The Poblenou Superblock is simply a better place in which to live

Last 20th of June the Poblenou Superblock received a special mention at the European Prize for Urban Public Space. This competition underlines the importance of public space as a catalyst of urban life, and  aims to bolster public investments in its conservation and improvement. The “ Superblocks Program 2016-2019” has been implemented by the City Council  to reduce the space occupied by the private vehicle so as to favor pedestrian surface, bicycle lanes and network of fast bus lanes. The first pilot project called Poblenou Superblock is located in the Poblenou neighbourhood, of the Sant Martí district, a former industrial zone.

What does the Poblenou Superblock look like ?

The Poblenou Superblock is a wide area, delimited by Badajoz, Pallars, La Llacuna and Tànger streets. The plan designed large interstitial pedestrian areas, vehicles can access to all buildings but they are obliged to move more slowly and to take roundabout routes. The pilot project has been developed in two successive stages. The first one has been conceived by several students in architecture : temporary signs were painted on the ground, provisional elements of street furniture were placed, trees planted in mobile containers were scattered in the pedestrian streets. Residents have found their feet which gave rise to children’s playgrounds, sports areas, picnic and ping-pong tables, meeting spaces, literary tours and temporary markets. the second stage, initiated in autumn 2017, has consisted in consolidating the intervention on a permanent basis by means of conventional civil engineering work.

What are the results ?

In total, public space for pedestrians has increased by 13,350 square meters in the Superblock. The number of vehicles circulating in the inner streets has dropped by 58% which of course increased the traffic in the four roads around the perimeter by 2.6%. Daytime noise levels have dropped by an average of five decibels which is good news as the noise once exceeded the WHO’s noise exposure limits. In addition 212 new trees were planted, and open-air cultural activities have multiplied.

How the Poblenou Superblock affects real estate in the neighborhood ?

As the streets of the Poblenou Superblock are calmer and less noisy, the value of the houses and apartments located in the superblock are moving on. The extension of green spaces increases commercial rents and property prices. The new quality of life appeals to newlyweds and families who look for a calm and safety place to live. The Poblenou pilote project has given rise to a magical renaissance of urban life, if you take a walk in the Superblock, you will see free-range kids, families and locals enjoying the new car-free spaces. As Barcelona continues to create pedestrianized zones, residents choosing to walk rather than use transport will allow the government to prioritize their people rather than cars in the future making for healthier, and happier Spaniards. What do you think about the city 's new charm, would you wish for more extended superblocks in Barcelona ?

Barcelona's vision as a Smart City

Barcelona has long been a leader in the smart city movement but the city's government has recently implemented an ambitious plan for digital transformation that will place the City Council in the vanguard of efficiency, transparency and social innovation. Barcelona smart city strategy shapes a better urban area : we give you the key points to understand what it involves for its citizens in their daily life.

What is a Smart city ?

To explain simply, a smart city is an urban area that uses different types of electronic data collection sensors to supply information which is used to manage efficiently community services. This includes data collected from citizens, devices, and assets that is processed and analyzed to monitor and handle for instance traffic and transportation systems, power plants, water supply networks or waste management. A smart city uses information and communication technology (ICT) and the loT (Internet of Things), an ecosystem of various physical devices that are interconnected with each other to optimize the efficiency of city services. This allows city officials to interact directly with both community and city infrastructure and to monitor what is happening in the city and how the city is evolving.

Sentilo : a network of sensors that analyzes all the city !

Barcelona has a dense network of sensors, called Sentilo, which compiles city data from a wide variety of sources, something which has made the city a leading figure in the global smart-city ecosystem and provides real-time information on the state of the city. Parking Spaces: the city embedded underneath the asphalt a sensor system that identify the available parking spaces and notify the drivers. This program helps to reduce emissions and congestion while drivers save time when they want to park.
Street lights: a LED based lighting system is used to reduce light consumption. This system is more energy efficient as it adjust lighting based on the presence of people and the time of delay . A central unit in the street enables lights to communicate and this unit also manages various other services like electric vehicle recharging stations, Wi-Fi, and fiber-optic cabling to the home. Noise sensors: Barcelona is a noisy city because of its large avenues. Noise sensors allow the inhabitants to measure the level of noise and to take necessary action when the noise levels exceed the recommendations of the WHO (World Health Organization). Other sensors collect data on pollution, humidity and temperature which allows for instance the city to adapt the watering in public spaces depending on the rain. Even more striking, there are now sensors on the bins that enable the city to detect the level of waste that comes from different places and optimize the collection of waste. The knowledge given by the sensor network helps the City Council to make better decisions about public services and infrastructures optimizing their organization and their cost.  This clearly improves the functioning of the city and the residents’ well-being.

