Top 10 Hottest Spanish Men

We all know that beauty is very subjective and what you or I might find beautiful others may not agree with. However, we at SuitLife have taken the liberty of compiling a list of the top 10 most desirable Spanish men. If these men don’t make you wish you lived in Spain then nothing else would.

10. Antonio Banderas

We know that he is somewhat outdated and I would have stricken him off this list just for marrying Melanie Griffith and becoming such a perfect house wife while destroying the macho image that had me drooling over him in the early to late 90s. But one must give credit where credit is due. His wild behaviour on screen and look gave us some Spanish flavour growing up and made us wish we were born in Spain. Even now I wouldn’t kick him out of bed if the chance was presented and for that he is our number 10 on this list.

9. Rafael Nadal

Not my cup of tea (remember; beauty is subjective) and the only reason for making this list is because he can make us wonder if the way he screams every time he hits a ball during the Grand Slam competition is the way he might…er…call someone’s name during…er… more personal games. And not to forget that he has a butt that could crack open nuts (makes you fantasize doesn’t it?).

8. Enrique Iglesia

What? Number 8? Yes. Not only does he has the look but this singer oozes pure charisma and sensuality on and off the stage. Perhaps we have to thank his genes for it (any one remember his sensual father Julio Iglesia?). This is one man who has given me fantasies about Spanish men since my teens but unfortunately time passes and with it others take the throne.

7. Dani Martin

This singer/actor from Madrid has made our list for very obvious reasons… just look at him for Godsakes! He’s got a dangerous combination of a bad boy with the voice of an angel – the kind of guy whom your mother advices you not to date and your father fantasizes about killing when you have them meet him.

6. Javier Bardem

His on this list because of his charisma and because he just reminds us that the older and rugged look can be hot. He seems to know what he wants and would not be shy or apologetic to ask for it.

5.  Xabi Alonso

Oh Xavi! He is wild, passionate, sweaty and has a great body. Who, in their right mind, wouldn’t want to date him?

4. Miguel Angel Silvestre

What can I say about this Spanish actor? Wow could sum him up. His dark looks is what we imagine mediterranean men should look like.

3.  Jorge Guerra

His blue eyes, dark and boy-ish looks makes Jorge a perfect fantasy. These reasons were probably not enough to help him win ‘Operacion Triunfo’ in Barcelona but it was enough for us to put him into our top three.

2. Dani Mateo

Who? That was the same question I asked myself the first time I set eyes on this guy one evening when I was flipping through the TV channels. The guy is a late night talk show host and made me do a double take.  Probably a lot of you readers would wonder what the hell he is doing on the number two spot because you found others on this list or off it to be more sexy/handsome. However, sexiness is not about how a person looks but something deeper and when you watch this guy you would understand why he is here and why everyone who sets eyes on this guy melts.

1. Gerard Pique

A blond soccer player wins our votes and no – it’s not because we’re a football crazed country that this guy makes it to the top here nor because he is married to Shakira – but because of the abs, his blue eyes, his legs, his glutes…you get the idea.

Do you agree with our top ten list of the hottest Spanish men? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

~Argenis

Barcelona Sights – The Many Ways of Seeing Them!

There are an endlessly fascinating amount of Barcelona sights that will appeal to people with a whole range of passions and interests. There are so moany ways to experience Barcelona sights ranging from simple walking tours to Segway tours and even more. Whatever floats your boat, there are almost certainly tours in Barcelona that can help you indulge in your interests. Stuck for ideas on what to do in Barcelona? Check out our guide to some of the best tours in Barcelona which range from the unusual to the ‘little bit different’ to the outright cool specifically handpicked by us! Enjoy!

Bicycle tours

Not the most riveting tour on the list, but nonetheless a really nice way to see Barcelona attractions . Most of the tours tend to last around 3 to 4 hours and their are plenty of companies who offer bike tours around the city. Surprisingly, you cover a lot of the city in such a short time and bike tours prove to be a lot more relaxing than you’d expect (less strenuous than walking tours for sure!). Tours on average cost around the 20 Euro mark which is good value for what you get (as with everything it does depend on the company!).

