The Man Behind the Feast

We recently celebrated Sant Jordi Day here in Barcelona, the day we venerate Catalonia’s patron saint, Saint George, or Sant Jordi. This special holiday in Catalonia is a romantic day in which romantics across the region exchange presents, a rose for a woman and a book for a man. Sant Jordi Day is Barcelona’s equivalent to Valentine’s Day. In my last blog I wrote about the story of Saint George slaying the dragon of Montblanc before he ate the beautiful princess, saving her from her fate. Due to this romantic and chivalrous act Sant Jordi Day is celebrated as a romantic occasion.

Lets look at the real Sant Jordi, the man behind the legend. According to Christian history George was born in Palestine in 275 AD. Both of Saint George’s parents were Christians; his father Gerontius was a prominent official in the Roman army from Cappadocia while his mother Polychronia was from Palestine.  At the age of 14 George lost his father in battle and a few years later his mother died. As a young man George left Palestine to head to the imperial city of Nicomedia, where he asked Emperor Diocletian for a career as a soldier. By his late 20’s George had been promoted to the imperial guard where was given the privileged title of Tribunus.

In the year 302 AD Emperor Diocletian issued a edict that every Christian soldier be arrested and Christian civilians should be sacrificed to the Roman gods. As a strong proud Christian George protested this edict and spoke to Diocletian directly. In front of the emperor and all of the imperial guard George declared himself to be a Christian and refused to change his beliefs. For this reason George endured several tortures such as lacerations on a wheel of swords. Even after his trials of pain and torture George once again refused to renounce Jesus Christ and his Christian faith. On April 23, 303 George was placed against the wall of Nicomedia and was decapitated in front of the city’s citizens. His body was soon returned to Palestine where it was buried.

The legend of Saint George and the dragon has several beginnings in Christian, Eastern Orthodox, and even Muslim writings. The dragon motif became popular with Vincent of Beauvais’ writings entitled Speculum Historale and later in Jacobus de Voragine’s writings entitled The Golden Legend. Historians believe that the slaying of the dragon is a direct representation of George denying paganism and the Roman Empire. In the story George rides in to save the fair maiden from the jaws of death as she is given to the dragon as a sacrifice. George protects himself from the dragon by using the sign of the cross then justly using his lance Ascalon to strike down the evil beast. The citizens are grateful to George and abandon their pagan ways in order to follow Christ and the Christian Church as inspired by Saint George.

Images of Saint George can be found across Europe and even in the Middle East. Countries that venerate the Christian icon and count him as their patron saint include Georgia, England, Egypt, Bulgaria, Catalonia, Romania, Ethiopia, Greece, India, Iraq, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, Serbia, Ukraine, Russia, Canada, and Bosnia.

Countries that celebrate the Day of Saint George raise the white flag with the red cross, the flag of Saint George. These countries will hold religious sermons along with celebrations of food and gift giving. The practice of celebrating Saint George Day is beginning to wane in countries such as England, Canada, and Georgia. Hungary marks April 23^rd to also be the Day of the Police, portraying the Saint as a protector similar to those in uniform.

Across the globe April 23^rd is marked with veneration and historical patronage. The Day of Saint George is celebrated in numerous different fashions, but they all have several characteristics in common; unity, patronage, and great storytelling.

Check out our other Suitelife blogs on Sant Jordi

Sant Jordi Day

Sant Jordi Barcelona

Sant Jordi Day Barcelona

Barcelona’s Valentines Day with A Twist of Culture and Storytelling

Barcelona lovers hit the streets and buy your novio or novia a book or rose as today is Catalonia’s most cherished day; Sant Jordi Day. Sant Jordi or Saint George is the patron saint of Catalonia along with a dozen other countries around the world. It is accepted that the chivalrous knight died April 23^rd, 303 AD. Many other countries tie the day of Saint George in with Easter Celebrations but here in Barcelona and Catalonia the day deserves it’s own recognition and celebration.

The streets across Barcelona will be radiating with the beautiful color and smells from roses along with the colorful designs and displays of books as sellers show their wares for all to enjoy. Flower and book stands will be draped with Catalonia’s red and white striped flag. Roses will be died in these colors, while other roses will be died red and blue in recognition of Barcelona’s famous football club. It is the tradition here in Barcelona for men to buy their lovers a flower and women to buy a book for their men. As time has gone by it is no longer gender qualified as men can buy women a book and women can buy their novios a flower if they choose to. Just don’t forget to bring your love one of these gifts.