A better policy for public transports

Barcelona has integrated the fight against global warming into its smart city strategy to improve its citizens’ quality of life. In that purpose, the city has developed a large and efficient public transport network, and created more pedestrian areas. The first stage of this policy has begun with the “Superblocks Program 2016-2019” which pilot project is located in Poblenou and consists in reducing the use of cars so as to favor pedestrian surface, bicycle lanes and network of fast bus lanes. The roads within the Poblenou Superblock have been transformed to be used by pedestrians and bikes only. Now this neighborhood is renowned for its lively streets and its peaceful atmosphere.
Secondly the transport system of Barcelona (TMB) has integrated a new orthogonal bus network, making it more frequent, easier to use, and faster. The bus transit system helps decreasing emissions using hybrid buses and solar panels in bus shelters. Soft modes of transport are of course encouraged, like Bicing, the city bike system only used by Barcelona residents, that helps reducing circulation and pollution. To go further, a new T-Mobilitat tranport tickets will provide Barcelona City Council with the return and use of data generated by city residents when they use public transport. This information will help improving public transport policies based on greater knowledge of city-resident mobility.

A new digital strategy to manage data

At this stage you certainly wonder to whom belong all the data collected from the sensor networks. Well, the City Council is working to have an entire sovereignty over the data and to less depend on foreign providers, renegotiating its different contracts with them. As data is a prime asset in the knowledge society, Barcelona opens up its urban network of sensors to public experimentation, by offering data to the general public through an Open Data Portal. Barcelona puts citizens at the head of its new smart city strategy :  the use of data has to provide better and more affordable services as well as make government more transparent, participative and effective. The strategy consists in expanding the social beneficial  uses of data, while guaranteeing data sovereignty, ethic and privacy.
With this is mind, the City Council works alongside a group of 14 European city, to defend the importance of e-democracy through the DECODE initiative. This project aims to promote a vision of data as a common asset and to empower the general public with an infrastructure that provides it with control over how the data is used. Concrete initiatives are creating hardware, software and business models to take on the quasi-monopolies being promoted through centralized foreign web services. For instance, the City Council is opting for the use of open-code technologies, publishing its software in public repositories with permissive licenses so that third parties can use it whether they be other public administrations, companies or individuals. It wants to stimulate local initiatives giving companies the tools and knowledge needed to spread their business. With this new strategy the Catalan capital proves that it is able to find efficient and sustainable solutions to optimize the functioning of the city. Barcelona is a wide urban area, and the City Council works to improve the well being of its citizens to create a better place to live.

Barcelona is full of great places to watch the sunset, and there’s no better way to finish a long summer day than to watch the sun go down over this beautiful city. If you love a good sunset as much as we do, you've come to the right place. Here are our top picks for the perfect sunset places in Barcelona.

1.Montjuic

The first is Montjuic- and your'e in for a treat because this location has two perfect areas to watch the sunset. The first is the historic Montjuic castle. The stunning fountain in front of the castle is breath taking any time of day but the view at sunset is extra special. However, if green spaces are more your thing then the Jardins de Miramar is also a great option. And, If you enjoy films, Sala de Montjuic is just round the corner. This is an open-air cinema where you can watch films whilst the sun goes down, does it get any better?

2.The Carmel bunkers

The next spot is a locals favourite: The Carmel bunkers. These old military bunkers now provide a stunning 360° viewpoint of the city. They have a great atmosphere, filled with people picnicking, drinking wine and playing music. We think that visiting the Carmel bunkers is the perfect end to a busy week and one of the best sunset views the city has to offer.

3.Skybar Barcelona

The next place is a little pricey, but we think it's worth every penny. The beautiful Skybar Barcelona, complete with pool and modern décor has a stylish and unique sunset vibe. Entry is after 9pm and costs 20€ including your first drink. If you're looking to do something a little more luxurious, we think this would be the perfect place.

4.Bogatell beach

Let’s bring things back down to earth, quite literally – because these iconic Barcelona sunsets aren't limited to high up spots. One of our favourite places to watch the sunset is the beach. We especially love Bogatell seeing as it’s a little less crowded than Barceloneta but you still get a great view of the promenade and W hotel in the background. We love to go for a run and a refreshing dive just before sunset to end the day off.

5.Tibidabo

If your'e looking for something magical, Tibidabo with its historic theme park and the famous Sagrat Cor church looks like something straight from a fairy-tale. Its breath taking view of the city is even better at sunset and is mainly due to the fact that at 500 metres tall, Tibidabo mountain is the highest point in Barcelona. You can access it by the little tram that runs daily from the base of the mountain to the summit.

6. Port Vell cable car

For those of you not scared of heights, another great way to see the city at sunset is to take the cable car. If timed right, you will get a spectacular view of the city at sunset as you travel over the port. Your cable car journey will begin at Torre Sant Sebastià, cross over Port Vell, and end up at the Miramar Jardims viewpoint in Montjuic. If your'e going in high season, remember to arrive early in case of queues.