Our favourite bike tour in the city is with the aptly named Barcelona Bike Tours or ‘Un Cotxe Menys-Bicicletes’ (as they’re known in Catalan), who offer bike tours all year round (everyday from 11am to 4.30pm) at Plaça Jaume. The company offers a daily tour in English for anyone to join but also offers tours for groups (private and for businesses) which can be delivered in a variety of languages and tailored individually to the group. Being one of the organisations instrumental in transforming Barcelona into the bicycle haven that it is today, their commitment to making their city more environmentally friendly is obvious and they are also a founding member of the Associació BiciTours Barcelona. Even today, they play an active role in the tourist scene in Barcelona and continue to promote cycling initiatives in the city.

Go Car Tours

For someone who is not from the most tourist orientated city, this is one tour that most certainly surprised me when I came to Barcelona! In a nutshell, Go Car Tours are small yellow open-top cars with a built in navigation system which talks to you and teaches you about the Barcelona sights as you drive past them. The Go Cars don’t just offer a standardised tour and are not remote controlled. You actually drive them yourself!

The tours offer a variety of themed tours from a Camp Nou tour, Olympic Barcelona, Barcelona Highlights and an All Day Tour to name but a few. The tours are also available in a range of languages and also offer tours for individuals and groups. Prices start at around 19 Euros per hour, but they also offer regular promotions too. The only thing prerequisites are that you have a full driving licence. Give it a go!

Cooking Tours

There is simply no better souvenir to take back home with you than knowing how to cook typical food from the place where you’ve visited. It’s a gift that will not only impress your friends and family, but will also remind you of your trip forevermore. Thankfully, you’re in Barcelona, which is renowned for it’s culinary offerings. If you’re a cooking amateur there are some top quality cooking schools in Barcelona who typically offer a really great selection of classes to unlock the inner chef within you and get you acquainted with just how amazing Spanish cuisine really is!

One such school is Barcelona Cooking located on the Ramblas. Taught by professional chefs, a variety of classes are on offer from a half day cooking class with the option of getting a tour of the Mercat de la Boqueria, a tapas class, a tour of some of the best Spanish/Catalan food shops in Barcelona and more. They also offer customised classes for corporate events and groups. Even better is the fact that all the ingredients are local and organic and support the producers, so you’ll have the opportunity to taste and create authentic Spanish/Catalan food. As a guide, a half day class costs around 78 Euros.

¡Buen Provecho!

Barcelona by……….speedboat!

Once in the middle of Barcelona, it’s easy to forget that you’re near the sea. But an excellent way to not forget is to hop on a speedboat and tour the length of the coastline and take in the skyline of the city. Although you won’t hit the big sights, it’s still a pretty cool way to see the city. Xmax Speed Boat Tours offers these tours and each tour takes around 50 minutes starting at Port Vell up through the Port Olimpic and to the Port Forum where they spin around and come back. Prices are 12.50 Euros and less for children and run only from April/May to November

For something a little more slower paced, Las Golondrinas offers slower paced boat tours along the Barcelona coast. They are undeniably the experts in boat tours in Barcelona and have been involved in Barcelona boat tours since 1888 and explores the history and sights of the Barcelona coast. They offer two different tours – one of the Port Vell area and a 1 hour, 30 minute tour which covers 18 miles of coastline and gives you amazing views of some Barcelona attractions! Prices are around 12/14 Euros depending on the tour you take and tours start from the Colom Statue at the bottom of the Ramblas or at Port Forum.

Naturally, some trips cannot take place due to the weather so it’s worthwhile checking beforehand!

