SUPERMARKETS IN BARCELONA – FIND THEM CHEAP AND GOOD!

Barcelona Insider Info:  How to find cheap supermarkets in Barcelona and the best Spanish food

I finally managed to find cheap supermarkets in Barcelona! It isn't easy, especially when you’re new in Barcelona and still trying to figure out where you are and how you get from the apartment to the metro! These supermarkets are "student friendly" and by that I mean they have  prices which students, interns or young professionals who’ve just moved to Barcelona, can easily afford.
But let me get this straight: Even though some supermarkets in Barcelona are more expensive than others, that doesn’t mean they differ from other supermarkets around the world. Well, obviously supermarkets in Barcelona have a somewhat different food range than supermarkets in Bangladesh. In general though, food prices in Barcelona are more expensive than food prices in eastern countries or Germany, but less expensive than in Great Britain or Scandinavian Countries.

Tip #1:

The day you arrive in Barcelona is a day full of new impressions and can be sometimes very overwhelming - depending on how long your journey was and how many hours you slept. So, on arrival, you shouldn’t think about finding the cheapest supermarket in Barcelona but just go to the first fast-food place or nice restaurant and enjoy your first day in Barca.

Tip #2:

Supermarkets In Barcelona – Find Them Cheap And Good! Image
Try to avoid Barcelona supermarkets at, or near, typical tourist places. For example, on “Las Ramblas”, the biggest entertainment street in Barcelona, there are several little supermarkets called “Spar”. You should avoid these little Spar supermarkets for big grocery shopping because a little packet of cheese can cost you almost 5 €. You’ll find these little Spar supermarkets nearly everywhere in Barcelona and especially at the seaside and they are very expensive. During my first 2 weeks in Barcelona I spent a lot of money in Barcelona supermarkets, because I was paying 10 € for a yogurt, a bottle of water and a packet of Cornflakes in an organic food store. At the beginning I lived in el Gótico which is near the seaside and next to Las Ramblas. In this specific area there is absolutely no supermarket except for an organic one at la Via Laeitana, a big parallel street to Las Ramblas. No wonder food in these kind of stores is hugely expensive.  Most organic provisions  like yogurts , lemonade or Cornflakes are imported from places such as Germany, Holland or Italy.

Tip #3:

Supermarkets In Barcelona – Find Them Cheap And Good! Image
You will be able to find a supermarket in every Barcelona Neighbourhood and they are usually open until 20.00h - 21.00h. Barcelona supermarkets like Mercadona, Dia, Super Sol, Lidl or Bon Preu are the cheapest places to get your food. Barcelona supermarket chains like Capbrabo, Carrefour, Carrefour Express, Consum, etc. are a bit more expensive, but have a greater range of food. But if you buy food products of the In-house brand, you can save a bit of money. You need to try out what’s good and what’s not. I, for example like the Carrefour milk and cheese, olives and tinned corn. Especially the olives are very nice and cheap. What kind of food can you suggest in Barcelona supermarkets? – Comments are more than welcome!

Tip #4:

SuiteLife’s personal favourite shopping experience is Mercadona hands down.  They have by far the best quality to price ratio.  Mercadona is also the Barcelona supermarket that has the best house brand in the city.  It’s called “Hacendado” and for almost every product (we love the hummus, chocolate-covered walnuts, and everything else really) they have a  high-value house brand alternative.  Also, For those of you that are single and looking, the Mercadona on c/ Aribau w c/ Travessera de Gracia, for inexplicable reasons, seems to have the youngest and best looking shoppers.  Strike up a conversation in the fresh produce section and who knows, you could be going home with more than your normal weekly vegetables!

Tip #5:

Supermarkets In Barcelona – Find Them Cheap And Good! Image
Apart from a lot of corner shops, Barcelona also has a lot of Chinese Supermarkets. Good places for purchasing vegetarian food like soya, tofu and vegetables. If you need cheap fruit and vegetables and want to see the Catalan way of life, you should visit a local Mercado (market). A famous one is the Mercat de Boqueria, situated about half way down La Rambla, next to the metro stop Liceu. It is open everyday from 8am to 8:30pm and is closed on Sundays.
If you have any other suggestions or just want to share your experience with supermarkets in Barcelona, please feel free to comment!

BARCELONA TENNIS – WHERE TO PLAY TENNIS IN BCN?

Barcelona Tennis - Where to play Tennis in BCN?

We recently blogged about sports in Barcelona. Barcelona offers all kind of sports one could imagine doing during the summer. Barcelona tennis is probably one of the most popular ones. Although tennis can't keep up with the popularity of football in Barcelona, Spanish people passionately support one of the best tennis players on earth- Rafael Nadal. Furthermore, to play tennis in Barcelona is for sure one of the most common leisure activities.

Where to Play Tennis in Barcelona?

Barcelona is home to a lot of tennis and sports clubs. Since I haven't been to any of them, I did some careful research and I'm gonna point out the best ones.