7.Bell Tower, Santa Maria del Pi

If historic sites are more your thing, there is great sunset view from the Bell Tower of Santa Maria del Pi church. This 14th century Bell Tower is the tallest building in the ancient el Gótico area from which you get a stunning view over the old city. Tickets to visit the church and tower are just 4€ but, like the cable car, remember to arrive with plenty of time in case of queues in the summer season.

8. Hotel W Barcelona

Our last sunset favourite is the famous Hotel W Barcelona. This hotel is home to the stylish Wet bar with stunning views over the whole city of Barcelona. The Wet bar opens to external guests at 8pm, and this summer is hosting the coolest summer party series on Sundays, also open to the public. Feel like watching the sun go down on a Sunday evening with house music and a cocktail in hand? This one’s for you.

The social currency in Barcelona, a matter of debate

In 2017,  the city of Barcelona created a social currency in an attempt to stimulate local facilities and social projects and support local businesses. Strongly advocated in Ada Colau’s platform, the social currency in Barcelona is part of the European B-Mincome program, and has so far been implemented in Besós, one of the city’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods. The new currency has been warmly received by Barcelona inhabitants that goes under the name REC (“Recurs Econòmic Ciutadà”) and is expected to become legal tender by 2019. Barcelona’s new medium of exchange is not the first of its kind in Europe, nor in Spain. Social currencies have also been implemented across Spain in cities such as Seville, Bilbao, Bristol (UK) or Lyon (France).  The results of social currency programs have been both positive and negative which explains the heated debate about their potential and limitations.

How Do the Social Currencies Work?

In short: just like normal money. The only difference with social currency is that it can only be used in a restricted geographical area. One thousand low-income households currently participate in the program and receive 25% of their welfare allowance in REC that they can only spend in local shops, restaurants, charities and neighborhood initiatives that are signed up to the scheme. One of REC’s greatest attributes is that it’s a virtual currency so every citizen can use it, they just have to download the app!

What are REC’s advantages?

Its most significant contributions to local economies is that it has proven to increase local production and spending. As the currency circulates in a small area, the wealth created from its exchange, does not escape from Besós and is redistributed in the neighborhood.  The local economy will benefit as a whole, as businesses will be able to employ more people with increased business. In addition to very gently encouraging trade with locals rather than strangers, and lower unemployment, a social currency is a safer investment as it is not a speculative currency. With REC, poor households are better protected against a global economic crisis and will have better confident in currency as a means of exchange. Customer loyalty is another benefit of the REC. By offering a successful local currency service, news will spread by word of mouth, and bolster the cash side of the business too. As if that weren’t enough reason to support the social currency in Barcelona, it is also a green initiative, as fostering the use of local products can reduce the carbon footprint of a community and individuals.

What Are the REC Negative Aspects?

Without question, the initiative does have its pitfalls as local currencies encourage closed markets. As the money exchanged circulates in a small area, it limits the number of imported goods and services and the possibility to export local production, which negatively affects the development of a local economy. The REC, as any other currency, can be affected by the inflation if traders decide to increase their prices which of course penalizes poor families. One of the most advanced social currency project is located in Bristol, in south-west Great Briton. 1 500 inhabitants use the Bristol pound among 750 local businesses. Launched in 2012, this initiative was a response to austerity and recession, allowing local businesses to face the crisis and to develop their activities. Do you think the REC initiative is compatible with Barcelona international lifestyle ?

Healthy mind in a healthy body

You want to take care of your health and work for the environment, or just eat fresh and natural products ?  You are completely right and that is why we give you the best addresses to find organic and seasonal food stores in Barcelona. Let’s fill your basket with healthy and 100% local products!

El Mercat de la Terra

The Slow Food Barcelona association created El Mercat de la Terra, a market that takes place every Saturday, from 10h to 16h, in the Tres Xemeneies park. The market brings together local suppliers who offer a great variety of local and seasonal products. The stalls overflow with organic and zero kilometer food such as fruits and veg, grains, cheeses, cold cuts, bread and pastries.  The association advocates an environment friendly ethic, promotes biological an traditional agriculture, and helps the producers using faire prices. Not only a place to do shopping,  you can enjoy the nice and laidback atmosphere, meeting the producers and the association’s members, who love to share their experiences. The market also organizes playful activities to raise awareness among adults and children. Grap your basket and  discover an new way to go shopping ! Address : Parc des Tres Xemeneies, Av. del Parallel, 49, 08004

I Love Food project

The Founders of I Love Food wanted to bring together urbans and local producers in a common cause that promotes sustainable agriculture. Their first initiative was to deliver at home a basket of local and biological fruits and vegetables, for only 22€. You can choose the composition of the basket, its size (individual or family) and the delivery can be occasional or weekly if you buy a subscription. This initiative is very convenient when you don’t have the time to go shopping, especially when you spent all the day working ! I love Food also has its shop that sells only biological and zero kilometer products. Fruits, vegetables, yogurt, eggs, meat..  you will find everything you need. Address : Carrer de Muntaner, 476, 08006