Hot air balloon tours

Ok, this isn’t technically in Barcelona and you probably won’t see any Barcelona sights but this is still an amazing thing to do while you’re here! Ballooning offer a number of trips even including some which even cross the Pyrenees mountains into France! But a trip in a hot air balloon comes at a price – an average of 150 Euros per person!

If you’re out to impress and money is no object, then this is a perfect way to see the Catalan countryside surrounding Barcelona.

And the list goes on!

These are just the tip of the iceberg on what to do in Barcelona in terms of tours. There are tours for almost any interest. A great company who offer tours tailored to almost any theme are My Favourite Tours. You may just think twice about taking a walking tour now!

Have you been on any tours in Barcelona or experienced a really unique way of seeing the city? A Spiderman web-swinging style tour would be pretty cool! If you’re coming to Barcelona, then you may want to check out our short term apartments page which offer you a different experience of staying in Barcelona and are usually better value than hotels.

Thanks for reading!

- Chris

Barcelona Gay Bars

A colleague of mine told me last Thursday that on her way home from work she had witnessed a line of people crowded outside a night club called Bim Bam Bum. A lot of cute guys! As she mentioned this last detail she gave me a pitiful pout before explaining further that they were all gay. We wanted to know why a club was so well-attended on a week day (unusual in Barcelona) and ran a quick search online.

It turned out to be their inaguration party, which was weird since Bim Bam Bum has been around for a couple of years now. It is one of those Barcelona gay bars many a gay man bar-hopping on a Saturday night stops at for a couple of warm-up rounds.

Apparently they left the scene a while back  to re-invent themselves physically and philosophically after a horrible break-up with Zeltas (another bar they had joined resources with but, like a horrible one-night stand, that arrangement didn’t last) and decided to go their own way.

And what better way to celebrate their indepence than with a Mr Gay BimBamBum pageant to start off their circuit season. So, if you really like to watch hot men dancing around in their underwear make sure that you don’t miss this big…umm…interesting event on May 1st on carrer casanova – I know I won’t. You also have the chance to compete for the grand price: a trip for two to any destination in Europe and €300 for the trip.

Let us know if you’re going, your opinion or if there are any other events taking place…oh, and don’t forget to check out our Barcelona Gay Series ‘From Behind The Rear’ for other articles of gay interest such as bookstores, cinemas, bars and much more .

Barcelona Gay Bar

Overlooked

A couple of days ago I couldn’t find a thing to write about for the SuiteLife Gay Bible Series: From Behind The Rear. It is the worst feeling for a writer. So I did what any respectable person would’ve done…ask for help. My flatmate has been living for a while in Barcelona, so when I told him my problem, the light bulb on top of his head turned on and knew exactly what I needed.

He took me to a gay bar located on Carrer de Villarroel. This bar is like no other I have been to so far – it is a hidden gem that can and have easily gone unnoticed on the gay radar. The bar is called People’s Lounge. Here you’ll never see twenty-something year old people loitering outside smoking cigarettes blocking the entrance, nor will you hear the music blaring.

Icons

A handsome bouncer held opened the door for us – which isn’t unusual here in Barcelona but in this case was misleading to the kind of crowd I would find inside. The first thing that impressed me when we entered was the beautiful and tasteful decorations. The walls are cevored with movie posters of iconic Broadway musicals, films and their stars – a great  representation of that gay era and the foundation of ours; Victor Victoria, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Phantom of the Opera, Betty Davis, just to name a few.

The dimmed lights gave the place a smokey-bar-from-the-1940s kind of look, especially since the only light source came from the chandeliers and shaded table lamps (yes, very old fashion but it added to the decor).  The only modern looking thing in the place was the firefly laser disco lights that illuminated those who sat on the couches on every corner of the place.

The bar is a wooden island placed in the center, here a young bar tenders – ok – a hot bartender waltz around serving customers a wide range of cocktails and bevarages. Don’t have fear of them running out of alcohol, they have over 30 brands of whisky and you can see them displayed above and around the bar.