CEM Can Caralleu

Above all, one sports club amazed me. It's called CEM Can Caralleu and is located on C/ Esports, 2-8. Beside tennis, they offer all kind of sport activites. The memberships are very variable. Tennis courses are held either in groups of 4 people or individually. In addition to the courses, you have tournaments from October to June. If you don't want to be a member, you can just go there and book a court for an hour or so. The quality of the courts is aweseome. Unfortunately, their website is only avaibale in catalan, but I used Google Translator and it worked out perfectly ;). Barcelona Tennis – Where to play Tennis in BCN? Image

Club de Tenis y Pádel / Olímpia Centro Deportivo

Another cool tennis club is located on C/ Perú, 215 in Sant Marti. It's a club that specialises in tennis and the Spanish "tennis" - padél. A membership is not required at all. Just go there and rent a court with 1 or more friends. Rackets and tennis balls are rented at club house. They have 3 padél courts, four clay courts, 3 grass courts, changing rooms for men and women. Once, you are done with the match, the losers  treat the winner to a cold drink in the cafe which also belongs to the club property. The staff speaks English, Spanish and Catalan. The opening hours are pretty uncommon if you compare them to the usual ones in Spain. The club is open from 8am until 11pm during the week. During the weekends they are open until 9 on Saturdays and 7 on Sundays and holidays. Barcelona Tennis – Where to play Tennis in BCN? Image

Real Club de Tenis de Barcelona

Real Club de Tenis de Barcelona is the best and most traditional private Tennis Club in Barcelona. If you are a professional player, or have the talent to become one, this is the club to enter. Right now, Raphael Nadal is a member of Real Club de Tenis de Barcelona. Also, the top female player, Nuria Llagostera, has a membership. In addition to practice and regularly championships, Real Club de Tenis de Barcelona offers a professional tennis school called "Tennis rCTB". Check out their website for further info. Barcelona Tennis – Where to play Tennis in BCN? Image

Find a partner!

Although it’s really hot during the summer, a decent tennis match in the evening can be a lot of fun. I found this really informative website, which brings together tennis players in Barcelona who look for someone to play with. The site is non-profit and organises everything around the match. They offer tennis courts all over Barcelona. Sign up, edit your profile and you will find someone who is in the same situation. Tennis Barcelona: check out their site! Now that you have read this blog about tennis, you have all the information you need about playing tennis in BCN. Surely, there are several clubs and courts to rent. If you know a court/club, which you think has to be mentioned as well, please let us know and we'll add them. For now, enjoy your partido. Best, Alex

TOP 5 FOOD TO TRY IN BARCELONA

When you're in Barcelona, you want to see, do and try as much as is humanly possible. An important part of that is getting to know the local specialties, and Catalan cuisine has plenty of those to offer! Certain menus can even be a bit overwhelming, especially when you don't understand a word of Catalan. So to get you started, here's our top 5 food to try in Barcelona!

1. TapasTop 5 Food to Try in Barcelona Image

This seems quite unoriginal but you simply cannot get around tapas in Barcelona. It's something you must eat when you're here, simple as that! Tapas come in all forms and sizes, but these are some very typical ones: (The fun is of course to randomly pick something from the menu, a great way to discover new things!) - Pa amb tomàquet: slice of bread rubbed with tomato, and topped with olive oil and garlic. Very basic, but oh so good. It is usually given as a side dish, but is also a popular breakfast. - Patates braves: potatoes with a special, spicy sauce - Xipirons: fried squids - Truita de patates: kind of omelette with potatoes - Formatge manchego: Manchego cheese - Pernil iberic: Spanish ham - Olives - Gambes a la planxa: grilled shrimps with garlic - Croquetes de pollastre i pernil: croquettes of chicken and ham Though they are in overabundance, it can be quite trick to find the right tapas bar. Have a look at our previous articles to get an idea of where to go.

2. Paella / Fideuà

Paella is also a very famous Spanish dish. You will find a lot of restaurants in Barcelona offering paella, though it is actually more of a Valencian dish. But that shouldn't stop you from trying it, of course! It is also very easy to make yourself, just follow our Paella recipe. A Barcelona variant of paella is fideuà, which is with thin noodles instead of rice.

3. Allioli

Top 5 Food to Try in Barcelona Image
Allioli is a typical Catalan sauce quite similar to mayonaise. It is traditionally made with only garlic, olive oil and salt. There are many variations, though. It is eaten with bread, potatoes, fish, meat or vegetables ... so basically anything. I am personally quite fond of cod (bacalla) with allioli. The picture on the right shows the one I had in Els quatre gats.

4. Escalivada

A salad of aubergine (eggplant), peppers, tomatoes, onions, salt, olive oil and vinegar. The vegetables are roasted in a little olive oil beforehand.

5. Crema Catalana

The classic Catalan dessert, very similar to crème brûlée. The difference is that the cream is bit smoother (it is flavored with lemon zest and cinnamon) and the sugar on top is caramelized with a broiler instead of with a flame. All this is of course accompanied by some glasses of cava, wine or beer and great friends! Hope you liked our top 5 food to try in Barcelona! If you have other places or foods to try in BCN please drop a comment below!

