BarceloMIA

FOLLOW ME I'M MOVING!!!

2010-03-28T14:40:00.000+02:00

Hey Darlings!

This is post nr. 100 on the Barcelomia blog! Wow! I started this blog 5 months ago to document my preparation for my Barcelona move.. and well... let's just say a lot happened since! :)

I'm not moving to Barcelona just yet and I decided to take on a new direction with my blog a couple of weeks ago when I renamed it to Gypsy*Diaries. With post nr. 100 I think it's time for (yet another) change!

As Gypsy*Diaries are evolving and I am starting to have more and more lovely followers... (thank you so much, you would never know how much it means to me right now and how happy I am seeing you coming by day by day.) I decided that Gypsy*Diaries deserves a new home! (Haha isn't that ironic that even my blog is travelling constantly :))

I'll leave this blog on blogger for people looking for info on Barcelona, but I'll be posting all my travel, fashion, design and lifestyle related posts in the new blog!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE If you were following me until now, change your links and come over to the updated and fabulous Gypsy*Diaries and if you just found me please come over and take a look! :) I'd love you to comment and follow me if you like my site!

http://gypsy-diaries.blogspot.com/

So Ladies and Gentlemen thanks for everything so far! Please come over to my new blog home and continue supporting me on my journey!
Love,

Gran Tourismo - Barcelona

2010-03-28T12:34:00.000+02:00

I just recently heard of a fabulous project called Gran Tourismo.

In 2010, globetrotting travel writers Lara Dunston and Terence Carter, in partnership with HomeAway Holiday-Rentals, will trade hotel rooms for holiday homes as they embark on a contemporary grand tour of the globe. They’ll be travelling slowly, living like locals, doing and learning things, and giving something back at each destination they visit. Their mission is to explore more enriching and authentic ways of travelling, and make travel more meaningful and more memorable.

You can follow their journey on their blog, I'll certainly do! :)

So far they've visited Dubai, London, Marrakesch, Essaouira, Madrid, Jerez and right now they are in BARCELONA!!!

I really enjoyed their posts this week from Barna on their new home, on shopping, tasty souvenirs, melted chocolate, old shop fronts, cocktails, tortillas and locals.

P.S: Stay tuned, I have some big NEWS coming up later today! :)

Ain't No Sunshine, Ain't No Color

2010-03-27T21:27:00.001+01:00

{Bag - Burberry, Blazer - Mango, Jeans - Zara, TShirt - Zara, Scarf - Pashma}

Have a Happy Weekend!

2010-03-26T16:00:00.001+01:00

Are you doing anything fun this weekend? I'll keep detoxing, running, will go on a quick trip to Budapest to visit some family and will go on long walks in the sun to make some photos! :)

Have a Happy Weekend, Spring is finally here!

Source

GypsyFriday - AmsterdamThe Netherlands

2010-03-26T09:19:00.002+01:00

After my summer in Sevilla, I enrolled in a double degree BA program in the Budapest Business School and the Dutch Avans University. As part of the program we had to spend 6 months in The Netherlands.
Oh Boy, best six months of my life! :) Crazy parties, great new friends, cute boys, bikes, lots of travelling, windmills, wooden shoes, tulips... what's not to love? Have you ever been an exchange student abroad? Most people will tell you that it's the best experience you can have in life!

Pic 3 , Pic 4, Pic 5&6

Killer Shoes by Sonia Rykiel

2010-03-25T10:44:00.002+01:00

So on my big shopping trip last weekend I bought these killer pair of shoes and I love them! My girlfriend said they were the ugliest shoes she's ever seen :) but goodness I'm so tall in them and they are so comfy! :) What do you say? Like or dislike?

P.S: I'm tiny and my boyfriend is probably the tallest guy I've ever met so I definately need these! :)

Run 2

2010-03-25T10:00:00.001+01:00

You remember that scene in Yes Man when Zooey Deschanel takes Jim Carrey on a run with her photography group? (If you haven't seen the movie, you seriously have to! one of the funniest movies of all times) That scene inspired me to take my camera with me on run nr 2. :) Well I did feel like an idiot making pictures while running, but I have to say I'm pretty impressed with some of the results! (and man my quadriceps is killing me today!) Running starts to be a little fun...

And the award goes to...

2010-03-25T08:25:00.000+01:00

ME! Good morning sunshine! This day starts splendid, I've just received my first blog award EVER from the beautiful Missy (who totally looks like Rachel Bilson) :)

Thank you!!!

Rules:

1. Thank the person that nominated you

2. Copy the award in your blog

3. List 3 things you love about yourself

4. Post a picture you love

5. Tag 5 people you wish to pass this award on to

3 things I love about myself

my ears :)
my braveness
my stubborness

A picture I love

{tottaly me :)}

And the award goes to...

Vicky at Bikinis and Passports

Alicia at Cheetah is the new black

Farah at FahionDegaine

NikyMarie at La Mia Vita

and the Neon Gypsy

I love you girls! XXX

In July I'm going to....

2010-03-24T13:27:00.000+01:00

Source

Quote of the day

2010-03-24T10:02:00.000+01:00

Food things

2010-03-24T09:13:00.000+01:00

Vintage food poster for my future kitchen, you can buy it here

HaHa... no I'm not thinking of food now that I can't have it at all! :D
But seriously day one of detox is done and I am feeling good. Thanks for the sweet and concerned comments about me starving, but actualy I do eat a lot... but only fruits and veggies and seeds. I'm excited to follow through and share the experiences with you!

Now about running... I did it! After a loooong preparation of dressing up, finding my ipod and finally leaving, I went for the first real run of my life and it was waaay better than I expected. Foo Fighters in my ear I ran through a bridge, made a round in the park than back home in 20 minutes! :) Ok I was walking half the time but this is a start! :D

and now... day 2

Detoxing

2010-03-23T16:00:00.002+01:00

As it's spring and I'm preparing for the Tunisia trip, I though it's the perfect time to do a 10-day detox, refresh and loose a couple of pounds. I don't believe in not eating at all, but I do believe in eating and drinking only good things. In the next 10 days I'll be eating only fruits, vegetables and seeds and I'll splash it down with loads of water and herbal tea. I'll also pick my exercise routine up a notch. I go to the gym 3-4 times a week, but in the next 10 days I'm commiting to running every single day too. This will be extremely difficult as I hate running, but I hope it's one of those things that you'll get to like if you do it enough. So keep your fingers crossed for me! I need all the support that I can get. (I don't think I emphasized enough how much I HATE running :)

My breakfast:

My lunch: (without the feta of course :)

My dinner:

{Sunflower seeds}

My snacks:

... and now I must go for a run... must go must go must go...

Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3, Pic 4, Pic 5

In 10 days I'm going to...

2010-03-23T08:00:00.003+01:00

TUNISIA!!!

Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3, Photo 4, Photo 5

My Happy Weekend

2010-03-22T08:00:00.003+01:00

Some weekends are dull, some are sleepy but this one was full of action and I couldn't be more happy about that. I've been camping in my home town for a while now (at my moms place), spending most of my time in PJs in front of the computer, but this weekend I decided to visit some friends and do a big-spring-shopping-spree in Budapest.

{Suede brown leather jacket - Promod, Brown leather bag - Barneys New York, Brown boots - Buttero, Jeans - Zara TRF, Shirt - Pimkie, Watch - DKNY}

You know when I go shopping often, I can resist to buy, but when I don't go for a while and everything is new, I just go completely crazy.... :) 8 hours non stop shopping seems to be my physical limit by the way.... and I still have bruises on my shoulder from carrying the heavy bags.... anyhow, there is nothing better after an exhausting day of spending than meeting up with old friends in a nice little restaurant (Vapiano in this case) and drinking a glass of wine (... or two).

While in the city, I found out that some of my high school classmates (most of whom I haven't met since we were 18) are organising a spring welcoming party in a nearby village. I almost didn't go but in the end we had a blast. We were cooking outside, playing games (we, girls hid some chocolate eggs and the boys had to find them :), telling stories and catching up. I love spring!

And last but not least, I spent Sunday with my mum at the local travel fair. I'll be booking two holidays this week. Let me keep the destinations secret a little bit longer, but both places are in Africa... :) yuppieee

{Black trench - F&F, Black leggings - Terranova, Silver Belt - Philip Russel, Grey striped oversized shirt - H&M, Cardigan - Mango, Grey suede boots - Michael Kors}

I wish all weekends were so much fun...

I {heart} you

2010-03-21T17:45:00.000+01:00

I know Valentine's day is long gone... but wouldn't these framed hearts be perfect wedding or anniversary presents for someone you love? I adore them.

You can get a personalized one in the Sarah & Bendrix etsy shop on very affordable prices.

Happy Spring!

2010-03-21T09:41:00.000+01:00

Spring is finally here!!! The sun is shining, birds are singing and the sky is blue... I am having such a wonderful weekend filled with friends, family, shopping and travel planning. Can't wait to tell you all about it! :)

But for now, have a wonderful Sunday and enjoy a beautiful dance clip I found over at Neon Gypsy.

Watch it, love it!