The most important icons (at least according to me) were the people there. The crowd at People’s Lounge is 50 and up and it was a breath of fresh air to be amoung them. Right away you can see how different their generation is to ours today perhaps this is because they were more, if not completely, restricted to be who they are. So it was an exciting experience to see them have fun and made me realize that I live in a time I shouldn’t take for granted and should enjoy it while I’m still around.

So I started with dancing. Why not? The music at People’s Lounge range from Jazz and blues to all-time favorites from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. In the early hours some very special traditional Spanish and Flamenco music from Andalusia.

Conclusion

The down side of this bar (understandable knowing their niche is very small) is that drinks are more expensive here than any other gay bar in Barcelona. What would normally cost me 2.50, I had to pay double that amount at People Lounge.

They are wi fi free zone with broadband wi fi access if you want to use your smartphone or laptop.  Add to all this a professional and friendly service from bilingual staff and you have the ideal place for an early cocktail, meet up with friends or make new ones. It is a definite guaranteed that you will have as much fun in this bar as in any other gay bar in Barcelona.

Holi Barcelona 2013 : No te lo pierdas!

Quieres hacer algo original en Barcelona este fin de semana? Disfruta el festival Holi, uno de los festivales Barcelona más famoso!

El 14 de abril, vístete de blanco y déjate llevar por la magia hindú!

Azul para la vitalidad, verde para la armonía, naranja para el optimismo y rojo para la alegría y el amor!  Es el Festival Holi, una fiesta hindú que celebra los colores, la primavera y la fertilidad. En Barcelona, el organismo de danza Boliwood Sitare nos propone reproducir este festival tan popular del calendario Indú, el domingo 14 de Marzo en La Rambla Carmel a las 11 de la mañana!

Holi Barcelona deja de lado las diferencias de clase, casta u origen (todos se volven de colores) y se convierte  en una celebración alegre y desenfadada. La costumbra es que todos los participantes llegen al festival vestidos de blanco y se lanzen cubos y polvos de colores hasta que no sea posible reconocerse! Y si alguien se queja , respóndele  “¡ No te enfades, es Holi !”,

¡ Aprovecha el descontrol para permitirte hacer lo que el resto del año  está prohibido !

Unos consejos:

• Ven vestido de color blanco y además de seguir la  tradición india, lograráas que resalten más los colores!
• Ponte la ropa más vieja del armario y disfruta sin preocuparte por si se te estropea demasiado. De todos modos los polvos de colores son lavables.
• Usa crema hidratante en la piel antes y después de HOLI. Resultará que puedas quitarte el tinte con más facilidad. La crema hidratante funciona mejor que el jabón para quitarte el tinte de la piel. Así evitarás frotar, frotar y frotar tu piel!
• Vigila que los polvos no entren en los ojos. Puedes ponerte unas gafas de sol o simplemente ir con cuidado!

¿Cómo llegar a Holi Barcelona?

Podéis llegar en transporte público cómodamente. ¡A menos de 5 minutos del Festival!
Metro: EL Carmel (L5)
Bus: 19, 39, 119, V21

Para ver un video del Holi Barcelena del año pasado: Holi Barcelona 2011

Disfruta el festival y déjanos un comentario para compartir con nosotros como te fue!

Secretos de Barcelona: Shhhhhh, No se lo digas a nadie!

Secretos de Barcelona: Si buscas el significado de la palabra « insólito » en el diccionario, encontrarás: “que sorprende por su lado inhabitual”. Cuando se visita Barcelona, es toda la ciudad que sorprende por su lado inhabitual. Barcelona está lleno de lugares, secretos, insólitos y sorprendentes. Aquí te damos una guía de los lugares mas secretos de Barcelona.

