English
Français
Deutsch
Italiano
Español
The Charles Bridge in Prague
One of the most important cities in Europe, is the capital of the Czech Republic, located on the banks of the Vltava River, where the second oldest bridge in the country stands. After the flood that caused the destruction of the Roman bridge, the Judith Bridge, in 1357 the current bridge construction was initiated by order of King Carlos IV, name given to the bridge in his honor. Work was completed in the early fifteenth century, becoming the largest trading connection between Eastern and Western Europe, and the only way to cross the river and connect Prague Castle, the Old Town and the surrounding area until the late nineteenth century . Initially the bridge was named Puente de Praga (Pražský most) or Stone Bridge (Kamenný most), but since 1870 it was called Charles Bridge (Karl?v most). With its 516 meters long and ten meters wide, the bridge connects the Old Town, or Stare Mesto with the town, which in Czech is Mala Strana, holding up with sixteen arches. Under the moonlight, the Charles Bridge transports us to medieval times. Long ago there were four lanes used by carriages, today it is a pedestrian bridge and a large influx of tourists stop to look at the works of artists and merchants that are on the bridge. Charles Bridge has three towers that protect it, two in the Lesser Town and a tower at the end of the Old City. This last tower is considered as one of the most amazing Gothic style ones in the world. Each side of the bridge is decorated with thirty baroque statues dating from the...
Careful you don’t get ripped off in Barcelona!
In the beautiful city of Barcelona you´ll find a large amount of bars, terraces and restaurants where you can enjoy a nice coffee. Despite that this city can be expensive, the price depends on the district or place that you´re in. The most touristy area and the one with the most influence is definitely the Ramblas. Located in the city centre, they are the famous pedestrian street where thousands of people walk up and down all day, from Plaça Catalunya to the port, immersing themselves in the Gothic quarter, going up the monument of the discoverer of America, Christopher Columbus. To either side of the Ramblas, you´ll find anything and everything, and many places to have a coffee. However, this is quite expensive due to its location. A good example of this is Starbucks, an American coffee-shop chain that charges 5€ for a coffee. However, it´s a great coffee with a view of the Ramblas. Starting again from the main square in the city, Plaça Catalunya, we go up the hill towards Passeig de Gràcia, another unique but expensive street located in the Eixample district. Here we can find the best shops, two buildings by Gaudí (La Pedrera and Casa Batlló), the Antoni Tàpies Foundation and the best restaurants and cafés with pleasant terraces. These two streets are all aimed towards tourism, so don´t expect low prices. In the centre you can enjoy a nice coffee at a reasonable price at Iposa. It´s a bar-restaurant in Raval, a few yards away from the back entrance of the Boquería Market, on 14 Carrer de les Floristes de la Rambla. It...
The Controversial Art of David Černý in Prague
If you are thinking about planning a trip to Prague there are a few obligatory on every visitor’s agenda, such as: The Franz Kafka Museum Charles Bridge The Castle St Vitus Cathedral or the Old Jewish Cemetery to name a few. All these landmarks are part of not only Prague’s tradition but also a symbol of the background of the entire country and there are plenty of other monuments and places throughout the city that are part of the cultural heritage. However today we would like to focus on someone who marches to his own drum and who also left his mark in various places in Czech capital. Czech artist David ?erný is widely known for his unconventional, often controversial sculptures. To present a rather extreme contrast to the traditional, conservative art that is widely known of Prague, we highlight some of ?erný ‘s works throughout the city: St. Wenceslas riding a dead horse that is upside down If you go to the old shopping arcades at Lucerna Palace look up and you will see a rather strange sculpture of the patron Saint of the Czech state. He sits on a horse and this horse not only seems to be dead, but it is hanging upside down. The TV Tower in Žižkov Don’t be alarmed when approaching the building you see babies that seem to be crawling up the tower. The tower already holds a top spot in the ranking of the ugliest buildings in the world and ?erný added his touch by placing crawling alien-like babies with big heads on it. Do I see two guys...
What to Do in Dubrovnik in One Day
Dubrovnik is a small coastal town of some 50,000 people, ideal for a mini-vacation or weekend getaway. Nestled on the Dalmatian Coast, it has been part of Croatia since 1991, although it managed to remain independent for almost a thousand years. Walking through its streets one can understand why it is known as the pearl of the Adriatic and why it was so coveted and besieged throughout its history. The Normans, the Venetians, the French, the Turks, the Hungarians and the Austrians have all left their mark on it, lending it a rich cultural diversity. If you plan to travel to Dubrovnik but do not have much time to visit, we’ll suggest an itinerary that you can do in one day. You won’t want to waste a single minute, so that you can discover the city’s main attractions. A good starting point is the Gate of Pile, formerly the main entrance into what is now known as the Stari Grad (Old Town) and the Wall. Its drawbridge will make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time. The style of the exterior gate is Renaissance, while the interior is Gothic. We highly recommend a walk along the Wall, which has delightful views of the city and the surrounding sea. It ends at the Old Port, one of the oldest spots in Dubrovnik and one that served a vital role in its history. You can also visit theMaritimeMuseumthere. Back in the city, another must-see is the Luza Square, where the social life of the locals is concentrated. It is the city’s main square and is surrounded by...
Shops You Shouldn’t Miss in Barcelona
There are a number of reasons why more and more is being required of shops, especially inBarcelona. It may be because the competition is keener, the clientele poorer (at least in this country), or because your partner finds shopping incredibly boring, but the truth is that the stores have to reinvent themselves and customers are looking for yet another incentive. Today we’re giving you a list of shops where you won’t mind (much anyway) spending some dough. Olokuti, Calle Astúries, 38 (Gracia neighborhood, Metro: Fontana) Olokuti is one of those charming, beloved shops. Above all, for its philosophy: fair trade. But also for the quality of its products and a special atmosphere it exudes. It is located on the ground floor of an old building in Gracia and preserves the original layout of the rooms and antique tiles. They have clothing, bags, wallets, picture frames, toys and baby clothes, necklaces and earrings, books, music, and a section of green technology (please forgive me for leaving out tons of other objects since I´m not taking inventory there). Sounds great, but there is also another incentive that makes it unique: it has a fairly large courtyard with trees and a garden where you can enjoy a cup of tea, a juice or even the ice cream that they sell. In addition, they often host cultural activities such as exhibitions or concerts in this courtyard. The cuina d´en Garriga, Calle Consell de Cent, 308 (Metro: Diagonal) This place is like shopping in the past, with the exception of the prices, of course. It seems a bit like...
The 15th International Doc Film Festival 1001 in Instanbul
The International Festival 1001 is, and has been since it was started, a meeting point and a platform of expression for directors from around the world who have seen political changes occur, especially in theMiddle EastandAfrica, and who convey these through the media, from the point of view of documentary filmmaking. Since its first edition, the Festival has received hundreds of films from around the world. It creates an atmosphere that allows different societies to get to know and understand one another through the documentaries and international language of film. Of the some 400 documentaries received this year, 120 have been shortlisted to be screened during the festival. These have been chosen by taking into account not only the strength of the styles used but also the human values transmitted, the defense of different cultures, the supporting values that contribute to the future of men, and the presentation of different views. The shortlisted films will now be evaluated during the festival by industry professionals, including academics, directors and actors. During five days, documentaries fromSpain,Iran,GermanyandGreececan be seen for free at different locations throughoutIstanbul. The documentaries will be divided by color according to their theme. Black will feature stories about war, violence, social depression and people who have lived and suffered these experiences; red will show working conditions and the situation of workers in the global order; orange will present current stories from around the world; yellow will taken on history through cinema; blue will explain the common stories of extraordinary people and extraordinary stories of ordinary people; purple will present stories of women in different spheres of everyday life...
Miguel Bosé in the Palau Sant Jordi – the Papitwo tour!
Miguel Bosé is definitely one of those artists who need no introduction in Spain. For good reason, he’s appeared on television and in the hits charts from his early youth until today. Miguel Bosé is one of those musicians who can maintain their creativity and have the strength and enthusiasm to continue making good music. September 27 is going to be an extra special night since we will have the opportunity to enjoy him live in concert in one of the best venues, the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona. After the huge success of “Papito”, on September 4 Miguel Bosé launched a new greatest hits album that also features duets with other artists. As usual a new album results in a new tour, and since this guy never fails to give 110% on stage, it is sure to be one of the year´s greatest events. If we take a short look at Bosé’s history, many are surprised to find out that he is native to Panama, son of a Spanish father and an Italian mother, who were famous in the world of bullfighting and acting, respectively. Both families were related to the families of such important artists as Pablo Picasso and Ernest Hemingway, so it seems quite natural Miguel also became an artist of one kind or another. In 1977 he began making war with his first album, which is known for the songs “Linda” and “Mi libertad”. Until the 80s his music focused on winning over the teenage female audience, with remarkable success, but in 1984 he decided to change the tone and style of...
The Jayhawks concert in Barcelona
Born countercurrently to the American music scene of the time, The Jayhawks have always advocated a classic sound, halfway between country and rock, which eventually became one of the most important groups of the post -punk era. The group emerged in the late 80´s in Minneapolis. Its founders, Mark Olson, Gary Louise, Marc Perlman and Norm Rogers, came from different local bands and published in 1986 their first self-released album, titled “The Jayhawks”. After this first job, they recorded three more albums: “Blue Earth”, “Hollywood Town Hall” and “Tomorrow The Green Grass”, which garnered good reviews, but never became top selling albums. In 2009 they released a new album, “Ready for the Flood”, which was presented in a world tour that brought them to Spain with great success. In early 2011 they reissued their first albums, “Hollywood Town Hall” and “Tomorrow The Green Grass”, with many unpublished extras , for the delight of their diehard fans. Today, numerous albums, multiple concerts and various inputs and outputs of components after they are back with a new work: “Mockingbird Time”, released last year, and that is presented in Spain on a tour of four concerts that will take them around Barcelona , Madrid, Bilbao and Santiago de Compostela. For this tour, the band has recovered most of its original components, including one of its former leaders, legendary Mark Olson, who left the group several years ago to live a quieter life as a solo singer, along with Gary Louris, Marc Perlman, Karen Grotberg and Tim O´Reagan came to Spain to present their latest work and review their legendary discography, which has already...
The BAM 2012 will fill the streets of Barcelona with indie music
September is a great month to be in Barcelona, especially on the weekend of the 21 to the 23. The spring-summer festivals are far behind but September brings an expected encore with live music that also is FREE! BAM, or Barcelona Accio Musical, is one of the proposals that Barcelona offers residents and visitors due to its cultural feasts, “Festival of the Mercè ” from the 21 to the 24 of September. The year 2012 presents us with more than 500 arts, leisure and cultural activities, being one of the most anticipated highlights the BAM, which has music filling Barcelona since 1993 and this year celebrates its 20th edition. It seems unthinkable that to enjoy such good bands, some of them being international cost zero euros. Every corner of the city is a party and you should not miss it In previous years it has been possible to see groups like Ok Go, Standstill, Vinila von Bismark & The Lucky Dice, Boat Beam, Cat People or LA. Do you want to know what lies ahead in this Barcelona Accio Musical 2012? The biggest international group this year will definitely be The Kooks. A true luxury to have them in Barcelona, as it is one of the most booming international indie rock bands. With hits like “Naive”, “Seaside” or “Junk of the Heart (Happy)” their style is very close to brit pop, but they have something cool that makes them stand out and sound different. Their latest album Junk of the Heart, which premiered in 2011 will have many of its songs played live. The Kooks play on the 22 in the...
