night, expect the place to be crammed full. It's a good way to get tipsy early, but any time after 7pm will start to get very, very full and is very popular with tourists. It's compulsory to order two mini sandwiches with the first bottle you buy. From then on, every few bottles you may be asked to buy a couple of more tapas or sandwiches and the staff are very trusting and will wait for you to finish eating and drinking until they ask you to pay for anything.
Also, if you decide you want to take some Cava with you, then there is a shop at the back of the bar where you can purchase bottles (in the case load if you prefer) at a reduced wholesale rate.
Open 10:30am to 10pm.

Getting There
The address of the bar is 7 Calle de la Reina Cristina located in the old fishermans area of Barceloneta. See map
If you are staying in Barceloneta accommodation then you can easily walk to the bar and if you have any trouble then simply ask someone as they will definitely know where it is.
If you are staying in central Barcelona accommodation then you should take the Metro to Barceloneta (on the yellow line) and you are only a few minutes away.
For a more comprehensive Barcelona guide.

Barcelona Shops Close in August

It's true that Barcelona shops close in August but not to worry, it's not as bad as it sounds.
However it is not just Barcelona shops that close. For many local, family run businesses like cafes and restaurants, the month of August is the time where they leave the city to take their annual holidays. It seems a strange time to go on holiday, during the busiest time of the year but you have to understand that they want to enjoy their summer too.
For tourists staying in Barcelona accommodation, then you shouldn't worry too much as all of the big shopping areas like Passeig de Gracia, Las Ramblas and Marseme del Forum are still open and are not affected by the holidays. So you can still enjoy Barcelona's wonderful array of shops and attractions around central areas in the city.
The only problem may lie with those renting Barcelona apartments and prefer to go to the supermarket to prepare their own meals. Supermarkets will have reduced opening hours and are more than likely to be closed between 1 pm and 5pm and also small cafes, bars and restaurants may be closed completely or have reduced hours.
In general, however, tourists should not be affected too much by the holidays in August and should be able to enjoy everything this wonderful city offers during the rest of the year.
If you need anymore information on Barcelona then look for a Barcelona guide online.

Nou Camp Tours

One of the most popular things to do in Barcelona is to do the Nou Camp tour of the world famous FC Barcelona. It is the largest stadium in Europe and home to one of the greatest ever football teams. The Nou Camp stadium tour can be done any time of the year even when the season is closed over the summer. However it is recommended that you try and do it during the season on the off chance you might see some of the players arriving or leaving the stadium for training. The tour costs €11 euros per person and includes a complete guided tour of the stadium where you will see the players changing rooms, medical areas, press room, club chapel and the touchline of the pitch where you get great views all around this huge stadium. You can also sit in the presidential box and go to the top of the stadium and get a wonderful panoramic view of the pitch below. Apart from seeing the already impressive trophy room, there is currently a History of World Football exhibition with many great pictures from all over the world.
Getting to the stadium is easy by taking the metro to Maria Cristina (green line) or Collblanc (blue line).
The stadium is open Monday to Saturday 10-18.30 except match days and on Sundays and bank holidays from 10-14.00.
There are quite a few hotels near the stadium and one of the most popular for tourists and football fans alike is the Bonanova Park Hotel near metro station Maria Cristina along the top end of Avenida Diagonal. It's cheap yet good quality too. A favourite with many toursits.

Girona to Barcelona Bus

Girona is not in Barcelona so you need to know how to get from Girona to Barcelona due to the rise of Ryanair airlines.
Ryanair has become one of the biggest airline companies in the world thanks to their "Low Cost" airlines, flying to many destinations all over Europe. The only problem is they fly to secondary airports outside the destinations and in this case the airport is Girona which is 104 kilometers from Barcelona, so reaching your Barcelona accommodation could be considered a problem.
But don't worry because getting from Girona airport to your Barcelona accommodation is easy.
After collecting your baggage got to the Ryanair ticket office and buy a bus ticket. Single is €12 and return is €22. The bus will be waiting just outside as they run in time with flight arrivals. The bus takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, depending on traffic and it's destination is Estacio Del Norte. It is a pleasant journey where you can see the nice Catalan countryside. On arrival at the bus station you can either take a taxi to your hotel, the bus (if you know the route) or also the metro, Arc de Triomph which is on the red line, but beware of pickpockets! It is only 2 stops from the central hub of the city, Plaza Catalunya and from there you should have no problem getting to your Barcelona hotel or apartment.