{P.S: My biggest regret in life is that I stopped dancing...}

GypsyFriday - SevillaSpain

2010-03-19T09:00:00.003+01:00

Continuing my Friday travel roundup on the beutiful places I was fortunate to visit, I'm proud to present you one of my favorite places in Europe, Sevilla, Spain. After I left my parents house my first foreign adventure led me to a babysitting summer job in Sevilla. I did not know much about the city other than it's very hot... but I was beyond excited to finally live in a different country. It was love at first sight. The heat of the air, the smell of the wind, the color of the oranges, the excitment of the night, the sound of the Spanish guitar... Sevilla and Spain will always have a special place in my heart and I remain an expat for life. :)

{Oh oh a real antique}

Pic 1&2 mine, Credit for the rest of these beautiful pics

{keep in mind back than we hardly had digital cameras :)}

House of Harlow

2010-03-18T09:50:00.001+01:00

I simply adore the House of Harlow 1960 jewelry line. Vintage, boho, chic, exotic, tribal, gypsy, unique.. everything I'm looking for when it comes to accessories. I'm a firm believer of mixing simple clothing with extravagant jewelry and I just couldn't choose from this collection. I want EVERY SINGLE PIECE of it!!! Furthermore I loooooove the capaign pictures and the dresses in it... huh

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T08:49:00.002+01:00

1. Chanel Limited Edition Gold Ficition Nail Color

2. Marc by Marc Jacobs classic Q Natasha bag

3. Zac Posen Nationale Pleated Dress

4. Wedge Leather Espadrilles (net-a-porter.com)

5. Jennifer Meyer Four Leaf Clover Gold Necklace

6. Yves Saint Lauren Arty Aventurine Ring

7. Jennifer Meyer Leaf Ring Yellow Gold

8. Michael Kors Camera Gold Watch

Gisele for VOGUE

2010-03-16T13:33:00.001+01:00

I just can't get over how amazing Gisele Bündchen looks 6 weeks after giving birth to son Benjamin.

I admire her business ethics, lifestyle and eco-interests (and husband :))

She scored the cover of Vogue this month. Read the whole article here.

I love you Gisele. You are a true inspiration.

{7 months pregnant and amazing}

{Practicing yoga in Costa Rica}

{Vogue April 2010}

Just read...

2010-03-16T09:23:00.000+01:00

Last night I finished reading The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. I thought I would love it. I read rave reviews by bloggers and critics alike, but to be honest it took me well over 3 months to finish it. Normally I am a quick reader but it felt more like a core in high school than a novel I cannot stop reading.
It is beautifully written and exhibits one of the most creative writing I've ever seen, but for me the story was not engaging enough. I do recommend it though! The perfect novel for curling up on the sofa with a hot cocoa on a chilly spring evening.

"Fourteen-year-old Alma Singer is trying to find a cure for her mother's loneliness. Believing she might discover it in an old book her mother is lovingly translating, she sets out in search of its author.

Across New York an old man called Leo Gursky is trying to survive a little bit longer. He spends his days dreaming of the lost love that sixty years ago in Poland inspired him to write a book. And although he doesn't know it yet, that book also survived: crossing oceans and generations, and changing lives..."

Next on my list is a book from Nicole's husband Jonathan Safran Foer, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

Did you read anything good lately?

Gypsy*Editorial

2010-03-15T11:40:00.000+01:00

{Photographed by Michael Sanders for Elle Italia}

Source

Soulmate

2010-03-13T21:44:00.000+01:00

{Natasha Bedingfield - Soulmate}

One of the most beautiful songs ever... and Natasha is so gorgeous! I love her lyrics, her voice, her style.

So beautiful...Enjoy live!

HAVE A LOVELY WEEKEND!

Scarlett, Mango and Me

2010-03-12T11:25:00.000+01:00

J.Crew, Forever 21, Anthropologie, Victoria's Secret... just some of the US fashion giants unaccessible for us European gals (don't get me started on shipping fees and import taxes).

What we do have though is Zara's little sister Mango. With limited edition celebrity designer collections such as Penelope and Monica Cruz or Zuhair Murad they offer simple, wearable, highly on trend pieces at affordable prices. While Mango is little known in the US (btw you can shop it online), I really don't know any chic in Europe without at least a couple of pieces of their collections.

I love the spring collection starring my all time favorite girl crush Scarlett Johannson.

Romantic military, sailor chic welcome to the world of Scarlett, Mango and Me!

Gypsy*Friday - The Place I call HOME

2010-03-12T09:00:00.004+01:00

New blog, new rules. :) I decided that from now on every Friday I'll give you a glimpse into my gypsy life a.k.a previous homes/travels.
The first on the list has to be the place I call home, one of the most understated capitals of Europe, Budapest. Hip and retro, cool and happening, the new central European hub of arts, music and festivals. You gotta love it! :)

{The Parliament, View from the Buda castle}

{The famous Chain Bridge}

{Lake in the City Park, Varosliget}

This video makes me so proud.

You didn't know that all this stuff is coming from Hungary, did you? :)

Come and visit! :)

World Map

2010-03-11T09:45:00.000+01:00

To accompany the Summerbelle City Maps I am on the market for a World Map for my future living room.

Which one do you like best?

Something modern?

Etsy shop

Etsy Shop

Source

Maybe a wall sticker?

Etsy Shop

Or maybe something with an antique feel?

On Ebay

Street Marketing

2010-03-10T16:16:00.001+01:00

I love it! Such a great alternative marketing campaign (this is a metro exit :)! Well done Covergirl! :)

Source

One is the Loveliest Color

2010-03-10T09:25:00.000+01:00

I think my wardrobe is too black. One of my spring resolutions is to buy and wear more colors and more prints (hippie flower prints!). Somehow I'm always attracted to simple and ageless black pieces and have more LBDs than I could count. :) I remember a while back Joanna from A cup of Jo (a real blogging celebrity I know you all know :) posted an article in the NY mag about five New Yorkers who wear only one color (all day, every day and not black!). I was so shocked! I find myself going back to that article time and time again and decided to share the images with you here as well.
Could you wear only one color? What would it be?

{Valeria “ValBlu” McCulloch - Shoe Designer}

{Stephin Merritt, Singer-Songwriter. Brown.}

{Elizabeth Sweetheart - Fabric Designer. Kelly green.}

{Karim Rashid - Industrial Designer. White half the time, pink half the time.}

{Rebecca Turbow - Fashion Designer. Gray.}

Welcome to Gypsy*Diaries!

2010-03-09T12:00:00.001+01:00

With the Barcelona move not happening right now, I thought it's time to redesign/rename my blog. You like it? :)
I was thinking a lot and decided to go with the gypsy theme. I started to count in how many places I lived in the last 8 years....

- 4 countries
- 6 cities
- 30+ apartments
Plus I travelled to
- 4 continents
- 20+ countries

... I think I truly deserve to be called a modern gypsy. :) What I really enjoy in life is that I'm always travelling and gathering new experiences. (but a base to call home would be nice soon :)
I'll keep posting about Barcelona every once in a while but I'm taking a new direction posting more travel, fashion and design related posts and really I'll be posting about anything that comes to my mind... a real gypsy can never limit herself to a certain direction! :) Hop on my caravan! The journey continues...

Photo credit

Good News Bad News

2010-03-08T18:16:00.001+01:00

My last couple of months (or years) have been on a constant emotional rollercoaster. Breakups, makups, more breakups, more make ups... huhhhhh once I'll share the full story with you but for now, the good news is that we are back together! :)))

Bad News... I might just have to put the Barcelona plans on hold for now :(. But stay tuned as in a couple of weeks I'll be moving to Italy to start a brand new life! HaHa... yeah my life is a little more than chaotic...

A Breath of Fresh Air at the Oscars

2010-03-08T10:00:00.000+01:00

Now there were a couple of outfits I really liked!

{Rachel McAdams in Elie Saab, so effortlessly, fashionably chic, bring on spring!}

{Gorgeous mummy Maggie Gyllenhal in Dries Van Noten, you gotta be brave to wear prints}

{Nicole Richie... what a standout!}

xxx

Photos via Fabsugar

Nude at the Oscars

2010-03-08T09:00:00.000+01:00

When did everyone decide to go nude to the Oscars? I get it, nude is in, but when following a trend results in the total loss of originality... I love these ladies but I would have chosen differently...

{Meryl Streep in Chris March (Go Project Runway!)}

{Cameron Diaz in Oscar de la Renta}

{Kate Winslet in YSL}

{Sandra Bullock in Marchesa}

{SJP in Chanel}

{Miley in Jenny Packham}

{Jennifer Lopez in Armani Prive}

{Diane Kruger in Chanel}

{Demi Moore in Versace}

{Amanda Seyfried in Armani Prive}

{Anna Kendrick in Elie Saab}

WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE?

I'd vote for the Armani Prive gowns.

Photos via FabSugar

If I were...

2010-03-07T11:41:00.001+01:00

Leila at Olive Juice Photo Blog gave me this great game for a lazy Sunday morning! Feel free to steal it and make it yours! :)

If I were a month, I’d be May.
If I were a day of the week, I’d be Saturday.
If I were a time of day, I’d be late afternoon when everyone has finished with work and goes out for a drink.
If I were a planet, I’d be Venus :)
If I were a sea animal, I’d be a jellyfish.

If I were a direction, I’d be south.
If I were a piece of furniture, I’d be a modern sofa.
If I were a liquid, I’d be a cocktail.
If I were a gemstone, I’d be an emerald.
If I were a tree, I’d be a cherry.

If I were a tool, I’d be a camera.
If I were a flower, I’d be a tulip.
If I were a kind of weather, I’d be sunny and windy.
If I were a musical instrument, I’d be a violin.
If I were a color, I’d be green.
If I were an emotion, I’d be passion.
If I were a fruit, I’d be a strawberry.
If I were a sound, I’d be a splash of water.
If I were an element, I’d be fire.

If I were a car, I’d be a Smart cabrio.
If I were a food, I’d be ice cream.
If I were a place, I’d be Barcelona. :)
If I were a material, I’d be a pearl.
If I were a taste, I’d be sweet&sour.
If I were a scent, I’d be lavender.
If I were an object, I’d be a stone in the sand.

If I were a body part, I’d be a neck.
If I were a facial expression, I’d be a smile.
If I were a song, I’d be "Mad World" by Gary Jules (even though I'm not so depressed all the time)
If I were a pair of shoes, I’d be confy leather boots.

:)

Photo source

Barcelona Vacation Video

2010-03-06T17:00:00.002+01:00

Cute! ;) xxx

Happy Feet

2010-03-05T16:00:00.002+01:00

Being a big traveller I have always wished I'd be persistent enough to collect fridge magnets or at least postcards from the places I'm travelling to. I just find that as soon as I have to do it, I just don't want to do it anymore and it destroys all the fun... :) Scrolling through some old pics I realized that I took a shoot of my bare feet in the sand at almost all the holiday spots I travelled to in the last couple of years. :) One day I'll have a wall covered with photos of my happy feet all over the world and I will smile.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the places , moments and people that take our breath away… (1000 places to see before you die)

Enjoy my pre-selection!