The Autòctons shop

In that shop there are products from small local producers and artisans. The shop promotes the Catalan gastronomy, you can find all the ingredients needed to cook Catalan recipes: tapas, paella and allioli will no longer hold any secrets for you !  You have the choice between diverse foodstuff ( cheese, oil, wine ..)  for reasonable costs. Address: Carrer de Rogent, 24, 08026

Casa Amella

Casa Amella is a Catalan family company that sells seasonal products with zero preservatives and zero additives. The company promotes a healthy and sustainable Mediterranean diet and tries to have a large range of natural products. They sell everything from oil and pasta to soups and hamburgers. The vast majority of his suppliers are to be found in the Bages region, near Barcelona, The only exception? Lentils and other legumes are brought in from Castilla y León. The sale price is much higher than many competitors but the company guarantees local and fresh products. Address : there are many points of sale that you can find on their website. Now it’s up to you to come back from that different places with a basket filled to the brim and to cook delightful dishes !

The best fruits in Barcelona: the ultimative guide on Fruterias

Spanish life is great and unique, be it about the famous siesta, the weather, parties or the food - you will definitely fall for it! If you value healthy fresh food you are undoubtedly right here, too. Fresh fruits in Barcelona, as well as vegetables, are easy to find and buy - but if you want to shop smart like a real local you will need to follow our advice! Don't worry, we are more than willing to share our ultimate secret. The freshest, cheapest and best fruits in Barcelona are only to find in one place: lovely spanish Fruterias! Of course you will also be able to buy your groceries in every supermarket or at the famous food markets, but for these Suitelife prepared another set of insider tips. Find out more and read our articles on supermarkets and food markets in the city. Now, let us begin and dive deep into the jungle of juicy fruits in Barcelona...
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1. What is a Fruteria?

In Spain you have a thousand different shopping opportunities - yes, I am talking about the famous “-í/-erías”, that you will encounter every 15 meters on a spanish street. There exists an individual store for almost everything! From carnicerías, peluquerías, heladerías and (surprise) pizzerías to jamonerias, queserías, cervecerías and so on and so on, you can have it all. So no wonder that there also is our personal favourite: the fruterias, where you can buy exclusively fresh, local grown fruits. But, wait that’s not all. In these small shops you will also find all kinds of vegetables and sometimes even eggs, nuts or honey from all around the region. Oh, and did I mention the biggest advantage of fruterias? The prices!
While you can pay huge amounts of money for local and healthy food in other countries, depending where you are coming from, the offer in spain, and especially in those lovely little fruterias, is simply amazing and so cheap! You can get a bunch of bananas, kiwis, a handful of avocados, tomatoes and two sweet potatoes for less than 5€! However be aware that the prices and selection do depend on the respective season.

2. Where can I find a Fruteria?

If you live in Barcelona or even if you are just here for a visit, you only have to leave your house and stroll around the sidestreets of your barrio - and you will most probably stumble over one of the many, tiny fruterias! Literally in every part of the city you will be able to find at least a dozen of them, so don’t you worry! However sometimes they are a bit tricky to find, as they often are not linked within Google Maps. So you must look for them the old school way - without internet and GPS!

3. How do Fruterias work?

The quirky thing about fruterias is that they are small. And when I say small, I mean tiny! So tiny you most probably feel uncomfortable being in there, especially when you are not the only one. The great range and the prices however make this worth it! If your choosen store is full of people, the easiest way to avoid misunderstandings is to ask “Perdona, quien es la última?” as soon as you enter, since you will regulary NOT find a ordered queue. Once inside the fruteria you usually should not, under any condition, touch the fruits with your hands! Only those you will buy for sure. Often there are big signs telling you this, and if you happen to have missed these hints, be ready to be put in place angrily by the seller. They generally don’t like people spreading their germs on their good fruits, so we advise you to best keep following those rules for your own good! So, either you picked your own goods and pay for them now at the checkout, or, also a common way, you just order your needed fruits and veggies directly at the seller! Of course for this you need to be able to speak a little bit of spanish - or make yourself understandable with hands and feet, somehow it will work out. If you've mastered this, congratualtions! You are now in possesion of some real, fresh, juicy Barcelona vitamin bombs!

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Having successfully fought your way through the fruity jungle, having overcome all the small obstacles in your way, you can now happily take your “prey” back home! Maybe this evening you will create a tasty Macedonia de frutas or cook a delicious meal with your cheap, healthy veggies… If you are interested in trying out some real catalan recipes, read our article on it and learn about some amazing local specialities. Enjoy your veggies and fruits in Barcelona!

- Antonia from Suitelife -

The top 12 places to take breathtaking Instagram photos in Barcelona

PC: @xopet1969 At SuiteLife we love checking out Instagram for great photos of Barcelona and taking our own pictures too. Here are the top 12 Instagram hotspots in Barcelona that we would recommend for those of you who like to get creative on Instagram. If you live in Barcelona and want to spice up your feed or you're visiting and want to know the best places to take photos in Barcelona this list is for you. If your'e looking for even more  inspiration, be sure to check out our blog of the top 70 Barcelona based Instagram accounts.

