A Short History on La Rambla
Until 1860, Barcelona’s city walls were greatly restricting as regards geographic growth of the city was concerned. From the 15th Century up until that point the city was comprised within these streets: the Rondes de Sant Pau, de Sant Antoni, d’Universitat, and de Sant Pere, the Passeig de Llu?s Companys, the Avinguda Marqu?s de l’Argentera, which continues as the Passeig Colom, and the Avinguda del Paral.lel close to your barcelona apartments.
La Rambla was the only wide street within this area. Until the beginning of the 18th century La Rambla was simply just a stream running alongside a path, but soon houses were being built and trees planted.
By 1775 the old city walls by the medieval shipyard at Drassanes had been destroyed and towards the end of the century the Rambla had taken on the appearance of a sort of tree-lined avenue.
The top (and start) of the Rambla runs from Pla?a Catalunya down to the bottom where it merges with the junction where you can see the Columbus monument. While most refer to it simply as La Rambla (Catalan) or Las Ramblas (Castilian), it is actually possesses 5 names.
First up at the top end is the Rambla de Canaletes, given its name due to the presence of the Font de les Canaletes fountain which has existed there since ancient times. Following that is the Rambla dels Estudis, which bears that name as a result of the 15th century building, Estudi General or Universitat. This university was subsequently demolished in 1843.
The Rambla dels Flors comprises the next section and takes it name from the fact that it was the only place in the city during the 19th century that sold flowers and of course the many stalls found there are still selling them by your barcelona apartments. The Rambla dels Caputxins follows; it takes its name from the old house of Capuchin friars there.
Finally comes the Rambla de Santa M?nica, taking its name from the parish church located there. Unfortunately this area has become one of the less savoury parts of the city and at night finds itself acting as a sort of red light district.
April 24, 2009
Interactive museum Barcelona
It is an interactive museum with different rooms and several subjects. In this unusual museum we can experiment, touch or interact with almost everything.
The visit to the museum starts by the geologic wall, it is a huge tree surrounded by a 20 meters of staircase where we can find information written in the wall and fossils.
From there you will go inside the material room; this exhibit shows many of the facts of Physics. There is a gigantic pendulum and a strange table which is sensitive to the touch of some square pieces used to create music (At first this is a lot fun but you will easily tire of it after a couple of minutes due to all the sounds). In this room there are many other experiments involving light and sound.
The next room of the museum is the flooding forest. Here we can admire the flora and fauna of the Amazon, there are many species like the cutting ants or the piranhas. This room is located in the middle of the museum and inside the temperature and humidity is the same as in the Brazilian rain forest. We can also see the rain falling inside every hour; this is truly a unique experience.
Next you will find the square of science, a place where you can experiment with different temperature and sound modules in a natural environment.
The room “Toca Toca” (touch, touch) will give you the opportunity to touch snakes, scorpions, other animals and many unusual textures. The access to this room is only with a guide and you will need to select a special time at the entrance to visit it.
The “Planetario Burbuja” explains the dimension of the universe and how the scientists calculate the distances between the stars. Sadly the show last for just a couple of minutes, how ever you will be able to choose your language for the explanation (Spanish, Catalan, English or French). Remember to select a time to visit this room when you are purchasing your tickets at the entrance.
La visita a este museo es realmente divertida y aunque en principio parezca que est? dise?ado para los ni?os cr?anme que les gustar?.
This museum is so much fun and although it seems to be created for children you will truly enjoy the visit.
The entrance cost only 3 euros and there are special prices for students. If you want to visit a room where you need a guide such as Toca Toca or Planetario Burbuja you will need to pay an extra fee of 2 euros for each room. The museum is located close to the FGC station “Avinguda del Tibidabo” and from there you will need to walk for 5 minutes along the apartamentos Barcelona through the Isaac Newton street.
Flamenco….Catalan Style
We may be in the land of the Catalans but that hasn’t stopped them embracing a piece of culture from another part of Spain. You see, in Poble Espanyol near your barcelona apartments you will be able to immerse yourself in something very Andalusian.