{Koh Samui, Thailand, 2005}

{Corfu, Greece, 2006}

{Zanzibar, Tansania, 2008}

{Brighton, UK, 2009}

{The Gambia, 2009}

HAPPY WEEKEND!

THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

2010-03-04T11:17:00.005+01:00

Ladies and Gentlemen I have a huge announcement to make! After years of sideroads and hesitations I decided to follow my dream and start a new life.

I bought a one-way ticket to Barcelona!

I'm full of excitment and fear of the unknown but I did it! I made up my mind and on March 19th (in two weeks!!!!) I'll become a new resident of my favourite city. I'm so nervous, so many things to organise so many things to do. I don't even know where to start.

First of all I'm in full swing flat hunt, so if you know a nice, sunny room in a good location with internet in the room (cable, not WIFI, I work from home) please let me know (my email address is in my profile)! :)

Thanks for all your support so far! You really helped me to be brave and do what I always wanted to do!

Soooooooo exciteeeeeeeeeedddd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :))))))))))

Photo source

I {heart} Barcelona

2010-03-03T11:00:00.005+01:00

People keep asking me why I want to move to Barcelona...

It's just the coolest, most beautiful place on the Globe.

Look at these pics!... Any further questions? :)

The Source of these fantastic photos

As of yesterday I'm officially single.... :(

2010-03-02T18:00:00.001+01:00

Milano by dawn

2010-03-02T09:00:00.003+01:00

After dropping off my girls at the airport I stayed another couple of days in Italy and wandered into Milan city center at 7 am. It's interesting to be the only tourist and hell the only person in town in one of the most overcrowded cities on Earth.

{the famous Dome of Milan}

{the most famous and luxurious shopping center of Milan, forgot the name...}

{Scala on the left (the building was very disappointing, I expected something grand)}

{there must have been some big design event going on, the square in front of the Scala was full of pink snails, a nice pop of color on a grey and rainy day for sure!}

xxx

Vacation in the Alps

2010-03-02T01:00:00.002+01:00

So here is my summary of our last 10 days! Our week spent in Monterosa Italy was really great. My two best friends flew in from London and Paris and we had a fab time along with the misters. We snowboarded during the day, went to exquisite little spas during the evening and ate ourselves dead in traditional Italian bistros during the night.

{We had perfect sun most days and perfect fresh snow every day}

{We found the sweetest, most romantic Spa I've ever been to. It's a private place they rent out for small groups/couples. Jacuzzi, sauna, turkish bath, tropical showers, kneipp massage pool, relax area, tea bar... watching the sun set over the Alps on glass walls...what else do you need for perfect relaxation after a day of winter sports? It's called the 360 spa in Antagnod. Can you believe they don't have a website?

p.s that's my friend Sophie with her boyfriend :)}

{and after all the sports and spoils... Antipasti della casa - for one!}

{Fonduta - we were very close to Switzerland so the main dish (sorry this was still a starter) was cheese with cheese}

{My new favorite food - Panzerotti alla salsa di Noci (home made pasta filled with truffles in a creamy nut sauce) or they could call it the "How to gain 2kgs (5lbs) in 10 days" pasta}

{Limoncello... hmmmmm}

... AND NOW BACK TO LIFE, BACK TO REALITY...

Why I LOVE March

2010-03-01T17:30:00.001+01:00

Today is the 1st of March and I couldn't be any happier. March has always been my favourite month of the year and here is why I look forward to it so much this year:

Source

1. It's officially spring!

2. Did you know that March used to be the beginning of the calendar year in Roman times? I do feel like March is the beginning of my new year every year, when it's time to wake up from that bad winter dream (and get to the gym)

3. Days actually get longer and warmer

4. My favourite flowers like daffodil and tulips start to bloom and you can feel that sweet smell in the air

5. I can throw out my winter jacket

6. I can legally eat ice cream again

7. Sitting outside in cafes is not only for crazy people anymore

8. I can wear sunglasses again

9. I can start planning my summer travels

10. and most importantly and I don't dare to say it out loud yet.... BUT looks like this March will be the month when I'll move to Barcelona finally!!! :))))))))))))

So here is to a HAPPY and exciting MARCH!!!

Greetings from Italy!

2010-02-28T17:01:00.001+01:00

Just got back home (from a 10 day snowboarding trip in Italy) full of experiences, bruises and memories and I can't wait to post all about it. :) Thank you for all the nice comments while I was away!!! This blogging thing starts to be waaaay too addictive! For now I need to sleep! :)
Ciao till tomorrow!!!
xxx

Happy Wednesday!

2010-02-24T17:00:00.000+01:00

via Weheartit

Barcelona Districts

2010-02-21T18:00:00.001+01:00

My favourite areas to look for a room/apartment right now:

1. Exiample (both)... city center

2. Borne... cool and hip

3. Poble Sec...fiesta, fiesta

4. Gracia... parks & views

5. Barceloneta...beach!!

My dear readers in Barca! I'd love to hear where you live, and which area would you recommend/not recommend from the above?

Source

Project Snowboard

2010-02-18T09:21:00.001+01:00

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm leaving on a 10 day snowboard trip tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited. Me and my gals will be landing in the Alps in Italia. Although, I was watching alpine skiing on the Olympics yesterday and I did get a bit discouraged (did u see all the falls? damn) Anyway I am hoping for nice weather, lots of snow and cheerful nights.

Here is a glimpse of how i will look like on the slopes:

And here is the female section of the company I'll be having:

Last chance to "enjoy" winter, spring is approaching fast (yippie)! Hit the slopes this weekend if you can!

Summerbelle City Maps

2010-02-17T09:50:00.001+01:00

I'm a big fan of Julie Summerbelle. I love everything she does but more than anything I adore her papercut city maps. I can't wait to have a nice living room so I could hang out her prints. So far she's done London, Paris and New York but I have requested Barcelona to be the next one! :)

Look! That's how she does it! Marvellous!

My MUST HAVE Items for Barcelona

2010-02-16T10:11:00.002+01:00

With the Barcelona project getting more and more concrete in my head I started to think about the items I absolutely need to own before I can move... :)

1. Barcelona Luxe Guide

2. Barca scarf... claro... :)

3. Classic Converse shoes for all the long walks around the city

4. Ray Ban metal frame aviator sunglasses

5. CH Eau De Toilette Spray - Carolina Herrera - Fragrâncias femininas

6. Rebecca Minkoff Linear Stud Nikki Hobo Bag... I've been searching for the perfect black leather bag for so long...

7. Nikon D60 to capture all my memories

8. Chanel Le Vernis Nail Color Colour Polish Barcelona Red No. 207

Pfff.... gotta go work now! :)

Happy Monday!

2010-02-15T10:08:00.001+01:00

Carnaval in Barcelona....

2010-02-13T10:31:00.001+01:00

Today is carnaval in Barcelona. Oh how much I wish I could be there..... Don't miss it!

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Valentine's Day in Barcelona

2010-02-12T13:20:00.001+01:00

Ok, I totally didn't want to blog about Valentine's day, but i just found this awesome article on OH-Barcelona about "How to spend Valentine's day in Barcelona". It categorizes couples in 4 categories and offers programs for each category individually... and yes, it does have recommendations for Anti-Valentines :) Check it out if you're looking for something special to do with your significant other like:

Hot air ballooning around Catalunya with Balo Tour
Hammam steam baths and massages at Rituels D'Orient
Dinner at Mirablau on Tibidabo, with great views across the city
Helicopter tour with Cathelicopter
Rent a scooter to tour around the city like a local with Cooltra
A concert at Palau de la Musica
Take in some Argentine tango in one of Barcelona's top hotels

I personally would love to take a long walk along the beach, just before hitting an Anti-Valentine party... :)

Inspiration for a grey Valentine's day weekend.... love u Audrey!

2010-02-12T11:03:00.001+01:00

Loft is Love

2010-02-11T10:37:00.001+01:00

My absolute dream? To have a gorgeous loft with a roofterrace in Barcelona one day. This one, designed by Christina Rodriguez gets pretty darn close to what i have in mind :). Okok, i can certainly settle for something smaller, but this two bedroom at Passatge de Sert in Eixample is just beautiful. I love the simplicity of it, the colours, the effortless design..... and who knew there were lofts in Barcelona? :)

6 weeks till spring... hang in there

2010-02-11T09:10:00.001+01:00

I just LOVE Tulips...

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Quote of the day... :)

2010-02-10T11:14:00.001+01:00

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10 observations on renting a room in Barcelona

2010-02-08T16:03:00.001+01:00

These days i find myself spending hours looking at idealista searching for a place to stay in case I finally make the move in the near future. I've also seen many questions on different forums regarding flat prices, so i thought i'd share my findings with you.

1. I pretty much narrowed down where i'd like to live: Eixample or Gracia

2. I used to rent a small apartment in Berlin and I am very hesitant to move together with other people again, but a couple of things i've learned from living alone:

it is very expensive!!! paying for all the agency fees, warranties, buying all the furnitures and necessary daily things cost a LOT of money, much more than i anticipated (the first day that my bank account was in positive was the day i moved out, and that includes the days i got my (pretty good) salary as well)
I find it almost impossible to find furnished single apartments in Bcn (especially in a good location with a terrace :)
You can afford a very nice and big room in a very nice house in a very nice place with huge terracce for the same money as what you would pay for a crapy single apartment with paint falling on your head without any furnitures
Renting a room normally also means that someone else takes care of the bills for you! Nice! :)
Prices are normally all included, no hidden fees, extra payments... when you live alone you never actually know how much you paid at the end of the month

3. So i decided i would share an apartment with max 2 other people (girls...) things can get messy with more people! (also more fun...:)

4. My preferences: central location, big terracce, big room (i work from home), great people, nice furnitures, preferably modern, clean... etc, not much i know :D

5. Prices for renting a room: 300-600 euros... I'll target 450.. you can get some pretty sweet rooms for that (all bills included, sometimes even a cleaning lady... not that it's a priority)

6. P.S i am surprised how many people have cats in Barcelona! no cats for me thanks

7. Which reminds me, I'm astonished by the poor search options on idealista, i can choose if i'm a boy or a girl, if i have any pets and if i want to live with gays and lesbians or if i don't mind.....