PARK GUELL – PERSONAL GUIDE TO BARCELONA’S MOST FAMOUS PARK!

Park Guell - personal guide to Barcelona'’s most famous and spectacular park designed by Gaudí

Park Guell – personal guide to Barcelona’s most famous park! Image
Park Guell was commissioned by Count Eusebi Güell and was originally intended to be a gated community to house the Barcelona aristocracy but in the end only two houses were built and the estate proved to be quite commercially unsuccessful.  Park Guell is now a municipal garden and a world heritage site.

Visiting Park Güell

Park Guell – personal guide to Barcelona’s most famous park! Image

When visiting Barcelona Park Guell I came from the Vallcarca metro station.  By arriving this way I came across a wonderful street that was one of the steepest streets I’ve been on, and I’ve been to San Francisco.  Just off Avinguada de Vallcarca near the metro you will find “Baixada de la Glória”.  It is mostly a pedestrian only street with stairs and escalators and when you reach the top be sure to look back and enjoy the view. At the top of the street you reach Park Guell, although you won’t see much Gaudí influence there as most of his work is near the centre of the park.  You do however come across a great viewpoint at the top of the hill with brilliant views of the city.  As you walk over this hill and down towards the centre of Park Guell you begin to see the works of Antoni Gaudí. Park Guell – personal guide to Barcelona’s most famous park! Image
The main terrace has an unmistakable serpentine mosaic bench weaving around its edge.  Interestingly Gaudí designed the bench so you don’t get a wet bum.  The bench is tilted to ensure rain runs off it and the bench dries quickly.  Gaudí also installed small bumps, to ensure people don’t sit on the wet bits. Being very popular and famous ensures that Barcelona Park Guell is full of tourists and, as I found, children on school trips.  One downside of this is the amount of rubbish lying around.  You will also find salesmen trying to offer you tacky souvenirs off what seems like a bed sheet. (One guy was selling earrings off an umbrella).  But don’t let me discourage you, it is still a must see. Park Guell – personal guide to Barcelona’s most famous park! Image
Under the terrace you will see what I found to be the most spectacular sight in Park Guell.  The terrace is supported by a series of spectacular columns, and the ceiling is decorated with unique mosaics that perfectly reflected Antoni Gaudí and his crazy visions. Park Guell – personal guide to Barcelona’s most famous park! Image
Further down is the famous entrance with the mosaic dragon fountain.  This is an iconic Gaudí sight and so it is a little busy with tourists. You may struggle to get a picture with other tourists posing for their photos.  There are also the two iconic Gaudí buildings near the entrance, which are used as gift shops.

Opening times

Park Guell – personal guide to Barcelona’s most famous park! Image
January to March – 10.00 to 18.00 April - 10.00 to 20.00 May to September - 10.00 to 21.00 Oct ober - 10.00 to 20.00 November – 10.00 to 19.00 December – 10.00 to 18.00   If you like Antoni Gaudí then try our Gaudí one day tour or check our guide to the Sagrada Familia.   If you have any comments or have any good tips for visiting Park Guell then we would love to hear them! Cheers, Matthew Rutter

SAGRADA FAMILIA – AN INTRO TO BARCELONA’S MOST FAMOUS BUILDING

Sagrada Familia - an intro to Barcelona's most famous building

Sagrada Familia and Gaudi are two terms that are inextricably bound up with Barcelona. The sight of the cathedral is iconic to the city's skyline. The Sagrada Familia attracts thousands of visitors every year. It could well be the most famous building of Barcelona. But what's the story behind the impressive building? Read on to find out! Sagrada Familia – an intro to Barcelona’s most famous building Image

"Sagrada Familia? Never heard of it!"

Sagrada Familia – an intro to Barcelona’s most famous building Image
Hmm, although not likely, it is possible. In that case: the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (commonly known as Sagrada Familia) is a church designed by the famous architect Antoni Gaudi. Gaudi is the exponent of the (Catalan) Modernisme movement, of which the Sagrada Familia is now the most important symbol. The Sagrada tells the life of Jesus and the history of faith (hence the name, which translates as 'the Holy Family'). Although construction has taken 129 years already, the church is nowhere from finished yet (completion date currently estimated to be 2026). Because of this, some of the oldest parts of the church are in need of renovation, while other parts aren't even built yet. In spite of this, the basilica attracts millions of visitors every year, is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was proclaimed a 'minor basilica' by Pope Benedict XVI only last year. The title 'minor basilica' gives the building some privileges over normal churches (and it also sounds fancier). It has always been an expiatory church, which means that it has always been built from donations. Gaudí himself said: "The expiatory church of La Sagrada Família is made by the people and is mirrored in them. It is a work that is in the hands of God and the will of the people."

"That sounds crazy. Why did anybody ever start this?"