Secreto 1°: Las vías secretas de Barcelona

¿Tienen ganas de originalidad, de hacer algo raro? Quizás no les han planteado conocer la ciudad por debajo de las calles y de las aceras llenas de peatones. Estas vias subterráneos son unos de los mejores secretos de Barcelona ¡Que vengan  a visitar los subterráneos de Barcelona! durante la Guerra Civil Española más de 1400 refugios antiaéreos fueron construidos para protegerse de los bombardeos durante el franquismo.  Cuando la aviación se acercaba a la ciudad, se apagaban todas las luces, sonaban las alarmas y la gente debía correr para salvarse. Al principio se usaron las estaciones de metro, pero pronto se quedaron pequeñas y hubo que excavar abajo.  Hoy en día, dos subterráneos pueden visitarse.

El refugio de la plaza del Diamante (Gracia)

Este refugio descubierto en 1992, fue construido a 13 metros con una longitud de 250 m. Se estima a más de 200 personas la capacidad de este refugio. Se puede visitar con la asociación “El taller de la Historia de gracia” Precio : 3 € (gratuito para menores de 7 años) Contacto: taller@gracianet.org o teléfono 0034 932 196 134

El refugio 307 (Poble Sec)

Situado en el centro de la ciudad en la Guerra Civil. Este refugio poseía fregaderos, unas salas para los niños así como una enfermería. Poble Sec, entre el Paseo de Montjuic y la calle Nou de la Rambla. Esta formado por tuneles con unos 200 metros de galerías excavadas durante la Precios: 3€ (gratuito para menores de 7 años) C/ Nou de la Rambla, 1

 

 

Secretos 2°: el original Parc Pueblo Nuevo

Otro secreto de barcelona, es el parque de sombra y sol, imaginado y creado por el famoso arquitecto Jean Nouvel, se encuentra a lo largo de la Avenida Diagonal, al número 130 en el barrio del Poblenou.

Se puede visitar en cualquier temporada del año ya que Jean Nouvel basósu creación en el hecho que siempre se busca  el sol en invierno y la sombra en verano. Así el parque está completamente abierto en invierno. En la primavera, los árboles comienzan a llenarse de hojas y a hacer un poco de sombra y en el verano, solo la sombra permite protegerse del calor. La luminosidad de este parque es increíble.

 

 

 

 

Considerado como el nuevo pulmón de la ciudad, fueron planteado:

• 1 000 árbolesos:
• 5 000 arbustos
• 35 palmeras
• 5 000 cactus

~ Un pequeño rincón de paraíso en el medio de la ciudad ~

Secreta 3°: El extraño Laberinto de Horta

Si visitan a Barcelona, el Laberinto de Horta es uno de los parques más antiguos y secretos de la ciudad, ya que es desconocido para los turistas. Está ubicado lejos del centro de la ciudad y por eso los turistas no suelen visitarlo, pero créenme, no estarán decepcionados.

El parque tiene una historia larga. Ubicado en la provincia Atbau de Barcelona, su creación es la obra de un aristócrata Catalán que, a finales del siglo XVIII decidió convertir esta antigua propiedad familiar en un parque. Bagutti, arquitecto italian  y Delvalet un jardinero francés fueron encargados de realizarlo.

El parque está dividido en dos jardines: el jardín neoclásico, el más popular con el laberinto y la estatua de Eros dios del amor en su centro. Otras estatuas de dios griegos adornan el jardín, al subir unas escaleras llegaran en el punto mas alta del jardín con la estatua de Dionisos ¿Se atreverán a entrar en el laberinto y a buscar la salida? ¡no es tan fácil!

 

El segundo jardín tiene un estilo romántico. Esta en la área mas aislada del parque, probablemente el mejor lugar par los enamorados o simplemente los que desean tranquilidad. También hay una caída de agua y un canal romántico.

El Laberinto de Horta es un parque muy romantique, ya que muy calma et relajante. ¡Hasta olvidaríamos que estamos en Barcelona!

