Is There A Gay Cinema in Barcelona ?

Is there a Gay cinema in Barcelona? Let's find out! What do the movies "Brokeback Mountain", "In and Out" and "The Bird Cage" have in common? Yes, they're gay-themed! They are also Hollywood blockbusters screened in theatres around the globe. These successful gay movies are nothing but the exception, freaks of nature that happen every so often, with many collecting dust in their filmmaker's closet. There are many cities that love showing these movies on the big screen. Amsterdam and New York are well known for doing this! These cities have either a cinema to screen new gay premieres or scheduled showings a couple of times a month. It was really exciting; though it shouldn't have come as a surprise, that we found a Gay Cinema in Barcelona as well. This one broadcasts movies specifically targeted to the gay community. This week we will continue our exploration of Gay life in Barcelona. We started last week with our article on how to find a Gay book store in Barcelona.

Gay Cinema in Barcelona

Unfortunately and quite surprisingly, Barcelona isn't as far along when it comes to Gay cinema like our Dutch and American brothers. Like in our previous post on Gay Book Stores, it surprised me to find out that there is only one Gay Cinema in Barcelona (gasp!)... and it is the Arenas Gay Cinema. How is that even possible that there's only one? Especially since Barcelona has one of the most important Gay Film Festivals in the world since 2001 which attracts some of the best films from around the world highlighting aspects of the LGBTI experience! The fact is, I don't know why there is only one. A Colorful History
Arenas Gay Cinema is located close to the Barcelona Bull Ring and Placa Espanya. It opened its doors in 1928, making it one of the oldest cinemas in Barcelona. The first movies they premiered were 'The Blue Danube,' 'Amores de Ninos' (Loves of Children or Children of Love?) with Laura La Plante and 'Sombras en la Noche' (Secrets of the Night-1924) with Madge Bellsamy. The cinema was used for a bunch of variety shows. One of them was the 1930 Festival of Opera with an artist from the Theatre de L'Opera in Paris. In 1943, the cinema was renovated before it was taken over by the Balana chain. Over the years, the programming of the theatre changed and in 1960's it turned towards sexploitation films until 1990. At that time, a fire caused by the heating system damaged the building and brought the cinema to a temporary close until late 90's.

Arenas Gay Cinema

Arenas continues screening gay porn movies. However, you can also enjoy independent 'fiction' films  in their 392 seats auditorium located in what was the front orchestra seating and stage of the original theatre. The seats are quite new and there are double ‘love’ seats in the back rows. Internally, there is nothing remaining of its decorative details. Unlike traditional cinemas, the Arenas Cine Gay has its own licenced bar and games room making it a very popular hotspot for gay moviegoers. You can find all their info on their website. Enjoy! ~Argenis

Cheap Bars in Barcelona: More Drunkenness for Your Euro

There are some great cheap bars in Barcelona, in a sea of mostly expensive ones.  At SuiteLife, we like to drink on the cheap, and so we have curated for you some of the Barcelona's best cheap bars.

Ambar

As far as cheap bars in Barcelona goes, this is a lively little dive bar in the Raval, which perfectly personifies the area.  It has a very retro and relaxing feel and is a very popular place to hang out or drink a few beers before a night out.  The bar is very Catalan and attracts a good mix of locals and expats who are in the know.  You can get Beer/wine for €2.50; Cocktails for €6; Mixed Drinks €5 and Shots €2 Map

Blondie

Filled with neon lights and retro 80’s decor, this place is for the young and hipsters.  It’s a cool 80’s punk bar that plays music ranging from 50’s to modern electro and serves up some of the best original cocktails in the city.  One of the more hip cheap bars in Barcelona for sure! Website Map

Ryans

Ryans is the cheapest Irish pub in Barcelona and is always very popular.  The drinks are especially cheap if you get a Ryans loyalty card. Drinks: Bottled Beer (with card) €1, Shots (with Card) €1. Read more about it on our blog dedicated for the Irish Pubs in Barcelona. Website Map

El Nus

This is one of Barcelona’s oldest bars and it is certainly obvious when you walk in.  They have great stonewalls, dusty chandeliers and rustic wood furniture.  If you’re looking for an old-fashioned place to relax and a few cheap drinks in Barcelona then El Nus is the place for you, perfect for escaping from the crowd and enjoying some calming jazz music. Map

Maumau Underground

This Bar is a little off the beaten track in Poble Sec but it is a very cool and slightly clandestine joint and quite cheap too!  You will find a group of hip well-dressed artists, students and young professionals here sipping on one of the 25 different gins or a vintage cocktail.  The bar certainly looks the part, with low white sofas surrounded by pop art and bamboo sticks.  At first Glance this may not appear to be cheap but once you invest in their loyalty card for €12 annually you get great discounts and it is definitely worth it. Website Map