Sagrada Familia – an intro to Barcelona’s most famous building Image
Once there was a man named Josep María Bocabella i Verdaguer, who founded the Asociación Espiritual de Devotos de San José (Spiritual Association of Devotees of St. Joseph). With this association he wanted to protect the Catholic faith (and faith in Saint Joseph in particular) from the dechristianization in that time. He received numerous donations with which he bought a 12.800 m² piece of land, now situated between the Carrers de Marina, Provença, Sardenya and Mallorca. On that piece of land the foundation stone of the Sagrada Familia was laid on 19 March 1882 (St. Joseph's Day). Originally, however, the design was in the hands of architect Francisco de Paula del Villar y Lozano. Apparently he got in an argument with Bocabella, with the result that Villar decided to resign from the project in 1883. From then on, Gaudi assumed responsibility for the design, which he changed radically. Gaudi worked on the church until his sudden death in 1926, 43 years later! He became so absorbed by his work on the church that he stopped accepting other projects as of 1914. He devoted the last years of his life entirely to the Sagrada, and even lived on the construction site for some time. In 1926, he was walking on the street, deep in thought, when he was hit by a tram. He died a few days later and was buried in the crypt of "his" Sagrada Familia.

"Well, it all looks very fancy, but I don't really get it..."

Sagrada Familia – an intro to Barcelona’s most famous building Image
Granted, it is a strange building. It looks like other churches, with its pointed Gothic arches, rosaces and enormous towers. But at the same time, it is so heavily influenced with Gaudi's powerful imagination that nothing is what it seems to be. Look again and you'll see how the towers are covered with fanciful flowers, and how the pinnacles burst open into bundles of fruit. However, the Sagrada is not a random collection of towers, structures and stones. As I mentioned above, the church represents the life of Jesus and the history of faith. This symbology is apparent in different parts of the building. When it is be finished, it will have 18 bell towers, which symbolize Jesus, the Virgin Mary, the four evangelists and the twelve apostles. It will have 3 facades, which represent the life of Jesus. The Nativity facade (on which Gaudi worked the most) depicts his birth, childhood and young manhood. The Passion facade represents the Passion of Jesus. The Glory facade (which will be the main entrance once finished) represents his death: Death, Final Judgment, and Glory. The same symbology returns in the church's interior, which suggests the celestial Jerusalem. It also features a set of columns, dedicated to Christian cities and continents, representing the apostles. There has been some ongoing debate, though, whether or not the Sagrada Familia can still be regarded as "Gaudi's church". Sure, he spent a fair amount of his life designing and working on it. But what after his death? Gaudi was known to adjust his buildings as he went along, constantly modifying the details of his designs and forever trying out his ideas with full-size models. The man was so fanatically involved with his work that he made plaster casts of chickens, turkeys and even stillborn babies! Or what about attending a death at a hospital, under the pretext of conducting 'spiritual research'. You understand it's hard to find a successor to match his fanaticism or genius. Add to this the fact that the few drafts, models and drawings he left behind, were destroyed by a fire in 1936 (during the Spanish Civil War) and you'll understand why some people think that only little remains of his original ideas and instructions. But even if it cannot be labeled entirely 'Gaudi', the Sagrada Familia is a fascinating building nevertheless and a Barcelona landmark not to be missed!

"Neat! When can I visit it?"

Sagrada Familia – an intro to Barcelona’s most famous building Image
The church is open for visits from 9.00 to 18.00 (October to March); from 9.00 to 20.00h (April to September); and from 9.00 to 14.00h (25 and 26 december and 1 and 6 January). Merely a visit to the church will cost you €12,50 (€10,50 if you're a student, retired or under 18). If you want to take the lift to the towers as well, then you'll have to cough up another €2,50. It's not cheap, but if it makes you feel any better: the entrance fees are part of the funding to finish the construction works. If you rather spend your euros on tapas and sangria, though, you should feel no shame. Many people find that the best parts about the church are on the outside, which is of course completely free to gaze at! So don't feel bad about passing up a visit inside the church. Place yourself on a terrace near the Sagrada Familia, order your tapas and sangria, sit back and be amazed by the richly sculptured exterior. More information can be found on the official website. Learn here how to beat the queue at Sagrada Familia! Let us know in the comments what you thought of your visit! - by Machteld De Groef

EADA BARCELONA – A TOP MBA PROVIDER IN BARCELONA

EADA Barcelona - one of the best international schools in Barcelona

EADA Barcelona – a top MBA provider in Barcelona Image

About EADA Barcelona

Founded in 1975, EADA Barcelona was one of the first international schools in Barcelona to provide an English MBA programme in Spain. EADA Barcelona is quite well known for its very balanced combination of an academic and practical approach. It is promoting EADA Barcelona's unique educational philosophy as "leaning by doing". EADA Barcelona is ranked highly among the 50 most important business schools in Europe. In the EADA MBA programmes, 85% of the participants are from all around the world, and most of them are selected based on their outstanding performance to enter EADA Barcelona.

Reputation of EADA Barcelona

Accreditation:
  • EADA Barcelona has been awarded the European Quality Label EQUIS.
  • EADA’ Barcelona's MBA programmes have also received the AMBA accreditation granted by the Association of MBAs.
(Currently only 4 Spanish institutions and 66 throughout the world have received these awards.)