1.   Tibidabo

The first to make our top 12 Instagram hotspots is the beautiful mountain and amusement park of Tibidabo. The Sagrat Cor church, as well as a giant ferris wheel and other classic rides make this a great place to take photos with a quaint and old-school vibe. The bright colours and lights in the park also help to produce vibrant and fun photos – check out @barcelonacitizen’s ferris wheel photo below for inspiration! If you're looking for a challenge, you might also want to try experimenting with movement in the photographs seeing as the amusement park is a place full of action. We would recommend heading to Tibidabo during the golden hour to make the most of the orange tones of the sunset.

PC:@barcelonacitizen

2.   Barrio Gótico

Barcelona's Barrio Gótico is our second pick for the city's most Instagrammable spots. With its winding alleyways and selection of trendy cafés, it makes for a beautiful photo. For those of you who like photographing people, El Gótico is a great space to capture the hustle and bustle of everyday life with an extra special historical backdrop. We love the light in this amazing photo of a busy street in El Gótico posted by @ZuckerandSpice.
PC: @ZuckerandSpice

3.   La Barceloneta

As Barcelona's most popular beach, La Barceloneta is perfect backdrop for those summer pics. However, Barceloneta is also great for photography throughout the year, with L'Estel Ferit and the famous W Barcelona nearby you can capture some really powerful and dramatic landscapes as  shown by @xopet1969's amazing Instagram photo below. We would recommend going early in the morning if you're looking to take a less crowded picture of Barceloneta.
PC: @Xopet1969

4.   Sagrada Familia

The Sagrada Familia in L'Eixample is one of the most famous sites in Barcelona and Instagram proves it. With thousands of pictures of The Sagrada Familia on the gram it can be hard to get a fresh take on this beautiful and historical building. We love the Instagram photo below from photograher @caldeh who has added a creative twist on this favourite. He achieved this amazing viewpoint by taking the picture from Gaudi's Casa Mila.
PC: @caldeh

5.   Casa Batlló

Gaudi's Casa Batlló is another well-known attraction in Barcelona and in our opinion, its unique and fluid architectural style make for iconic photos. The most breath-taking photos of Casa Batlló are taken at night when the building is lit up. The blue-tones in the windows also look beautiful when pictured in the daytime, from inside and out. Check out @Stoptheroc’s amazing photo of Casa Batlló in the snow for some wintry inspiration!
@stoptheroc

6.   Palau de la Música

Palau de la Música Catalana without a doubt deserves a place in our top 12 Instagram hotspots. The bright and powerful colours in and around the building are both stunning in person and of course, on the gram. The Modernist style building is filled with colourful stain glass windows, which are even more beautiful when the sun is shining. On the building’s exterior, you can find a series of detailed pillars, which also look great in photos as shown by @AngieSilverspoon. If you're in to editing photos, don't be afraid to push up the saturation on these pictures  to make the most of the amazing colours.
@angiesilverspoon

7.   Palau Guël

Palau Guël in the neighbourhood of El Raval was one of Gaudi's first important commissions, and was designed to be an unusual and fun urban space for the Guël Lopez family before they moved to Parc Guël. The fairy-tale-like design of Palau Guël means that you can let your imagination run wild when taking pictures here. From the unique shapes of the stone buildings to the stunning ceiling designs on the interior of the buildings, Palau Guël provides endless options for creative photography. This picture from @Caba213’s Instagram shows how some of the site’s amazing colours can be enhanced with some subtle edits to produce beautiful, gram-ready photos.
@caba213

8.   Parc Guël

Parc Guël is quite literally a photographer’s playground. Parc Guël, located in the vibrant Gracia neighbourhood, is less refined than Palau Guël, boasting the same fun urban features as Palau Guël and then some. This topsy-turvy urban design has everyone reaching for their camera. The intricate mosaics in the park are great if you like colourful and more detailed photographs. This amazing picture from @thebarcelonist shows a view of the park and the city behind. We also suggest heading to a high point in the park if you  want to make the most of its many cool features in your photography.
@thebarcelonist

9.   Plaça d'Isidre Noneu

The next on our list is less well known, a hidden treasure if you like. This one is for the art lovers- a large image of a kiss made up of a collage of tiny pictures located on Plaça d'Isidre Noneu in the historic neighbourhood of El Gótico. If your’re looking for your next edgy Instagram pic, this has got to be your newest addition. This lovely pic by @beautuhuteru shows us the huge scale of the collage. The pinky tones of the street art and powerful imagery means it will look great without filters and edits, just make sure you get there before sunset to take full advantage of these colours.
@beautuhuteru