Abierto todos los dias 10h – 20h.  2€ la entrada (gratuito miércoles y domingo)
Metro Mundet (L3, verde)

Secretos 4°:

La Ilusionista Panadería Escriba

Ubicada en Rambla de les Flors, 83, la panaderia Escriba es un establecimiento modernista donde se puede beber un té o tomar un desayuno. El slogan de esta sorprendente panaderia es:

“No sólo hacemos pasteles, creamos ilusiones”

Encontraran en el escaparate anillos de caramelo de todos los colores, también ofrecen pasteles para bodas originales,  frescos que se comen. Para ver todas sus obras :  Panaderia escriba oficial

 

Secreto 5: el escondido Camino

del Ave Maria

 

Una experiencia Religiosa antes de entrar a la basílica de Montserrat, justo en el lado izquierdo. El lugar secreto es el denominado Camino del Ave María y transcurre estrecho entre la roca desnuda y la pared lateral de la basílica. Un lugar curioso y insólito cargado de pequeñas velas de todos los colores que hacen que el lugar ¡parezca mágico!

Si saben de mas secretos de Barcelona déjanos un comentario abajo! Un saludo!

~ Orlane

Día San Jorge : Los mejores lugares donde llevar a su pareja, ¡combinando amor y cultura!

Chicos, Chicas y enamorados,

¡El 23 de abril, Cataluña está de fiesta! Si el Día San Jorge (Diada San Jordí en Catalán) se parece a una especie de San Valentín Catalán, con intercambios de rosas y libros, la celebración no se resume a un mano a mano entre enamorados como el 14 de febrero. En 1995, el día San Jorge fue declarada “Día mundial del libro” por el UNESCO en memoria de los dos famosos escritores – Shakespeare y Cervantes – fallecidos ambos el 23 de abril de 1616. Se estima que unos 400.000 libros se compran en este sólo día, es decir un 10% del volumen de negocio anual de Cataluña en ventas de libros.

UNA ROSA = UN LIBRO

Desde Barcelona hasta Perpiñán (Francia), no se necesitan corazones de chocolate para declarar su amor. En el dia San Jordí, los Catalanes dan todo! Los hombres tienen que ofrecer una rosa a la mujer que les gusta para demostrarle su amor (¡aprovechan chicas!), en cambio estas últimas tienen que regalarles un libro, y eso es lo que hace esta celebración tan especial. Una San Valentín Catalán, en cierto modo, pero en la que el aspecto comercial no supera el impulso festivo, ya que el 23 de abril es una fecha en que se celebra también el idioma y las tradiciones Catalanas.
Más detalles sobre el Día San Jordí.

¿Que hacer para el Día

Residente o de visita en Barcelona? Algunas ideas de que hacer para el día San Jorge:
1 . DAR UN PASEO POR LAS CALLES ANIMADAS
Les aconsejamos primero que den un paseo por las calles del Passeig de Gracia, de la Plaza Catalunya, Las Ramblas y de los alrededores para ver los numerosos vendedores de flores y libreros que suelen exponer sus mejores libros y así comprar la rosa en cambio del libro. Que no se sorprendan al ver las ventanas cubiertas por la omnipresente bandera Catalán roja y oro, así como el pan San Jordí con su reconocible marca roja “sobrasada” vendido en todas las panaderías locales. Si tienen suerte, incluso podrán encontrarse con gente recitando obras literarias, autores firmando libros y Catalanes ofreciendo clases gratuitas de su idioma materno.

Luego, ir hasta la Plaça San Jaume, el centro de toda la celebración y admirar o  participar en la Sardana, el baile nacional catalán. La sede del Gobierno catalán – el Palau de la Generalitat – se llena de rosas rojas durante este día para acoger excepcionalmente al público. Todos estos ingredientes hacen que el Día San Jordí aparece come el evento más popular en el calendario de Barcelona.

2. IR AL RESTAURANTE
Después de haber dado un paseo y recuperado su rosa y libro, ¿por qué no ir al restaurante y compartir unas tapas hablando de las ultimas obras literarias o de su relación futura con su pareja?
Para ayudarte, aquí están los 10 mejores restaurantes de Barcelona.

