Barcelona to Madrid - Two of Spain's/World's Greatest Cities!

Barcelona to Madrid is a journey I seem to be making more and more frequently recently. I am becoming quite the expert on travel routes between the two cities. Barcelona to Madrid may strike you as a simple journey, which it is, but if you aren't careful, you could end up paying more than you may imagine. Barcelona to Madrid....Vamos!!
At the time of writing, I have been living in Barcelona for the best part of two years, I've loved every moment of it, the ups, the downs and the sideways bits in-between. However, as with everything in life, it has been nothing like I imagined it to be. When I moved to Barcelona, I had visions of  jetting off every weekend, to some other beautiful part of Spain...or perhaps Italy or France. Not to say I haven't explored because I have, but life does have a way of getting in the way of things. Once I started working and paying for things like rent and food, it became difficult to find time to enjoy Barcelona, let alone fly to Madrid or Paris! Recently though, I met a girl...(queue dramatic operatic film music) who lives in Madrid. She's one of a kind and I'm happy as Larry, to say the very least. The last few weekends, I've been flying from Barcelona to Madrid to see her, being careful to spend as little as possible on the journey,  and as much time as possible with her, food, wine and all the other good stuff that goes hand in hand.

Barcelona to Madrid - What are the options?

What I have come to realise, is that when travelling from Barcelona to Madrid, the cheapest option is not always the best option. However, I appreciate that some of you SuiteLifers may disagree so I will give you the low-down on what's hot-to-trot.

The AVE Train (RENFE) - High Speed

Why use the AVE train to get from Barcelona to Madrid? A comfortable and fast way to travel between Barcelona - Madrid, the RENFE AVE Train is a a high speed train travelling from Barcelona Sants/La Sagrera Train stations to Madrid central train station. How long does the train take from Barcelona to Madrid? The journey time is more or less 3 hours. When you consider that you get on the train in Barcelona and don't have to travel to the airport, the journey time is more or less the same as if you were to fly. Especially if you were  to get to the airport an hour or two in advance. When do the trains leave from Barcelona to Madrid? I think the real beauty of getting the AVE RENFE high speed train, is the frequency of which they run. There is one if not two trains from Barcelona to Madrid leaving every hour from 6am to 9pm. For a good look at the timetable just click -----> Here :) How Much is the train from Barcelona to Madrid? It's not cheap and will cost you €120 return and as tourist. However, it must be said that as flights from Barcelona to Madrid fluctuate, the AVE Train does not. I always use this as a reference, if a flight is considerably more than this amount, you know the train price will remain the same.   

The Estrella Night Train (RENFE) - Not So High Speed

Why use the Estrella Night train to get from Barcelona to Madrid? Bottom line, the Estrella Night Train run by RENFE offers the cheapest way to get from Barcelona to Madrid. If you have time but no money, the Estrella Night Train from Barcelona to Madrid is your best bet. How long does the Estrella Night Train take to get from Barcelona to Madrid? The journey time is more or less 9 hours. If you have a sleeping bag and a pillow, and you can get comfortable, I suggest you get some shut eye and sleep well knowing you are saving a bunch of money not only by using the cheapest travel route, but also saving yourself from shelling out for a nights accommodation. When does the Estrella Night Train leave from Barcelona to Madrid? As there is only one night in a day, there is only one night train, so be careful you don't turn up late and miss it. Typically the Estrella Night Train leaves Barcelona at around 10pm. For a good look at the timetable just click -----> Here :) How Much is the Estrella Night Train from Barcelona to Madrid? It's cheap, in fact, it's dirt cheap. €44. Need I say any more about this? I don't think so.

Fights from Barcelona to Madrid (My personal recommendation)

Why fly from Barcelona to Madrid? Often, but not always, you can get some great deals on Barcelona to Madrid flights. If like me, you don't have much time, but a great desire to be in Madrid, then flying offers quick and flexible way to travel. How long is the flight from Barcelona to Madrid? The flight itself is more or less ONE HOUR. However, bare in mind that Barcelona/El Prat Airport is outside of Barcelona city and typically you will need to set aside an hour, just to get from the city to  the airport. To get from Barcelona city to the airport, I usually use the train, which goes from Clot, Paseo de Gracia and Barcelona Sants. It's cheap and only takes about 30-40 minutes. But be careful as there are only one or two trains every hour, meaning you often have to wait for 30 minutes for it to arrive. NB - The train from Barcelona to El Prat Airport takes you to Terminal 2, flights from Barcelona to Madrid leave from Terminal 1 which means you have to jump on the little shuttle bus (free of charge), this adds an extra 15 minutes to your journey which I didn't realise and nearly missed my flight. BE CAREFUL! If time is not your friend, I suggest jumping on the Aerobus in Placa Cataluyna (Barcelona center) which costs about €5-6 and stops at both terminal 1 and 2. Stress free and perhaps a little easier. Who offers the best Flights from Barcelona to Madrid?
There are certainly many companies offering "cheap flights from Barcelona to Madrid" but it must be said that the prices fluctuate rapidly and seemingly without reason. So far, I have found Vueling to offer the best prices, although recently while I was booking a ticket, the price dropped from €99 to €35. Of course I was happy about this, but it just seems that sometimes it's worth waiting and watching for the prices to change.

Vueling - Great Service, Punctual and THE BEST PRICES!

How Much are flights from Barcelona to Madrid? It's not bad, but it's not great. Baring in mind you can get the AVE Train for €120, I usually use that as a base. So far, I have paid about €130 return from Barcelona to Madrid, it seems that flights from Madrid to Barcelona are cheaper than the other way round.  It seems that during peak periods (which is generally on weekends or holidays when I want to fly), the flights are about €99 each way....no thanks!! Spanair Spanair always sound very attractive, but they are one of those companies that don't include things like taxes in their price, so it may start off at €50 return, it normally ends up being considerably more than that, and in my experience, Spanair do not offer the best value on flights between Barcelona and Madrid. Rumbo http://www.rumbo.es/ are great in the way that they search for routes of various companies. For example, you could fly from Barcelona to Madrid with Vueling, but then return with SpanAir. They mix and match cheap flights so you don't have to scour the different sites for the best deal. So there you have it, Barcelona to Madrid. I hope you enjoy your travels as I have done. Madrid and Barcelona are very different, but both incredible places and I'm happy to have experienced them as I have.

