The Barcelona nightlife is unlike any in the entire world. Catalans know how to party... their night begins no earlier than 2am and continues well into the morning, until around 7am. In no where else in the world does this occur, and it makes Barcelona one of the most amazing places to have fun.
If you know promoters, you can easily get invited to tons of free events every night of the week. If you drop the name "Kyke" (pronounced: kee-kay) at pretty much any well-known club in Barcelona, you will get in for free. To find out about these clubs and events, check out the following Facebook pages:
Monday, December 6, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
How to See an FCB Game
If you're studying abroad in Barcelona, at the top of your list of things to do should be an FC Barcelona football game. The famous stadium, Camp Nou, is the largest stadium in all of Europe. Fans come to games willing to live or die for their beloved FCB. The level of camraderie and devotion to Catalonia, as well as to the sport of football, is unmatched in the world. Basically...GO TO A GAME! It's something you won't want to miss.
How to Buy Tickets: There are many online sources for purchasing tickets. I would recommend either BarcelonaTickets.com, SimplyBarcelonaTickets.com or Barcelona-Football-Tickets.com. You can either have them shipped to your residence in Barcelona, or pick them up at the game. I would recommend getting them shipped. Game day is chaotic and you won't want to miss a second of the excitement searching for the ticket office.
How to Buy Tickets: There are many online sources for purchasing tickets. I would recommend either BarcelonaTickets.com, SimplyBarcelonaTickets.com or Barcelona-Football-Tickets.com. You can either have them shipped to your residence in Barcelona, or pick them up at the game. I would recommend getting them shipped. Game day is chaotic and you won't want to miss a second of the excitement searching for the ticket office.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Madrid Humbled by Rampant Barcelona
You don't know sports until you know Barcelona's obsession with futbol and you don't know rivalry until you know the FC Barca rivalry with Real Madrid. And this weekend in Barcelona, Camp Nou, the futbol stadium, erupted in insanity as FCB beat RM 5-0. Check out the article at the UEFA - Spanish Football Federation webpage and this video on which demonstrates the intensity, insanity and rivalry of FCB...
To learn more about the history of FCB, visit livesoccertv.com.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Overview of the City
This video is extremely helpful in getting an overview of Barcelona as a place to live, including tourist attractions like La Rambla, which I will discuss in another blog post, and local places to get fresh food like La Boqueria.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
A Guide to the Best Barcelona Shopping
Some of my personal favorite stores in Barcelona were found because of pure luck...or because I got lost and was wandering around the city. To help you get right down to business right away, here's a list of some of my favorite places to shop...
Bershka - Great for basics like jeans, tops and purses, and not too expensive, either!
Pull & Bear - Just like Bershka, Pull and Bear sells basic clothes, like skinny jeans, which can be worn with every outfit!
ZARA - Everything from going-out clothes to sheek work attire, ZARA has high fashion clothes at smart prices.
Mango - Owned by the same company as ZARA, Mango sells less going-out clothes and more work clothes.
H&M - Although famous in the U.S., the H&Ms in Barcelona are ten times better than those in The States and way more fashion trendy.
El Corte Ingles - This department store is perhaps the most well-known and largest in Barcelona and although a daunting task to find what you're looking for, it does have everything and anything a girl could want. Hint: Go during a sale to get the best prices!
There are several locations for each of these stores throughout the city, with many of them around the Passeig de Gracia area and the Catalunya metro stop. Although Barcelona certainly offers its shoppers more of the designer shops found in famous Milan and Paris, this guide is for the student studying abroad, who'se probably saving her money for a weekend trip to Milan, not a piece of clothing which costs as much as that weekend trip.
ALSO, check out the Mashable Blog for some helpful tips on the best shopping and in-store savings iPhone applications so you can get the best deals, even on the go!
Bershka - Great for basics like jeans, tops and purses, and not too expensive, either!
Pull & Bear - Just like Bershka, Pull and Bear sells basic clothes, like skinny jeans, which can be worn with every outfit!
ZARA - Everything from going-out clothes to sheek work attire, ZARA has high fashion clothes at smart prices.