Yakuta Bar

This is a fun international bar at the bottom of Las Ramblas that attracts a diverse crowd that enjoy good music and interesting art.  If you buy a cocktail here you get a free shot (chupito) just to give you an extra kick.  You can also watch the biggest sports matches here and take advantage of their free wi-fi. Map

Dow Jones

At SuiteLife we love this bar, its great fun, has great food and if you don’t mind what you are drinking, you can get cheap drinks.  The pricing for drinks in Dow Jones is governed by stock market principals, if a drink is in demand then it is expensive and if not then it is cheap.  So if you know anything about economics you would know that once a drink gets cheaper it becomes more popular and the price goes up.  Read more about Dow Jones on our Dow Jones Bar blog. Website Map

Chupitos

If you like shots and choosing from more than 200 different types, then Chupitos is what you are looking for.  There are two Chupitos bars in Barcelona and they are both great fun.  The shots are €2 each.  Read more about Chupitos Here. Website Map

The Ovella Negra Taverna (The Black Sheep Tavern)

Cheap bars in Barcelona don't get much better than this. The Ovella Negra is a great place to go with friends and drink lots of cheap beer.    They serve ½ a litre of San Miguel for €3 and they also serve giant chilled pitchers of beer for sharing with your friends.  If you buy the big pitcher it works out to be quite the bargain, and you will have lots of fun guaranteed.  Read more about The Ovella Negra here. Website Map

Pippermint

This is another great Barcelona bar that is cheap when you go with friends.  This is because you can buy huge 13 litre pitchers of mixed drinks to share between your friends.  Pippermint is a pretty famous in Barcelona and usually very popular.  It’s a great place for a party. Website Map

Nevermind

The first bar I went to after arriving in Barcelona was "Nevermind". The thing I liked about it is that it's different from American bars which I am used to. The majority of the crowd in Nevermind consists of "skaters" and "hipsters". They come here for the Alternative and Hard Rock music which can always be heard in the bar. One of the most amazing features of this bar is their mini-ramp which is located in the back of the bar. I do not fit either of the stereo types which are attracted to this bar but what does attract me is the reasonably priced beer. For about 3,50 you can get yourself two Heineken and look at the skaters showing off their skills.
Barcelona is definitely one of the easiest cities in the world to have a great time but its also really easy to spend tons of money on alcohol and fall into one of the many tourist traps. But have no fear! The bars I just mentioned and talked about are great places to go to have a great time and not having to spend lots of money on small quantities of alcohol. I hope you have a great time at the best cheap bars in Barcelona! I hoped you have all enjoyed reading this Blog and have gathered all the information to have an amazing cheap night in Barcelona. If you know about any other cheap bars in Barcelona that should be in this list let us know and we will add it too our list! If you know of any other cool cheap bars in Barcelona we would to love to hear about them. Cheers Matthew and Ryan

Where to find the best Crepes in Barcelona?

Crepes can be found all over Barcelona, from street vendors on las Ramblas to ice cream shops and cafes all over the city.  The trouble with buying crepes here is that they usually only serve sweet Crepes and they are by no means the best Crepes in Barcelona.  The best Crepes in Barcelona can be found in the Creperie’s (Crepe restaurants).  Here is SuiteLife’s list of the best Creperie’s in Barcelona.

Creperie Bretonne Annaick Barcelona

This is perhaps the most famous and popular place to get good Crepes in Barcelona. It is located just off the Barceloneta Beach, which puts the restaurant in a great location to be noticed and receive lots of customers (which unfortunately means it can get very busy).  That being said, its location is not the only reason Creperie Bretonne Annaick is popular, they also happen to have a great selection of some of the best sweet and savoury Crepes in Barcelona. The restaurant itself has a great interior, with a cool rustic design and a double-decker bus parked up inside. As I said before this restaurant in very popular, especially on the weekends so don’t be surprised if you have to wait a little while before you get a seat. Website Map – Unfortunately google maps places this restaurant in the wrong place.  You can find it next to the big metal fish sculpture (Peix) near Barceloneta beach.