THE BUS FROM BARCELONA TO MADRID?

Well, I haven't taken the bus from Barcelona to Madrid. I must say, it would be cheaper, but not necessarily cheaper than the night train. Considering it takes more time I would not even bother with the bus, unless of course, you are on a massive budget and want to take your own sweet time! Ben Holbrook - SuiteLifer and BCN to MADRID Frequent Flyer!

Barcelona Sculptures :  Best (non-Gaudi) Sculptures

For many, Barcelona is inextricably linked with the work of Antoni Gaudí. People from all over the world visit the city to wonder at his highly original organic buildings and sculptures. Barcelona wouldn’t be the same without these iconic works. Looking beyond Gaudí, Barcelona has a selection of other permanent more modern sculptural works that have been significant in defining new periods and adorning public spaces in the city. Sometimes it’s easy to pass by the open air gallery that is Barcelona so keep your eyes peeled the next time you wander its streets and ´plazas’. Here are some worth checking out. Barcelona Sculptures: The Raval Cat – Designed by Fernando Botero this is one of Barcelona’s most popular sculptures. The big, black bulbous cat sits staring out on the Rambla de Raval. It has moved around the city and has finally come to rest here. As it watches over the antics of the Raval, kids love to scramble up its legs and others use it as a meeting point. It has in part ended up here to help promote the regeneration of the Raval district.

Barcelona Sculptures : Cap de Barcelona – The famous Pop Artist, Roy Lichtenstein, was commissioned to create a sculpture for the 1992 Olympics. Originally to be placed in the mountains, it was decided that it would be more suited to the old port. Standing 20 metres high, it’s instantly recognisable as a Lichtenstein with abstract features and a use of bold colour to represent a woman’s head. He used the old technique of “Trencadis”, popular with Modernists in Catalonia where ceramic tiles are smashed and stuck back together to create a work of art. Barcelona Sculptures: Frank Gehry’s Fish – The giant ‘peix’ has become just as emblematic of Barcelona as any of Gaudí’s structures. The first piece to be designed by Gehry & Associates using computer aided design was commissioned for the Olympics. Highly conceptual, this huge copper fish glints in the setting sun and reflects a modern Barcelona that was transformed by the Olympics Games. It is also very much a part of its environment being formed at the same time as the expanded seafront and the new beaches of Bogatel, Nova Icària, and Mar Bella.

Barcelona Sculptures: Woman with Bird – One of Barcelona´s most famous artists, Miró, bequeathed this sculpture to Barcelona in 1983. The The Dona I Ocell (Woman with Bird) can be found in Parc Joan Miró near Plaza Espanya and uses the same “Trencadis” technique of shattered and reconstituted tiles so typical of Gaudí’s work. Miró’s last public work is reminiscent of many of his expressionist paintings. Barcelona Sculptures: Cloud & Chair – You might miss this rambling sculpture called Nuvol i Cadira or Cloud & Chair on the Modernist building of the Antoni Tapies Foundation on calle Aragon. The tangled tubular structure takes up the space between the two buildings and either looks like a wild abstract painting or barbed wire protection depending on your point of view. You need to look closely to see the chair. The foundation was established by Catalunya´s most famous artist, Antoni Tapies, to promote contemporary art.
If you know of any other cool sculptures in Barcelona let us know! Ranald

BEST ENGLISH-SPEAKING HAIRDRESSERS IN BARCELONA

There are a lot of English speaking hairdressers in Barcelona. As a vibrant and multinational city, many hairdressers around the world chose Barcelona as their second home to develop their skills and careers. A new haircut can refresh your look as well as boost your confidence totally. Choosing a hair salon is risky and difficult, especially when you move a new city. You will ask a lot of questions such as "Where would I go ?", "How would I explain to them what and how I would like to do with my hair when I do not speak Spanish well ?" But don't worry, today Suitelife will help you pick out the best English speaking hair dressers in Barcelona. All these hair salons have already been in Barcelona for years. They understand what customers want well and surely will not disappoint you.

ANTHONY LLOBET

Anthony LLobet is definitely the most well-known and oldest English-speaking hair salons in Barcelona.  Having already been in Bcn for 14 years, Anthony Llobet has 5 salons in the best neighborhoods in Barcelona, from Gracia to El Born. When you come here, you do not have to be worry about language boundaries because their friendly and welcoming London-trained staff are from all around the world. There are 11 languages are spoken between them and you can explain exactly what you would like. With 25 years experience in hair dressing, Mr Anthony Llobet, who is of English-Catalan decent, has traveled around the world to style in various fashion shows, catwalks, TV and so on. He is also a TREsemmé Spain ambassador. You can feel his passion reflected in the retro interiors and the slogan "Don't let your Spanish come between you and your hair". If you want to book an appointment, you should telephone the salon directly. Their website has lots of useful info that you can check here

ONDA SALON

If Anthony Llobet can make you feel like you enter a friendly and casual pub, Onda Salon is like having dinner at a fancy Italian restaurant. The salon was founded in 2009 by Piero Zatra, an Italian stylist who used to be a style director of Toni&Guy in London and finally chose Barcelona as his home. The staff at Onda are laid back Italians who speak English very well. The salon offers variety of services both in hairdressing and aesthetics. At Onda, you can find hairstyle for every occasion, latest hairstyles trends as well as waxing, massages, treatments, make up and so on. The staff are very friendly and they can give you the best advice for hair and beauty services. The salon follows the luxurious interior design with flourish wallpaper and big chandelier lights. The price might not be as cheap as many other hair salons in Bcn, but it is reasonable for their excellent services. Their website is very cool, especially their 3D virtual interior tour letting you see inside the shop. If you wish to schedule an appointment, you can contact them via telephone, Whatsapp, email or contact form on their website.