English courses from EADA Barcelona

EADA Barcelona – a top MBA provider in Barcelona Image

International MBA

    • Language: English
    • Average professional experience: 3 years minimum; 5 years average
    • Educational requirements: University Degree
    • Dedication: Full time
    • Tuition: 29,500 €
    • Study contents: Marketing, Finance, Strategy, Human Resources and Operations.

Euro*MBA

    • Language: Proficiency level in English or similar
    • Professional experience: a minimum of 5 years in positions of responsibility
    • Minimum training: a Bachelor's degree
    • Dedication: 2 years of on-line training plus six weeks of contact classes in different European schools

Future career after EADA Barcelona - Where do EADA Barcelona MBA graduates work?

Countries

    • 54% Europe
    • 4% Africa
    • 33% Latin America
    • 3% North America
    • 4% Asia
    • 2% Middle East

Sectors

    • 26% Other
    • 9% Finance
    • 18% Consulting
    • 7% Manufacturing
    • 10% Distribution
    • 6% Pharmaceuticals and retail Biotechnology
    • 10% Technology Heathcare
    • 9% Consumer products
    • 5% Real estate

Positions

    • 49% Manager
    • 5% Controller
    • 15% Other 5
    • % Specialist
    • 12% General manager
    • 4% Business owner
    • 10% Consultant

Contact

Did you know that the founder of SuiteLife Barcelona (Benny) did a EADA Barcelona MBA It's true! Do you have any questions about studying business in Barcelona? Just let us know! By Charlotte Jiaqian Chen / A happy SuiteLifer~

MOST FAMOUS CATALAN MUSICIANS – CANTEM EN CATALà!

Most Famous Catalan Musicians - cantem en català!

Hey SuiteLifers! We’ve already introduced you to some famous Catalán artists - painters, and architects – now it is time to continue the series with the most famous Catalan musicians!. Music life in Barcelona is very entertaining and you can find a lot of scenes to listen to live music in Barcelona:  jazz bars, restaurants, clubs. There are already articles on our site about Macacó and Ojos de Brujo who are also some of the most famous Catalan musicians from Barcelona. In this particular post we want to show you how many other talented professional musicians are from Catalunya. Maybe you will be very surprised that these most famous Catalan musicians are originally from Barcelona! So here are our most famous Catalan musicians:

1. Montserrat Caballé (1933 - )

Most Famous Catalan Musicians – cantem en català! Image
She was born in Barcelona in 1933, and completed her music studies here at the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu (Liceu Conservatory) – which was the part of the Gran Teatre del Liceu.  Caballé is a very famous operatic soprano, sang in several roles in operas of Rossini, Verdi, Puccini, Mozart, Wagner, Strauss and much more.  She is best known for her “bel canto” (it is an Italian word for “beautiful singing”) repertoire, which is a very popular singing technique among sopranos. In the past few years she has become a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and in 2003, Caballé starred in her own documentary film, called “Caballé Beyond Music”.

2. José Carreras (1946 - )

[caption id="attachment_1771" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Most Famous Catalan Musicians – cantem en català! Image
Opera singer Jose Carreras entertains during the draw[/caption] He was born in Barcelona, 1946. He is also one of the most famous Catalán musicians, being a tenor. Carreras made his debut at age 11, unbelievable! Mainly known for his roles in Puccini’s and Verdi’s works he became very famous for being one of The Three Tenors alongside Luciano Pavarotti and Plácido Domingo. Carreras is also a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and he was the musical director of the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.

3. Pau (Pablo) Casals (1876 - 1973)

Most Famous Catalan Musicians – cantem en català! Image
Pablo Casals was born in 1876, in a small Catalán village called Vendrell. Even though he was proficient at the violin, piano, organ and flute, he finally became one of the most famous Catalán musicians, being a cellist! He was the first cellist of the Barcelona Opera Orchestra. In the early 20’ he launched his own orchestra and he was also a conductor – as he truly loved the music itself, not just playing cello. He was famous for recording the Bach Cello Suites in the 1930’s. Casals also had a great impact on Puerto Rican music, where the Casals Festival still takes places annually.

4. Tete Montoliu (1933 - 1997)

Most Famous Catalan Musicians – cantem en català! Image
Montoliu also born in Barcelona, in the same year as Montserrat Caballé. He was totally blind but became a very famous jazz pianist. He studied classical piano at the Conservatori Superior de Música de Barcelona (Barcelona Conservatory) and by the age of 17 he was leading jam sessions at one of the Barcelona theaters. He is said to be an atypical jazz pianist, since he not only expressed his own musical heritage but also an individual interpretation of American jazz as well, exhibiting warmth, deep feelings and humor in his playing.

5. Xavier Cugat (1900 - 1990)

Most Famous Catalan Musicians – cantem en català! Image
He was born in Girona, Catalunya but soon moved to Havana, Cuba. There he trained as classical violinist and played with the Orchestra of the Teatro Nacional. This famous Catalán musician’s work really did a lot to help the infusion of Latin music into the American popular scene. He took his band to New York, and became the Waldorf Astoria Hotel’s resident muscians. Interestingly, he was also a cartoonist – working for the Los Angeles Times– while also finding time to be an actor and womanizer (5 wives all together :)). Cugi (as he is often called) had a very funny trademark - to hold a Chihuahua while waving his baton with the other hand.