Today is recognized with several different names. Saint George Day, Sant Jordi Day, the Day of Roses, and the Day of the Book. Today alone Barcelona will sell over 400,000 books and over a million roses. More books will be sold today then the rest of the year combined.

April 23 has been the Day of Roses since medieval times. The famed Saint George was once a knight in the Roman empire. The famous Catalonian tale speaks of George traveling through the Catalan town of Montblanc. The small town of Montblanc was plagued by a dragon who required a daily sacrifice every day of a villager. One day the village lottery had chosen the princess of Montblanc as the sacrifice. Before the beautiful maiden could come to her demise Saint George came to her rescue and slew the dragon, piercing it through the chest with his sword.  Upon the ground in which the dragon’s blood spilled grew a large magnificent rose bush shining bright crimson red. To this day Catalonian’s give their lover a rose to symbolize romance and chivalry.

The Day of the Book began in 1923 when a sales savvy book store dealer in the region combined Sant Jordi Day with books as a means to honor the deaths of two world renowned authors; William Shakespeare and Miguel Cervantes, both who had died on April 23^rd, 1616. The giving of books to a lover has been a part of Catalonian culture ever since. In 1995 UNESCO declared April 23 to be International Book Day.

Spend the day with a loved one and walk around the city. La Rambla and Plaza Catalunya will be especially festive as the concrete pathways will be adorned with flowers and books. Happy Sant Jordi Day to everyone.

Let us know how your Sant Jordi Day is and check out these other Suitelife blogs on Barcelona’s day of lovers and books.

Sant Jordi Barcelona

Sant Jordi Day in Barcelona

Valentine’s Day in Barcelona

Cheers,

Brett

Art Gallery and Bookstore and Hipster Haven: Mutt Barcelona

Mutt, an Art gallery in Barcelona and a specialized bookstore, is a temple of contemporary art, graphic design, urban design, street art and more. Its spacious white room is hypnotizing and the atmosphere that surrounds you once you enter is friendly and inspiring.

Mutt Barcelona could be seen as a little niche of art galleries in Barcelona in comparison to Macba or CCCB, but it’s not. It´s the soul of this place that makes it special.

If you are an art fan, read the blog on Modern art in Barcelona: visit art gallery in Barcelona to discover unknown Barcelona artists. and you will like the blog about another artist that exhibited in Mutt titled Contemporary art in Barcelona: Sosaku Miyazaki.

You can visit Mutt Barcelona every day from Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. It’s in the Born district on the Carrer del Comerç, 15. As it was already mentioned, Mutt is an awesome bookstore and a contemporary art gallery in one. You can find any book dedicated to art, design, urban art … Every book is presented as a piece of art itself on the bookshelves or the big tables.
The walls of art gallery Mutt change their exhibitors almost every month. If you go there in march or of april 2012 you will see the exhibition of a multitalented author Aitor Saraiba from Toledo. We saw it and love it.

His latest project is the collaboration with the Center of Ceramics Talavera, where he develops a collection of art pieces with the traditional technique of the city Talavera. His first exposition of photography, “Let Me Kiss You”, a documentary about the fans of Morrissey in the city of Los Angeles and his first graphic novel “El hijo del legionario” have been a “personal exorcism”, as the author likes to say, and we are happy that we can see his latest work in person in Barcelona.

Visit the Aitor Saraiba exposition at Mutt gallery Barcelona from 8th of March to 29th of April 2012 and let us know, if you liked it!

Sharka

Parks in Barcelona: Enjoy a Slice of Green in the Concrete Jungle (Aka BCN)

The beautiful Parks in Barcelona are something you could easily overlook on your first visit, but those in ‘the know’ worship these tucked-away green spaces as a way to escape the city, without actually leaving it. Here’s our guide to the best Barcelona parks around:

Park Ciutadella

If you haven’t been to Park Ciutadella, then you’re missing out on a magical little piece of Barcelona.  We’ve been going for years and it’s always the perfect lazy sunday alternative when you just don’t feel like the beach (If you are in a beach mood, download our free ebook here: The Barcelona Bible: Barcelona Beaches). I suppose the best way to describe it is… eclectic, and friendly, and otherworldly, and free. Bring your friends, or easily make some new ones.