TOUCH

Elegance and sophistication is what Touch brings to its customers. Touch hair salon is owned and managed by the Dutch hairdresser Gijs Hoogendam who has diverse experience as a stylist for different fashion shows. The mission of Touch is to enhance your look, bring out the best of your features and boost your confidence. With Gijs's incredible artistic flare  and his 20-year experience on and off catwalk, Touch's aim is to ensure you leave the salon feeling like a million dollars. When you come to Touch, Gijs will be a great listener and consultant as he will discuss with you carefully about what are you looking for.  His excellent eyes for details can be reflected in the salon's black and white interior design with the ornate Baroque mirrors and furniture being imported from his old salon in the Netherlands. If you want to feel like having your own stylist in a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere, Touch always welcomes you. Check out their website here

DTOX

The cool thing about hair salons in Barcelona is that they are so trendy, which makes you admire the design and never get bored waiting for the haircut or treatment process. Dtox is another hair salon opened by a Catalan and Spanish team who speaks English well. Dtox will amaze you with their professional team who were featured on Catalan newspapers "el Periódico" and "La Vanguardia". Although Dtox is hidden in an old 50's building located in El Raval, the salon is very lush and beautiful with modern furniture and industrial look. If you want to find a place to spend an afternoon before having dinner or drink at the evening with a new look, Dtox can be a good choice ! Unfortunately, their website is only available in Spanish, so if you want to know more about their services, you should contact them via telephone at here

SHIBUYA WORLD

You definitely know the two most popular hair-straightening treatments recently: Japanese Hair Straitening and Brazilian Keratin Treatment. And if you want to go to a place specializing in Japanese treatment, why not try Shibuya World, a small quirky salon which is opened and operated by a passionate Japanese team. With 2 branches in Barcelona, Shibuya World is the place where nothing is impossible. They specialize in different treatments and dyeing hair from popular colors to rare ones such as green, blue and orange,...Also, they have a large stock of hair extensions in different shapes and size, which can please any clients with any weird hairstyle ideas. Once you enter this small salon, you will experience the feeling of being in Shibuya neighborhood known as fashion and nightlife area in Japan. If you are into Japanese culture, you can check out our blog Best of Japanese culture in Barcelona
Winter is coming, why not have your hair cut and recharge your energy ? If you know any other English-speaking hair salons in Bcn, we would like to hear about them, leave us a comment below ! ~Trang

Tibidabo Barcelona - "What" and "Where" is it?

Located at the top of Collserola mountain, Tibidabo Barcelona is home to the Tibidabo Amusement Park and the magical “Temple de Sagrat Cor”.  Dating back to 1900, work began on the Tibidabo Amusement Park and the “Blue Tram” and “Funicular Railway”. Barcelona Tibidabo officially opened on the 29^th of October 1901, the “Blue Tram” was considered to be a highly modern and innovative transport method and ended up being one of the main attractions. First and foremost, I would like to emphasise that although Barcelona Tibidabo is advertised as an “amusement/theme park” it really is a whole lot more than that. Barcelona Tibidiabo Amusement Park is a magical area of Barcelona with over 30 attractions, rides, ferris wheels, and restaurants and yes, I will say it again....VIEWS!!!! Certainly not just for the kids, you will find people of all ages at the top of Barcelona’s Collserola mountain. So charming and emblematic, Tibidabo was used as a filming location for Woody Allens’s Oscar winning film “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”. With the handsome and imposing church, “Temple de Sagrat cor”, you can’t help but feel you have stumbled upon a secret that nobody else has discovered!

What is the "Temple de Sagrat Cor"?

The  Temple de Sagrat Cor or The Church of the Sacred Heart, designed by architect Enric Sagnier, is the illuminated Church which is visible from almost every point of Barcelona. A truly charming and romantic part of Barcelona, it's always one of the first talking points amongst people arriving to the city and asking, "What is that magical and mysterious place on the hill?". 512 metres above sea level, the building The  Temple de Sagrat Cor started in 1902 and took 60 years to complete. Although not as impressive as other Barcelona architecture such as The Sagrada Familia, The  Temple de Sagrat Cor offers so much more in terms of it's location and if I could only visit one, I would struggle to choose a favourite!

How to get to Tibidabo Amusement Park | The  Temple de Sagrat Cor | Collserolla Mountain

English speaking locksmiths in Barcelona - quick, reliable, emergency 24h service

Good day Señoras & Señores! Let me tell you a story. A very unpleasant story that happened to our beloved boss Benny alomost 10 years ago. In a nuthsell, he got locked out his flat at 3am in the morning and the next day he had to fly to Canada. Wanna know what he did? He called some English speaking locksmiths in Barcelona who charged him 300 bucks, as he called him for an emergency. Now everyone would like to avoid that situation, right? That's why we've put together a list of the English speaking locksmiths in Barcelona that could help you out of a bind. So save these contacts in the memory of your phone NOW!

1. CERRAJERIA BCN

• CONTACT NUMBERS: + 34 93 752 54 10 / + 34 659 536 536
• WEBSITE: http://www.cerrajeriabcn.es/en/
• EMAIL: info@cerrajeriabcn.es
• DESCRIPTION: With a call centre open 24/7 that can assist you in English, Cerrajeria BCN operates throughout all Barcelona and also in the cities located in close proximity (Terrassa, Badalona, Barbera, Sitges, Castelldefells, Cornellá, etc.). With proficiency in emergencies, residential or commercial locksmith services and also high security systems, they will make sure you get in asap.