Creps Barcelona

The restaurant chain is my personal favourite place to go for Crepes in Barcelona.  They serve all kinds of different crepes, sweet and savoury for reasonable prices.  They also serve cocktails here and make the most amazing hot chocolate.  For those who don’t know, Spanish hot chocolate is thicker than your average cocoa drink, and at creps Barcelona, they sure can make it well.  If you go here be sure to try the Hazelnut and chocolate Crepe, it is to die for.  You can find Creps Barcelona restaurants all over Barcelona, so be sure to check their webpage to know where. Website

Creps a Barcelona

This is another great place to get Crepes in Barcelona and not bad for a good cocktail too.  Creps a Barcelona has more of a modern feel to it with a stylish and sleek interior.  This place is less serious about crepes as the other restaurants, but it is definitely a fun place to go and eat a couple of good crepes and drink a few good cocktails. Website Map

Belgious

Ok so this place is more of an ice-cream shop that serves crepes like the ones I mentioned at the start.  But Belgious is different, not only do they have a great selection of crazy ice-cream flavours but many people would say they also make some of the best Crepes in Barcelona. Website Map
For more great restaurants and food in Barcelona check out our Barcelona Eating blog If you know of any other good places to get Crepes in Barcelona we would love to hear about them.  Send us a mail or drop a comment below. Cheers Matthew Rutter+

Chupitos Bar Barcelona - Are you looking for a fun time in Barcelona?

There are tons of bars in Barcelona but Chupitos is definitely one of the more "creative" ones! When I went to Chupitos for the first time, I was amazed by the variety of shots. I don't know what I expected but they sure suprised me! They offer more than 200 different shots, I will guarantee you that they most definitely have something that fits your taste! There are shots served with tiramisu, creme, cucumber, anything you could possibly imagine. The creativity of the owners is truly unique!
During the weekend this bar is literally packed. Since it's a really small one, it's hard to find a place to sit. I went there on a Monday and there were still a lot of people. Most of them were American students.

The Monika Lewinski "Shot"

One of the specialties chupitos so kindly has to offer you is called the "Monika Lewinksy Shot". The waiter blindfolds you and then....ok this might not be G-rated and I don't want to be a spoiler. You should try it out yourselves. I saw a girl doing it and it was hilarous. Well, at least for her friends.

General Information

- Price of one shot: 2€ - Location: C/Aribau 77 in Eixample (this is where I went), there is another one on Passeig de Colón, 8. - Nearest metro: Universitat (for the one on Aribau), Jaume I (for the one on Passeig de Colón,8) Both chupitos bars are owned by the same person, which means that they offer more or less the same. Even if these bars are specialised in serving shots, you can order a beer among other things as well. Thus, it's a really cool international place to have fun with friends, absolutly worth a visit!
Wanna drink on the cheap ? Check out our Barcelona's Best Cheap Bars Blog Do you know other good bars in Barcelona for having shots? Please feel free to drop a comment below!

Have You Ever Seen Barcelona From Above? Have a Look at The City From a Different Perspective!

When you come in to land in Barcelona by plane you can see the city in all its glory but you may wonder where you can also have this point of view. So I took one full day to cover some parts of the highest points of Barcelona in order to bring you the Top 5 Views of Barcelona from above.

Plaza Espanya

From the rooftop of the Arenas de Barcelona built in 1929 for the International Exhibition we can see the roundabout in Plaza Espanya which is the main junction of different streets in Barcelona: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, Avinguda del Paral-lel, Carrer de la Creu Coberta and Carrer de Taragonna. This particular roundabout is inspired by the Versailles fountains. On the middle ground, we can see the two Venetian towers of Barcelona and in the background the Palau Nacional MNAC which is now the Museum Nacional D'Art de Catalunya. The first selection of pictures was taken in top of the Arenas de Barcelona, you can go on the roof of this mall for free. [caption id="attachment_16834" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
View from the rooftop of Arenas de Barcelona - Plaza Espanya[/caption] [caption id="attachment_16890" align="aligncenter" width="383"]
View of Barcelona from Arenas de Barcelona - Palau Nacional and La Fida[/caption] [caption id="attachment_16837" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
View from the rooftop of the Arenas of Barcelona on Plaza Espanya[/caption] [caption id="attachment_16838" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
View from the rooftop of the Arenas of Barcelona on Plaza Espanya[/caption]

Palau Nacional MNAC

For the second set of pictures, I went to the Palau Nacional MNAC which is just in front of the Arenas, to go up to the top you can use the escalators.  If you've ever been in Las Vegas it will remind you of the Strip. When you're at the top of the stairs you can take time to appreciate the views of Barcelona just in front of you. [caption id="attachment_16869" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
View from the Palau Nacional MNAC in Barcelona[/caption] [caption id="attachment_16871" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
View of the Sagrada Familia from the Palau Nacional MNAC[/caption]