10.   Pont de Petroli

This beautiful bridge stretching far into the sea moves away slightly from heavy urban landscape of the city. Located in Badalona in the province of Barcelona, this is a great option for those of you who enjoy photographing more tranquil environments. As @davidbarmengou shows, Pont de Petroli creates beautiful sunset image, which can be made extra special by incorporating silhouettes. The simplistic design of the bridge makes it seem endless and, with stunning views of the surrounding sea, you can't go wrong.
@davidarmengou

11. Font Màgica

Font Màgica or the Magic fountain in Montjuic is definitely up there on our list of top 12 Instagram hotspots! Not only is it beautiful during the day but its regular light shows make for magical photos, if you'll pardon the word play. The light shows are full of colour to make your pictures pop, check out this one posted by @alexjacksonvisuals with the amazing contrast of the lights against the water. You can also see the show from surrounding hotel rooftops, from which you get a great aerial view of the fountain.
@alexjacksonvisuals

12.   Barcelona Cathedral

When it comes to architectural finesse, Barcelona's the champ, and the Barcelona Cathedral in el Gótico is a must see, must photograph kind of place. Its Gothic architecture gives its photographs an eerie yet breathtaking imagery, whilst the smaller surrounding buildings help to show its huge scale. The cool yellow tones of the cathedral paired with a backdrop of blue sky and green hills create a beautiful contrast in photographs as shown on @lalbertet's Instagram. We recommend heading to the Cathedral in the early evening, just before sunset to achieve this effect.
@lalbertet We hope you've enjoyed our favourite Barcelona Instagram hotspots, be sure to check them out and drop a #suitelifebcn below your pictures - we can't wait to see them! *please note that the first picture of each three is the only one which corresponds to the account credited.

What’s happening in Barcelona this summer 2018?

What’s happening summer 2018 in Barcelona? There is always a lot of things happening in Barcelona, especially in Summer. That’s why we chose the best of the best to make your summer 2018 unforgettable, and, so that you don’t get lost on the internet, spending more time searching that enjoying your time in Barcelona. Enough talk, let’s see the top things right now.

        Concerts

For those who like latino music, Residente Calle 13 is coming on July 19^th, from 28€, in Poble Espanyol.
Famous singer Tori Sparks is coming in BCN for several concerts in July and August.
The list is still long, but here a few other artists with the date of their concert:

• Anastacia, July 24^th
• DJ Snake, July 25^th

If you want a more exhaustive list of the concerts in Barcelona, you can check this website which tells you all the concerts according to the dates you choose.

        Festivals

If you want to hear music and dance all night long, feet in the sand, then you should go to a festival. And believe me, Barcelona is a good, or even THE place, to enjoy one. There are many happening this summer, so we selected a few ones to get started. Do you know that the big festival Tomorrowland is coming to Barcelona? Unite with Tomorrowland, on July 28^th. Yeah. Meet you there. From 40€ to 210€. At the Parc de Can Zam.
The Circuit Festival is a big LGBT event, with not only music but also debates, real talks, literally readings and so on. It takes place on August from 9^th to 19^th. From 300 to 400€. Música als Parcs: until the end of August, there are plenty concerts of Jazz, classical music and gospel, and it’s for free! DGTL Barcelona 2018: on August 10^th and 11^th, for techno music lovers! From 42,5€. And as for the concerts, the list here is not exhaustive, but here’s a few more:

• S.H.A.R.E. Festival 2018, July 20^th and 21^st, with Rita Ora
• Reggaetón Beach Festival 2018 on July 28^th, with Bad Bunny
• Grec festival, from July 1^st to July 31^st

        Open air cinema

If you want to enjoy a good movie, on a blanket or a lounger, eating a burger, surrounded by cool people, enjoying a beautiful view and a concert before, and not in a closed environment, well we highly recommend the open-air cinema.
The Sala Montjuic offers a selection of either classic and more recent movies, until August 3^rd, and not only on weekends but also during the week. The bonus: the price is only 6,5€ for the entrance! Another great tip is the Cinema Lliure a la Platja, which is a free open-air cinema on the beach! Yes, you read it right, it is free and on the beach, how could it be better? However, make sure to check the language of the movie and subtitles before going to see it, because it can either be in English, Spanish or Catalan.

        Festas majores

The Festas majores are traditional celebrations in each neighbourhood of Barcelona. If you want to discover a little of their culture and joy, we can only advise you to take a visit. The Festa major of Gracia neighbourhood is on the 3^rd week of August. The Festa major de Sants is on the last week of August. The Festa de Sant Rock is the celebration of the Gothic Quarter, and it takes place in mid-August with a lot of parades, fireworks and dancing.