8. More people should include personal descriptions/photos, it's crucial to know who you're gonna share your life with!

9. When you move to a new city it is actually not the worst to move together with people who know the city and have many friends! (i'll definately choose a place with the nicest people in it!)

10. Living in a place like Barcelona where it can get very hot and it's sunny most of the year i'd definately look for a place with a terracce! :)

So if anyone is reading there.... do you share an apartment in Barcelona? How much do you pay? What are your experiences? Would love to hear...

Mad World

2010-02-07T16:23:00.001+01:00

So nice, so perfect, so much reflects my mood right now...

Winter Blossoms...

2010-02-07T13:47:00.001+01:00

By my new favourite Barcelona based fashion photographers, Bela Adler and Salvador Fresnada... I love the Spain inspired fashion, flavoured with some wintery flowers. Can't wait for spring, can't wait for spring, can't wait for spring....

Have a lovely weekend!

Weekend in Barcelona?

2010-02-03T11:16:00.001+01:00

I really like this "How to spend a weekend in Barcelona?" slideshow of the New York Times. Check it our if you need some inspiration! (WARNING: For tourists only! :))

Wishful thinking...

2010-02-03T10:34:00.001+01:00

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I'm back... sort of

2010-02-03T10:18:00.001+01:00

I've been a bad, bad, bad blogger this year. Call it sadness, winter sleep, lazyness or loss of interest due to the fact that moving to Barcelona sometimes seems like it would never happen. :( It still does. I'm in a major crossroad of my life and sooner or later i have to make a decision on how to move forward.... hard decisions, sadness and pain, but hey, que sera sera... I'm sure by the time the first spring flowers are out i'll be happy with whatever decision i'll make by than... oooo very misterious... honestly i just dont have a clue....until than i curl up under covers

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Happy New Year!!!

2010-01-04T12:57:00.000+01:00

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Gone snowboarding...

2009-12-15T13:54:00.002+01:00

... and this is the first time i've ever said that! But tomorrow is my Birthday (i know Happy Birthday to me! :)) and what better way to celebrate than trying a new sport out. Ok, i did try it before, but that is a whole different story, which ended up with a lost snowboard, the rescue team "rescuing" me and turned out to be the mot expensive vacation ever... and afterall i did not spend more than 10 minutes on the board, Anyway BF says i have the "ideal body" for snowboarding so he invested in snowboarding gear (birthday and xmas present) and i invest in trying not to break myself! Wish me luck! I'll be in the Alps....

P.s: check out my skiing near Barcelona roundup!

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Have a sweet weekend!!!

2009-12-11T15:28:00.001+01:00

Baking anything good?

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Barcelona Gift Guide - Handmade Presents by Etsy

2009-12-10T11:39:00.001+01:00

Two weeks left till Christmas. It's hightime we start thinking about what to put under that Xmas tree and i think this really is the last week i'd dare to order anything online (Especially from the States)! I'm just getting to know Etsy (i know i'm quite late), the web's nr 1. website to buy/sell all things handmade but it seems to be a great place to buy original gifts which are one of a kind and truly unique. Not surprisingly Barcelona seems to be a source of inspiration for many amateur and professional artists so here is my handpicked Barcelona gift guide by Etsy.

For Her

Barcelona Necklace by JustaGirl27

28.5 USD (shipped from Germany)

A large brown carved horn leaf, an aged copper ring, light blue sea glass nuggets, buri root beads, facetted black Onyx rounds, filigree copper and last but not least - wooden components - all teamed up via brass links to create this fantastic OOAK long necklace.

Hanging from antiqued brass chain, closing with a decorative antique brass toggle clasp.

Barcelona Copper Filigree Necklace from Vintage Tooling by chinacherie

16.5 USD

This dramatic filigree pendant was made from vintage toolings. It has a spanish moorish feel to it. The brass stamping was copper plated and oxidized to highlight the rich details for the filigree pendant. It measures 2 1/4" across and it stands 2 7/8" high. It is hung from a fancy copper chain with toggle clasp

Vintage Lucite Silver Etched Beads - Barcelona by bythebead

18 USD

Beautiful intricate silver etched lucite beads are the centerpiece for these earrings. If you didn't know, you would think they old metal beads, but they are wonderfully lightweight The are accented with a rustic silver plated lucite teardrop dangle and hang from sterling silver ear wires. They will easily go from glam to casual.

For the New Mommy

Barcelona Baby Bag by loveleestudio

119 USD

This super chic Barcelona Baby Bag is a beautiful combination creme and black foral. The exterior of this bag is a combination of creme and black floral accented with elastic side pockets in the same material for easy access of bottles, keys and wallet. The interior lining of the bag is adorned with electric royal blue dupioni silk fabric. The six interior pockets are floral cotton for easy access of contents and storage. Black grosgain ribbon completes the look of the bag. Fabric straps are floral on the exterior with electric blue on the interior for an extra pop. The bag has a magnetic snap closure to keep everything inside. This bag is truly fabulous!

For HIM

Barcelona Moleskin Pocket Cashier Ruled Notebook by Acreativesoul

10 USD

This Moleskine cahier is embellished with a lovely frame and assorted vintage button. The frame is a recycled slide frame (outer dimensions 5X5 cm i.e 2X2") covered with cork contact paper. It displays a photograph of Barcelona (Spain) taken by my boyfriend (Damien Lacroix) and computer-edited. Both the frame and button are durably glued to the front cover with archival gel medium (no stitches).

Each journal is handmade so that the journal you will receive can slightly differ from the one you see here (particularly the vintage button).

Handmade Leather Barcelona Photo Album by leathermaps

14.9 USD

HANDMADE, HAND TOOLED AND HAND PAINTED PHOTO ALBUM - This album is entirely done by hand. The front is decorated with one of my designs and my initials are burned on the back. The album becomes more beautiful the more it is touched. It is a work of art and it makes unique gift, unforgettable souvenir of your travels or handsome decoration. Enjoy it.

For the whole Family

Barcelona painting by marmas

350 USD

(my absolute favourite!! :)

Oil on vintage, un-stretched canvas. 20x16 inches. Unframed. Will frame on request.

To be continued tomorrow with the Barcelona Gift Guide - Books!

The Barcelona Day Bed - Made of Chocolate

2009-12-09T09:53:00.001+01:00

Lately i've been mad about Mad Men, the US series about Madison Avenue advertising executives set in the '60s and i spotted the gorgeous sofa/bed that Betty is lying on while at the psychologist.... Well turns out it is a famous piece of furniture called the Barcelona day bed!

My other addiction lately.... Chocolate! Hmm so comforting to buckle up under a blanket and open up one of those Santa chocs! :)

But look at that! Someone crafted the Barcelona day bed entirely out of chocolate!

Created by Leandro Erlich and Guido Mogni it's a piece of art to die for!

"Walking closer, one realized that the couch was made of chocolate, each pleat, button, and stitch lovingly rendered with a thick coating that looked (and felt) eerily like leather. As the maid brandished serving utensils and sliced into the couch, she revealed the glorious truth: a moist, buttery layer cake with hints of cream, coffee, and liquor buried inside. The pillow was even softer, fashioned from an airy angel food cake spiked with vanilla. Viewers had difficulty deciding whether to stare or eat, but quickly settled on the latter."

Oh how i wish i could rip that button off with my teeth!

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Salvador Dali + Walt Disney = Destino

2009-12-04T09:18:00.001+01:00

Oh what a fabulous find! Salvador Dali and Walt Disney started to work together on a cartoon back in 1946 called DESTINO. The six-minute short follows the love story of Chronos and the ill-fated love he has for a mortal female. The story continues as the female dances through surreal scenery inspired by Dalí's paintings. Someone picked it up and dusted off and the short version was released in 2003. I love love love it!! It's truly one of life's little known treasures! The official press release states:

Destino began in 1946 as a collaboration between Walt Disney and the famed surrealist painter Salvador Dali. A first-hand example of Disney's interest in avant garde and experimental work in animation, Destino was to be awash with Dali's iconic melting clocks, marching ants and floating eyeballs. However, Destino was not completed at that time. In 2003 it was rediscovered by Walt’s nephew, Roy E. Disney, who took on the challenge of bringing the creation of these two great artists to fruition. In addition to the completed Destino, this exciting addition to the Walt Disney Treasures line also includes an all-new feature-length documentary that examines the surprising partnership between Dali and Disney plus two new featurettes; "The Disney That Almost Was," an examination of the studio's unfinished projects; and "Encounters with Walt," which addresses the surprisingly diverse group of celebrities and artists who were attracted to Walt Disney's early work.

The DVD is due to be released in 2010, until than, enjoy:

PapaBubble - Caramelos personalizados

2009-12-03T10:10:00.001+01:00

For me December = lots of sweets! Have you heard of PapaBubble? They are a fantastic store making the dreams of thousands come true with personalized handmade caramelos! Si si!!! Their first store opened in Barcelona in 2004, and since than they conquered Tokio, Amsterdam, New York, Seaul, Lisbon and Taipei. I love the way their store look, their creativity and this is one of those great and unique Christmas gift ideas for someone special! :) Yummyyyy

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Happy December!

2009-12-01T11:09:00.001+01:00

this is my december
this is my time of the year
this is my december
this is all so clear

this is my december
this is my snow covered home
this is my december
this is me alone

this is my december
these are my snow covered dreams
this is me pretending
this is all i need

Linkin Park: My december lyrics

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So you wanna rent a place?