Beach Accommodation in Barcelona

Barcelona is a city competing with other great European cities such as Paris, Rome and London for tourism and with alot of success, with over 4 million tourists visiting Barcelona each year. With cheap accommodation readily available throughout the city all year round, Barcelona attracts tourists due to its wonderful selection of architecture, festivals and sport. In addition to this, Barcelona has the added advantage over its competitors  by being on the coast and with the good Mediterranian climate, attracts many tourists to its beaches every spring and summer. Beach accommodation is affordable and ranges from budget to luxurious apartments. Finding beach accommodation has become much easier with many websites offering accommodation along the beach especially during the summer season.
The beaches are lively, with the most popular being Barceloneta, but probably the nices neing Selva de Mar which is another 10 mins along the metro. Anyway, staying in accommodation near the beach is the best thing to do during the spring and summer as your close to the beach and not too far from the city centre.

Explore Eixample

The district of Eixample (which means 'extension') was once the link between the old city (cuitat vella) and some of the smaller surrounding towns until Barcelona's eventual merge during the 19th and 20th century.  The bulidings' designs are heavily influenced by modernist architects, Antoni Gaudi being the most famous. His most famous work can be found in Eixample including the Casa Milà nicknamed La Pedrera (or quarry) and and Casa Batllo, both of which are located along the famous Passeig De Gracia. The street is like the spine of the district which splits the area into Eixample Izquierda and Eixample Derecha, where you can find the world famous Sagrada Familia and it also links down to the Plaza Cataluña, the central hub of the city. It is very popular tourists and there are many people who rent apartments in Eixample so they can wake up to some beautiful sights of the city. The Eixample is characterized by long straight streets, a strict grid pattern crossed by wide avenues, and truncated-square blocks (named illes in Catalan, manzanas in Spanish). This was a visionary, pioneering design by  Ildefons Cerda, who considered traffic and transport along with sunlighting and ventilation in coming up with his characteristic octagon-shaped blocks, where the streets broaden at every intersection making for greater visibility, better ventilation and (today) some short-stay parking space.
The most important avenues in the Eixample are Passieg de Gracia(that links centric Plaza Cataluña   with the old town of Gracia, Avenida Diagonal (that cuts the grid diagonally), and Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes(that crosses all Barcelona from southwest to northeast).
Eixample is as rich in culture as it is with vibrancy, with many bars restaurants and clubs for people of all ages. Prices ranges from quite expensive in the more affluent areas nearer Passeig de Gracia, to cheaper areas further away. It also has a prominent gay scene on the Izquierda side (often referred to as Gaixample) for those of that lifestyle. The area is safe, well lit and friendly for locals and tourists equally.
Finally, if you want to experience Barcelona at your own pace and want to avoid all the tourists traps of Las Ramblas etc, then Eixample is perfect in location and also what it has to offer.

In search of the NIE

Before starting my new job here i was told i needed to get my NIE certificate which is basically my identification for setting up a contract to work, here in Spain. I had friends who had told my all sorts of stories about their experiences of obtaining their NIE. Some good, some bad, but i had no idea of how ridiculous the queue was.