Montjuic Park

For the 3rd photoshoot, I went to the top of Montjuic - to the Castell de Montjuic walking. The teleferic was kind of expensive and it's much better to go there on foot. You can see lots of things like some stuff from the Olympic Games of 1992, some sculptures or even the old olympic pool. So this set of pictures will be from different views of the parc. [caption id="attachment_16874" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
View of the Port of Barcelona from the Parc of Montjuic[/caption] [caption id="attachment_16859" align="aligncenter" width="380"]
View of the Port of Barcelona from Montjuic Park[/caption] [caption id="attachment_16875" align="aligncenter" width="383"]
View of the Monument a Colom from the Parc of Montjuic[/caption]

Castell de Montjuic: The Place to Be to See Barcelona From Above

For the 4th photoshot, I took photos of Montjuic from Castell de Montjuic. This Castle is pretty big and really interesting to visit and you can have one of the best views of the city from the top of it. You can see all the city from the beach to the mountain of Tibidabo. [caption id="attachment_16877" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
View of Barcelona from the Castell of Montjuic[/caption] [caption id="attachment_16880" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
View of the Port of Barcelona from the Castell of Montjuic[/caption]

Colon Monument

At the bottom of the Ramblas, the Monumento a Colon is raised to welcome boats which are coming to the Port of Barcelona. For 4€ and at least a 20 minute wait you can go to the top of it to see the whole city. If you're claustrophobic I wouldn't recommend going there as it is really small and the elevator is so small that you can only have a maximum of 4 people  in it. When you're at the top you will see the city through small windows that you can open but if you want to take beautiful pictures this is not the best place. This place is pretty touristy and if you don't go you won't miss much. The pictures taken in this monument are not the best photoshoot photos I have taken at least you get a different point of view of the city. [caption id="attachment_16864" align="aligncenter" width="383"]
View from the Monument a Colom - Las Ramblas[/caption] [caption id="attachment_16865" align="aligncenter" width="383"]
View from the Monument a Colom in Barcelona[/caption] Barcelona is a city surrounded by mountains, so there are plenty of other high points of view that you can discover too! Feel free to travel outside the city to see another beautiful side of Barcelona. Share your thoughts with us in the comments below! -by Kok Natha HEN. (pictures included)

Starting a business in Barcelona - 10 simple steps to success!

Good day entrepreneurs all over the world, feeling a bit creative today? In that case, I guess it's time for some informative yet necessary stuff if you want to know the steps of starting a business in Barcelona. Spain is one of the most beautiful countries and has a lot to offer so, as knowledge is power, this blog will be providing you with all the info that needs to be considered in order to have your magical $$$ making pond here (oh and we've made it so that starting a business in Barcelona is easy).

Starting a Business in Barcelona Step#1: Getting the famous NIE

NIE, or Numero de Identificacion de Extranjero (Foreigner Identification Number) is a document without which you cannot undertake any commercial action in Spain. The whole procedure on how to get it can be found here. The NIE can be used for other purposes as well, such as paying taxes or buying a property.

Starting a Business in Barcelona Step#2: Other preliminary documentation

Make sure you have the following paperwork ready and valid: passport and Certificado de Empadronamiento (Community Registration Certificate), details for which you can find by clicking here. You will need these in order to proceed to Starting a business in Barcelona Step #3.

Starting a business in Barcelona Step#3: Certificacion negativa de la denominación social

Certificacion negativa de la denominacion social means certifying the uniqueness of the proposed company name, which will officially provide you with complete rights on the actual name of the company and will be reserved for 6 months after you've chosen it. In order to obtain it you will have to go to the Central Commercial Registry (Registro Mercantil which can be found here), it costs 16.25€, and usually takes around 2 days.

Starting a business in Barcelona Step#4: Pay the Impuesto de Actividades Económicas

Next step is to pay the Impuesto de Actividades Economicas, which literally translates into Tax for Economic Activities. Practically it's the tax that you have to pay to the Government to let you undergo a commercial action. It can be done in the Delegacion Especial de Economia y Hacienda, map right here. It is different, depending on the business. After you've done that, you will get the Codigo the Identificacion Fiscal (CIF) - tax identification code. This tax ranges from 150€ to 300€, depending on the amount of share capital deposited.

Starting a business in Barcelona Step#5: Open a corporate bank account

Why do you need a corporate bank account? Well, for several reasons. Firstly, it's the place where your income will go when people make payments in exchange of your goods or services. Secondly, this where the government will be deducting the taxes from, so it's kind of mandatory for you to have one. It takes about one day to create one and it's free of charge. Note that you have to be pretty much a morning person, as banks here only work from 9am until 2pm (with an exception on Thursdays when they work 9am-8pm). Also bear in mind that you need to make deposit of a minimum 3005.06€ representing your intial start-up capital.