2009-12-01T10:29:00.001+01:00

Here is a tiny post I wanted to put together for ages! A list of the best/most known immobiliaria websites in Spain /BCN. Let me know if I left out something you feel should be on the list!

http://www.idealista.es/

http://www.loquou.es/

http://www.bornliving.com/

http://www.segundamano.es/

http://www.mundoanuncio.com/

And I recommend this article on how to get a flat in Spain...

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Christmas season in Barcelona

2009-12-01T10:16:00.001+01:00

Where did this year go??? December already? Winter? Really? I hope you're all ready for the big holiday season with all the shopping, family visits, long travels and endless hours of eating included!

If you ask me... Christmas does not belong to Barcelona. Period. I refuse to see it and i juts can't imagine it! Nevertheless it does look like the city vamps up pretty well for the holidays...

Christmas Markets

The feria de Santa Lucia runs from early December until Christmas Eve and can be found outside the Cathedral, in Plaça de la Seu and Plaça Nova. (nearest Metro: Jaume I). Here you will find all sorts of hand made gifts, intricate nativity scenes and the Caga Tió log (something you'll struggle to find anywhere else!) and of course Caganer, a porcelain gnome figurine dressed as a peasant farmer squatting with his pants down and a stream of excrement connecting his bare buttocks to the earth.

Well, excuse me. What? Is really a shitting man (and excuse my language, caganer =pooper in English) is one of the most typical Catalan accessories of holy Christmas? Wikipedia does have several explanations:

Possible reasons for placing a man who is in the act of excreting waste in a scene which is widely considered holy include:

Tradition.
Perceived humor.
Finding the Caganer is a fun game, especially for children.
The Caganer, by creating feces, is fertilizing the Earth. However, this is probably an a posteriori explanation, and few cite this reason for including the Caganer in the Nativity scene.
The Caganer represents the equality of all people: regardless of status, race, or gender, everyone defecates.
Increased naturalism of an otherwise archetypal (thus idealised) story, so that it is more believable, taken literally and seriously.
The idea that God will manifest himself when he is ready, without regard for whether we human beings are ready or not.
The caganer reinforces that the infant Jesus is God in human form, with all that being human implies.

OK. I need to digest this....

Christmas Eve in Barcelona

Midnight mass as Christmas Eve becomes Christmas Day is very important in Spain. The biggest 'misa del gallo' is at the Benedictine monastery at Montserrat near Barcelona.

Three Kings Procession in Barcelona

On December 5, as is the case throughout Spain, the Three Kings lead their procession through the city. In Barcelona the procession starts shortly after five o'clock at Portal de la Pau and finishes around nine at Montjuïc. You can expect large crowds, so arrive early. On the night of December 5, children leave a shoe out for the Three Kings to fill (stockings clearly aren't so common in this Mediterranean climate!)

Nativity Scenes

There is one obvious nativity scene that every visitor to Barcelona should see - the permanent natvity scene at Sagrada Familia. There is also a big display at the Cathedral. The Catalan word for 'nativity' is 'pessebre' while in Spanish it is 'belén'.

To be continued....

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From Barcelona: Stories Behind the City Vol 1

2009-11-30T16:34:00.001+01:00

Jeremy gave me one of my very first comments on this blog and i'll always be very thankful for that! ;) Not to metion that FromBarcelona is one of my favourite blogs and is on my daily must read list!! Jeremy recently published a collection of short stories about Barcelona and the book is now available on Amazon US & UK. I can't wait to read it and will definately put it on my Xmas shopping list for my Barcelona aficionada friends!! Check out Amazon's description below! Well Done Jeremy!

One Unique City, Ten Revealing Stories... A contemporary collection of short stories inspired by Barcelona, its history, its legends and its people including: First Impressions: Exploring the metro, Las Ramblas and the labyrinthine alleys of the Barrio Gotico you go in search of an elusive Spanish beauty in a white dress and meet a gruff book seller who introduces you to the legend behind the city. Senyor Jordi i el Drac: In this quirky retelling of the classic story of Saint George, an old knight and his squire battle a bat-winged beast, saving a village and a princess, on their way from to the kingdom of Barcelona where their friend, Don Quixote, awaits. A Book for A Rose: Meet Johnny - a long term American expat who wonders if it will be the first Sant Jordi the sun doesn't shine - and Elena - the Spanish beauty who breaks his heart, giving him something more valuable than romance in the process. CSI Barcelona: The death of an English man has Dr. Josep Caldet searching for the killer. His investigation uncovers a hidden underworld that lurks beneath the beautiful city as he discovers the price some are willing to pay to live in Barcelona. Running the Gauntlet: A motley crew of locals and expats decide to take back Barcelona's streets from the pickpockets and thieves. They grab a drink or two along the way, in some of the city's most famous bars, before the night ends with a bang. The Crypt of Colonia Güell: Barcelona's most famous architect, Antoni Gaudí, is being crushed by his designs for La Sagrada Familia until his benefactor, Eusebio Güell, offers him a commission that challenges their friendship. Barcelona Gothic: Based on true events, Urquinaona 4 is a mysterious building located in the famed L'Eixample district of the city where its newest tenant, Alex, soon discovers that the cheap rent and great room comes at a terrifying price. ...From Barcelona offers a fresh and unique literary perspective on this popular Catalan city, while fulfilling the interested visitor's desire for information about places to go and things to see. Described as "City-Lit" by the author, the goal of this book is to entertain, inform and inspire you to live and breathe your own Barcelona adventure.

Let's DANCE... in Barcelona

2009-11-30T16:09:00.001+01:00

Love this new video of the Plastiscines!!!

I wanna dance with somebody, dance with somebody..... And If i was in Barcelona I'd definately Rock it out for Mando Diao tomorrow night!!!

MUJI - Barcelona in a bag

2009-11-18T16:20:00.001+01:00

Christmas is fast approaching and i found just the perfect gift for those lil ones in your family!!!
The new addition to Muji's ______-in-a-Bag series of wooden toys is Barcelona.
It includes a little wooden Mies Barcelona Pavilion, along with the Sagrada Familia and La Pedrera apartments by Gaudi!

Gotta love it!!

Barcelona Promo Video

2009-11-06T12:49:00.001+01:00

I like...

Custo Barcelona

2009-11-02T17:32:00.001+01:00

No wonder that the city of colours, the city of magnificiant buildings, art, design, cultures, Gaudi... has touched the world of fashion as well. The most pioneer ambassador of Barcelona in the fashion industry is undoubtedly Custo Barcelona. Well they are a bit out there... but fact is that their celebrity clientele including Charlize Theron and Julia Roberts surely don't mind!

"Started by brothers Custo and David Dalmau in 1981, Custo Barcelona was born on a motorcycle trip across America. Inspired by the lax attitude of southern California, the pair returned to their native Barcelona and started a business crafting T-shirts for men and women with screen-prints and illustrations. Now the brand extends to everything from suits to swimwear, and it’s still the colors and prints that keep bringing customers back. The look is bold, bright, and psychedelic, and has a particularly high appeal in international markets—they account for almost 85 percent of all company sales." Source

Enjoy some of my favouritesfrom their latest collection (Spring/Summer 2010):

Have a Happy Halloween Weekend!!!

2009-10-30T12:44:00.001+01:00

As for me i'm skipping Halloween (not that i ever really celebrated it :)) but i'll be at least cooking a yummy pumpkin soup to commemorate the event! Are you up to any spooky Halloween fun this weekend?

Halloween actions in BCN:

- Learn more about La Castanyada

- Halloween Partiesssss

- Get Spooked - more parties

- Concerts/Art/Clubbing

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October in Barcelona

2009-10-29T12:21:00.001+01:00

Genious Barcelonian blogger From Barcelona (Jeremy) captured the autumn beauty of the city so perfectly, i just had to quote him (for the full post check out his blog!).... Thanks!!!!

"October's coming to an end and I'm a little sad to see it go. It tends to be my favorite month in the city. The heat and humidity of summer is gone and the rains of September have finished, for the most part. The weather's perfect: warm enough to still sit out side during the day but usually with a breeze; at night a light jacket or a sweater suffices. There's this lazy haze in the air and it just seems everything's moving at half speed from the people to the cars to your brain. Walking around the different neighborhoods, you see the way the sun hits the buildings and brings out all the different shades of colors, giving them an almost painting-like feel."

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Tibidabo: magical, antique, retro, charming, romantic....hhhhhuhhhhh

2009-10-28T21:51:00.001+01:00

"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." George Bernard Shaw

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Just because it's so lovely...

2009-10-27T21:04:00.000+01:00

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Have a nice family weekend!!!

2009-10-23T13:54:00.001+02:00

My mom and sis are visiting for a long weekend. We'll have long walks on brown leaves, rent bikes, go hiking and i'll be eating my body weight in mommy yummy food!!! Great stomach stretching exercise for the upcoming holiday season! :) You have a nice family weekend too!

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Thursday Bliss.... Spanish Guitar a la Emilio de Benito

2009-10-22T10:52:00.001+02:00

Enjoy some authentic Spanish guitar music from Emilio de Benito (the man responsible for the beautiful guitar solo in Vicky Cristina Barcelona), brightens up even the greyest Thursdays! Let it lift you up and fly away!!!

In Barcelona and Want to See Live Performances of the Spanish Guitar?

Skiing near Barcelona

2009-10-20T09:56:00.001+02:00

With winter knocking on the door i can't help but get excited for the skiing/snowboarding season ahead of us! One of the major attraction of Barcelona to me has always been that while you're right on the beach you can be in the mountains, ski-ready in a matter of hours, you can even do daytrips if you want to!

After some research i came up with the following list of ski resorts to check out:

Within 2 hours of Barcelona

- La Molina

- Masella

- Port del Comte

- Vall de Nuria

Within 2,5 hours of Barcelona (all in Andorra)

- Canillo

- Encamp

- Ordino - Arcalis

- Pal - Arinsal

- Pas de la Casa

- Soldeu el Tarter

Within 3 hours of Barcelona

- La Massana (Andorra)

Have you tried any of them? Any (other) recommendations???

