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ONLY BE BARCELONIAN
Only-Be Barcelonian
The Making of: Venues in the Calle Parlament, Barcelona
One of our favorite locations while we were shooting the video was definitely the street called Parlament de Barcelona. This was due to the fact that we went to three great bars where we could eat and drink, but also because it was a pleasant discovery. It is an area that we hadn’t gone out in but it is pretty close to the office… In short, it’s a lively street full of bars where you can experience a neighborhood atmosphere. These are the venues that we chose for going out, even if they didn’t all make it into the video. These places all welcomed us with open arms, so get out there and visit them! The people are really very nice! TARANNÀ (bar, café) Web: www.tarannacafe.com The address is 23 Viladomat. This bar does appear in the video. Some of us went there to have a drink playing the role of foreigners, taking a closer look at a different side of Barcelona. The friendly waiter who gives us a map is actually our boss. Josetxo, the owner, offered a table outside and was very kind to us. Observing while others acted – I’m referring to the bar, not to Josetxo, although he is very nice – my first thought was that this was the perfect bar to go out for breakfast, but then I figured out that the upstairs was very lively and ideal for spending an the idle afternoon hours. BAR CALDERS This bar has something special, and everyone wants to go there. They are famous for patatas bravas and their terrace, which is tucked away...
Christmas Markets in Barcelona
Christmas is coming, which for many people is a time to shop. Perhaps you need gifts for family or friends, or if you have children they most likely expect the house to be decorated for Christmas. You’ll need to be both patient and creative. Some people love holiday shopping and could spend hours just looking without even buying. But for others, it is a chore and they just want the ordeal over as soon as possible. Since these are tough times economically, we must sharpen our wits. That is why we are going to recommend some places to shop in the city of Barcelona where it is also delightful to walk. That way, those who are tormented by shopping can have something to look forward to. The Fira de Santa Llúcia The best known is undoubtedly the Fira de Santa Llúcia, which dates from 1786. It is named for this saint and martyr who is well known in Catalonia and is celebrated every December 13. This street fair takes place from December 1 to 23 in the Gothic quarter, in the square of the Cathedral of Barcelona. Here you’ll find all sorts of Christmastime idiosyncrasies as well as exhibitions. The illumination of the majestic cathedral after dark makes it all worthwhile. Here we can also admire great artists working in the nativity tradition. There are about 280 stands, which are divided into sections such as artisanal, nativity scenes and figures, and you’ll find all kinds of accessories for nativity scenes and home decor, evergreens and other plants; the trees, moss, cork, crafts, clothing, jewelry, ornaments, etc. make great gifts...
The Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil
It´s one of those productions that only happen once in a lifetime, that combines the music of the great king of pop and his choreography with the creativity of the Cirque du Soleil, to offer fans around the world a unique view of the spirit of Michael Jackson. More than 60 participants intervene, from dancers and musicians to acrobats. Inside their European tour they will perform in Cologne on the 15th and 16th of December at the Lanxess Arena. The show with which the Cirque du Soleil wants to impress us with this time is dedicated to someone who because he greatly contributed to music, inspired so much love among his fans and had such an abrupt ending, is a legend. Few have achieved as much as Michael Jackson. A combination of fantasy (that Jackson loved so much) with a fascinating fusion of music, dance and audiovisuals will transport the crowd to the creative world of Michael Jackson, making their bodies feel like they´re facing the legacy of the King of Pop World Tour is though both for fans of Jackson and for those who are just discovering his creativity, attempting to capture the essence, soul and inspiration of the star of this show. They show us the different sides to him that he loved, the creativity based in his own sources of inspiration, his love for music and dance, the fairytales and the magic and the fragile beauty of nature. Recreating unforgettable performances, they emphasize on the global message that he always wanted to transmit: love, peace and unity. All details have been carefully checked, up to the...