Park Güell

Park Guell has a fascinating history, but if you don’t want a short synopsis then just skip down a paragraph.  Around the turn of the 1900′s, Count Eusebi Guell commissioned Antoni Gaudí to create the park. It was originally intended to be a posh gated community for the city’s elite, and consisting of only 60 properties, but there were only ever 2 houses actually built, neither by Gaudí himself, and it was deemed a commercial disaster (Interestingly enough, Guell convinced Gaudí to spend his life savings and buy the first model home. He moved in with his family in 1906 and spent the next 20 years living there). In 1969 it was designated a historical artistic monument of national interest. If you’re into Guadí, checkout our video: Las Ramblas Barcelona Part 4: Architecture.

Park Guell is best visited in off hours meaning the morning or around sunset and preferably not on weekends unless you want to wade through hords of tourists. You seem to be inspired to explore, like a giddy youngster, the architectural wonders it contains.  Some of them are easy to find like the park’s main terrace, with picturesque views and a long winding bench in the form of a psychedelic serpent wrapping around it.  Many of the nature-inspired works are hidden, and if you head out on the service roads and into the forrest you’ll discover all kinds of gems.

Read about it more in depth in Matt´s blog: Park güell: a personal guide to barcelona’s most famous park

Laberint d’Horta

Get lost in Parc del Laberint d’horta, literally. This is a fun place to come and be social, whether with some good friends or that special someone. The labyrinth even made it into our free ebook: The Barcelona Bible: Top 25 Place to Take a 1st Date. Make sure you find the outside bar and terrace. There’s nothing like kicking back for a few cañas after running around the labyrinth and the adjoining park.

Montjuic

Montjuic is truly incredible.  Go often, there’s so much to do and see.  The other day, and completely by happenstance, I stumbled upon a cactus garden and absolutely fell in love with it.

Gardens Mossen Costa i Llobera

The Jardins Mossen Costa i Llobera houses a collection that is considered by some botanists to be the plant world’s most important.  You will feel as if you are entering a different world, where you can admire an Alice in Wonderland like variety of cacti, all shapes and sizes and some in full bloom. This hidden cactus garden can be found heading down from Miramar, next to Pl. de l’Armada.

Gardens Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer

One of the most beautiful gardens in Barcelona has to be Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer. The designers took into account different plants’ flowering periods and weather conditions so there really isn’t a time of a year in which you could visit and be not struck by something. The landscape design of the park alone is something to marvel at. C. dels Tarongers, 1-5.

Tres Pins Nursery

I really love to watch things grow and hence this garden touched my heart. The Tres Pins Nursery is a more alternative green space, and quite a bit different from the many parks in Barcelona, and its beauty is hard to imagine before you enter. A tour through the nursery shows you how plants are grown and you’ll quickly discover that a nursery can be, at the same time, quite simply a beautiful garden. Again, the nursery can be found within my favourite Parc Montjuic – at Avinguda de Miramar.

Collserola

On a day when you’re crippled by a hangover, I don’t know another activity which helps clear your head that’s better than spending a day out in the forest. Collserola is perfect because it’s so easy to get there.  There are 5 different walking routes to choose from and the shortest is about 2km around a small lake.  The longest will take you several hours.  It’s hard to miss the spectacular views and picturesque fountains where you can drink the naturally purified water right from there spouts. To get there just hop on the FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya).  You’re looking to get off at the station “Baixador de Vallvidrera”. Then follow the signs directly to the park.

Cervantes park

Cervantes is one of the can’t-miss parks in Barcelona. In May it is especially beautiful and succulent.  Colours and scents overwhelm your senses and the vegetation is lush and inspiring. Rose lovers rejoice; the garden houses literally thousands of different species.  May and June is the main flowering period of the year, don’t miss it! Cervantes Park is in the Les Corts neighborhood on Avenida Diagonal, 708-716.

Hidden university garden

A little hidden oasis in the centre of the city.  Us SuiteLifers love to bring our lunch here because it’s quiet, green and peaceful.  It’s a nice place to disconnect and enjoy a relaxing moment.  It’s not huge, but because it’s hidden there is usually always a place to sit.  Sit by the fountain or under a big tree on the patio.  To find it just go to the university door (in Plaza Universitat) find the patio and turn left to find the garden.