If you're in the city don't miss the Barcelona Snow show on the 7th of November!

One of my new year resolution for 2010 is: learn to snowboard!

(oh i did have one attempt years ago, which ended with me being alone in a forest covered with snow, waiting for the rescue team... rental snowboard lost forever... well, that's a story for another day :)

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Have a lazy weekend!!!

2009-10-16T14:53:00.000+02:00

Lots of sleep, movies, food... those are my weekend plans! You have a lazy weekend too! ;)

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World Vegetarian Month

2009-10-15T10:43:00.001+02:00

Did you know it's World Vegetarian Month in October? I know people who "celebrate" by going vegetarian or even vegan for a month or a week. Did you ever try it? I was vegetarian for about two years in high school, but after a while i did miss meat so i switched to a semi-vegetarian diet (I only eat chicken now). Yeah Spanish/Catalan cuisine is not one of the reasons i want to move the Spain (except for espinacs a la Català and escalivada), nevertheless there are a couple of good looking vegetarian restaurant in BCN. Will check them out and it's the perfect time for you as well to fill your bodies with fresh fruits and veggies before the grey season starts! Oh and by the way I'm loving the SinCarne website! Go check it out!

VEGETALIA : one of the leading Spanish producers of organic vegetarian foods and products has opened its very first bar/restaurant and store right in the heart of Barcelona

SESAMO

JUICY JONES probably the only 100% vegan restaurant in BCN

For a long list of vegetarian and vegan restaurants in BCN click at SinCarne or HappyCow

(btw it is very surprising how many restaurants do not have a proper website these days, incredible!!!)

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Color-me-Barcelona

2009-10-13T17:33:00.001+02:00

Something really great about autumn in Barcelona.... the colors!

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Have a beautiful autumn weekend!!!

2009-10-09T14:11:00.001+02:00

I'm off to Paris, but wish you a beautiful weekend with an Alan the Gallant illustration! Another (autumn-y) masterpiece from BCN...

Giulia Y Los Tellarini - Barcelona Lyrics and Video

2009-10-08T18:20:00.001+02:00

Talking about Vicky Cristina Barcelona I remembered the enchanting song that starts off and sets the mood in the movie. The song Barcelona was recorded by Giulia y los Tellarini, a little known local indie band. Can you think of a song more perfect for the movie or more perfectly fitting to Barcelona??? And have you ever seen the official videoclip? Olleeee

Porque tanto perderse tanto buscARSE sin encontrARSE
me encierran los muros de todas partes
Barcelona te esta's equivocANDO no puedes seguir ignorANDO
que el mundo sea otra cOSA y volar como maripOSA.
Barcelona hace un calor que me deja
fri'a por dentro con este vicio de vivir mintiendo
que bonito seria tu mAR si supiera yo nadAR.
Barcelona Y mientras esta' llena de cara de gENTE extranjera,
CONOCIDA, desCONOCIDA ? y vuelta a ser transparENTE.
No insisto ma's Barcelona _____
si no es cosa de tus ritos (o gritos?) tu laberinto extrovertido.
No he encontrado la rAZO'N porque me duele el corAZO'N
porque es tan fuerte que so'lo podre' vivIRTE en la distancia
y escribIRTE una canciO'N.
Te quiero Barcelona
( male chorus: ellas en el poder ellas en el poder)

Barcelona Movies

2009-10-07T14:24:00.001+02:00

I’ve been a Barcelona aficionada since I can remember, still my interest resurfaced after I watched my now favourite movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona. I’m pretty certain that I would be madly in love with Scarlett Johansson if I were a man… and after this movie I probably would have fallen in love with Penelope too! What an actress!!! Talk about an Oscar well deserved.

I believe that a really good movie can be influential and life changing! This movie certainly has been for me.

“Barcelona provides the dazzling backdrop to the film. The modernista architecture, Gaudí, the museums, cuisine, the charming narrow streets and squares tucked away in the old quarter are real locations which reaffirm the city’s place as a magnet for lovers of cultural tourism.”

A must see for everyone!

And what better way to prepare for a trip or a move than researching what the moviemakers have to offer? Barcelona has become incredibly popular among commercial and movie makers alike and here are just a couple of my must-see movies before the move:

L’Auberge Espagnole

“The film tells the story of a French graduate student who goes to study in Barcelona as part of the Erasmus Scheme and shares an apartment with seven other students from all over Europe. In this mini Tower of Babel he lives a somewhat chaotic and informal life, marked by a permanent diversity which is continually on show.

In the words of the director Cédric Klapisch, Barcelona was the ideal city to shoot this film, because it is highly photogenic. He also added that it is a city that has attained a mythical status for many young people in Europe who dream of visiting it. La Rambla, the Park Güell, the Sagrada Família and the Barceloneta beaches are just some of the areas that reveal this open, Mediterranean city steeped in history and culture.

Salvador Puig Antich

“The Catalan-British co-production is based on rigorously documented real events which took place during the last years of the Franco regime, a period relatively unexplored by film-makers. It tells the story of, a young anarchist who fights for freedom by every possible means, aware of the possible consequences and the tragic and unduly heavy price he would have to pay for his actions, which made him a symbol for an entire generation.”

Todo Sobre Mi Madre

Oscar winning, heart-wrenching story about a mother who moves to Barcelona to find the father of her dead son.

“For the first time, Almodóvar decided that the main setting for one of his films would be Barcelona instead of Madrid, and feature such well-known landmarks as the Sagrada Família and the Palau de la Música Catalana”.

In fact the Barcelona Tourism Board offers “Barcelona Movie Walks” aka sightseeing tours visiting the places where these (among others) movies were shot! Cool!

All pics and reviews are from the Barcelona Movie website

Barcelona Honeymoon

2009-10-07T10:27:00.001+02:00

What are the impressions of a first-time-Europe visitor of Barcelona? Check out Tracy's honeymoon post on BCN!

Congrats to the happy couple!!!

This photo is from Tracy's blog

Very useful links for living in Spain

2009-10-05T10:27:00.001+02:00

Monday morning... hello! I found some very useful working/living in Spain articles on the Expat Blog which i thought i'll share with you!

Boring? Maybe... Useful? VERY...(hopefully ;))

Photo credit

Have a crazy weekend!

2009-10-02T19:14:00.001+02:00

Hey barcelonians! I'm doing something crazy this weekend! Hope you too! ;)

Photo Source

Barcelona a La LUXE

2009-10-02T18:52:00.001+02:00

I can't believe I never heard of the LUXE Guides before!!! “The world’s coolest guidebook publisher” according to The Times (UK) teamed up with local residents in the coolest and hippest towns around the world to create the cutest, smartest and funniest guidebooks. Who better than a local to show you around the best places in town, right? Their website definately worth a visit too!

They claim: There simply wasn’t anything out there for smart, solvent people who knew the value of money and didn’t want to waste it, but who were as happy to splash for the good stuff as sit in a tumbledown shack on the river if the food were good enough and adventure was on the menu. So what can we say? The LUXE reader is busy, money-smart and value-minded, discerning, frivolous, adventurous and above all, fun. Yes, but the LUXE reader is also 65 and wearing Bionda Castanas, or 25 and wearing vintage Tommy Nutter. There’s no age limit to style or the enjoyment of life – you just need to want the best. Oh, and love shopping. And spa. And…

What’s in it for us? when we arrive in a city we look solely for the things we totally love (and think you will too) and we ditch the rest. We leave the mediocre, touristic blah to the other guides and go straight for the good stuff – and that doesn’t mean the most expensive, on the contrary, it can be a dollar or a hundred dollars. What’s important is that it has to be the best of what it is; the best salad, the best budget boutique hotel, the best mom & pop trattoria, the best handmade shoes, the best fine diner, the best walk in the park.

Just my kind of thing if you ask me! And I adore the glamorous book cover illustrations!!! Their box sets are to die for! You can choose from the Luxe European, Asian or World Box edition or you can customize and create your own box! Fabulous gift idea for Xmas! (The Luxe European Box is 75 USD and you can order it online at their site, the Barcelona Luxe Guide is only 9,99 USD :))

I’m ordering their Barcelona guide ASAP! But before I thought I give you a glimpse into their recommendations. I love their style, so cool, so young, so fresh, centuries away from the usual guidebook boredomness. Ana Montiel, a very talented Barcelona based pattern designer is one of the resident BCN editors, check out her weblog!

Curious what they recommend in BCN? Hahaha…. I thought this could be very useful for visitors and maybe gives some new ideas to residents alike... so here it comes!

The below text is coming directly from www.luxeguides.com

Welcome

From the Romans and Moors to today’s global traveller, the world, it seems, can’t get enough of Barcelona. And not surprisingly, seeing as 10% of the city is given over to parks, this blue-skied bombshell puts the si in sister and the oh in brother with more razzle-dazzle than a De Beers heiress. From her glittering Mediterranean sea, stunning museums and architectural marvels (ever heard of Gaudí?) to her culinary fireworks and sparkling wines, Barcelona is a non-stop degustation of the best in Spanish life. She’s beautiful, she’s mysterious, she’s wanton and she’s waiting... Gato got your tongue?

LUXE Barcelona. Put a party in your pocket.