2. OPENDOOR LOCKSMITH

• CONTACT NUMBER: +34 658 668 478
• WEBSITE: http://www.opendoors24h.com/english/
• EMAIL: mail.opendoorv@gmail.com
• DESCRIPTION: Targeted specifically at tourists, Opendoor Locksmith provide a reliable and fast service, not charging a preferential fee for foreigners (like other locksmiths in the city). They can be employed both from inside Barcelona and from the cities around, such as El Baix Llobregat, Garraf, Maresme, etc. In addition to opening closed doors, Opendoor Locksmith sells locks, safes, domestic rolling shutters, bars, security blinds, and anti-shatter glass for businesses.

3. CERRAJEROS BARCELONA EAC

• CONTACT DETAILS: +34 670 774 733
• DESCRIPTION: Cerrajeros Barcelona EAC is another locksmith company operating 24/7 as well as during holidays (and for the love of God, Spaniards do have loads!), with professional English speaking workers that open people's door locks in the city centre and nearby. Besides from opening property doors and changing locks, they also do lock repairs and even car doors. They offer people discounts on each operation, so make sure you don't forget to ask for yours!

Tips

We wouldn't be anywhere without our dear SuiteLifers and we'd like you to always keep safe, so that's why our friends from Cerrajeria BCN have provided us with a guide on how to make burglars' attempts harder. Here are their pieces of advice:

1. Do not let anyone into your house that you don't know. If they claim to be a service worker of some sort, make sure to ask for the proper identification prior to you letting them in!
2. Make sure to always lock all your doors and windows!
3. Install dead bolt locks on all of the external doors!
4. Always change all the locks when you first move in!
5. Never give your keys to any service workers, gardeners, cleaning crews or anyone else not you do not know well!
6. Never have an ID tag with personal information and home address attached to your keys!
7. Install keyed window locks and locks on your garage!
8. Make sure to have the outside of your home well lighted as a deterrent!
9. What should you do when you are away!
10. Always leave your outside lights on, so that it appears as though someone is at home!
11. Ask some you know and trust to check up on your home periodically!
12. Have your mail held at the post office while you are away or have you know and trust pick up your mail every day or every other day!
13. Make sure all windows and doors are shut and locked. Don't forget about your garage door and shed!
14. Tell neighbors and the security patrol in your neighborhood (if you have one) that you will be out of town and for them to keep a look out for any unusual behavior!

Till next time, stay safe SuiteLifers! Muchisimas gracias, Dragosh (El Dragon)

International Schools in Barcelona - Education comes first!

Hello from the SuiteLife team! Last week we talked about the best International Day Care Centers In Barcelona where your toddlers can be trained to be multilingual. On a similar note, I decided to write a post on the best International Schools in Barcelona for those of you whose children are all grown up now. You'll be surprised at the number of International schools in Barcelona has to offer and their variety. But, of course, I want only the best for my SuiteLife peeps, therefore in this post I will list only the finer ones.

The Benjamin Franklin International School

Truly International is what this school is aiming for. With a mix of approximately 1/3 American, 1/3 Spanish and 1/3 Foreign students, be sure that your child will have a lot of cultural exchange and appreciation (a bit too much maybe). There are 608 students enrolled in Benjamin Franklin International School as of 2015 forming a global community consisting of 48 nationalities. The school opened doors in Barcelona in 1986 and while relatively new it came along with the new standards, new requirements and new passion the modern education system expects. So don't be thrown off by the fact that the school has been running only for three decades, the teaching staff is fully motivated and driven by the common goal to mend your kids into future individuals seeking excellence in their lives. Benjamin Franklin International School teaches students mainly in English. However, Spanish and Catalan are introduced later in the curriculum to ensure the pupils achieve good command in the two languages. If languages turn out to be your child's strong suit they can also choose optional French to add to their program.
The school adopts an American standard of teaching with a typical American curriculum and lesson delivery. Your kids can benefit from Benjamin Franklin International School by receiving three different academic diplomas: the American High School Diploma, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, and the Spanish Bachillerato Certificate. Consequently meaning that they will immensely boost their future prospects for getting into a high quality university. These are the tuition fees for the different divisions for 2015/2016:

• Early Childhood ( Nursery & Pre-K ) - 8,985 €
• Kindergarten* - 8,985 €
• Elementary School ( Grades 1 – 5 ) - 11,220 €
• Middle School ( Grades 6 – 8 ) - 11,525 €
• High School ( Grades 9 – 12 ) - 13,750 €

I know, I know it is pricey. What you need to take into consideration, however, is that this is one of the finest International Schools in Barcelona with one of the highest educational quality standard. If you live in Barcelona and find these fees affordable, be sure that you will be making an excellent investment in your childrens' future. The school provides all the necessary services to ensure the safety and well-being of your child. Transportation is provided picking up and dropping off students in 10 areas in Barcelona. The cafeteria always prepares fresh and healthy meals for its students. And the nurse's room is always prepared and available to anyone at all times.

English School Barcelona

A personal touch. With one class per year group and a maximum of 18 students in a class English School Barcelona's teachers have a very personal approach to their students. Catering to every student's individual problems or queries this system assures that every child is dealt with care and they achieve an extremely high academic level. Dedicating time and attention to every student individually is one of the things that sets this school apart from the other International schools in Barcelona. The school was opened in 1957 and operates effectively and successfully until present day. The school always aspires to follow the newest trends in education and their years of experience allows them to be extremely good at it. English School Barcelona strongly believes in the idea to teach their students to be multilingual. Lessons are taught in English, Catalan and Spanish evenly. No one language is favored over the other. This ensures that by the time their students graduate they will be completely fluent and speak freely in all three languages. When the child reaches secondary school they will start learning French as part of their program. This allows them to take the International Baccalaureate (IB) or its Spanish/French equivalent - the Batxibac. Again the huge presence of an International community can teach pupils cultural appreciation and tolerance for their peers of different backgrounds, religion and ethnicity. There is no better way than to learn these things from first-hand experience. The school offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities. From sport activities including tennis, basketball, skating and yoga; going through music orientated activities such as ballet and drum lessons and ending with the creatively intellectual activities like robotics, chess and arts & crafts.