Park Espanya industrial

A huge iron dragon reigns supreme over this interesting Barcelona Park. The park is centres around fire, water, and earth themes, has sunny grassy areas, a large pond, and great spots for setting up a picnic or relaxing in the sun with friends.

There are way more parks in Barcelona that we haven’t even mentioned here.  Did you know there are vegetable co-op gardens in the city too? One is close to the Sagrada Familia, but they say you have to wait till you’re 65 ir order to be able to buy a plot for your tomatos and I simply cannot wait that long!

Can you suggest any other great Barcelona parks that we can check out and add to our list?

Sharka

Barcelona Spas: 3 Great Options to Treat Yourself

Barcelona spas are all over the city and if you lead a stressful lifestyle like us you should consider taking a trip to one of these three Barcelona spas, sure to leave you feeling refreshed and ready to take on the town. Every metropolitan city has a whole host of luxury hotels offering everything from planned excursions to Michelin starred restaurants, and Barcelona is no different. The high rises near the beach are well-known for catering to the rich and whether you have the dinero to stay there or not, the unique Barcelona spas housed inside are worth a trip. Amidst all the partying, everyone needs to relax. I’ve been thinking about this a lot and so I decided to create this list of three unique Barcelona spas for those of you who are thinking like I am.

1. Sit Atop the City at The Majestic Spa Barcelona

The Majestic Spa in Barcelona qualifies as both unique and also one of the best rated Barcelona spas. It was the first in Europe to be awarded the prestigious Spa Excellence certificate by the American organization, Spa Quality LLC, and it takes its reputation seriously. The Majestic Spa Barcelona boasts a hot and cold sauna, a steam bath, a “sensations” shower, an ice fountain, and stations for beauty treatments from head to toe. Its treatments do not come cheap, but when it comes to pampering, many people are willing to pay top-dollar for what has been deemed THE BEST. I find that cost closely parallels quality, most of all when it comes to massage. You can visit the spa, located in Eixample off Passeig de Gracia, seven days a week from 8 am until 9 pm.

Pool at the Majestic Spa Barcelona

2. Enhance your Green Energy at The Spa by Six Senses Barcelona

The Spa by Six Senses in Barcelona is located in the Hotel Arts Barcelona right next to the beach. With its natural wood flooring and breezy terraces, it was clearly designed with the Barcelona-beach goer in mind. The spa provides all of the traditional treatments, as well as Thai and Oriental massage, Ayurvedic treatments, and a Hopi Ear treatment (curious about this one). The Six Senses Spa also has a holistic calendar on their website of “wellness consultants,” who visit regularly to explain to their guests the benefits of beauty rituals and massage. Of all the Barcelona spas, this one is the most “green.”

Thai Massage at Six Senses Spa Barcelona

3. Experience the Middle East at Aire de Barcelona

Aire de Barcelona is known for its unique atmosphere, modeled after a traditional Arabic bath, and its distinct Aragan treatments, which can be included in the “wet” series of temperature controlled pools.  The baths have special weekend breakfasts, tea and fresh fruit on the weekdays, and singing every Sunday morning. For a very reasonable price, you can soak in all three pools (hot, temperate, and cold) and finish with a 15, 30, or 45-minute massage. Unlike the previous two mentions, Aire de Barcelona is not inside of a hotel. This is just one of several Barcelona spas located in the hip Borne district, and it is open from 10 am until 2 am most days.

Candelit Bath at Aire de Barcelona

Have you been to any spas in Barcelona? What are some good ones you’ve found?

Ciao bella
Kathy

Barcelona History: Two Tales of a City

Today SuiteLife is giving you a quick and painless Barcelona history lesson as we explore everything that is Barcelona. Former monikers include: Barcilonum, Barceno, BCN, Barca, Barna, Barchinona, Barçalona, Barchelona, and Barchenona. Our favorite city in the world has a deep rooted history, and it has plenty of names to show it. Barcelona has 5 million visitors each year and a population of 1.6 million inhabitants. We love to live here, we love to visit, but do we know where the name Barcelona comes from and what it means?

“A Tale of Two Cities” is a classic story by Charles Dickens describing two amazing European cities; London and Paris. However Barcelona is so special that it has two tales for itself. Catalonia’s capital city goes back hundreds of years, so far that there are different ideas to it’s origins. There are two legends that refer to the founding of Barcelona.