Si quieren luego tomar un cafecito o un cocktail, les aconsejamos ir mano a mano al “Tarentos”, ubicado en la plaza real. Un romántico y sorprendente cafe teatro donde se pueden ver representaciones de Flamenco por 10 euros.

3 . IR AL CINEMA

Nada mejor que terminar una noche con una película. Aquí están los cinemas más grandes de Barcelona para ver películas en Versión Original y subtitulada, o Doblada.

- Icaria Yelmo (Port Olimpic)
- Cinema Verdi (Gracia)
- IMAX (Barceloneta)
- Cinema Aribau (Eixample)

4 . UN HOTEL
Por fín, para los que están de visita en Barcelona y que desean impresionar a su pareja, les proponemos que se dirijan a esta agencia que tiene unos de los más lindos apartamentos para cortos periodos en Barcelona.

Dudas en alquilar un apartamento?

Motivos para alquilar un apartamento en vez de un hotel

Para mas ideas de lugares románticos donde llevar a tu pareja en ocasiones especiales, están agrupados en este Ebook (gratuito) los 25 mejores lugares románticos en Barcelona.

Ah se me iba a olvidar, a todos los Jorge, Jordí, Georges, Georginas y Jordinas, ¡felicidades!

~Orlane

BARCELONA FESTIVAL: LA MERCE CONTINUES

As you know, Barcelona is preparing for the biggest party of the year – La Merce! People talk about it, tweet, share and instagram. It’s all around the place!

After the useful posts of Jack and Marie about the first and second day of La Merce its my turn to give you some tips on what to do and where to go on Sunday the 23rd of September – the last day of the La Merce festival in Barcelona! You can find the full schedule if you click here!

9:30 AM – THE BARCELONA AQUARIUM ACTIVITIES

The Barcelona Aquarium

There’s a fun activity for all the early birds on Sunday which might be also quite suitable for those of you with little kids! The organizers invite you to “solve” mysteries around and in the aquarium!

All you have to do is pick up a special question and answer sheet at the information desk!

10:00 AM “Mercy 2012″: INTERNATIONAL FUTSAL TOURNAMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES

Pg Vall d’Hebron, 171 – right next to metro stop Mundet (L3)

If you are fan of futsal and want to see an amazing show – go and cheer for the teams participating at “Mercy 2012″. As explained above, the Catalan municipality is organizing a tournament for people with mental illnesses where various teams will compete for the title! The tournament will be held close to the Psychology Faculty of the University of Barcelona.

11:00 PUBLIC OPENING OF THE ALBENIZ MANTION

Avenida Estadi 65-69 (next to the Olympic stadium)

The Palace Albéniz is a palace built at the beginning of the last century, located in the city of Barcelona, Spain. It’s currently the official residence of the King of Spain on his visits to the city. Usually, the place is not opened to the public, but at the end of the day – THIS IS LA MERCEE! If you want to explore the gorgeous gardens and feel like a royalty – don’t hesitate to visit the mantion.

12:00 TIME FOR CASTELLS!

Cuitat Vella

Anyone who has been in Catalunya must know what a castell is – the traditional for the region; the human tower! Originating from the south of Catalunya this custom can be truly called one of the symbols of Catalunya! Obviously, La Merce will offer you amazing performances of various groups. The meeting point is Cuitat Vella exactly at noon! Curious about the art of building a human tower? That is YOUR event!

17:00 LA TALABADA – A DRUM SHOW

This is the one event I know I would never miss! As a drummer wanna-be, I am so excited about this year’s show of La Talabada! Trust me, you don’t have to be a musician to enjoy the amazing coordination and composition of these guys! If you went to the Gracia festival you must have seen the groups of people banging the drums around the streets, followed by a huge crowd dancing and having fun!

The route of the group is  av. Portal de l´Àngel, Arcs, pl. Nova, av. Catedral, Pla de la Seu, Comtes, Santa Clara and finally plaza del Rei!