Kensington School

A piece of Britain in Barcelona. Opened in 1966 Kensington is the oldest British curriculum school in Barcelona teaching their subjects in accordance with the National Curriculum for England and Wales. Similarly to English School Barcelona, Kensington relies on a relatively small student body in order to offer a better quality education. If you are moving to Barcelona from the UK and you insist on your child to be taught British style, then Kensington would be the perfect school. The school incorporates A-level studies and examination via Edexcel in London and all other examination and accreditation any British university might require for future studies. A common practice after graduating from Kensington school is students moving to Britain to pursue their higher education in one of the best universities on the island.
The majority of lessons are presented in English, apart from the Spanish and French language classes. Once again your kids are exposed to a variety of languages helping them develop amazing communicational skills. After school activities at Kensingon school include sport activities such as basketball, football and table tennis. Other extra-curriculars include chess and choir singing. Kensington also organizes summer camps at the end of each academic year both for Junior and Senior schools and ski trips to Espot Esqui every February for Senior students only.

Oak House School

Modern meets tradition. The first thing that will strike you about Oak House school is the modern facilities and technology this institution incorporates in their students' education. The school opened its doors to students in 1968 and during the course of its management it successfully foresaw the importance of new technology which it effectively adopted as part of the learning process. From the start of Primary until the end of the division pupils are taught their classes in English. At the start of Secondary school a trilingual study scheme is introduced adding Catalan and Spanish to the curriculum which are exploited quite vigorously. Additionally students can also pick a fourth foreign language, German or French, to go along with their studies. Following the British educational system pupil are prepared for Cambridge IGCSE exams in subjects including:

• English Literature
• Maths
• Business Studies
• Sociology
• Combined Science
• Environmental Management
• History
• ICT
• Drama
• Art

On and off-site services include transportation, dining services and medical care.The school buses commute on three different routes covering the entire city of Barcelona. The buses are scheduled to leave at 4:45pm after extra-curriculum activities the students might be involved in. The food preparation is covered by chef D. Juan Ramos who prepares different menus including: normal, vegetarian and menus for students who suffer from coeliac disease. The food is healthy and nutritious to make sure the students are part of a healthy diet. Oak House has a qualified on-site nurse and if any emergency or special medical attention is required the schools insurance covers such medical care at the Quirón Clinic in Barcelona. There you have it gang, the best International schools in Barcelona. I hope this blog was informative for you, if not enough you can always go on to the schools websites for more information. Tell us in the comment section which school you like the most and sounds best suited for your child's needs. Time for your well-deserved weekly joke: Two boys were arguing when the teacher entered the room. The teacher says, "Why are you arguing?" One boy answers, "We found a ten dollar bill and decided to give it to whoever tells the biggest lie." "You should be ashamed of yourselves," said the teacher, "When I was your age I didn't even know what a lie was." The boys gave the ten dollars to the teacher. Sincerely, Chris

MICHELIN RESTAURANTS BARCELONA: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Greetings SuiteLifers, This week I’ve decided to shed some light on where to find the top Michelin Restaurants Barcelona has to offer. Is there anything better than going for a evening meal with your favorite people after a long day of site seeing, exploring, working or whatever you like to do with your time? And what better place to have your meal than at one of the best Michelin restaurants in Barcelona? Michelin restaurants are the most highly ranked restaurants in the world. Expect nothing less than incredible and creative food, excellent and on point service and a divine atmosphere. If you are not concerned about your budget, then you should most certainly pay a visit to one of the these brilliant restaurants. Feeling hungry yet? Me too! Let’s get to it then.

ÁBAC HOTEL AND RESTAURANT

Starting off with ÁBaC restaurant, one of the best Michelin Restaurants Barcelona has to offer. Chef Jordi Cruz received his first Michelin star at the age of 24, becoming the youngest chef in Spain to be accredited with this prestigious rank. In 2011 the restaurant received its second Michelin star. If you are in love with traditional Spanish cuisine this is surely a must visit restaurant for you. Chef Jordi Cruz’s menu tries to preserve the traditional taste but combines it with modern cooking techniques in order to serve us an exquisite meal. As a common practice you can order ‘a la carte’ which is a combined platter of meals of your choice. Definitely a great option if you are a food enthusiast. A regular dinner menu at ÁBaC would cost you around 94€.
Feel free to familiarize yourself with (ÁBaC’s menu) and build up an idea of what you would like to have for dinner on your visit. Signature dish: Chef Jordi Cruz’s egg with asparagus.

CINC SENTITS

Another jewel in the crown of fine dining in Barcelona is Cinc Sentits. Again, amazing dishes with a strong presence of Catalan cuisine but also inspired by foreign gastronomy. It is certainly up there as one of the finest Michelin Restaurants Barcelona. Their food is so deliciously strange and prepared in such a way as to play with our senses that it truly becomes an all-time favorite immediately. The restaurant’s strong suit is definitely the service. Friendly but professional service will make you feel like royalty. They are definitely more than just the people that bring the plates to the table! For every meal you order they will recommend the best wine to go perfectly with it. Have questions about the food? No need to call for the chef. The waiters are fully able to explain everything about the ingredients, the flavors, cooking techniques and whatever might pop into your head.
Cinc Sentits is an amazing experience that you can have for the price of 85€ for a tasting menu. Signature dish: Chef Jordi Artal’s ember-roasted sweet potato.