Blah Blah Blah

- Balmy, perfect autumn and spring, winter is crisp and the sun shines year round, but avoid Aug, the place shuts down, the locals flee and the world descends.
- Catalan is the language of choice in Barcelona, but everyone speaks Spanish, though less so English.
- El Prat airport - city centre by cab: 30 mins / 30 Euros.
- The best way to explore the old city is on foot or by bicycle. Beyond that, the metro and bus is efficient, and taxis are affordable and plentiful.
- Save time and money, get a T-10 card at the Metro station.
- Shop hours are approx. 10am-1.30pm and 4.30-7.30pm, Mon-Fri, and Sat am, give or take an hour. Even restos shut on Sun, so head to the beach, park, museum or bar.
- Lunch at 2pm, then siesta, have a merienda (snack) at 7pm, sup at 9pm, then party after. It’s no wonder the Sagrada Familia is still 50 years away from completion.
- Avoid La Rambla like you would a date with Franco. He’s gone? Shame the ugly hordes here haven’t.
- Don’t confuse the divinely florid, art nouveau folly of modernisme/modernista architecture with the later, rational and functional modernist style.
  It’s all in the detail, so look closely at everything from doors and knobs, to balconies and lamp posts.
- Don’t ask for a cerveza, ask for a caña. Avoid sangria with your meal and sip regional wines or cava instead.
- Tipping is not required, though a few euros is nice.
- Reservations are essential at most restaurants.
- If paying by credit card, have photo ID handy.
- Beware of pickpockets and watch your bag, especially in a crowd; the rogues aren’t dangerous, just fast.
- Football is a religion and FC Barcelona the god.
- The intl dialling code for Spain is +34; most local calls have a 93 prefix, which must always be dialled, and most mobiles begin with 6.
- In emergencies, call 112 or police 088.

Some handy Catalan phrases to get you going...

Bon dia / Adéu : Good morning / Goodbye
Si us plau / moltes gràcies (or mercès) : Please / Thank you
No parlo català : It’s all rhubarb to me.

Accomodation

Befitting its party atmos and fun-loving outlook on life, Barcelona is a cracker for schmick places to stay, and as we do wtih all cities we cover, we've gone out of our way to find the best style for dollar options so you always feel comfy and you never feel room-raped. Oh we do love to be beside the seaside, and especially when it’s at the Hotel Arts, it’s one seriously jetset eurogenous zone with bright, sandy-hued pana-roomas, sporting B&O, WiFi and a sublime Six Senses Spa. Pack every shred of seriously sexy clothing you have and don't skimp on the body tan, Tonya. For something a little more discreet, try beaut little boutique Hotel Pulitzer with its choc and cream theme, breakfast conservatory and fab rooftop terrace – splash on the suite with its own 30sqm sun terrace, canopied bed, and Jacuzzi bath, for sudsy fun.

Wine & Dine

Fasten your seatbelts for this Spanish gourmand Grand Prix, but bear in mind in Barcelona, noon lunches and 7pm suppers brand you as a total tourist, if you can find somewhere open, that is. Be sure to re-set your body clock and keep a couple of snacks handy for emergency nibbles. For cutting-edge Modern Catalan book ahead for the ‘in’ crowd’s fave, Moo. The Roca brothers’ high design gastrodome with its glassed-in garden patio is always pumping with fierce diners and a big helping of attitude on the menu. When you don't feel like frocking it, we're loving private kitchen Tapioles 53, this old brolly workshop cum studio cum after hours home kitchen with its knockout garden-fresh Mediterranean menu is always a pleasure, or for something relaxed, we’re loving Bar Pinotxo, an absolutely no–frills elbow to nip counter smack bang in the middle of the Boquería market for the day’s freshest seafood. Note: you have as much hope of keeping your figure in Barcelona as the Sagrada Familia being finished! Ah well, eat today, slim tomorrow…

Shopping

The shopping hours of many of Europe’s major cities is a total mystery to the rest of the world, and Barcelona manages to keep the side up with most stores closed on Sunday, as well as each day between 1.30-4.30pm – so plan your daily therapy into two stealth-shop blocks of three hours, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. We've put together seven spot-on, by-the-hand shopping itins that lead you through the intoxictaing streets and alleys to all the city's best shopportunities, plus whole sections devoted to Gourmet and Advanced Shopping for all those fabby custom and bespoke options we love so much. The home of Camper has an exceptionally healthy retail scene and you’re going to need nerves of steel to resist temptation at stores like the addictive Vinçon – an entire landmark block of everything for the modern design family, from cutlery to cupboards, and beds to gardening gear. Elsewhere, make a beeline for Natalie Capell’s utterly divine gothic meets 20s lace and silk dresses that will take you down the aisle or up the red carpet in high style, and where would you be without Cristina Castañer, the queen of espadrilles? Barcelona is famed for its delis and gourmet stores and the epicure’s deli Semon is ground zero for just about everything from the finest Jamon Ibérico to caviar. But check to make sure your home country allows you to import foodstuffs, you don’t want to be apprehended in possession of an armed and dangerous chorizo.

Activities

If you’re planning on seeing the major art centres in Barcelona, get yourself an Articket - a snip at 20 euros, it gets you into a slew of lovelies and of course helps you to jump the queues. Yay! You will of course be using it to get into Museu Picasso for its amazing collection of the master’s work housed in a series of medieval blocks – totally unmissable. Be sure also to take in the delightful Museu Frederic Marès hidden away in the old city. This huge collection of medieval and religious sculptures also boasts one of the prettiest courtyard cafés in town, which is perfect if you easily fall prey to galleria tremens. It’s well nigh impossible to come to this city and miss the work of modernist architect Antoni Gaudí, in particular the iconic Sagrada Família, but far and away the best way to view it is with a cold beer from the conveniently situated terrace of Copa Café. Salut!

LUXE City Guides. Beauty and brevity.

HEY!!!

2009-10-01T15:04:00.001+02:00

As an attempt to bring this blog to the next level, time to time i want to share some up and coming BCN artists with you.

I adore digital art and therefore, the first one on my list to share is HEY, a Barcelona based design duo specialized in brand management, editorial design, packaging and interactive media! I LOVE LOVE LOVE their work and hope that they start selling their prints online soon! (Check out that B letter design! One day i'll ask them to design an M too and i"ll have my BarceloMIA logo :))

Check out their work and website HERE

I got all the pics from HERE

Gorgeous Gaudi Tiles

2009-10-01T10:13:00.001+02:00

Just because it's so pretty and so Barcelona....

VIP Barcelona

2009-09-30T13:44:00.001+02:00

I love all things dodgy and messy and artistic and unique, qualities that are normally not part of the de luxe life. Nevertheless i do like to treat myself and "my significant other" to some luxury every once in a while.

I found THIS great, chic and inspiring article on Forbes traveller about the supposingly coolest places in Barcelona. Restaurants, bistros, tapas, shopping, chocolate, hotels, museums....

hmmmm as for me, I can't wait to splurge in Espai Sucre (an all-dessert incredibly chic restaurant)

Vanilla cream with coffee, black cardamom and banana

Check it out and tell me... what is your favourite over the top indulgence in BCN? Any cool terrace bars, restaurants, beach joints or penthouse spots?

BCN / Blogosphere Part 2

2009-09-30T11:47:00.001+02:00

Thanks to TheBadRash i came across a number of very cool BCN blogs / websites. Make sure to check out his blog if you're looking for your daily BCN politics/socio fix! I am still in the process of reviewing his amazing blogroll but here are some of my favourites so far, which i'll be adding to my links:

Barcelona Life an eat/sleep/shop/drink/play kinda site, worth a visit!

Barcelona Reporter offers local news

Drink Barcelona LOVE IT!!! Bar reviews, maps and a really cool area guides which i'll be sure to steal from for my Barrio reviews! ;)

Drink Barcelona also led me to another bunch of great sites:

Barcelona Connect --> a bit of everything

Talk Conmigo --> if you're looking for language exchange

Barcelona Rocks --> Cool cool cool! Concerts and festivals in BCN

Giggling guiri --> English comedy club in BCN

Sin Carne --> vegetarian restaurant guide, yummi!

Just Barcelona --> comprehensive travel guide, recommended for tourists

BCN --> official Barcelona guide from the city

Barcelona Yellow --> Barcelona city tourist guide

Barcelona Metropolitan --> Love at first site! Fabulous online BCN magazine!

Loquou --> buy, sell, rent, get!

Keep the recommendations coming, part 3 is on its way! And until than GOOD SURFING!

Barrio Review Numero Uno - GRACIA

2009-09-29T12:33:00.001+02:00

I remember one hot summer afternoon i spent in Park Guell but other than that Gracia did not make a huge impression on me. Now looking at all the recommendations all over the web it sounds to be the place to be! I'll definately check it out! New home... maybe! :D

This district, an ancient village enclosed in Barcelona’s city centre is a favourite. Shops, retro and trendy boutiques, nice restaurants, bars and cafés, charming little squares… Take it easy & enjoy a sunny nap or a shady coffee.Musicians, designers and artists of all sorts have made this Bohemian neighbourhood one the nicest in Barcelona. For those who are after the real Barcelona. Ideal location for longer stays.

Plaza del Sol, Rius i Taulet, de la Virreina : bars, restaurants, terraces.
Carrer Gran de Gracia : Belle Epoque buildings.
Cinéma Verdi : for cinema lovers.
Parc Güell : close to Gracia, a phantasmagoric park by Gaudi.

Festa Major : 8 days of fiesta, mid-August.

Source

Where to live in Barcelona?

2009-09-28T17:08:00.001+02:00

Browsing the net I came across this great review of the different districs of Barcelona here from The Expatriator, which i will shamelessly copy in here ;) It is from 2007, so tell me did anything change? Which is your favourite barrio, the place to be?

These are the main areas in the centre, there aren’t really many reasons to want to live outside of the metropolitan area unless you’re looking for a bit of country bumpkin life or need to be right next to the beach. If you look at housing prices you’ll see that some of the outlying areas are actually more or as expensive as the centre of Barcelona. Ridiculous eh?