In the ‘Tablao de Carmen’ spectators can witness on a daily basis mesmerizing shows combining authentic Spanish dance and music.
The ‘Tablao de Carmen’ was created as a tribute to Carmen Amaya, a famous Flamenco dancer who made her name in Barcelona. She was born in 1913 in a gypsy quarter in the area now known as Vila-Ol?mpica. It was in 1929 before King Alfonso XIII that she made her debut and it is in this very location that the ‘Tablao de Carmen’ was set up.
The shows put on by this organization are known for delivering only shows of the highest quality. Viewers are guaranteed great rhythms to go along with the dance. Well known Spanish artists, accompanied by aspiring artists looking for their big break, (tablaos have historically acted as a springboard for young artists) participate alongside the dancers.
The show explores the many different facets of Flamenco so visitors can really absorb the variety of this musical art. Guests will be spoilt rotten with the focus of the show alternating between music, song and dance.
The venue is superb as well. Designed predominantly with the colours of southern Spain in mind, albero yellow and red ochre, the room is laid out like a small theatre ensuring every table has a great view of the entertainment.
But you can really make a night of this event as there is the option of being served dinner or tapas before the show. Guests can buy dinner and show tickets or simply just skip the dinner and pay a little less to watch the show.
For 69€ you can enjoy dinner and the show. At 45€ you will get tapas and for 35€ you will just see the show, but of course be prepared to buy drinks (a jar of sangria is refilled for free!)
It is located at Avenida Marqu?s de Comillas in Poble Espanyol. It’s a short walk from Pla?a Espanya which can be reached by taking the green or red metro line from your barcelona apartments.
April 22, 2009
Choosing Places To Stay in Lanzarote
Lanzarote is the most easterly of the seven Canary Islands and has been welcoming tourists from across Europe for over forty years. Consequently accommodation standards on the island are high – with options ranging from top end luxury villas through to small studio apartments.
Canary Islands holiday accommodation is very reasonable and in particular the choice of Lanzarote hotels suits most travellers budgets.
Puerto del Carmen is the best spot for anyone searching for holiday apartments in Lanzarote. As the resort boasts the highest concentration of complexes of any destination on the island. With the bulk concentrated in the New Town area. Which is clustered around the main beachfront thoroughfare – the Avdenida de las Playas. Which runs for some 6km right through the heart of the resort and parallel with the main beach – Playa Grande.
The bulk of the best apartment accommodation can today be found in the New Town area – which essentially runs parallel with the main beachfront strip - the Avenida de las Playas. Whilst the Old Town has become more of a residential zone.
Despite it?s popularity Puerto del Carmen is serviced by only two main Lanzarote hotels. The San Antonio and the Los Fariones. With the bulk of this type of accommodation located in the southern resort of Playa Blanca. Which boasts a strip of new four and five star establishments along the seafront – all offering very reasonable room rates.
Playa Blanca makes for an ideal holiday destination – especially during the winter months. As the resort enjoys the best weather and climate on Lanzarote. Thanks to its location at the southern tip of the island just across the Bocaina Straits from the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura. Playa Blanca is also a relatively young resort – having only evolved over the last ten years. Which means that most amenities are still virtually brand new.
Playa Blanca also boasts the highest concentration of holiday villas in Lanzarote. As unlike the older resorts on the island these were integrated into the development blueprint from the word go. Some of the best of these properties are located in and round the Rubicon Marina – providing an atmospheric backdrop for a relaxed holiday on the island.
One of the many plus points for visitors to Lanzarote is that the island is manageably small. Measuring around 58km by 34km. So whatever resort is selected sightseeing is easy and manageable. And car hire in Lanzarote is much cheaper than in many other holiday locations. With prices starting from as a little as €17 per day. Whilst petrol currently costs around €0.80 a litre.