Our first tale brings us 400 years before the creation of Rome. It is a time of gods and monsters. Our favorite mythological hero Hercules was surviving perilous adventures before he was singing and dancing in Disney movies. Hercules braved his famous 12 perils, which included fighting the three headed dog Cerberus, taking the head of Medusa, defeating the hydra, and going to the Underworld. One story many forget is that Hercules actually accompanied Jason and the Argonauts on their quest for the golden fleece. Jason, Hercules and the Argonauts set sail with nine ships filled with the strongest and bravest men of their time. During their travels one of the ships was lost in bad weather off of the Catalan coast. Hercules set out to find his lost friends only to find them days later along a small hill, all alive and safe. The crew were taken by the beauty of the coast and hills that they decided to remain. It was on this coastal landscape that Hercules and his men founded the city Barca Nona, or Ninth Ship.

Our next story may not include Roman gods but it contains famous historical figures just the same. The great Carthaginian leader and father of Hannibal, Hamilcar Barca won many battles and was noted as an excellent general. He obtained permission from the Carthaginian Senate to recruit and train his own army in hopes of expanding Carthage’s empire.  Barca took his army of brave Carthaginian soldiers across northern Africa and crossed into Europe along the Strait of Gibraltar. After eight years of war Hamilcar Barca obtained a large stretch of land in Espanya along the Mediterranean coast. Barca established the port city of Barcino in 230 BC, only two years before his death in 228 BC.

Between the Carthaginians, the Catalans, Romans, Moors, Pyrenees, and Spanish, this stunning city has had many names. It has two wondrous stories that share it’s beginnings, and it has millions of people the world over to continue keeping its spirit alive.

Which Barcelona story do you prefer? Tell us about your favorite Barcelona historical spots.

Cheers,

Brettsky

The Post Office in Barcelona can be very confusing and scary to an English Speaker.  So at SuiteLife we want to make it easier for you to use the Barcelona Post Office by telling you all you need to know.

Barcelona post office, and the Spanish post office (Correos) in general has always had a bad reputation and been widely renowned for slow delivery, but in recent years they have had vast improvements.  In Barcelona the central Post Office can be located on “Plaça Antonio López” near the marina, just at the bottom of Via Laietana, and there are nearly 40 sub-postal offices dotted around the city.  See map .  Most of the post offices in Barcelona have information services, sell stamps and can be used to send and receive letters, packages, telegrams, etc.

If you simply want to send a letter then you can buy stamps in tobacco shops, which are all over the city, and then simply post the letter in one of the yellow post boxes spread around the city and outside post offices.  There are also specific boxes for local, national and international letters.

At the post office in Barcelona the staff are generally pretty helpful, but if you don’t speak any Spanish or Catalan it can be a little confusing and difficult.  Most of the Barcelona post offices staff speak little or no English, so you may need to go with a few phrases prepared.

My experience In the Barcelona Post office

I recently had to send a package to California, and all I could say was that I wanted to send a package to the united states and that I don’t have a box.  It seemed like everything went well.  A nice lady asked me in Spanish which size box I wanted, which I didn’t really understand until she pointed to the selection of different sized boxes.  She then pointed at a section on the box where I need to fill I the address I was sending the package and my own address.  Once I had done this, I went to a man and said I wanted to send the box I had to the United States and asked if I had filled it in correctly, both things I said in very basic Spanish.  He seemed to understand and said that I had indeed filled it out correctly.  I then tried to ask how long it would take for the package to get to its destination, and I asked for the “mas rapido” (quick).  He seemed to understand and proceeded to explain in quick flowing Spanish how the postal service works, which left me pretty confused, and all I could take from what he had said was that he wasn’t sure how long it would take.  So I then asked for the Urgent stamp, which was “mas rapido” and asked how much it was.  It turned out much cheaper than I expected, which could mean it wont be “mas rapido” at all, but the good new is that the package was sent.  A week later I have yet to receive confirmation that the package has reached its destination.

Helpful Vocabulary for the Barcelona Post Office

Now you can get through this process with little or no Spanish, but if you don’t feel like waving your arms around a lot and trying to express yourself through charades the following vocabulary might make your life a bit easier:

I’d like to send this to ________ = Quiero enviar esto a ___________
How fast will it get there? = Cuanto tiempo durará en llegar?
Is there a faster option?  = Hay opción más rápido?
How much will it be?  = Cuanto será?
How much is the fastest delivery option? = Cuanto será la opción más rápido?
Is there a tracking number? = Hay número de seguimiento?
I want to buy insurance for the package = Quiero comprar seguros por el paquete
I need a box = Necesito una caja

Basic Information About the Barcelona Post Office

Central Post Office (Correos)
Plaça del Antonio López, 1
Tel: 902 197 197 / 933 183 048
Fax: 93 322 20 00 / 933 213 100
Metro: Jaume I or Barceloneta
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8.30am-9.30pm. Saturday 8.30am-2.30pm.