SAÜC

Where traditional and modern clash together. Recently relocated to the Ohla Hotel, this restaurant is one of the hot spots for fine dining in Barcelona. Chef Xavier Franco’s creativity and passion provides us with a premium-quality traditional Catalan cuisine. This, combined with impeccable service, brings the dining experience at Saüc restaurant to a new level. Receiving its Michelin star in 2007, chef Xavier Franco has never failed to bring joy, happiness (and full tummies) to its customers since. The chef considers himself a ‘protein man’ and to account for that his dishes are very protein packed, making them very nutritious and healthy.
The tasting menu you can enjoy for an average of 78€ or 108€, depending on how many dishes you would like to include. Signature dish: Chef Xavier Franco’s fricassee of fava beans with veal sweetbread.

GRESCA

Gresca is one of the more affordable Michelin Restaurants Barcelona has. If you are on a budget, but still a lover of quality food and exceptional service, then you my friend have just found the perfect restaurant. Inspired by tradition and his childhood memories of his grandmother’s recipes, Chef Rafa Penya provides amazing dining experience for a low price and with an element of nostalgia. His dishes might seem simple and but don’t be fooled by the names on the menu. Once your waiter puts the plate in front of you, prepare to be astonished by the creativity and amazing presentation that bring the dish to life. The chef is all about tradition but his cooking techniques are very modern and innovative, producing the dishes you love but with an inventive twist.
The prices at restaurant Gresca range between 19€ to 70€, making it very affordable without cutting down on the quality. Signature dish: Chef Rafa Penya’s “souffleed” egg with cured ham cream

NECTARI

Exquisite Mediterranean cuisine served with a side of amazing creativity. This recently opened restaurant received its Michelin star in 2013. Don’t worry though, their food is top notch. Specialising mainly in Mediterranean cuisine, Nectari offers some of the best dishes including fish and other sea food. If you think that ‘Grilled squid, artichoke confit with honey, chanterelles and salsa’ sounds delicious, look no further – head down to Nectari restaurant. Chef Jordi Esteve is a young and passionate chef famous for his artwork that he puts in every dish making it look like it’s worthy to be put in a museum. The restaurant caters to and highly values their customers who suffer from coeliac disease, which is why the majority of the menu consists of gluten-free dishes.
Again, Nectari has a very good price to value ratio as Gresca. A tasting menu at Nectari would cost you around 55€ making it one of the affordable ones. Signature dish: Chef Jordi Esteve’s scallops with truffle and fish foam. Thanks for reading! I hope that my blog was useful to you and that now you know where to enjoy some of the best quality food in Barcelona. Take care, have fun and ‘bon apetit’. Here is a food joke for you guys: Q: Why did the tomato blush? A: Because it saw the salad dressing. Do you know of any great Michelin star restaurants in Barcelona that we missed? Let us know in the comments! Sincerely, Chris

CIRCUIT FESTIVAL: CIRCUIT-BISCUIT, EVERYBODY WANTS A BITE!

My lovely unicorns. My dearest of all. My jumpy rabbits. This will be one of my last blogs for the Gay Barcelona-Series. I hope you guys thought it was just as fun as I thought it was. That you enjoyed my writing as much as I enjoyed writing it for you guys! Well without further ado.. Let’s get this partyhardybaby going! Because this gay blog is all about the amazing, awesome, sexy  festival; CIRCUIT FESTIVAL BABY!

WHAT IS CIRCUIT FESTIVAL?

I highly doubt that you haven't heard of the Circuit Festival in Barcelona if you actively searched for Circuit Festival. But hey, for those less fortunate, I’m here to explain to you what it is! If you’re in love with Gay Pride, you are definitely going to love Circuit Festival. Circuit Festival has become THE party event of Europe. It is the biggest international Gay Event and it is right here in Barcelona waiting for you guys... It comes back every year to Barcelona, and is always at the beginning of August. This year it is from 5-16 August. There are parties everywhere! Like seriously everywhere! The men are once again drop-dead gorgeous! You can expect thousands of buffed up muscle boys making their way down here to Barcelona just to join in on the Festival. It is organised by Matinée Group and this is probably one of their biggest cash cows. There is just such a HUGE crowd wanting to go to Circuit, they know that they are in kind of a monopoly situation.. Which is a shame, obviously, because then they can kind of just make up their own prices. So be ready though; take enough money with you.. Or just use… Yeah well y’know. No drugs, kids. In general, Circuit Festival is just Drugs, Party and Sex. As some of us like to call it; Hardcore DPS’ing. So you will see some drug rabbits on your way. Many hugs. But hey. Gays on drugs are in general very nice, happy people. And those few rotten apples.. Well you have those anywhere don’t you?