So these are our favourite 5, but there are more and more of the most famous Catalan musicians! If you spot some, let us know your favourites here or on our Facebook page!

CYCLING IN BARCELONA – INTRO TO BICING BCN TRANSPORT SYSTEM!

Cycling in Barcelona - introduction to Bicing BCN transport system!

Cycling in Barcelona – intro to Bicing BCN transport system! Image

Cycling in Barcelona

Compared to many European cities, theBarcelona transport services offer excellent value. A variety of fun, cheap and fast ways to navigate the city are easily accessible. Without doubt my favourite way of getting around the city is cycling in Barcelona. The sun on your back, the wind in your hair and the hustle and bustle of city life to keep you entertained along the way.
When I first arrived in August 2009, I would spend hours cycling around the different areas of Barcelona, discovering exciting neighbourhoods and generally just getting lost in the city. However, like I always say “When you don'’t know where you'’re going, any road will take you there” and I still believe it’s the best way to see Barcelona!

What is Bicing?

The cheapest and perhaps the most user friendly option with regards to cycling in Barcelona is to use “Bicing”, which is a “community bicycle program” allowing users to travel around Barcelona in an easy, cheap and environmentally friendly manner. As with all the Barcelona transport systems, there are good and bad points but fear not as SuiteLife is here to tell you all you need to know.
Put simply, in order to do cycling in Barcelona, Bicing Barcelona offers residents of Barcelona (for a small annual fee of €47.16) access to 6000 bicycles throughout the city. The bikes are docked at around 400 Bicing stations situated all over the city so you are never far from the network. At roughly 12 cents per day for a full years membership, you can see why this is such a popular transport option in BCN.
Cycling in Barcelona – intro to Bicing BCN transport system! Image

The Good

For fitness fanatics in Barcelona, the associated health benefits of cycling in Barcelona to work and quickly getting around town are amazing. You certainly won’t get as good a work out if you use the Barcelona bus or metro services. For environmentally conscious Barcelonians, I’'m sure you would agree that the use of pedal power has never ending advantages for the environment as a whole.

The Bad

When you take a Bicing bike from a station for some cycling in Barcelona, you have the first 30 minutes at zero cost (it’s included in your yearly membership). However, after the first 30 minutes, you have to pay 43 cents for every 30 minutes you use. After two hours, you will be charged €2.59 an hour. This may seem a little expensive, but when you consider that you can cycle from one end of the city to the other in about 30 minutes, you will realise that its a price you will rarely need to pay.

The Ugly

Be careful when returning your Bicing bike at the docking station. If the light does not turn “red” it is not properly locked to the station. This means somebody (and this does happen) can take your bike off the station and go cycling in Barcelona nicely and leisurely around the city at your expense, which at €2.59 an hour can get pricey!
[caption id="attachment_8092" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Cycling in Barcelona – intro to Bicing BCN transport system! Image
The best way to see Barcelona[/caption]

Step by step guide on How to use Bicing Barcelona

To use Bicing for cycling in Barcelona, you will need a Barcelona address and a credit or debit card.
1. Go to Bicing Website in order to fill the application.
2. Once you have completed the application form, you will receive a confirmation email and about ten days later, your Bicing card will arrive in the post.
3. Once you have your Bicing card, log back into the www.bicing.cat website and register the card.
4. You can now use Bicing!!!
5. Find a Bicing station and swipe your card at the end of the station.
6. A number will appear which tells you which bike you can use.
7. You will notice the lights that are normally red, will turn to green, this shows that the bike is available and ready to take.
8. Enjoy your healthy, environmentally friendly journey through the city.
9. Return the Bicing bike to a station within 30 minutes (unless you don’t mind paying the extra for more time).
10. Click the bike into the station and wait for light to turn red.
All in all, a great service at minimum cost. SWEET!
Ben Holbrook - SuiteLifer

COST OF LIVING IN BARCELONA – HOW MUCH ARE UTILITIES IN BCN?

Cost of living Barcelona: how much are utilities in BCN?

Moving to Barcelona and want to know more about the cost of living in BCN? Well, you've come to the right place. When looking for a flat to rent most people are dying to know how much utilities (gas, water, electricity, community, Internet) will cost per month but, obviously, everyone uses utilities differently so there is never going to be an exact, fixed answer. Fortunately, we've got a lot of experience and can give you a pretty good idea of how much it'll cost you overall.

Barcelona Utilities = Not too bad

Cost of Living in Barcelona – how much are utilities in BCN? Image

Before reading all the juicy details, take a deep breath and relax... Compared to other countries, utilities in Barcelona are quite cheap. It's definitely something to take into consideration when renting any apartment in Barcelona, but it's not going to break the bank either. Tip: Remember, in many countries it's common for utilities to be included in the rent but in Barcelona this is not the case.  Although you can sometimes find flats for rent that include utilities, 98% of the prices you see for apartments for rent in Barcelona do not include utilities (Except for Community Fees, which usually are included). What are these community fees, you ask? They're a nominal payment that everyone in the building pays in order to have the communal areas of the building maintained and cleaned on a regular basis. Usually it's about 50€€ / month, and it is normally included in your rent.