Correos Website

Hopefully this article will help ease your experience at the Barcelona post office.  If you have any more questions or think there’s some valuable vocabulary we’ve missed out on let us know and we’ll update the entry!

Cheers,

~Matt

“Hace Frio Tio!”

As a cold sweep makes its way across Europe, it seems like all people can talk about is the weather. The average daily temperature in Barcelona for the months of January and February is between 48 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit, or 9 or 10 degrees Celsius, which isn’t bad, even for a warm weather loving Floridian such as myself. But this past week was brutal; the average temperature plummeted to a mere 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius, and like most people, I was running from the metro to my front door. I couldn’t help thinking “Barcelona is NOT supposed to be this cold!” as I doubled up my socks, drank hot tea, and wore a coat indoors. And it only continued over the weekend. My roommates and I were having such a hard time getting out of bed, that the idea of venturing out into the cold was incomprehensible.

But alas, it’s Monday morning now and I’m having regrets about how I spent the last 72 hours. Here I am in a metropolitan city and the best I could come up with was sitting around with my roommates complaining about the weather. I’ve decided to come up with a list, for you and for me, of ten things to do when it’s cold and/or when it snows in Barcelona, that way we never have to indure another lame weekend again.

1. Go for a coffee – This one is pretty obvious. If you live anywhere in Catalunya chances are there is a coffee shop ridiculously close by. What better way to warm up than to have something warm to drink and to hold?

2. Visit the Centro Commercial – If it’s not Sunday then I recommend going to Arenas de Barcelona and doing some shopping, or just window shopping if you’re broke like me. If it IS Sunday and you’re dead-set on shopping, you could always go fight the crowds at Maremagnum (though I wouldn’t recommend this).

3. Watch soccer or rugby – My English coworker has just informed me that these sports do, in fact, play during the winter. While I’m not crazy about sports, I do like the idea of watching a game because it involves staying in one place for at least a couple of hours instead of hopping around from place to place. If you visit an Irish pub, you can also get some good comfort food and a couple of pints while you’re there.

6. Get Drunk – Do you like to party? We like to party. And it’s even better when it’s cold because then you can say you’ve got your alcohol overcoat on. I recommend spirits; just don’t go too crazy otherwise you might find yourself skating on thin ice. Har-har.

7. Get High – High-brow that is. There are so many museums in Barcelona that you’re almost guaranteed to be interested in one or two, and the same goes for art galleries. I’m currently looking into visiting the Museu de Carrosses Funebres or the Museum of Funeral Carriages at the metro Marina stop. Morbid fun!

8. Go to Morocco – If you’ve got buckets of money, then by all means go to Edreams and book the soonest flight south. Stay there and don’t come back until its warm again. My roommate and I looked into taking the train southward in Spain, but to no avail, most of the cities were about the same temperature.

9. Skiing or Snowboarding – For 220 euro a company called Stoke Travel will transport you via private coach from Barcelona for the weekend. Once you arrive in Andorra, you’ll already have access to the slopes, as well as accommodations and meals paid for. That’s a pretty good deal!

10. Stay Inside – You’ve exhausted all of the affordable options and you still have a day to kill? By all means, stay inside. But please do like we did and find something that takes a long time to cook, invite some friends over, and call it a potluck. Bam! Not a day wasted.

You guys have any other good ideas? Let me know!

~ Kathy

La Boqueria

I won’t lie to you and pretend that I am a professional chef, I won’t even tell you I can cook well but when I walked through Barcelona ramblas Boqueria Market I felt as if I was playing the part. La Boqueria Market or Sant Josep is the place to go for any item you need for a delicious Mediterranean meal, or simply for some extra fruits and treats on the go. The Boqueria has everything you could possibly imagine under one tall metal umbrella. Sant Josep market is the largest of Barcelona’s 39 food markets, and it is also the largest in Europe. This market assaults your senses with the sounds of the people ordering in close proximity, the numerous smells intoxicating your brain, the riot of colors that cover every stand, the feel of Barcelona’s ripest fruits, and of course the taste of heaven on earth as you delight in the freshest food the city has to offer.