So after i was given all the instructions and directions of where to go and what to do i set off to Barceloneta at 8am to try and get my number. Some people told me to go earlier, but i'm not a morning person, so 7am was my limit because any earlier in the day and i cannot function!
By the time i arrived (about 8.30) there was a queue outside but it was moving quickly so i thought, this isn't so bad?..............I was in for a shock.
When i entered the building i took my ticket, C113 and i thought "this doesn't sound too good"
Sure enough, i looked at the screen and couldn't even see any numbers with the letter C for the first 5 minutes! Eventually C20 appeared, and for the next 40 minutes C20 managed to reach C23!!!
I thought, ok, this is not happening today, i'll go to the beach for a couple of hours and come back later to basically confirm my prediction that my number would still be ages away.
It's so strange going to the beach at 10am, as there are so little people there. Mostly people on their holiday in Barcelona and a few locals, but oh well, at least it's quiet.
I finally headed back to the office with my usual sense of pessimism but with an unbelievable stroke of luck, at 1.45pm, i walked in the door to see the number C112 on the screen. I couldn't believe it; within 30 seconds my number was called and i casually strolled into the office with a swagger of arrogance to my step. After that, it was so easy, within 30 minutes everything was sorted and i am now an active member of the working world in Barcelona!

For those looking to apply for your NIE, here's what you do:
Go to Avenida de Marqués de l'Argentera with Calle D'Ocata. Its just behind the Barceloneta metro stop. Ask someone if you have problems with directions.
If you arrive at 7am and wait in the queue for 2 hours until the office doors open at 9 then you will be in and out within 20 minutes, but obviously some people just can't do that, (like me).
If you turn up about 8 then you could be waiting anywhere between 1 to 5 hours in the queue which is a nightmare. The best thing to do is take your ticket and go to the beach for a few hours, but you always run the risk of missing your number called. Try and judge it well.
Go with your passport, a copy of your passport, and 2 copies of the NIE form which your employer will usually give you.
After the office stamps your form, you head to the BBVA bank across the street to pay 6.80euros to be able to receive your NIE which takes 2 minutes and finally you head along Passeo de Juan de Borbo to the police station where you show your documentation and you receive your NIE certificate.
Phew! It takes while, but just get an early night the previous day and you will have it done in no time.

Viniculture in Catalunya, Spain

The warm and sunny weather during May and August among the Mediterranean coast attracts a large amount of tourists every year and initiates the wine-season at the same time. Both, the tourist season and the viniculture are linked directly to each other and there are many special tours to wineries and the characteristic landscape. Among some of the most popular wine regions like La Rioja or Jerez with its famous Sherry one will also find Penedes, Catalunya. Penedes is located in the north of Barcelona and still today profits from its direct connection to the Catalan capital, which makes distribution easy and which gives an image support due to its international reputation. Generally, viniculture was established in the 1960s but traces back to the year 400 a.d.. Later on, the hills were cultivated by Romans, who even had their own wineries because they were already realizing the high quality of the regional wines. In a whole there are three different zones: Baix Penedès (up to 250 m sealevel), Mitja Penedès (up to 500 m) and Alt Penedès (up to 850 m), which sum up 27.500  hectare of land. 2500 hrs of sun each year and different types of grounds complete the high attractiveness for viniculture. In 1960, the mayor even decided that red wine of that region should only be produced for the citizens of Barcelona in order to keep prices low and to secure the citie's supply. Today, this manner has changed, of course. Many different types of wines are produced and more than ¼ are exported. Well-known is certainly the famous sparkling wine Freixenet, which again shows the changing habit of producing white wine as well.

Spain has a total amount of 1.200.000 ha of cultivated ground for viniculture, which is the largest acreage for wine in the whole world. The different areas are cultivated by 150.000 vintagers, who work in nearly 5.000 wineries. 300 of them are in Catalunya, where they produce the famous 'Cava' (sparkling wine) and several red wines. Some of these vineyards are in the direct surrounding of Barcelona, which offers the chance to sample wines on a sunny weekend. The mentioned winery of Penedes is known worldwide and surely has a superb reputation. Further vineyards are Conca de Barberá and Alella in the same region or Priorato and Taragona in the south of Barcelona. All destinations can be reached within approx. 1 h by car and are ideal for a daytrip. Especially, because you will be able to gaze at the lovely countryside when you drive all along the mediterranean coast. Several stops can be made at beaches like Sitges, Rosas or Miami Playa. Moreover, you can also visit the city Taragona and enjoy a day off Barcelona.