Starting a business in Barcelona Step#6: Make an appointment with a notary

You're almost done with the paperwork. With the documents mentioned above you will now have to schedule a meeting with a notary in order to get them officially signed and stamped with the purpose of being presented to the Starting a business in Barcelona Step #6. Brace yourselves, as you're going to be paying a little high price for couple of stamps - around 500€, depending on the operation complexity.

Starting a business in Barcelona Step#7: Find your operating site

The next logical step is to know where your operations will be taking place. Accordingly, you will need the documents that prove that you either own or are using a rented office, restaurant, warehouse etc. (obviously depending on the area of your business). With these, you will then proceed to Starting a business in Barcelona Step#8.

Starting a business in Barcelona Step#8: Obtain the Licencia Municipal de Apertura from the Ayuntamiento

Now it's time for you to register your place of operations with the Ayuntamiento (City Hall) - here - with the papers mentioned above and apply for the Licencia Municipal de Apertura (Municipal Opening License) from the City Hall's Departamento de Urbanismo (City Planning Department), which basically means that you let the City Hall know you are starting your commercial activity in that specified site. Charges -> 350€.

Starting a business in Barcelona Step#9: Register for the social services

For 240€ a month worth of tax, you will be registered for the welfare and health social services, meaning that you are pretty much covered by the social insurance in case something bad happens while at work. You can benefit from some more options if you extra (around €25 a month).

Starting a business in Barcelona Step#10: Register your people

Unless you are a one man business, you are going to need some more human resources to run your thingy. Consequently every person you take on has to be registered at the Tesoreria General de la Seguridad Social (Social Security General Treasury) and then within 10 days time at the Instituto Nacional de Empleo (National Employment Institute).
And that's it! That's all you need to know about the process of starting a business in Barcelona. Now the hard part begins - the actual money making. From us here, we wish you the best of luck with everything involving your business and we are happy to have helped you! So...
Muchisimas gracias, Dragosh (El Dragon).

Volunteering in Barcelona

If you're looking to do some volunteering in Barcelona then congrats on being such a magnificent and selfless person! Did you know that Barcelona was named the European Capital of Volunteering for 2014?  In case you didn't, you can find some info about that by clicking here! This blog will tell you about the three best volunteering agencies in Barcelona. They each have tons of varied opportunities so getting in touch with them is the perfect start to your altruistic adventure.

CONNECT123

Connect 123 is one of Barcelona's volunteering programmes with great connections with local organisations, such as Animal Science and Wildlife, Community Service, Economic Development, Education and Teaching, Environment, Human Rights, Medical and Public Health, or Youth Development and Sport. Take a look here at their website!

BCA BARCELONA

With a very wide range of volunteering programmes such as Terral,  Bank of Time, Tot Raval, or Colegio Gornal, in which they address topics like immigration, talent harvesting, event planning or gender equality, BCA Barcelona provides multiple chances especially for students that want to enhance their CVs (or resumes, if you come from America!). Click here to get the latest updates from them!

CHARITY VAULT

Charity Vault is a website dedicated to providing volunteering opportunities for people worldwide. Obviously they couldn't miss Barcelona, now, could they? That's why they've got a huge volunteering portfolio just for you. To give you some examples - from research, hunger and poverty alleviation, environment, till education and disaster management. Interested much? Take a peek here at their website! Volunteering in Barcelona is a very rewarding experience. Do you know of any other great opportunities that we missed here? We'd love to hear from you in the comments! Muchisimas gracias, Dragosh (El Dragon)

STAND-UP COMEDY BARCELONA: This City will have you in stitches!

(Updated on February 5th, 2019) Hello SuiteLife gang and welcome to my first blog entry about stand-up comedy Barcelona.  Laughing, really laughing out loud, has to be one of the best feelings in the world no? Laughing so hard you start to cry and can barely breath? Even better LOL. If you're an English speaker living in Barccelona you've probably long written off the chance to see standup in your own language but fear not SuiteLifers, there's hope yet for us. There are English speaking standup comedy shows in Barcelona and we're going to tell you about them!