Most common practices in setting up of utilities

When you've finally decided on your dream flat, the owner will want to make arrangements so that the utilities are paid by you directly. Usually, you provide them with your Spanish bank account number and they then call the utility companies and change the bank details to yours. Then, when you are charged each month, the money comes out of your account automatically. Since the bank info is changed, but nothing else, you should still get the bills in the mail so you can check to see that you are being charged correctly Tip: Make sure that when you sign the contract on your new flat that the owner and/or agency reads the meters in the flat to record their respective numbers.  That way  you wont end up paying for part of what the tenant before you consumed.

How often do they come?

Currently, the different utility bills in Barcelona come with the following frequency: Gas: Gas bills used to arrive once every 2 months, but it seems as their systems have gotten better that it is now once every month. Water: The water bill comes once every 3 months. Electricity: The electricity bill comes once a month. Internet:  Internet is also billed once a month. Community Fees: Usually monthly, but also usually included in your rent.

 Cost of Living in Barcelona – how much are utilities in BCN? Image

Spanish Vocab

Utilities = Gastos, Suministros Water bill = Factura de Agua Electricity bill = Factura de Luz Gas bill = Factura de Gas Internet Bill = Factura de Internet Community Fees = Gastos de Comunidad

Air conditioning units = beware

It's important to remember that certain appliances consume more energy than others, so you need to be keep an eye on what you're using. At the top of the list is air conditioning. As centralized systems are not yet too common in Barcelona, many people have an external air conditioning unit that is controlled by a remote.  These units suck electricity like crazy (and electricity is the most expensive utility of them all). So if you are in the habit of leaving the house and keeping the air conditioning going while you're out, you may very well have an unpleasant surprise come the end of the month. Other energy suckers are clothes dryers and electric  heaters with high voltage.  As with the air conditioning units, anything that runs on electricity, and needs a lot of it, can cause your bills to jump and increase your cost of living in Barcelona.

Internet = Important

At SuiteLife we believe that every single flat for rent in Barcelona should have Internet ready to go. You won't find many long term flats that will be ready with Internet running the day you move in. In other countries this might seem absurd but in Barcelona, it's just the way it is. What you will find is that most flats are what they call 'Internet Ready' meaning that the phone line is already installed.  If the line is installed already, all you need to do is phone the Internet provider of your choice and have them set it up, which usually takes about 2 days to have them come to your flat. So our advice is don't make Internet your first priority, even if you really need it, as you can always get this sorted pretty quickly.

So how much will it cost me?

OK, ok... back to the cost of living in Barcelona. As we mentioned earlier, it's very hard to estimate how much people will spend on utilities because it depends totally on the consumption and living habits of the specific people. However, here is a good rule of thumb: Count on spending approximately 50 € / per person / month on average over the year. This means if you're two people you should plan on spending about about 100 € / month. But bear in mind that this is an average over the whole year so it can vary month on month. For example, you're likely to have the heating on in winter so mind end up consuming more energy during these months.

Barcelona Utilities: Contact numbers & emergency services

Cost of Living in Barcelona – how much are utilities in BCN? Image
Water: The main water company is called Agbar @: Torre Agbar, Avenida Diagonal 211 Tel: 933 422 000 Emergencies: 900 700 720 Customer Service: 900 710 710 Website: www.aiguesdebarcelona.es Electricity: The main electricity company (they do gas as well) is Fecsa-Endesa Tel: 902 525 852 Emergencies: 900 770 077 Website: www.endesaonline.com Natural Gas: The main gas company for natural gas Tel: 900 760 760 Emergencies: 900 750 750 Website: portal.gasnatural.com That's It!  You should now be an expert, or at least have a clue about utilities and cost of living in Barcelona. If you think we've missed anything out about cost of living in Barcelona or have any helpful tips we'd love to hear from you! Cheers, Benny

BARCELONA INTERNATIONAL GROCERY STORES – THE TASTE OF HOME!

Barcelona International Grocery Stores - the taste of home!

Barcelona International Grocery Stores – the taste of home! Image
Listen up all you desperate expats craving for a taste of home in Barcelona! We've searched the entire city for Barcelona International grocery stores providing international products just like the ones you find at home! These types of Barcelona International grocery stores are quite common, especially Barcelona Chino stores (or Chinese stores). You just need to know where to look! It all began with our boss complaining about his tremendous craving for Peanut Butter. Yes, when you’re Canadian (or North American in general), you have more Peanut Butter running through your veins than blood, believe me. So, with this special taste of home in mind, we went on the hunt for Peanut Butter. But enough with the chit-chat! Here'’s our top 10 Barcelona International grocery stores:

1)  Taste of Home Barcelona

Barcelona International Grocery Stores – the taste of home! Image
This is our absolute number 1. Peanut Butter here costs 3.95€ but it’s not the only American/British product you'’ll find there. A Taste of Home Barcelona gives you the choice between 2000 products from jelly to Gentlemans Relish & all their products can be delivered directly to your home or office… or your yacht (yes, absolutely dear!). And for all you Brits out there...THEY HAVE CADBURY'S! Have a look at C/ de Floridablanca, 78.!