Walking through the Boqueria can be like walking through a maze of foods and ingredients. It can take your brain a few minutes to adjust to all of the sites and sounds inside the crowded market. Take a deep breath and decide what you want to see because the market is actually organized quite well for an open bazaar.  The first thing you see when entering Boqueria Market from the Rambla are the fruit stalls on either side of the main alley. An incredible array of colorful fruits tempt the thirsty visitor, especially as they’re so nicely presented and packed for quick consumption. You can take your choice from pre-packed, ready to eat fruit salads, pineapple, mango, kiwi and a seemingly endless range of exotic fruits and fruit juices. Just off this main alley you can buy all the same stuff at a more reasonable price, especially if you can do without the packaging. The market is organized; fruit and vegetables on the outside, then pickles, olives, grains. Next come the stalls selling meats, chicken and innards like brains, whole heads, tongues, eyes, gonads, gizzards, and any organs you could possibly think of, (or want to eat). The inner circle is devoted to fish, seafood, and shellfish.

Once you have managed to maneuver yourself through the maze of alluring and attractive foods it is time to decide what to buy. Whether you are perusing through the market while walking down the Rambla or if you are doing some serious shopping for a big dinner with friends make sure to stop for a refreshing fresh fruit drink. The fruit stalls in the entrance aisles have every flavor of fruit under the sun chilled and ready for quench your thirst. If you are planning doing some serious shopping for some special events then pay attention to the stall prices, as those centralized and close to the entrance tend to have higher asking prices then the stalls further back.

History of the Boqueria ~

For the other historic enthusiasts out there here is a brief background of our favorite one stop shop for kitchen stock ups. The Boqueria holds its inauguration back in 1217 when tables were installed near the harbor as a place to sell fish, pork, and other delicacies. Until 1794 the Boqueria was known as the Mercat de la Palla, or Straw Market. Over time the market grew in popularity and farmers from neighboring cities would travel here to sell their goods. Competition among sellers was fierce as the Mercat de la Palla even back then was popular among the crowds. The fish shops and butchers tables soon created a street of their own making the Mercat an even larger bazaar of eats and treats. The open market was becoming so large that it soon became its own locale, being named Sant Josep. Sant Josep was inaugurated October 18th, 1827 as an official market. During this time Sant Josep was soon surrounded by flowers, fountains, and porches from the surrounding buildings. La Rambla and the Boqueria during this time were the central spots for peddlers and sellers of all types of wares.

It was in 1914 that the metal roof and enclosure that stands today were built. The current sellers are mostly of the third and fourth generation of salesmen of the market. The market continues to bring the past and present together, through food and culture. It is a place to discover new foods, new flavors, and learn new Spanish dishes. They are the union of the past with the present. In 2005 the Boqueria was given the award for best market in the world by the World Markets Congress of Washington. In 2003 the Boqueria began giving daily cooking classes to adults and children alike. The Boqueria is a destination for locals and tourists alike. It brings out the inner chef for all of us.

Check out our SuiteLife video tour of the greatest market in Europe:

Tell us about some of your favorite Mediterranean dishes made with Boqueria’s freshest ingredients. Share any mouth watering recipes or cooking tips you may have.

Cheers,

Brettsky

Address: La Rambla, 89 bis – Plaça de la Boqueria

Phone: 933 182 584 / 933 182 017

How to get there: Metro L3, stop Liceu. | Bus 14, 59 and 91.

Web site: www.boqueria.info

E-mail: mercatboqueria@mercatsbcn.cat

Opening time: Monday to Saturday, from 8am to 8.30pm.

Calling all Barcelona yoga enthusiasts! The Best yoga classes in Barcelona are not hard to find if you know what you’re looking for! Ranging from mild to wild, yoga studios in Barcelona offer Hatha, Kundalini, Ashtanga, and Bikram, and are something for everyone, from beginners to the most experienced of practitioners, to check out.

Hatha

The word Hatha comes from the Sanskrit words “Ha” meaning sun, and “tha” meaning moon. It was invented by Yogi Swatmarama sometime in the 15^th century and is characterized by a practice which combines postures, breathing, and meditation to achieve relaxation and enhance flexibility and strength. Less technically speaking, it is what people generally think of when they hear the word “yoga.” There are no “required” poses but the instructors should give plenty of modifications to either take it down or step it up a notch in intensity.