         So much more for you to do

Do you know the principles of Brunch in the park? It’s an electronic dance party on Sundays. You can listen to music, dance, and then have a lunch. It’s simple, but such a good idea. It takes place all summer, until September 16^th. In Jardin de Joan Brossa, Montjuic. From 11 to 25 € or more.
The Magic fountain show is something beautiful. It happens all year, but the hours are quite different during the summer. From June 1^st to September 30^th, from Wednesday to Sunday, from 9.30 to 10.30 pm, and music and colours from 9.30 to 10 pm.
You also can enjoy a beautiful sunset on one of the several rooftops of the city, such as the Hotel Ayre Rosellon with a direct view on Sagrada Familia and the whole city. You can also enjoy the sunset, which is particularly nice during summer, from one of the numerous panoramas views of the city (las Arenas, Montjuic Castle, los Bunkers del Carmel…).
Well, that’s it, we’ve told you the best things happening in Barcelona this summer. We tried to please everyone, from reggaetón festivals to open-air cinema… but remember that this is just a list and you have the choice between lots of things! Summer in Barcelona is also the time for street shows, special markets… the options are endless in this lively city! Are you heading to one of those events? If so, which one? Please share with us your experience, we would love to read it and learn from you too! - Camille

9 Best vegan & vegetarian places in Barcelona

Are you heading to Barcelona for a few days and are wondering the 9 best vegan places in Barcelona? Look no further! We’ve tasted it all, and have compiled a list of the best here in Barcelona, and trust us, we like good food – you are in safe hands! Already hungry? Let’s dig in.

1- BarCeloneta (Sangria Bar) € - €€

One of my favourites. If you want to have a good time, drinking sangria, eating paella, or tapas, you have to check BarCeloneta out. Not only the food is delicious, but the intimate environment and music gives the place an extra cosy feeling. If we haven’t sold you on BarCeloneta yet, perhaps its location will win you over. The Bonus: It’s just 1 minute walk from the beach, from which the restaurant got its name (la Barceloneta). Here some pictures to get you excited for your first visit.

2- Biocenter €€ - €€€

This restaurant offers a lot of choices, and when I say a lot, I mean A LOT. Be careful not to get too excited if you are vegan as not everything is 100% vegan, but they do provide many vegan choices or options to take your dish and provide a vegan alternative to the same dish. The settings are very light and natural, and the pictures of the food just make us want to stop what we are doing to go there right now (or am I the only one?). The Bonus: the brunch that you rarely find anywhere else.

3- Flax & Kale €€-€€€

Just as the previous one, be wary, this restaurant is not 100% vegan, however, they do propose a lot of vegan dishes and everything is very detailed in the menu. You begin to understand now that we mostly show you restaurants with a lot of choices to please everyone. Well, this one is no exception. You can find soups, salads, pastas, raw dishes and a lot of other specialties. The Bonus: there are gluten free and raw food possibilities. You’re already taking your stuff to go there? Wait for the end of the article, you could still find another one that you prefer!

4- Maoz Falafel €

You don’t have a lot of time to eat during your day of visits? This little place, near the Ramblas, offers bread or salad with falafel which you can fill with all the choices they have (tabbouleh, humus, olives, dried tomatoes and so much more). Moreover, the prices are very reasonable, you can have a complete menu (bread or salad, fries and a drink) for less than 10€. The Bonus: the service! The staff are very friendly and attentive. It almost makes you feel at home.

5- Petit Brot €€ - €€€

I haven’t been to Petit Brot myself, however one of my colleagues has, and by the way she talks about it, you and I both need to go there. This place serves raw, vegan, living cold-pressed, ethical, organic, sustainable, gluten free food and promotes fair trade. The Bonus: Quiet, working space kind of venue where you can both enjoy an incredible meal and get some work done. Do I need to say anything else?

6- Veggie Garden € - €€

Let’s continue with the restaurants with a warm, welcoming environment. Decorated with typically Latino colourful interiors and affordable prices, you’ll love it! The Bonus: the amount of choices, from raw food dishes, to salads and burgers. The most difficult is to choose!

7- Sesamo €€ - €€€

Another one with vegan options. Less choices but believe me, you won’t leave the restaurant hungry, as the dishes are really generous. There is a menu encouraging tapas discovery, otherwise you can choose something on the menu of course. The Bonus: the restaurant opens and closes late, at least later than most restaurants, thus, if you’re looking for somewhere later on in the evening, you can still head there!

8- The Blue Project Café €€ - €€€

You can find another and more complete blog post on our website about this specific one, but what I can tell you is that this restaurant offers salted and sweet dishes with a special philosophy behind it. The Bonus: the originality of the place and the service it offers.

9- Santoni café €

Last but not least, the Santoni Café. Enough of savoury food, those of us with a sweet tooth have been waiting for the desserts section of this blog post. Well, here we are. You’re vegan and can’t find any croissant anywhere? Especially if you are French (like me), croissants make up 50% of our diets. This is the place for you. Not only for croissants, but also cupcakes, cakes and so much more. The Bonus: chocolate croissants!! In Barcelona!
And that’s all! We’ve chosen 9 of the best places we think are great for good food and a nice environment! We also want to reassure you that in most places (meaning non vegan ones), you can often find something vegetarian or vegan. Moreover, the list is only a very small number of restaurants as there are A LOT of vegan places in Barcelona! For instance Cat bar (which seems quite enjoyed given the number of positive opinions on Google), Enjoy Vegan, Vegetalia, Santorini… If you have a place in mind that wasn’t mentioned, don’t hesitate to share it with us so that we can test it out too! And if you tried one of these, please share your experience in the comments below! - Camille

Lately there seems to be growing concern that the nation could be heading towards another Spanish real estate bubble in 2018? In comparison with the bubble of 2007, the property bubble that some suggest we are approaching today has some marked differences (for the better) that are important to consider before we decide whether the sky is actually falling. Before exploring the differences in the bubble we currently face compared to that just before the recession, we should first acquaint ourselves with what exactly happened in the Spanish housing market in 2007 that lead to the burst in 2008.