2) The British Market

Barcelona International Grocery Stores – the taste of home! Image
Located on c/ Iglesias 178 bajos, in Castelldefels, is another good one: baking goods, teas, curry sauce, creams, biscuits and Peanut Butter (from 3.40€…), everything’s there. A taste of home in Barcelona for those from the other side of the Channel… (Transportation: Renfe "Castelldefels" stop, NOT "Castelldefels Playa" stop.)

3) Barcelona Chino Stores

Barcelona International Grocery Stores – the taste of home! Image
Some really common Barcelona International grocery stores are the Chino stores. We were actually hesitating: should we put them number 1? Peanut Butter won, however Barcelona Chino stores are EVERYWHERE and so cheap!  You can find absolutely anything in them, from rice cookers to  100 varieties of noodle soups… anything authentically Chinese. My favourite is near MACBA (SuperStar Asia Food, C/ Tallers 77). There’s also the Barcelona Chino shop next to Plaça Catalunya (Dong Fang, c/ Balmes 6) that is enormous.  If you're a Chinese food lover like us than you have to check out some of these Chinese supermarkets and make your next dinner party at home an authentic one!

4) Colmado Afro-Latino

Barcelona International Grocery Stores – the taste of home! Image

It is on Via Laietana 15 and is one of the Barcelona International grocery stores that most reflects the growth of South American comunity in Barcelona. We love this international food store! Located in the heart of Gotico, Colmado Afro-Latino sells spices, beers, vegetables, fruits, sauces, beans, cheeses, and already made meals from all over Latin America at reasonable prices. Check it out if you’re home sick or in search of thrilling discoveries!  Also, The Sagrada Familia area of the Eixample has a very high population of Latinos.  Literally walking around a little you will discover quite a few great Latino supermarkets.  I'd suggest LatinCor, which is at c/ Córsega 536 and also Zoco Latino on c/ Lepant 362.  If you're from any Central or South American country, or just a fan of the food, you'll love these places.

5) Tot Formatge

Barcelona International Grocery Stores – the taste of home! Image
The address is Passeig del Born 13 and it literally means “All Cheese”! Cheese addicts, this store is for you. There are cheeses from pretty much every European country. As a French person, I am a cheese connoisseur. I love every single type of cheese: blue, soft, creamy, strong, hard, stinky, goat, cow, sheep, or even cat milk! (OK, that last one was a joke). This shop is like Paradise for me. Do check it out!!

6) Australian Gourmet

Barcelona International Grocery Stores – the taste of home! Image
Want to eat some kangaroo?? Or how bout some of that famous Vegemite they love so much down under? Help yourself!

7) El Corte Inglés

Barcelona International Grocery Stores – the taste of home! Image
Plaça Catalunya 14, is one of Spain’s largest department stores and also one of the most famous Barcelona International grocery stores. Go to the basement and explore the gourmet section.  Even in the non-gourmet section you'll find a nice selection of international products.

8) Cafés El Magnifico

Barcelona International Grocery Stores – the taste of home! Image
This is definitely a dream for anyone who'’s in love with this dark strong flavoured hot drink that has become so indispensable to hard working people. Coffee is actually the world's second most traded commodity after crude oil and the coffees from other countries are as diverse as the people living in them.  At Cafés El Magnífico you can rest assured that you’ll find the finest brews from all over the world. Italians, find the best ones and prepare coffee as if you were home!

9) DeliShop

Barcelona International Grocery Stores – the taste of home! Image
This is an excellent item in the list of Barcelona International grocery stores where you can find thousands of ingredients.  Anything you need to cook any type of international dish you might be craving: from Indian to French, German, British, Latin and Asian products!  As one of the owners is from New York City, all you Americans will be happy to know you can also find such comfort foods here as Dr. Pepper, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, Kraft Dinner Macaroni & Cheese, Nerds, and much much more.  Try Ricky's original recipes on their website. DeliShop has 3 locations in Barcelona, so if you live in BCN and you have a diverse palate, then you must experience this unique store!! c/ Mallorca 241, Travesera de Gracia 141, & L'Illa Diagonal Shopping Centre.

10) La Troika Delicatessen

Barcelona International Grocery Stores – the taste of home! Image
If you prefer Russian food to Peanut Butter, the Russian shop La Troika Delicatessen (c/ Unio, 3), near Las Ramblas, will offer you  smoked fish, Vodka, sweet potatoes, caviar and kotliety... Prices are somewhat high though. But nonetheless, it remains one of the best Barcelona International grocery stores. Do you know of any  other Barcelona International grocery stores where they sell international food products?  We'd love to hear your suggestions so we can check them out and maybe include them in an update! Enjoy! A.




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