BARCELONA COMEDY CLUB

First off we have Barcelona Comedy Club. Stand-up is what this venue is all about. BCC is known to be more UK orientated than anything else, having mainly English and Irish guest comedians. Nevertheless Spanish and other foreign comedians are always welcome to try out their material in English. The shows are held in a cozy little pub called Gaelic BCN. Really old-timey and warm atmosphere providing a perfect setting to the hilarious stand-up you can enjoy for only 5€ (including a free drink! Woo!). Once you step inside and the comedians take you away with their tasteful humor, the feeling you experience is nothing short of the one you would have as if you were hanging out in old-time London.
As is common practice in the field of stand-up comedy Barcelona, this comedy venue organises shows only once every month. Not the most exhaustive schedule, I know, but I suppose this just throws emphasis on how special the shows actually are (wink). Although their website is updated regularly, BCC has a big online presence on Facebook. If you ever need to find out when their next show is going to be or who will be performing, it would be a safe bet to hop on Barcelona Comedy Club’s Facebook page and read away.

Guiriness Barcelona

Next up, springing up from one of the first English speaking comedy nights to appear in Barcelona, Guiriness Comedy is the modern classic form of stand-up night. This means a one hour show of professional comedy, one comedian a month flown in from the UK and Ireland and a two-night run. Comedy fans are treated to a Friday night performance at the Shamrock bar in Raval, Barcelona, followed by a Saturday night show at Wylie Brewery in Sitges. This is our favourite standup in Barcelona, by the way. Big names and rising stars on the UK and Irish comedy scenes such as Phil Kay, Joe Rooney, Sean McLoughlin and Niamh Marron have graced the Shamrock stage over the years at Guiriness Comedy. In 2017, growing popularity took the show to Sitges, where it has since gained a regular following of local expats who miss one of the finer things in life: stand-up comedy in English!
Guiriness Comedy regularly scouts for comedy acts in the UK and Ireland, however the line-up also includes names from across the bigger ponds, with one common denominator: that it’s comedy in English! This is definitely the place to go for top shelf comedy, and it’s the only regular pro comedy night in Barcelona. The audience is typically a mix of expats, some tourists but mainly English speaking regulars. As the show is once a month, tickets are in-demand. Get yours on guirinesscomedy.com and check out their Facebook page for news about future shows.

BARCELONA IMPROV GROUP (B.I.G.)

Another great form of comedy is Improv. Let me tell you all about it.
B.I.G. or Barcelona Improv Group organize some of the biggest Improv comedy venues in the city. They have been performing in English since 2011 and have quickly built up a solid reputation for being brilliant comedians. Their performances are always powered by their beloved audience’s suggestions and energy, which fuel up the shows to the MAX. Once you step inside the theater leave your expectations outside and when the show starts, brace yourselves because the ‘funny’ is coming.
Here’s the sad part of this venue. B.I.G. organize shows at Teatre de l’Enjólit only once a month (every second Friday of the month to be exact). And while we cannot have enough of them and wish they did a show every day we seek consolation and comfort in their monthly ‘Jams’ and weekly workshops they set up. The Improv group values us as their audience and always love to get us involved in their activities and share the comedy experience first-hand. And that my dear friends is what Jams are for. Very casual and very fun, no instructions and no need for taking notes, their Jams are just like a night out with the lads. The only thing you have to do is hop on the stage and Improv away. If you’re one of the shy ones that’s fine, just sit back and observe what your fellow amateurs are doing and build up some inspiration for next time. If you feel like you need a break from partying hard after a hard week of work (I actually can’t believe I said that too), gather your friends and head to B.I.G’s monthly Improv Jams on Fridays. Or better yet, don’t call anyone and head out to make some funny new friends (common practice at Jam sessions).
For the more “eager to learn” comedy fans, B.I.G. offers weekly workshops in which you will be tutored and slowly mended into a professional Improv artist. However, guys, you might need to bring a pen and some paper for this one. So there you have it guys. Take your pick, put on your good mood hat and head out to the hottest places you can enjoy stomach-paining, hilarious stand-up comedy Barcelona. Have an amazing weekend and don’t forget – always look at the funny side of things. Now here’s a joke for you guys:  So a guy walks into a bar, looking really moody and orders immediately a double-whiskey. Then he starts rambling on about how lousy a wife he’s got, until the bartender finally says: “You know, I don’t understand what you’re complaining about. All the other guys in here only have compliments about your wife.” Yeah, I’ll try again next time. Sincerely, Chris

SITGES CARNIVAL - CARNIVAL DAY!

