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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

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.

Bachelors Enjoy Their 'Last Night in Freedom' in Barcelona – Party for Stag and Hen

Barcelona already offers a lot to the most different tourists. Whether they are interested in arts, sports or simply want to spend their time shopping or enjoying the sun. However, there is also an increasing group of visitors called stags and hens (UK and Ireland) or bucks (Australia), who spend their “last night of freedom” in the city. This new way of celebrating his/her farewell to the unmarried society and announcing his/her status as being promised to someone is getting highly popular. Especially the English people seem to travel a lot in order to enjoy this last opportunity and to have a hilarious, unforgettable time among their friends.
Groups of 4-15 people are now searching for new adventures and Barcelona is the right place to be. Known as one of the hippest places in Europe and worldwide, the Catalan city stands for a unique town charakter with its arts and arquitecture, its modern lifestyle, the sunny beaches and a  neverending nightlife; perfect conditions to stay on short-term in order to enjoy an unbelievable time with the best friends. Staying together in an apartment instead of searching for some hotel rooms which are close to each other is probably the best solution for these groups. Online you can find a wide range of Barcelona's luxury studios, high-class apartments or satisfying basic accommodation in different districts. Thus, offering you to start your activities from the ideal initial point. Of course, this starting point depends on the groups' activities as they search for very different opportunities among them paintballing, karting, golf, sightseeing, nightlife and much more. In particular, paintballing is highly popular where groups spend a day in an especially-constructed park chasing each other with paintball-shooting guns . After this exhausting but hilarious battle, several restaurants in the city-center invite to taste the Catalan cuisine or a traditional Spanish paella, have a glass of the regional wine and launch the terrific nightlife in one of the various clubs of Barcelona. Having had a night-out, stags and hens can go to the spa the next morning in order to relax and recover for another exciting day in the city. They could use the opportunity to be in Barcelona and visit some of the most important attractions like the Parc Guell, the Sagrada Familia or the Cathedral. After some sightseeing, it is worth watching a match of the famous FC Barcelona in an amazing atmosphere at the Camp Nou. Nearly 100.000 fans will be cheering the match with some of the most technical players in the world like Ronaldinho, Eto'o or Deco. Celebrating this unique experience, it is time again to enter the clubs in the different districts of Barcelona. However, visitors should remember that the Spanish nightlife starts later and clubs like the Razzmatazz are opened until 8 o'clock in the morning. Bachelors who tend to prefer a more tranquil stay in Barcelona are highly recommended to extend their cultural visits to museums such as the MACBA or the Mueso Picasso. Furthermore, they should visit the Tibidabo and enjoy the tremendous panoramic view of the whole city. However, these visits should avoid the high-season in summer because temperatures will rise up to 40° C. Therefore, planning a trip in June, July or August suggests going to the beach and enjoying the nights and festivals such as the Sonar Festival in June,  14^th to 17^th.
Even if this way of celebrating the bachelor's life maybe new and strange to some people, it offers the possibility to have an unforgettable, melancholic and funny time. Bachelors can organize their weekend however and wherever they want to and it can be seen as an alternative to having a night-out in a familiar surrounding. Still, they should be aware that they focus on partying with their friends and that they resist the manifold temptations as honeymoon will be soon afterwards.