In order to travel independently people should consider hiring a car if they arrived by plane or by train. Having your own  apartment in Barcelona would additionally simplify tours like these because one does not depend on the eating schedule of hotels. As living in an apartment is usually cheaper, visitors would also be able to afford more money on a daytrip and doing a wine-tasting, for instance. Thus, one could profit more from a short stay in Barcelona without sticking to the usual attractions.

A Walk through Barcelona

Whoever visits Barcelona for the first time will be amazed by the town's diversity. Whether it is the architecture, the Catalan culture, the history or the nightlife: visitors will get the impression of a neverending journey when they want to explore the city's major objects or its lovely details. Therefore, it is recommendable to have a schedule which covers the most important sites. Different ways can be proposed and the following description will focus on the inner core of Barcelona and serves as an introduction on the first days.

 

Starting in the center, at the Plaza Catalunya, visitors will be able to enjoy the animated main Rambla with its painters, living statues, jugglers, acrobats, clowns and entertainer. Lingering along the promenade down to the Maremagnum (a big shopping center at the harbour), people will see the famous theater Liceu, which appears on the right side of the Rambla. Furthermore, they will pass by the wax museum which appears nearly at the end of the ramblas on the left side. Finally, at the end of the rambla, there is a huge statue of Christopher Columbus in the middle of the crossing, where visitors should turn left and go along the harbour or head over to the Maremagnum-promenade. Both ways will lead to the entrance of the old parts of the town: the Gothic and Borne district. Entering these two quarters, people can explore the little alleys and should make a checkpoint at the cathedral Santa Maria del Mar. Afterwards, different cafes and bars invite to have a break and to relax in the sun before heading to the crowdy shopping district around the Plaza Catalunya with its variety of shops. However, the more you go up the Passeig de Grácia the more exclusive brands you will find. Visitors will also pass by many famous buildings such as the Casa Milá or the Casa Batlló, both built by Gaudí. Generally, the whole street is marked by the modernistic time and old buildings by Josep Puig i Cadafalch or other small details like the lanterns built in little banks by Pere Falques tell the importance of the beginning of the 20^th century.

Once having reached the end of the Passeig de Grácia it is highly recommendable to visit the Parc Güell by using the metro line 3 (green), which takes you to the station Lesseps or by taking the metro line 4 (yellow) to the station Alfons X. From both metro stations you would have to go 10minutes more to get to the park where you can rest and enjoy the nature as well as the magnific view of the city. A walk through the park should lead you to Gaudi's house and to the highest point of the park, which is marked with a little artificial hill made of stone chippings. During summer season, visitors can amply relax in the twilight and head to the center for having diner in one of the numerous restaurants. In case they rent an apartment, travellers can also improve their cooking skills and savor the delicious Catalan cuisine by preparing some fish or having some typical Tapas.

Apartments are spread all over the city and the most popular districts are certainly the Gothic and Borne quarter, which are directly in the old part of the town and still offer a certain tranquility. Moreover, they are the perfect starting point to have walks to every part of the town: the beaches, the center, the monuments, museums etc. Additionally, Barcelona is said to have one of the best metro-systems of the world, which has been copied by various other big towns. Therefore, travelling within the town is easy and cheap. Other districts like the Grácia, the Barceloneta and the Eixample have their charming character as well and will make a stay unique. People can get an impression of apartments in Barcelona by visiting some online-providers. On that page, you will also find some special housings like an apartment which was used by Picasso in his early ages. Other apartments offer the typical Spanish style and vary from basic ones to luxury lodgings.

