Thu 5 Jun 2008
from 1st June to 6th July
Barcelona Flamenco Festival De Cajón! offers an excellent program with some of the very best flamenco artists. Diego El Cigala at the Palau de Palau de la Música opens the festival and Enrique Morente with his daughter Estrella close it at the Gran Teatre del Liceu.
José Mercé, Tomatito, and the young singer Argentina, are also in the festival.
Thu 5 Jun 2008
19th, 20th and 21st June
In its fifteenth year, the Sónar festival continues its commitment to advanced music projects and the most innovative art. The concerts (around 140 performances in total, both live sets and DJ sessions) and three multimedia exhibition areas are complemented by a professional section that includes a recording and publishing industry trade fair, and a section for discussion and debate. SonarMàtica, the main exhibition section, includes installations, net art and other projects. Sonarama focuses on the latest new media developments: audiovisual concerts, software and medialab presentations. SonarCinema, the festival’s film and video program, screens the latest audiovisual works in all formats.
Wed 4 Jul 2007
The Eixample is full with places for dining. In this respect there are enough guides to take you through the zillions of places available.
Today I was looking for a place where to have a business lunch. I had no idea where to go, but I had the luck of bumping in the street with the owner of Cata 181 (Carrer Valencia 181. 08011, tel.: 93.323.68.18) a place I tend to go back every now and then for their superb “platillos”. They are only open on the evenings so he suggested to try Osmosis (Aribau 100, tel.: 93.454.52.01), a place run by Ignasi Morales. The standard evening menu will set you back some 60€ per head without wine, but luckily enough they have a menu (Monday to Friday at lunchtime) which for 19€ will give you a very good value meal in a relaxing atmosphere. A pleasant surprise.
Other places in Eixample I hear about lately:
Hisop
Cinc Sentits
Tue 3 Jul 2007
Like in most cities, in Barcelona you feel —every now and then— that you need out. Out in Barcelona has a great amount of choice, from the peaks of the Pyrenees to the natural parks, the skiing resorts, the Balear Islands, the sand beaches to the South, the Northern coast or Costa Brava… Wether close or far is a question of time availability. Usually the nicest places are mostly not where the public transport can take you, like the Cap de Creus. When heading North I tend to try and make make my excursions from Begur to the French border. I once stayed at a very nice little hotel built inside an old country house, it was called Mas ses Vinyes and it was 5 minutes drive from different beaches. A calm place with awsome views to rest.
Not far from there I was recently recommended the Hotel Lindos Huéspedes in a close by location to Begur. There are plenty of such places in the area and one can get informed about them online or at any Tourism office.
Tue 19 Jun 2007
Although Barcelona is not close to many Northern European cities in terms of urban bicycle use, it’s becoming increasingly easy to tour some parts of town by bike. Summer migth be too hot, but still this is a city where one can enjoy a ride in front of the beach at times. There is a rental service for local residents “Bicing” which is used by some 50.000 citizens of Barcelona, but it’s thought for rides under 30 mins.
At the Cityhall’s website (www.bcn.es), you can have a look at bicycle rental spots in town.
Mon 11 Jun 2007
Passeig Juan de Borbó, 74 (corner, Plaça del Mar No. 1)
Area: Barceloneta
Tel: 93.221.90.82
*Only with reservation
Finding nice affordable restaurants facing the sea is not a particularly easy job. You can always book at the exclusive Arola Arts, but then again that is not for just any occasion but surely for That occasion in which you don’t mind throwing 100 bucks per head on the table for some kind of minimalist food with a nice wine. No that’s not what I’m usually up to.
My favorite restaurant in the area of Barceloneta beach is —at present— Kaiku. Just as you reach the end of the buildings when coming from the Passeig Joan de Borbó towards the beach, you turn left and you’ll find yourself at an open square with palm trees facing the beach. Kaiku sits right there. They have some of the most special paellas and food you will find in an area known for tourist fast-food, namely pre-cooked paellas and the like.
Kaiku has some 8 tables inside and as many in the “terraza” in front of the place. It is usually full so try to book at least a couple days in advance. Actually they only provide tables with reservation, so it would be real luck if you simply pop in there and get seated. Sit facing the seaside and taste a nice meal (around 30€ per person), unsophisticated but full of flavor.