VENUES

Have I already told you how cute the guys are? I probably have, but I don’t care. I can’t say it enough how good-looking they are. It is like they all stay inside their personal gyms and don’t come out until Circuit Festival hits the city. (Which is SO unfair by the way. We need some eye-candy all year long, not just two weeks..). It’s like almost worth coming to Circuit Festival to just check-out the boys. But it’s not just the boys that are amazing. The music as well. And the venues! My god.. I don’t know this year’s schedule of the venues, but seeing the trend Circuit Festival has been following the past few years.. I believe that I can say with some certainty where everything is going to happen! (Although my favorite spot is definitely going to be the beach..) Short description guys: Wednesday August 5 23-06: Opening party at Bloc (former DBoy, capacity: 2,000) Things get going with a trip down memory lane at the former Salvation/DBoy venue. Thursday August 6 23-06: WE Party at Razzmatazz (capacity: 3,000) The gang from WE Party are the hottest party throwers and although they usually disappoint in Barcelona, it can be fun during Circuit. Friday August 7 23-06: Rapido party at KER Club (capacity: 1,300) Kick off the weekend with this Amsterdam party. Note that the venue is relatively small – expect long queues. Saturday August 8 16-23: Papa Pool Party at La Carpa L’Hospitalet The pool’s great – weather permitting, this should be fun although it’s a bit of a trek. Sunday August 9 16-23: Pool party at L’Atlantida Barcelona (note that it’s now in Sant Adrià, not Sitges) Not as busy as the following Sunday’s La Leche, but still massive. 23-late: Devotion at Marhes (former Pacha, capacity: 4,000) One of Barcelona’s long-running parties serve up a bit of nostalgia. Monday August 10 23-06: Beyond at Bloc (former DBoy, capacity: 2,000) The London party brand keep the chemicals flowing. Tuesday August 11 10-22: Water park day party at Illa Fantasia A fun day which is being milked for all it’s worth with prices hiked every year. Hit the gym months in advance (competition is fierce), then catch an early bus from Plaça Catalunya to stand any chance of landing a coveted locker (usually gone by noon). 22-06: Water park night party at Illa Fantasia The party moves indoors but continues in speedos. Thursday August 13 18-23: WE Pool Party at La Bassa (Sabadell) Move to the suburbs for a splish-splash. Surprisingly good in past years. Buses from Plaça Catalunya. Friday August 14 23-06: The Week at Marhes (former Pacha, capacity: 4,000) The Brazilian gay superclub returns for another year. Saturday August 15 16-23: The Circuit main pool party at La Carpa L’Hospitalet The daytime party by the pool is likely to be much more fun than the ‘Main Party’ held afterwards at the crappy sports hall next door. Sunday August 16 16-late: La Leche party at L’Atlantida Barcelona (note that it’s now in Sant Adrià, not Sitges) It has been the party every year in the past, so expect it to be even more overcrowded and over-priced this year, Matinée-style. As soon as you enter the centre of Barcelona. E.g. Pl. Catalunya, you’ll see promotional posters of the Circuit festival EVERYWHERE. It won’t be really hard to figure out where to go though. Just follow the men in short clothing.. Hehe.
So I hope I informed you guys enough, oh, and if you want to have some impression how it is like and get all excited, check out their Aftermovie from last year! Trust me guys. Circuit festival is gonna be effin’ awesome. Haven’t I been right before about the other good parties? Anyways, my lovely pink honeybees, it’s time to take off. See you at Circuit Festival! And remember, always be safe! As always, have a fabulous gayday! Untill next time, ~Tjeerd P.s. Did you hear about the gay magician? He disappeared with a poof!

Gay Pride Barcelona – Be Proud For GayPride!

In my previous blog that was both for us and our straight friends, I quickly mentioned the Gay Pride Barcelona  as one of the festivals you CANNOT miss out on! Well, of course I am going to talk a lot about Gay Pride Barcelona, because just one paragraph? That is just not-done for such a big, marvellous, fabulous, outrageous, astonishing event! This blog will about what Gay Pride actually is, why Gay Pride is so awesome, and most importantly; what to do during the Gay Pride Barcelona!

"Gay rights are human rights"

Yeah, let's start off with some serious business. The boring, yet interesting, and must-know stuff of our fab lives. Gay Pride is not just a random festival, some random parties thrown together. Gay Pride is what it stands for; PRIDE. Proud to be Lesbian / Gay / Bi / Transgender (LGBT). Pride is there to promote their / our self-affirmation, dignity, equality rights and to increase their visibility as a social group. But it is also there to build community and to celebrate sexual diversity and gender variance. Phew. So that was the serious stuff about what Gay Pride actually stands for. Some people may argue that it is lame that we actually need something like Pride to be approved / liked / known, or whatever you want to call it. But to be honest, in countries like this (Spain, obviously), it isn't really there anymore to show how we are, but just an excuse for another party. An insane party. Of course the main reason is all mentioned above, but in general, do the teenagers nowadays actually know what Gay Pride stands for besides partying? Well I hope they do know that in some countries being gay is NOT allowed so it is important that things like this exist to create a community of support.

Sixpacks, Penises, Parties.

Now Gay Pride is more than just seriousness. Obviously. We gays are known for something. And that something is parties. (And our fabulous clothing, but what else did all those people expect us doing in that closet for such a long-ass time?) And where are our greatest parties? During gay festivals. When is there just one bunch of festivals / parties clammed up in a short period? That's right. Gay Pride. And Circuit Festival. But this blog is about the Gay Pride Barcelona, so I'm sticking to that. What makes the parties during Gay Pride just so amazing? Well, if you are gay yourself, it won't be too hard to answer; The men. My god. Where the hell do they hide out all year long? The men during Gay Pride are just so fit. So gorgeous. It's insane. It's like they are designed just for parties like these.. But it's not just the men. It's the music, the atmosphere. The attitude of literally everyone is AWESOME! Everybody is so sweet, always in good mood (hello XTC, M, GHB, and so on..) - Don't do drugs kids. - and that makes Gay Pride so tempting to go to. I have been to several Gay Prides in my life, San Fransisco, Berlin, Amsterdam, and so on, but Barcelona is one that I haven't been to yet. As a proud Dutch man, I obviously stand for our Gay Pride, but San Fransisco, and Berlin are awesome as well. To be honest, all Gay prides I've been to have all been soooooo awesome. And knowing Barcelona and its gayness.. I highly doubt it's going to be disappointing!

WHERE'S MY DOSE OF ALCOHOL?!

So where to go during the Gay Pride Barcelona?! Sadly, as I kinda mentioned earlier, I won't be able to tell you where to go from experience, but heck, I can tell you where to go on my friends' advice, and that's what I'll do! First of all, it would be nice to know the date, when Gay Pride Barcelona is actually happening. Well, it's from the 18th - 28th of June. So you got 10 days to get your groove on. So plan your hairstylist in advance people. (My advice is to go to the hairdresser the 15th of June; everybody knows your hair looks best 3 days after the hairdresser cut it into whatever he thought looked good on you. The bitch..) So in general, most useful information can be found right here. Everything about the Gay Pride Barcelona is in there, where the parties at, what parties there are, and the calendar in general. Just check it out and see it for yourselves! Even though I know it's all up to you on which parties you'll attend, I'm telling you, you're going to want to go to the Gay Parade and the Main party, both on the 28th of June. And lucky you, they both are at the same place! (Parc de les tres Xemeneies, starting 6 pm). The parade is an amazing thing. People dressing up like whatever they want, as long as they feel free. It's just an experience you can't miss out on. And right after the parade ends, the Main Party starts. Sooooo... See you guys there?!
So that was my blog for this time guys. And as always; Have a fabulous gayday! Oh and remember, whenever a guy tells you he's straight; just tell him this; 'Oh you're straight? So is spaghetti, untill it gets hot.' - Success guaranteed! Untill next time, ~Tjeerd