Its that time of year again, yes that's right - Sitges Carnival!!. The only time of the year where a man can get away with wearing a nurse outfit in public and not be judged…. not that I have tried to. 2015 was a year a to remember as the people of Sitges did not disappoint as always, this year carnival goers went the extra mile. Never had I seen such original costumes from the very creative to the absolute ridiculous this carnival had it all. It was my first time experiencing a carnival outside of the UK so I was very excited to see what I was in for. Fortunately an erasmus group helped organise the trip and for only 10€ and was also a great way of meeting new people. I made the mistake of going to buy the costume the day before. Turned out the whole of Barcelona also had the same idea. It was mental I had never seen a costume store so busy before! I was left with the very unoriginal idea of going as a cowboy… well it beats going as someone with drawn on kitten whiskers right?? Well at least my friends had as little imagination as myself, a guy with a vendetta mask, a dutch girl trying to be french and a girl who I think was trying to be a character from Great Gatsby.
When someone first mentioned Sitges Carnival!! to me I was like a dog salivating and asking a 100 questions WHEN?? WHERE??? HOW MUCH??? I saw a quick glimpse of last years carnival on Youtube and knew I had to go even if I did have work the next morning. In retrospect it was worth the hangover! The carnival lasted a week starting on the Monday and finishing on the Sunday however the last day was when the parade took place. So that Sunday morning I woke late as always and rushed everything including sticking my moustache on the wrong way, as if I didn’t look silly enough. All anyone saw that morning in my area was a cowboy running for his life with a plastic gun tucked in his pants, quite the site for people awake that time. If that wasn’t embarrassing enough I got on to the metro to Catalunya expecting loads of people to be in costumes…. I couldn’t have been more mistaken, I was the only one dressed up! So there was only one thing I could do and that was to pretend to be a cowboy by saying ‘Howdy Partner!’ to people passing by. Hey it was carnival who cares right!!

ERASMUS MEET UP!

I had never been so happy to see a clown in my life! It was a sign, I was close to the meeting point. One clown became two, then out of nowhere a group of 90s styled characters followed by a group of native americans. Finally a place where it was socially acceptable to dress as a cowboy with an upside down moustache. I remember a child walking pass shouting ‘hey look its a cowboy’… I felt vindicated!!! Few people even asked if they could take pictures with us which was just awesome… I felt like a celeb!! We finally got on the coach that took us to the Sitges Carnival!! which took us just over half an hour, it was also a good time to meet other people who were either studying, working, traveling or just felt like dressing like an idiot for one day.

KIDS TIME TO SHINE!

We got there just in time for the kids parade. It was surprisingly good! Only problem was that we didn’t have the greatest view so I was more or less tip toeing the whole parade…Not happy! Despite that the kids didn’t disappoint they came out in the most adorable costumes you just felt like snatching one of them they were that cute… not that I would of course. There were although some awkward moments which I found well lets just say inappropriate for example when a float consists of girls dancing rather provocatively next to poles…. weird huh? Luckily the rest of the floats and kids acted like kids!! it was a great taster for what we were to expect from the adult parade later that day. I was worried about one thing, something I only ever worried about back in England… Im sure you guessed it.. the WEATHER!!! It looked very bleak and wasn’t the warmest day either. But it was still early so I was optimistic things would pick up, it had to right?? I mean it was Sitges Carnival!

IS IT JUST A CARNIVAL CITY?

In between the children parade and the adults we had about 8 hours to kill!! 2 hours of which were burned at a restaurant with ridiculous service. It literally took us 2 hours to order our food!!! 2 fricking hours!!!!! If your ever in Sitges stay away from ‘The American’ I think I need to remember I am a blogger and not a critic otherwise I will rant for hours about this god forsaken restaurant!!! Okay I shall calm down, where was I.. oh right the Sitges Carnival!!. So we now had 6 hours to kill which was perfect because we were next to beach which was a great way to just sit back, relax and watch the whacky costumes that walked by. There were chickens, cops & robbers, divas, the guy from Saw, Scooby Doo, Slutty Nurses, Cats, People with tights on their heads and even Mr T!!! The list goes on and on!!! The city itself was actually really nice, I mean except for all the diversions the parade caused it seemed like a really nice place to live with loads of shops and open spaces. Shame I didn’t get to explore Sitges as much as I would have liked.

THE BIG FINALE

It was finally what everyone was waiting for the adults parade!!! …. and once again we didn’t get a good spot. The floats came down after some delay so expectations were high. They were awesome as expected!!!! The first float was just a group of devils dancing followed by a group a team of american footballers. Then the one all men were waiting for.. well the main reason I went, a float filled with hot latino, tinsel wearing, barely clothed women erotically dancing! This for me is what the Sitges Carnival is about… yes I am that shallow, can you blame me??? Have you seen the women??? I was actually really impressed at the different themes they incorporated in the parade, we had scary floats such as Freddy Kruger to cultured floats such as Romans and Iconic British people, although the British float was a huge disappointment! So there I was seeing the United Kingdom flag in the far distance getting all excited.. only to witness an awful costumer of Prince Charles and Mr Bean and a guy playing rugby. I guess the Brits doesn’t have as much imagination as I thought but oh well maybe it was just my perspective, I’m sure the spanish loved seeing Prince Charles.