Making of – Promotional video at MEAM
About a month ago we’ve publish our promotional video on our YouTube channel. That’s why, during this month you’ll be able to read several articles in which we will discover the locations of our promotional video. Some of the scenes were shot at Museu Europeu d’Art Modern (MEAM, which is located in the Palau Gomis, right in the Born district. The MEAM exposes the best of modern and contemporary art. However, compared to other contemporary museums and institutions of its kind, this museum exhibits figurative art, in which the focus is not on abstraction or experimentation, but the representation of very real objects. We shot several scenes in the corridors of the museum, in which you are actually able to appreciate extraordinary paintings and sculptures. In the video you’ll see a jazz concert that took place at the museum´s courtyard, as well as other summer concerts presented in this venue. Cultural events are organized at the museum each month, (mainly concerts) and December will be no different. MEAM has become the “House of Blues”. Several blues concert series have been hold since October; every Friday you can enjoy concerts of various artists in this genre. December concerts are the following: December 7 – Paquito Groove Band This band plays soul, funk and blues. They also play Otis Redding and Jamiroquai among others. December 14 – Cece Gianotti Cece Gianotti is a composer, producer and singer, who plays several instruments, Gianotti is famous for his eclectic musical style. He has collaborated with artists like Iggy Pop and Tina Turner among others. December 21 – The Night Dogs The Night...
Walking around Montjuïc: museums, gardens and other activities.
One of the most extensive green spaces of the Catalan capital is the wonderful park of Montjuïc, a whole mountain that overlooks the whole city and that, throughout the years, has established itself as the main park in Barcelona. Located in the Sants-Montjuïc district, Montjuïc holds a wide range of activities: the castle, the numerous museums and theatres, the parks and gardents, the sports facilities developed especially for the 1992 Olympic Games or the huge fair complex Fira de Barcelona (one of the most important ones in Europe) to just mention a few. For those who don´t know Barcelona very well, the best way to get to Montjuïc is to get the green line on the metro (L3) and get off at Espanya. Once there, you have to walk up the Reina Maria Cristina avenue until you get to the Palau Nacional, the home of the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC), a majestic building that rises at the end of said avenue and after a very long staircase, past the light and colour fountains (here are the timetables for the light shows of the Fountains of Montjuïc). If you´re not in good physical shape or you´re simply lazy, best avoid all those stairs if you´re walking and best go for the staircases that will take you to the door of the MNAC without giving your legs a beating. A visit to this emblematic building and museum is a must: inside it has the biggest and most important Romanesque art collection in Europe as well as modernism and avant-garde art, a trip through 1000 years of Catalan, Spanish and European art. The works exhibited here belong to names such as Velázquez,...
Barcelona’s cuisine in autumn
When there is a change of season, we often also change our habits in every way, including our clothes, shoes, accessories and even the colors we wear. The transition from summer to autumn forces us to change our travel destinations and pay a visit to museums, instead of spending time at the beach or the countryside. When it comes to food, autumn offers new experiences for our taste sense; more intense flavors and delicious meals with a little more calories. You’ll be able to try a wide range of local dishes during autumn. This gastronomy tour through the capital of Catalunya will take you to every corner of the city. An autumn breakfast in Barcelona will bring you to various cafes and bars in el Raval. All these cafes have their doors open from the early morning and serve foaming coffees with milk, and various breakfast snacks. You can find omelets or Spanish tortillas among the most popular, as well as various cheeses and hams. Coffee is always fresh at any of these charming places. Also, you’ll discover that many locals enjoy a beer with breakfast, even before the first coffee of the day. There is nothing like these delights to raise the body temperature during a cold autumn morning. If it comes to food, you can also get lost on the streets of the Gothic quarter to find International food including: Catalan, Italian, Japanese, Chinese and Latin American cuisines, as well as Pakistani and Indian. There are many options according to your budget: you can actually eat very well with an average of 7 or 8 Euros....
Jason Mraz in Barcelona
Traveling music fans should mark their calendars on November 16 in order not to miss the concert by singer Jason Mraz at the Badalona Olympic Hall that will be held as part of the tour to promote their new album, Love Is A Four Letter Word. This will certainly be one of the most interesting events on the music scene this autumn in Barcelona, so don’t miss out! But who is Jason Mraz? This thirty-something native of Virginia, avowed vegetarian, environmentalist and civil rights activist belongs to the new generation of artists who promote a more committed and environmentally responsible lifestyle. He has received several awards for his humanitarian work, and has even created his own foundation. Playing with styles as diverse as hip-hop, folk and jazz, Mraz released his first album in 2002 under the title Waiting for my rocket to home. While not a huge success, it did bring him into the spotlight enough to perform as the opening act for Tracy Chapman a year later. His definitive breakthrough came in 2005, with his second album, Mr. AZ, with which he went on tour with Alanis Morissette and the Rolling Stones. His song The beauty in ugly was also included on the soundtrack of the television series Ugly Betty. To crown this rapid rise to success, two participants of the talent scout shows American Idol and Canadian Idol performed his song Geek in the pink in 2007, turning it into a sales phenomenon on the Internet. It’s no wonder that his third studio album, released in 2008, entered directly into the bestseller lists in...
Barcelona Jazz Festival 2012
With the arrival of autumn, it´s traditional that the most important European cities get geared up for jazz. A large number of festivals proliferate around the continent and make up a more or less permanent circuit for the great jazz stars, a music genre that has been a unique artistic field that has characterized the 20th century. One of the most prestigious and attractive festivals is the one that takes place in Barcelona (http://www.barcelonajazzfestival.com/), which is celebrating its 44th edition this year with a month-full of concerts that make up an impressive lineup filled with top-class artists and eclectic musical proposals. This is a characteristic that is common in most international jazz festivals and has not fallen short of the critics amongst the most purist jazz crowd, since they are tired that jazz is considered a dumping ground for music that doesn´t fit in other traditional genres by commercial music-playing radios. Despite their well known liking for fusion, even the most purist fans should be delighted this year with the star performance of the one and only Sonny Rollins. At the age of 82, he who is perhaps the biggest living legend in jazz will be playing in the magnificent, dreamy and mesmerizing venue of the Palau de la Música on the 20th of November. Rollins is one of the giants that this genre has produced in the last 50 years, mostly thanks to his unique way of playing the saxo and for his songs, which have been jazz classics for many years. Rollins´ presence could boost any festival but this extraordinary New Yorker won´t be the only jazz colossus...
The cold is coming… November has arrived!
Promocode: PCQJNISRLGFM In November, the cities on the northern part of the planet get filled with coats, scarves, hats and gloves. After the hot summer, it seems that the cold has finally set in… and it´s here to stay (for a few months at least!) November, also, is funnily full of cultural festivals for all tastes: film, jazz, dance, architecture, art… any excuse is a good one to get away for a few days and soak in the culture of different cities. And when the event is over, what better than a nice coffee in a warm Italian coffee shop in Milán or a nice hot chocolate in a cozy café in Paris. At Only-apartments, we would like you to enjoy these experiences and everything that our destinations can offer you at an amazing price thanks to our promotional code. Submerge yourself in the cold and make the most of our offer. It´s valid for the first 10 days of November! Venice. Check out the amazing architecture at the 13th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale. Paris. Opera, film, dance, performing arts… you´ll find it all at the Autumn Festival in París. Marrakech. Do you like film? Discover the International Film Festival of Marrakech. London. Visit the World Travel Market and find out about the latest trends in the tourism sector. Granada. Aside from the beautiful Alhambra, Granada offers you the International Jazz Festival. Athens. Dance specialists from around the world arrive at the city for Dance Therapy festival. Amsterdam. The museums of the Dutch capital will be open all night for the Museumnacht. Milan. The city...
Shelter 307 in Barcelona
Barcelona is a city that´s still growing, where many changes have taken place and are still happening, not only in the configuration of the city itself and the expansion of its most emblematic districts but also due to the amount of travellers and tourists who go there. Therefore, we can find in Barcelona a unique and relevant personality of social involvement, a struggle for freedom of expression and, above all, an intense political action that generates a feeling of community. There´s no doubt that Barcelona is one of the cities with the most cultural effervescence in Spain, with a struggle for gender equality, rights for immigrants and the resistance against abuses of power on different levels coming from all sides. The people of Barcelona have a considerable will for freedom of expression. This is of course a virtue and not a fault. That a community can express itself and reject what goes against their rights and at the same time create the networks to do so, is something that´s very important. This character of resistance is nothing new in Barcelona. As everyone knows, Catalonia was an important anarchist stronghold since the end of the 19th century. Please, dear reader, let´s understand anarchist not just as a way of revolt but also the search for equality amongst all individuals, of all genders and races, for a community with equal rights for everyone without any abuse of power. And so, Shelter 307 is the best example of the spirit of a community that worked together with the local governments of back then in order to create a shelter to protect themselves and survive...Promotions