Making the most of your trip to the island is very easy given the great value of car hire in Lanzarote, and a quick visit to the Lanzarote Guide book website will show you a whole host of other places to visit.
April 21, 2009
Film for Thought
If you’re not a native Castilian or Catalan speaker then going to the cinema might have been something you might have stroked off the to-do list while in Barcelona. Fortunately the city has several options to offer its international cinema goers which are sure to be near your barcelona hotels.
Barcelona has several “VO cinemas”. These show films in their original language and usually come with subtitles (so you may even pick up some new Castilian phrases while you’re there!).
One of the most popular of these cinemas can be found at Ciutadella-Vila Ol?mpica where you’ll be able to dive right in and fulfil your needs you may have for English language films or other languages should you desire.
One of the best showing there now which ought to be checked out by any English speaking cinema goers is Gran Torino. Starring the legendary Clint Eastwood, the film follows the story of Walt Kowalski, a grumpy, tough-minded old man who has retained his prejudices and is incapable of getting along with his neighbours or even his own kids. However, soon our protagonist is taking it upon himself to defend the Korean family next door against the gangs that infest their neighbourhood.
If you’re looking for more English language films then why not take a trip over to ‘Cines Renoir’ located in Eixample Esquerra. They also offer a selection of original language films with Spanish subtitles.
Still showing here and a must see for any cinema lover is Slumdog Millionaire. The 8 time Oscar winner tells the tale of a teenager from Mumbai who becomes a contestant on the Indian version of ‘Who wants to be a millionaire?’ He is subsequently arrested and interrogated, events from his days as a youth explain why he knows the answers.
Barcelona has a lot to offer as regards films so why not take a trip from your barcelona apartments and give yourself some film for thought!
April 20, 2009
How to spend Easter in Barcelona
The 23rd of April is traditionally celebrated as a composition between a Catalan St. Valentine’s Day and a kind of book fair. The legend of Saint George (Sant Jordi), the dragon slayer and traditional princess will shadow you all the time.
It is not really clear from exactly when the habitants of Catalonia have been celebrating this spring festival. According to records, its roots reach back to the 15th century when the legend says that George snatched a princess from the jaws of a dragon and killed it. And from it, supposedly a rose had arisen.
Moreover since the year 1926, the 23rd April is also the “day of the book” in Spain. The death of Shakespeare and the most famous Spanish author, Miguel Cervantes, coincide with the Saint Jordi day which led to the fact that for the first time the “day of the book” nearly had been forgotten and hardly celebrated.
Only much later the ‘day of the lovers’ had also moved into the ‘day of the book’ in Catalonia. On this day however, it is now the day both of the rose and the book- the day of love and culture.
Men give roses to their women whereas the women give books to their men. In the meantime men also give roses to their mother, female friends and colleagues. The whole city will celebrate this big spring festival. The tradition has nowadays been exported to countries far and wide, for example, to Japan!
In the evening you will meet Barcelona thousands of people in Barcelona who are out the streets. Those of you who will be lucky enough to stay in Barcelona for this time should definitely join in and experience the tradition. Especially the Ramblas which represents more or less the heart of Barcelona and will be crammed full of little stands of roses and books. When the day is over there are hardly any left and every woman will be proudly carrying at least one rose around with her. The Catalan dance “Sardana” is going to be presented all day long at Plaza Sant Jaume. Many bookstores in the centre will be open for 24 hours and offer readings from Cervantes’ bestseller Don Quixote. Concerning the books you can gain lots of bargains on Saint Jordi Day. Booksellers often provide their wares at reasonable prices.
Furthermore every year lots of artists and buskers around the city make sure that there is a romantic atmosphere. Normally months before the event some Hotel Barcelona are already booked up and this shows clearly that this holiday is famous all over Spain.
A comparison with Valentine’s Day in Venice might be a bit exaggerated; nevertheless Saint Jordi is a good opportunity to spend a memorable day in an amazing Hotel Barcelona.
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