VERDICT

To sum up I had such a great time and a fantastic night!! I heard so much about carnivals in the rest of Europe and now I know what the big deal is. If i was to nit pick I’d say the music could have been a bit more well different, The songs were good but just so repetitive and also the weather but thats just down to luck. Other than that there really is just something special about Sitges Carnivaland glad I had the opportunity to experience it. To those visiting Barcelona in the coming years remember to make your self available for this Carnival, it is not to be missed!!! Put it in your Calendars… Now!!! …. Do it!!!! …..Oh wait I didn’t give you the date did I. Well I dont know the exact date but its going to be around February time so GOOGLE IT!!!! Anyway guys I must dash. Hope you guys enjoyed the blog and if you already been just share your comments below, what did you wear?? what did i miss?? Absolutely anything !!!! Stay tuned
Hasan – (Senior Blogging Executive Assistant Intern Specialist)

Outlets in Barcelona: Shopping for Less

Wanna go shopping this weekend but need to save money ? You can now do both with the guide of the outlets in Barcelona so you can shop without spending all your money at once. You must have noticed that when it comes to shopping, Barcelona is heaven but what you don't know is that there is plenty of outlet stores all over the city. Fancy clothes for almost nothing, I already feel the shopping fever... Don't you ?!

La Roca Village

First one is La Roca Village, the biggest mall of outlets in Barcelona and even the biggest outlet mall in Europe. You'll find a nice little street and a lot of outlet stores, actually, this mall is a luxuary one. There is only fancy brands for less. If you like brands such as Gucci, Guess, Liu Jo, Michael Kors, Versace and more you're gonna love this place ! But if you prefer simpler clothes you'll be in heaven with Comptoir des Cotonniers, Maje, Sandro, Zadig & Voltaire, Superdry, Tommy Hilfger etc.
Furthermore the mall is open everyday from 10:00 to 21:00 and you can access the shopping centre with two buses leaving from Barcelona or by train from Barcelona Sants station. Here is the link to access La Roca Village website.

Lefties

If you don't want to move too far there are also outlets in Barcelona in the centre of the city! Of course I'm thinking about Lefties, the outlet shop of Inditex, that means Zara, Oysho, Pull & Bear, TRF and other spanish brands discounted. The concept is that they are working with a lot of brands (Inditex is their biggest partner) and they offer clothes for very cheap prices. They are really convenient because there are several of them and you can find one next to Plaza Catalunya (Pelayo 2 the corner of street Pelayo and Plaza Universitat).
You can also find it in Mare Magnum (Port Vella area) or in the Heron City Mall, they are very popular in Spain. Check the link to Lefties website.

Heron City Outlet

Another outlet mall is Heron City outlet, located in the Heron City shopping centre. It is the only real mall in the centre of Barcelona (Sant Andreu). The shoping centre is not all outlet but you will find some outlet stores such as Bershka, Diesel, Pepe Jeans, Mango and more. The discounts can reach 70% off. Here is the adress of the shopping centre : Heron City shopping centre, Avenida Río de Janeiro, 42. Access toHeron City website.

Mango Outlet

If you're just looking for Mango clothes, there is a unique Mango outlet in calle Girona, 37. You can find clothes and accessories up to 40% off and they put new stock out everyday. So, if you're in a hurry, you know what you want and don't wanna spend the whole day shopping in a wide range of stores, this place is made for you. Here is the official Mango outlet website.

Factory Shop Burberry

This is the place to be : 50 to 70% off on classic pieces for men, women and children. The shop is located in Calle Valencia, 640 and is open from monday to saturday from 10:00 to 20:30.

Viladecans The Style Outlets

This one is not opened yet but is being built and should open soon. This is a brand new village of outlets in Barcelona. 150 outlet stores at just 10 minutes from the city centre by car. You'll be on the first ones to visit. You can shop clothes from Asics, The Body Shop, Roberto Cavalli... As La Roca Village it'll be luxuary shopping centre with classy brands. Ready to be on top this summer ? Go ahead. You can check Viladecans website here.
Now you know where to go to shop for less. Share with us your outlets in Barcelona experience, we are very interested in hearing from you ! Mathilde