If you’re looking for yoga classes in Barcelona, the aptly named “Yoga Studio Barcelona” offers four different levels of Hatha yoga classes, including a Level 1-2 for people who are athletic but have never done yoga before. Classes run all week but fill up fast so get there early.

www.yogastudio.es

If you want to take yoga classes in Barcelona but need them to be in English, the Well Woman Center on Monday and Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. has them. You can check out their website or go to their group on Meetup (Vinyasa Flow in English).

http://www.bcnwellwoman.com/english/classes/index.html

Kundalini

Not going to lie, I have never personally tried Kundalini yoga classes in Barcelona. But don’t stop reading yet; it is apparently one of the most popular styles of yoga as any search will turn up dozens of results. Kundalini yoga is characterized by a dreamlike, meditative state in which the body is awakened through the gradual release of untapped energy (pranayama) from the seven chakras. It is represented by the serpent, said to lie coiled at the base of the spine and wait for release. It is a deeply spiritual practice, which begins with a chant or song and meditation, followed by an “awakening” of the limbs through different postures, and another chant or song and meditation in closing. And by the way, they wear flowing white robes and speak in Sanskrit. So if you’re looking to engage in some lighthearted conversation with classmates or just stumble into a class after work this might not be the best option. Nevertheless, just reading about it has made me curious and if I decide to go I will definitely check out one of these two studios in Barcelona:

The “Shuni Yoga” studio literally has classes all the time, and even one for women only. Located in Sagrada Familia, its website has all the info you need.

http://www.shuniayoga.com/

“I good, All good,” or “Yo bien, todo bien,” is the simple but groovy motto of “Kundalini Yoga West in Barcelona.” They offer a free class if you’ve never been before!

http://www.yogawestbcn.com/

Ashtanga

I’m going to depart slightly from giving advice on yoga classes in Barcelona, to say that Ashtanga literally changed my life. I was fortunate enough to study under Debra Corso in Orlando, Florida who inspired others through her insightful prologues and hands-on instruction. There is an adherence to structure in Ashtanga, which if you have a good teacher, makes it very easy to lose yourself in the practice.  It is not something that you can master on your first try but if you enjoy it, then you will go back week after week to do the same postures until you THINK you’ve mastered them, at which time your instructor should and will (hopefully) throw in another element to make it challenging again. This is the type of yoga where you turn yourself into a pretzel, ok?

The classes are longer – usually an hour and a half to two hours, instead of the standard one hour and fifteen. It is my personal favorite, if you make it through the first forty-five minutes without feeling totally overwhelmed then chances are by the end of class you’ll be a convert too.

Ashtanga Barcelona Yoga is AWESOME. Their classes are open to students at 7 am, but technically don’t start until 10:30 am, giving ample time for relaxation and stretching before class. There is also a beginner workshop on Saturdays and Sundays on the last weekend of each month.  One suggestion is all you need here.

www.ashtangayogabarcelona.org

Bikram

Ah Bikram yoga…criticized by some, loved by many. It is not for the faint of heart!  Bikram yoga classes in Barcelona are frequented by many different types of people as it has become something of a craze, spreading with intensity (pun intended) around the globe. This is the type of yoga where they raise the temperature of the room to the ungodly temperature of 105 degrees to allow for deeper breathing and greater flexibility. I have only tried Bikram yoga once but I have several friends who practice nearly every day of the week and who have even participated in the trademark “thirty day challenge” (practicing every day for thirty days). I guess the good thing about Bikram, and the reason so many athletes and exercise aficionados are crazy about it, is that it provides instant results. Personally, I’m not a fan of sweating profusely but if you want to give it a shot here is the link to Bikram yoga classes in Barcelona:

Barcelona Bikram has a 15 euro introduction rate, meaning you can take an unlimited number of classes for a whole week. There regular classes go for 15 euros each so this is great value but it does make me wonder if the weekly rate is offered because they don’t expect you to come back, hehe.

www.bikramyoga.es

There are many other styles of yoga but these were the big four which came to mind as I was writing this article. What styles of yoga have you tried? How have you found yoga classes in Barcelona? Which ones are your favorite/least favorite?

I look forward to reading your answers!

Namaste.

Kathy