Ciutat Vella is comprised of the following four barrios:
Barceloneta - next to Barceloneta Beach. Higher crime (organized), lots of immigrants and expats, tons of tourists who walk through to get to the beach. Some very good hidden restaurants and things to do. Very near museums and marina and…
El Borne - or as expats call it, The Born. Everyone’s #2 favourite, probably because it’s great in so many ways but lacking some of the dirty flavour of other barrios. Top restaurants and top fashion shopping: all around very indie and chique. Note the ubiquitous black turtleneck, it’s that kind of area.
El Raval - This word is just fun to say with the Catalan drawl. Musicians love Raval and it’s indeed it’s full of life. Tons of immigrants, especially middle Asians like Indians/Pakistanis (see the Rambla de Raval). A long history of gangs, drugs and prostitution, Raval has, sadly, cleaned itself up and now people can visit again thinking to themselves how cool they are for hanging with immigrants… or something like that. Tons of nooks and crannies to discover, and in these nooks and crannies you find some of the originally cool bars, clubs, restaurants, museums, trendy stuff, etc. This isn’t really where the tourists go but you can still get a hooker at the right cross-street.
Barrio Gotico - Strangely we call this one by its full name in English. This is where all the tourists go to get lost in that *aww* “I love Europe!” sort of way. It’s definitely got its appeal, I can’t deny it. All the great history of old Barcelona is right there, along with the new Dutch junkies (no, not all are Dutch, but a lot of ‘em). A lot of expats set up shop here first and branch out after the first few months of dealing with the noise and belch of non-stop tourism. If you can get a roof-top patio then you are rockin’!

Beyond Ciutat Vella there’s, of course, The Expansion of Barcelona, known more commonly as L’Eixample or, in Spanish, El Ensanche, I believe. No, it doesn’t mean The Example as we expats commonly believe for years on end (or was it only me?). Pronounced, “ey-sham-pla”. It’s a massive suburb in the centre of the city. Yep, imagine America’s perfectly planned gated communities, and then make all the roads octagonal, 20x the density, dash some Catalan modernism throughout the whole thing, put the buildings in the middle of the blocks out like donuts (reminds me of Sim City) with park in the middle of the donut and, BOOM. You have the perfect example of how to enlarge a city 1890’s style. Does this make any sense? It does to me. Regarding living here, it’s very downtown New York or London. Big-ass buildings, no community feel (it feels very cosmo), some good shopping and places to go no doubt and quite safe: much less drugs, etc. The tourist spots are real mecas of tourism though. This is where you find all the Gaudi stuff. Eixample is divided into the left and right, “izquierda” and “derecha” respectively, and it’s commonly held that the izquierda is higher end. But alas the Eixample is boring for me, so let’s move on…

Poble Sec (“Dry Town” I believe) or the Montjuic area is really nice actually. Enough character, good metro connections, the Montjuic area is amazing for running and events and stuff, all around quite safe, not too expensive… the only problem is the total lack of good restaurants! I know that sounds lame but Barcelona has amazing cuisine and if you’re not around that good cuisine you’re going to be subjected to TOTAL CRAP. I mean, churros? WTF? Have you had a Spanish bocadillo before? The roof of your mouth will hate you for the first few months as you alternate between burning it on overheated cafes con leche and jamon y queso bocadillos. Anyway, Poble Sec rocks, and will be a big hit for anyone needing some good nature and a little more quiet. Please note the presence of great exaggeration in the above bitch fest.

Sants and Les Corts are both cheaper areas with higher crime but may be the new hot areas. I don’t know them all that well but people I’ve met from Sants are nice. Does that help? The main train station is right there people, you can imagine what that does to the area.

Poble Nou, aka New Town (just call it “pob-la no”), is a real mixed bag. This is a zone that perhaps only The Cheat could love… and other expats I suppose. This is an old industrial district so it carries all of those hallmarks: big old brick buildings with huge frosted windows (now lofts), smoke stacks (not-in-use), wider streets, etc. Poble Nou has seen the most new construction of any barrio in Barcelona though. Tons of new high-rise condos line the highway that runs next to the many beaches. If you go straight south from Poble Nou metro station about 10 min (walking), then at the beach turn right and go around the big grassy knob you’ll be at Mar Bella and Bogatell (another fun Catalan word, “bo-ga-teyy”) which are total nude beaches. If you like looking at schlong and boobs then this is your spot. Other highlights of Poble Nou include the big penis building, known as Monumental (ironic?)

Also, the only real “mall” in Barcelona is here in Poble Nou, called Diagonal. If you’re a runner then you’ll probably appreciate Poble Nou. I did when I lived there. The proximity to the beaches is great. Big downside: the metro line sucks. The yellow line running through the barrio is old and rickety. Higher crime here too, avoid the parks and beaches at night (pickpockets, scams, and, well, gay predators). If you’re into the loft thing then this is your barrio though.

Sarria and Sant Gervasi is at the diagonally opposite side of Barcelona from Poble Nou. Literally, it’s on the other end of Diagonal. All apartments start at a million euros. Very nice, very safe, some might say beautiful, with tons of trees and parks. Sarria used to be its own little town so it’s got a cool pueblo feel to it. Very few tourists out here. Kinda snobby though. No good metro connections, but if you have the money to live out here then you’ll own a car anyway, plus there are the Ferro Carrils which are more like a regional metro, but they go downtown and connect to the metros pretty well. Did I mention how snooty these barrios are?

I’ve saved my favourite for last. Gracia. Oh Gracia how I love thee, let me count the ways. Artsy, funky, unpretentious. Great expat scene, cool cafes, great plazas, diverse and quality restaurant scene… great metro connections and close to Parc Guell too! It’s super urban and hipster but beware of the anarkistas and okupas! No, just kidding, kinda. It’s a diverse mix of people though, a great soup of cultures like I’ve never seen anywhere else in the world. The one problem is the distance to the beaches, but you’ll be partying on roof-tops and sipping cafes at Plaça Vierreina so who cares? I won’t go on because I don’t want to send too many of the wrong kind of people there. No, it’s not for everyone, but nearly everyone finds something to like in Gracia. This is where your second apartment will be and then when you leave it you will long for it again and again.

I'm planning to dig deeper and review the ones which seem to be the most interesting, including pics and additional to dos! Your feedback would certainly help me out! ;)

BCN / Blogosphere Part 1

2009-09-28T15:58:00.001+02:00

One of the reasons why i started this blog was that i found very few blogs/websites on Barcelona by expats for expats. Nevertheless i did stumble upon a couple of interesting ones which are on my daily BCN reading list ;) ENJOY and don't forget to leave me your favourite BCN sites, blogs.... etc in comments, i'll make sure to feature them in BCN/Blogosphere Part 2!

MINIGUIDE Discover what's up in Barcelona! One of my favourite BCN sites so far!

OH Barcelona has lots of good tips on entertainment and local BCN event! Check it out!

FROM Barcelona gives a really good insight to real expat life in BCN

Barcelona Photo Blog beautiful pictures, intersting insights, definately worth a visit!

Mental Irrigation totally chic! totally mental in the good sense ;) live from BCN!

Orange Polka Dot A published writer and mummy, living in Barcelona with frequent updates on daily life, cultural happenings and children related topics

TO BE CONTINUED.....

Barcelomania, Barcamia... BarceloMIA!!!

2009-09-28T13:36:00.001+02:00

I've been thinking long and hard on the first post on my soon to be sweetest waste of time! (Hence it took me three tries to get the name right! :))I am a fan and soon to be citizen of the greatest city on Earth, Barcelona. I'm preparing on my big move and although there are no concrete plans so far, i know i will land in BCN and will have a blast of a life there! Join me in preparing for the big move, looking up on all the knowledge the net and the blogosphere has to offer and collecting all that there is to know about expat life in BCN!!!

I hope that one day i can put this quote on my about page: ;)

"I live in a city open to the sea, kind to the visitor, with beaches, with wild boars, with a Sònar Festival; I live in a city made of the sum of little towns and of big cultures; I live in a modernist / contemporary / modern / ancient / gothic city; I live in the city of design, of art, of Mrs. Rose, of the bravas potatoes, of the bulding works in Lesseps Sq.; I live in the Eixample, in the Montbau, in the Guineueta, in Diputació St., I live in Barcelona".

BarceloMIA

FOLLOW ME I'M MOVING!!!

Gran Tourismo - Barcelona

Ain't No Sunshine, Ain't No Color

Have a Happy Weekend!

Gypsy*Friday - Amsterdam*The Netherlands

Killer Shoes by Sonia Rykiel

Run 2

And the award goes to...

In July I'm going to....

Quote of the day

Food things

Detoxing

In 10 days I'm going to...

My Happy Weekend

I {heart} you

Happy Spring!

Gypsy*Friday - Sevilla*Spain

House of Harlow

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Gisele for VOGUE

Just read...

Gypsy*Editorial

Soulmate

Scarlett, Mango and Me

Gypsy*Friday - The Place I call HOME

World Map

Street Marketing

One is the Loveliest Color

Welcome to Gypsy*Diaries!

Good News Bad News

A Breath of Fresh Air at the Oscars

Nude at the Oscars

If I were...

Barcelona Vacation Video

Happy Feet

*****THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT*****

I {heart} Barcelona

As of yesterday I'm officially single.... :(

Milano by dawn

Vacation in the Alps

Why I LOVE March

Greetings from Italy!

Happy Wednesday!

Barcelona Districts

Project Snowboard

Summerbelle City Maps

My MUST HAVE Items for Barcelona

Happy Monday!

Carnaval in Barcelona....

Valentine's Day in Barcelona

Inspiration for a grey Valentine's day weekend.... love u Audrey!

Loft is Love

6 weeks till spring... hang in there

Quote of the day... :)

10 observations on renting a room in Barcelona

Mad World

Winter Blossoms...

Weekend in Barcelona?

Wishful thinking...

I'm back... sort of

Happy New Year!!!

Gone snowboarding...

Have a sweet weekend!!!

Barcelona Gift Guide - Handmade Presents by Etsy

The Barcelona Day Bed - Made of Chocolate

Salvador Dali + Walt Disney = Destino

PapaBubble - Caramelos personalizados

Happy December!

So you wanna rent a place?

Christmas season in Barcelona

From Barcelona: Stories Behind the City Vol 1

Let's DANCE... in Barcelona

MUJI - Barcelona in a bag

Barcelona Promo Video

Custo Barcelona

Have a Happy Halloween Weekend!!!

October in Barcelona

Tibidabo: magical, antique, retro, charming, romantic....hhhhhuhhhhh

Just because it's so lovely...

GypsyFriday - AmsterdamThe Netherlands

GypsyFriday - SevillaSpain

THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT