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isla spanish courses - learning spanish in spain - the isla team writes:
BARCELONA. Top Tips
- Keep up to speed with what’s going on in Barcelona with the "Guía del Ocio". Listings of concerts, movies, theatre and information about festivals, street parties and happenings.
- Chill out to soft sounds at the the torch-lit beach bars of Nova Icaria and Bogatell.. Watch out for reggae concerts at the chiringuito on Marbella Beach.
- Live concerts and DJ sessions at Lasal (May to October) which morphs into an open-air disco. And The Loft night at Razzmatazz: an enormous club with 4 different spaces, including a wonderful open-air terrace.
- Sculpture and nature: visit Xicu Cabanyes extraordinary display of original work in beautiful surroundings. Also called the "parque erótico" as several pieces are quite saucy. You might even be asked to pose for Xicu´s collection of "derrières.
- One of life’s greatest pleasures in lunch at the Boqueria market, sitting up at the bar and feasting on marketfresh prawns, razor clams, deep-fried artichokes, creamy ceps risotto and a glass or two of cava. Our favourite place is Quim’s in the middle to the left as you go in, but be prepared to queue! Take up your position behind diners on the stools and avoid the temptation to breathe down their neck!
- The MACBA. This is fun and dynamic. While it has a small permament collection, the draw are the 4 temporary ones which usually include artists with a cause, or pop art. As the ticket is valid for three months and not personalizad you can share it’s cost (7,50 euros) with your chums. Note: entrance to this museum is also included in the Art ticket (17 euros) which includes the MNAC (lovely Contemporary Art collection on the first floor) and the Miró museum - an interesting building with great views. Sadly, all the Gaudí monuments are priced separately (and rather expensively!).
- Catalan customs. Like the Sardana, a hoppy dance performed by grown men and women in ballet shoes in front of the cathedral on Sundays. Have a go! And try to catch the Castellers – human pyramids which can climb to 9 people high. The crowd throngs around the base to form a sort of mattress to catch falling Castellers.
- Montjuic. Scene of lots of surprises. First, getting there is fun: take the cable car from Barceloneta or jump on the furnicular at Parallel. The imposing building crowning the main avenue is the MNAC, the Nacional Museum of Catalan Art. Montjuic is also home to the Miró Foundation and the Pueblo Español. In 1929, for the World fair, artists were sent around Spain to seek inspiration to build little replicas of churches, squares, city walls on the Montjuic site. The result is this somewhat kitsch but quite fun museum. More kitsch with the all-singing all-dancing Magic Fountain at weekends from around 2000. And finally, the open-air cinema at the Montjuic fortress and macro-BBQ nearby - both in the summer.
- Shopping shopping! Find a bargain at one of Barcelona’s many outlets. Or if you are really keen, take the bus to La Roca Village for designer clothes, handbags etc. For discounted street-wear in a handy place, find the big camel on Calle Porterferissa, and go on in. There’s a lovely open-air café upstairs to rest your weary shopping legs later!
- Fiestas and street parties. Build a bonfire on the beach and make new friends at the allnight party on the eve of San Juan. And join the street parties and neighbourhood fiestas – expecially Gracia’s in August.
- And finally: rent a car and push off north to discover the wonderful beaches, coves and villages of the Costa Brava. Among our favourite places are Playa Castell (near Palamos) and Playa Canyelles (near Lloret). For Dalí fans, the theare-museum at Figueras is a must. You can get there by bus or train, but we recommend renting a car and making a weekend of it. Alter Figueras, go and see the house Dalí and his muse Gala shared in Port Ligat. Nearby is the eastern-most tip of the Iberian peninsula, the dreamy Cap de Creus. Have a curry at the big yellow house on this hill – very Hotel California-esque! Spend the night in one of Spain’s most beautiful villages, Cadaques, and enjoy the wonderful sight and sounds of the sea lapping against the fishing boats. Have dinner at Casa Anita: you’ll be plonked on a trestle table with other diners, be told what to eat and probable teased by the charismatic owner. Up the road at Café Tropical you’ll find faded 70’s glamour and lovely coctails. Next day drive up to the Monasterio de Sant Pere de Rodes and climb the steep hill behind to the fortress at the top for wonderful views.
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