20:30 THE GATE OF HELL

Via Laietana, 33 (Ciutat Vella)

Do you love fire? And what about mythical creatures? Dragons, demons and other scary characters will come alive and invade La Merce in Barcelona. Where? Just find the GATE OF HELL! When you hear the distant sound of drums piercing the air that is when the gates will open!

22:00 FIREWORKS

Barceloneta Beach

A festival without fireworks is like Barcelona without Sagrada Familia! And that is why the organizers along with two pyrotechnic companies have prepared amazing final of the La Merce party! They will be launched nearby Hospital del Mar so it is advicable to find a good spot right on the beach and enjoy the spectacle of light!

Obviously, I covered just a tiny spec of the tons of activities on Sunday for La Merce in Barcelona so I highly recommend checking the official schedule here. Also, don’t forget the useful posts of Jack and Marie about the first and second day of party!

Which events are you guys attending? Let me know by dropping a comment in the section below!

Cheers,

Ivo

BARCELONA SIGHTS: THE BUNKER

As most of you know, there are tons of sights in Barcelona. Luckily, there are still a few “secret” places, not overtaken by tourists. I was taken to one of them by a Catalan friend of mine, born and raised here and therefore full of inside knowledge about the city.

The Bunker, located at the top of Rovira in the Carmel barrio is the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon with your friends or your couple. And yeah – the bunker is more than just a nickname – the place is a remains of an old air raid civil war bunker. It was built in 1937 and has been renovated in the past few years. Renovated in sense that it’s clean and safer than before, the sight still has its own unique vibe. Moreover, there are tons of graffiti improving the ambient atmosphere.

I must admit, the sunset view from the top of the mountain is very romantic. There’s a 360º sight of Barcelona, which in my opinion is much better than the one from Montjuic. You can see absolutely everything – the vastness of the sea, the narrow streets of Barcelona, the city lights and the high mountain peaks. If you are a photography lover, this is the place to take amazing pictures of Barcelona!

So, the most important question – how to get there? You can see the location of the place on the map. The closest metro stop is Alfons X (L4, yellow) and from then on you can either walk or take a bus for two stops.

Interesting fact about the spot I chose to present to you – the Spanish rock band Nothink chose that particular sight in Barcelona for their music video of the song In a Row. Even if you are not the biggest rock fan you might like the video just for the astonishing location!

I hope my words inspire you enough to go and check out the place yourself. If you have any tips about other cool sights in Barcelona – drop a line in the comment section below!

Cheers,
Ivo

World Press Photo exhibition in Barcelona –  23 November 2011 – 18 December

Events in Barcelona don’t slow down in November either.  One that I highly recommend to you guys is the World Press Photo exhibition, which is opening its doors again in Barcelona, in the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB) to anyone who is interested in the world’s most famous and breathtaking pictures! SuiteLord, it’s been a year! Yep, just because November is approaching that doesn’t mean you have to stay at home covered with your blanket, right?

The judges at the The World Press Photo must have had a really hard time to choose the best picture, since this year, they had to select from 5691 photographers and between over 108 thousand pictures, how amazing is that? Ufff..

This year, the photo of the year belongs to Jodi Bieber, a photographer from South Africa. I am sure you are all familiar with the image. What we need to know about this prize-winning-photo is that it is about an 18 year old girl, Bibi Aisha from Kabul, Afghanistan, who was disfigured by her husband for fleeing his house after being brutally mistreated. When she was “caught”, she was taken to a mountain to be punished. According to local culture, a man who has been ashamed by his wife is said to have lost his nose, and this is seen as punishment in return. Later she was abandoned, but got rescued by an organization, and was then taken to America to receive treatment and reconstructive surgery. The story has a happy ending!

Check out the World Press Photo Exhibition in Barcelona on the following dates:

Wednesday 23 November 2011 – Sunday 18 December 2011 in the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (Montalegre 5)