Honeymoon in Barcelona

Whereas many couples and honeymooners consider beachy areas as the best place for spending some romantic time, it becomes more and more popular to stay in a cultural capital as well. Barcelona is certainly among the Top10 of European metropoles and gets constantly more famous due to its many beautiful sites and manifold offers. Especially non-European couples and people from Great Britain explore this new opportunity and make their wedding a lifetime memory in the Catalan capital thus, inspiring other couples to follow their footsteps.

Whether being on honeymoon or just spending a romantic weekend in Barcelona, visitors will be amazed by the huge variety of the town. Culturally unique, couples can visit the arquitecture of Gaudi such as the Parc de Güell, the Sagrada Familia or the Casa Milá. Furthermore, they will be amazed by the lovingly decorated buildings in the antique alleys of the district Born or Gothic. Marrying couples will find the cathedral Santa Maria del Mar in the Born district, which is the most beautiful church of Barcelona and which attracts the most weddings of the city. If either the bride or the groom is Catholic, they are allowed to have an official church wedding. In 2005 nearly 150 couples used this opportunity organized by different organizations.

Once in Barcelona there are several ways to spend the time. At night it is certainly recommendable to visit an orchestra at the Palau de la Música. This modernist opera was built in 1905 and hosted the most famous orchestras and festivals since then among them Strauss, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Jose Carreras or Ella Fitzgerald. Furthermore, there is the Gran Teatre del Liceu, which is in the middle of the Rambla. It is the oldest theater of the city and was built in 1847. It went through two major changes after the fires in 1861 and 1994 and holds a current capacity of 2.292 visitors. Last year, 400.000 people visited the theater and could choose between 40 different shows. Some minor theaters offer additional options and complete the manifold possibilities to enjoy a cultural stay.

After having spent a day travelling throughout the city, couples are highly adviced to dine in one of the various restaurants of the city. The Catalan cuisine is marked by mediterranean food like the paella and regional delicacies such as different types of tapas. There are plenty of restaurants and tiny bars and recommendations vary from the upperclass Commerce24 to the cheaper and cosy bars in the old part of the town. Because of the international character of Barcelona, you will also find various national specialties: Asian food ,for instance at the 'Shoko' right at the beach, French cuisine at the 'Quo Vadis' right next to the Teatre Liceu or Italian restaurants such as the 'Little Italy' in the Born district.

Finally, finding the right accommodation in Barcelona creates a harmonious atmosphere and apartments of different styles, from luxury ones to basic ones, will add their special touch to an unique weekend in Barcelona. Providers have already experience in hosting short-term travellers and are an ideal alternative to hotels. Couples will have privacy and independence at the same time and combine their togetherness with the Spanish way of life.

Festivals in Barcelona

It is not unknown that Barcelona is one of the liveliest cities in the world. Many visitors surge to the Catalan capital during the summer season and enjoy the warm wheather and the town's diversity. Every year there are many events organized both by the City Council and by private organizations and each national holiday has its specific charme.

 

Starting in the first week of June (1^st - 3^rd), the Primaverasound Festival will hit Barcelona with different types of music. There will be approximately 90 groups playing at the Barcelona Forum, which is on the outskirts of the city, right at the beach. It takes place for the 6^th time and attracts famous bands from every type of music such as Maximo Park, Hot Chip, the Smashing Pumpkins, the White Stripes and also lots of more techno influenced acts like 2 Many Djs, Erol Alklan, DJ Yoda, Justice and many more.

Already 2 weeks later, from the 15^th - 17^th of June, people can enjoy the famous Sonar Festival, which is the biggest festival of electronic music in Europe. Famous Djs like Richie Hawtin, Timo Maas, Miss Kitten are in attendance along with some Hip Hop artists such as the world famous Beastie Boys and basically turn the city into one big party, playing their music at different locations throughout the whole center and on the beaches. Indoor sessions will be held in the MACBA, which is the Museum of Contemporary Arts of Barcelona and which provides an exclusive atmosphere for all visitors. All other locations are spread all over the different districts.