RECORD STORES IN BARCELONA - PARADISE FOR VINTAGE MUSIC LOVERS

With a love of everything vintage on the rise, vinyl sales are off the charts. From Taylor Swift to U2, everyone has gone back to making vinyl available, often with special editions and offers for fans included , such as promo codes for ticket sales or photobooks. Since music shops closed years ago, giving way to the digital age of music, most vinyl sales have moved online or been confined to charity shops and vintage outlets. These are often still the best places to find vinyl but a recent rise in popularity means the number of stores dedicated solely to vinyl is creeping up. As a culturally rich city, Barcelona has always been abuzz with music of all kinds…but where can you buy records in Barcelona nowadays? We’ve made a list of the best vinyl stores and music shops in Barcelona so you can get your musical fix A.S.A.P.

1. CHANDAL

• WHERE THEY CAN BE FOUND: C/Valldonzella 29, Raval,  Ciutat Vella
• WEBSITE: http://shop.chandal.tv/
• DESCRIPTION: A vintage shop with an eclectic variety of cool stuff, amongst which you can find not only music on vinyl but also other artsy hipsterish articles like old magazines or cameras
• OPENING TIMES: 11am-9pm

2. DAILY RECORDS

• WHERE THEY CAN BE FOUND: C/ Sitges 9, Raval, Ciutat Vella
• WEBSITE: http://www.dailyrecords.es/2/index.php
• DESCRIPTION: One of the coolest record stores in Barcelona, Daily Records possesses an amazing range of old music formats (some say the best in Barcelona). If you have even the most exotic taste in music, rest assured they have a record for that specific band or genre!
• OPENING TIMES: business hours

3. DISCO 100

• WHERE THEY CAN BE FOUND: C/ Escorial 33, Gracia
• WEBSITE: http://www.disco100.com/?___store=en&___from_store=es
• DESCRIPTION: Biggest record store in Barcelona, Disco 100 also has a large collection of vinyls and the customer service is absolutely flawless. They specialise in commercial old music though, so if you are looking for a really really specific sub-genre, you might leave the store a bit disapointed.
• OPENING TIMES: 10am - 1:30pm / 5pm-8pm (Monday-Saturday) ; 10am-2pm (Sunday)

4. DISCOS CASTELLO

• WHERE THEY CAN BE FOUND: C/Tallers 7, Raval, Ciutat Vella
• DESCRIPTION: The oldest record store in Barcelona, Discos Castello are most likely defined by a very long heritage. Tradition precedes Discos Castello, pretty much the foundation this market is based on. Better check them out soon!
• OPENING TIMES: 10am - 8pm (Monday-Saturday)

5. DISCOS IMPACTO

• WHERE THEY CAN BE FOUND: C/Tallers 61, Raval, Ciutat Vella
• WEBSITE: http://www.discosimpacto.com/
• DESCRIPTION:  Specialised in vinyls, this record store in Barcelona is always ready to surprise their customers with their daily collection changes, so if you feel undecided on what you wanna buy, then this is definitely the place that you have to hit up!
• OPENING TIMES: business hours

6. DISCOS JUANDO

• WHERE THEY CAN BE FOUND: C/Lluna 27, Raval, Ciutat Vella
• WEBSITE: https://discosjuando.wordpress.com/
• DESCRIPTION: Discos Juando is a really nice and cozy record store in Barcelona, the owner of which is a real DJ that plays exactly the type of music that you can find in the store! Interested much? Why not go there and have a chat with him in person?
• OPENING TIMES: business hours

7. DISCOS PARADISO

• WHERE THEY CAN BE FOUND: C/Ferlandina 39, Raval, Ciutat Vella
• WEBSITE: http://www.discosparadiso.com/en/
• DESCRIPTION: This is the newest record store in Barcelona! Focused more on electronic such as house, dubstep or funk, Disco Paradiso is the perfect location for the new gen music lovers!
• OPENING TIMES: Business hours

8. DISCOS REVOLVER

• WHERE THEY CAN BE FOUND: C/Tallers 13, Raval, Ciutat Vella
• WEBSITE: http://www.discos-revolver.com/
• DESCRIPTION: This 2-level record store in Barcelona is extremely well supplied not just with music, but also old books and magazines and all kinds of memorabilia. It is considered to be the most popular record store in Barcelona!
• OPENING TIMES: Business hours

9. JAZZ MESSENGERS

• WHERE THEY CAN BE FOUND: C/Corsega 202, Eixample
• WEBSITE: http://www.jazzmessengers.com/en/
• DESCRIPTION: As you may have already guessed, they sell only and only jazz music, so they kind of address the jazz listeners niche market. And be certain that you have a ton to choose from if you visit their store, as their records are countless!
• OPENING TIMES: Business hours

10. WAH WAH RECORDS

• WHERE THEY CAN BE FOUND: C/Riera Baixa 14, Raval, Ciutat Vella
• WEBSITE: http://www.wah-wahsupersonic.com/html/index.html
• DESCRIPTION: If you're looking for the oldest music in town, this is the spot! These guys have records dating even from the 1900's! However, their newer collections are not too extensive, but anyhow absolutely worth your time!
• OPENING TIMES: 11am-2pm / 5pm-8:30pm Monday-Saturday

Hope you find this blog about record stores in Barcelona useful, guys! Till next time, MAKE LOVE - NOT WAR! Muchisimas gracias, Dragosh (El Dragon)