What happened in the Spanish real estate crash in 2007?

First, a simple explanation about the property crisis that occurred in Spain. From 2000, the growth of Spain was consistent as the economy heavily relied on construction. Indeed, the construction sector kept many Spanish peopl eemployed and made up a large portion of household incomes. However, whilst many houses were built, families and companies didn’t have enough money to buy those houses. In turn, they requested loans from the banks, and the banks lent them the money, many of which were high-risk loans.
The situation then was very fragile and was not sustainable in the long-run. In 2008, the real estate bubble burst, and with it came its many consequences. Those who could not pay their loans back, had to leave their properties. Banks were too in a difficult situation as they couldn’t get their money back and couldn’t pay their creditor either. In the following years, they were many vacant houses on the market, and as the value of houses decreased, the prices of the real estate market followed. Indeed, very few could afford to purchase a house or to payback a loan in order to do so, which led many houses were left empty and caused prices to continue to decline.
This picture perfectly represents the situation, after the real estate bubble burst, houses for rent and for sale were plentiful.

What are the differences between the first property bubble and now?

It took years for Spain to recover from the crisis… these days we are left to wonder did it recover or is Spain entering another real estate bubble? According to different reliable sources, such as the Financial Tribune, the Financial Times or also Bloomberg, it is more likely that the latter is true. Others, such as thelocal.es, state that these are just signs that show that Spain’s property market is recovering from pre-crisis level. Thus, let’s see the main differences between now and the first property bubble. In all the cases, the main underlying difference resides in improved transparency.

• Less loans, more prudence and structure

First of all, the banks don’t loan as much as they did before the first real estate bubble burst, even if the loan rates are quite low (such as before the first crisis). Banks also try to solve the problem of high risk mortgages, so less are are issued, in comparison to those signed before the crisis. Also, the banks have been holding back excess properties so as not to flood the market and drive down prices again possibly causing another shake in the nation's stability. Having the experience of the 2007 crash under out belts, it seems like the banks, the government, and even to a certain extent the people of Spain have been able to use the power of hindsight to guide the way and not make the same mistakes again. At least, that's what we're hoping.

• Less employment

Concerning employment, the construction sector now employs MUCH less than it used to before the 1^st crisis. Moreover, the unemployment rates reached almost 17% in 2018 January, whereas it was approximately 9% in 2007. Thus, the government decided to intervene and implemented new subsidiaries in order to encourage people to buy properties (especially the young and the most vulnerable ones). However, people can't buy as easily as they used to, obviously because they can’t anymore (unemployment, lots of part-time employment, less easy to receive loans…) -  less affordable than before.

• Increase in property investment

We can see that the Spanish economy’s situation is far from the same as it was between 2006-2008. The real estate prices are high, but not as high as they were leading up to the recession. Investments in real estate were low before the first property crisis, and since we have seen an increase, with real estate investments today being the highest they have been since 2007.

• Social behaviour

Another thing that varies now in comparison with the economic situation before the 2008 burst is social behaviour. For example, if we take Spain’s two biggest Spanish cities, Madrid and Barcelona, and compare property prices, we witness a 27% rise in Madrid and 50% for Barcelona. This is as a result of the number of tourists visiting Barcelona and also the fact that people are looking to rent more often than they are to buy (mostly out of lack of choice). Therefore, the real estate prices in places with a lot of tourism and rent-seeking individuals will skyrocket.
If we look at Spain’s situation in a more globalized sense, we can see that the price of housing across the country rose by 4.5%, as written by the financial society Moody, and is predicted to continue to rise to 5% over the next two years.

Real estate in Barcelona: many houses, high prices.

In conclusion, we believe most of the indications of a second bubble are in fact simply just signs of recovery for Spain with Barcelona and Madrid’s property prices inevitably going to rise, bubble or no bubble. That being said, the banks and people are far better informed and are far more careful with loans and purchases now than before. At the end of the day, when it comes to buying a property, we advise you to choose your agency or representative wisely and remember, it's always a good time to buy, there are great opportunities in every market, you just need someone with the knowhow to help you find those opportunities and motivated venders.
Hope this post has assisted in putting to rest any curiosities you have regarding a second real estate bubble here in Spain! What are your thoughts? Are we seeing a second property bubble or just post-recession recovery for Spain? - Camille