Arriving in June, people can enjoy the famous Sant Joan festival on the 23^rd and 24^th. This is however a more 'Spanish' event thus, it will put visitors into a closer contact with the national culture. People celebrate the shortest day of the year by building bonfires and having fireworks all night long in all parts of the city. The whole city will be on the streets and the biggest and longest party will be held on Mount Monjuic. Obviously, the next day, the 24^th of June, is a holiday and people relax from an exhausting night and there will be still a slight smell of gunpowder in the air.

On the second weekend of July (14^th and 15^th), one more festival will take place in Barcelona: the Summercase Festival. It will be located at the Forum as well and hosts music like Belle and Sebastian, Fatboy Slim, New Order, Dandy Warhols, Adam Green and the Chemical Brothers. Accompanied by a manifold set of other musicians, visitors can enjoy the festival day and night.

One more important event will take place from the end of June until the beginning of August: the Grec Festival. During this period of time, visitors will have the opportunity to watch different theater plays, musicals, artistic performances, concerts and many many more. Actions will take place throughout the whole city and there is a wide range of regional and international artists. Because of the length of the 'event', visitors have the daily opportunity to watch the attractions. Some of them are performed only once, others are repeated constantly.

Many of theses events take place on a weekend and attract thousands of people. Due to the additional 'regular' tourists, the city will be very crowded during these dates and spin-offs like housing problems will be a topic as well. Visitors are adviced to inform themselves about it in advance, whether they book Barcelona apartments on the internet, or hotel websites. It is also recommended to visit such events when being already on vacation along the costs of Costa Dorada or Costa Brava as Barcelona is always worth a trip.

Sports in Barcelona

Since the Olympic Games hit Barcelona in 1992, the Catalan city flourished even more in case of sports. Various parks have been built and citizens were animated to do more for their health. Today, one quarter of all inhabitants is said to do sports regularly. Possibilities to do so vary from popular activities like soccer, basketball, tennis or running to regional opportunities such as sailing, beachvolleyball and (wind-) surfing.

Of course, people are not only motivated by the Olympic buildings, which have been constructed throughout the whole city and especially in the south-western part of the town. There are also several famous personalities such as the former tennis star Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, the current FC Barcelona star Ronaldinho or the basketballstar Pau Gasol, who plays an amazing season in the NBA. Inspired by these sportsmen, people go and do running on the boardwalk in order to get into shape for the Barcelona Marathon. Or they train their fitness in order to strengthen their soccer performance when playing on one of the several soccer fields which are spread all over the city. Moreover, there are various parks, e.g. the “Parque de la Ciutadella Villa Olímpica”, and green spaces throughout the city, which are equipped with little running tracks or invite to do cycling, hiking (especially the Montserrat Natural Park) or just to take a walk. Visitors who would like to improve their golf skills can enjoy their time in the warm climate and explore some of the various surrounding golf courses. Many sportsmen also come to Barcelona in order to do water sports in the Mediterranean Sea. Due to the windy climate at the sea, it is possible to do every kind of surfing. Especially windsurfing, kitesurfing and surf riding are famous and attract many people among the different beaches of Barcelona up to the Costa Brava. A very special event will take place in the north of Barcelona from the 11^th - 13^th of May, 2007: the Formula 1. It will perform one out of its worldwide 19 races in Spain on the  “Circuit de Catalunya”. The track exists since 1991 and attracts fans from all over the world as it is known for its modern style and its fast circuit.

However, visitors should be aware of more than just sports sites and certainly need some time to rest as well. Therefore, it is important to have a well-located accommodation in Barcelona and some interesting sightseeing attractions nearby. This will give the stay a cultural touch and it will also appeal to the sportsmen's preferences in case of the lunch schedule and the meals itself. Many sportsmen prefer their own food or have a certain timetable because of their training, which makes it difficult to stick to the hotel's offers. Apartments are an ideal alternative allows visitors to make up their own personal plan for a sporty stay in order to enjoy their time in Barcelona.