Mango - Owned by the same company as ZARA, Mango sells less going-out clothes and more work clothes.
H&M - Although famous in the U.S., the H&Ms in Barcelona are ten times better than those in The States and way more fashion trendy.
El Corte Ingles - This department store is perhaps the most well-known and largest in Barcelona and although a daunting task to find what you're looking for, it does have everything and anything a girl could want. Hint: Go during a sale to get the best prices!
There are several locations for each of these stores throughout the city, with many of them around the Passeig de Gracia area and the Catalunya metro stop. Although Barcelona certainly offers its shoppers more of the designer shops found in famous Milan and Paris, this guide is for the student studying abroad, who'se probably saving her money for a weekend trip to Milan, not a piece of clothing which costs as much as that weekend trip.
ALSO, check out the Mashable Blog for some helpful tips on the best shopping and in-store savings iPhone applications so you can get the best deals, even on the go!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Okay Ladies, You're in Europe...Let's Talk About Clothes!
You want to make sure that as you immerse yourself into the culture of Barcelona, you don't forget a very important part of that culture: the fashion! Catalans care very much about their personal appearance. It's all about being put together and fashionable. For me, the best example of this is that for the most part, you will never see men walking around in suits and ties in Barcelona. This isn't because it's not a city of business, but it's because men who work in business aren't expected to wear suits and ties like they are in America. In Barcelona, as long as you look presentable and well-dressed, you're golden.
Here are some tips on how to avoid looking like a tourist:
1) DON'T dress casual. Wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt will automatically point you out as an American tourist. Catalans don't believe in rolling out of bed and getting what you need to get done in a day looking like a slob. They appreciate people taking time to get themselves ready.
2) DON'T wear short shorts or short, tight dresses. The one exception is the beach. Because the older generations were so highly influenced by the church, being conservative is appreciated. This doesn't mean your skirts have to reach your knees and you can't have any chest showing, but it does mean not to dress like your on "The Girls Next Door." Even at clubs, Catalan women might wear a short dress, but they will wear stockings with it to keep it classy.
3) DON'T wear baggy clothing. Catalan women and men consider well-fitted clothes to be sophisticated. Big, baggy jackets and pants are a sure sign of tourists. During my time in Barcelona, all of my guy friends started off wearing their baggy jeans and pants and by the end of our semester, their pants all miraculously started to get tighter and tighter. This is the way of the Catalans. Just embrace it.
4) DO wear scarves. Scarves in the spring, scarves in the summer, scarves in the fall, scarves in the winter...it's all acceptable in Barcelona. I came to Spain with 2 or 3 scarves and left with 10-12. Catalans wear scarves probably every day and they come in all colors, patterns, materials, fabrics and qualities.
Me wearing typical Catalan garb: skinny jeans, leather jacket, a conservative top and a scarf, of course!
5) DO embrace boots. Another trend Catalans love is boots. From ankle boots to books which go over the knees, Spaniards wear boots with almost everything, especially in the colder weather. Pull some boots on over your leggings or skinny jeans and you're all set!
6) DO dress up. As a rule of thumb, if you're wondering if you look too casual, you probably do. Catalans always dress up as oppose to dressing down so try to embrace that.
Here are some tips on how to avoid looking like a tourist:
1) DON'T dress casual. Wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt will automatically point you out as an American tourist. Catalans don't believe in rolling out of bed and getting what you need to get done in a day looking like a slob. They appreciate people taking time to get themselves ready.
2) DON'T wear short shorts or short, tight dresses. The one exception is the beach. Because the older generations were so highly influenced by the church, being conservative is appreciated. This doesn't mean your skirts have to reach your knees and you can't have any chest showing, but it does mean not to dress like your on "The Girls Next Door." Even at clubs, Catalan women might wear a short dress, but they will wear stockings with it to keep it classy.
3) DON'T wear baggy clothing. Catalan women and men consider well-fitted clothes to be sophisticated. Big, baggy jackets and pants are a sure sign of tourists. During my time in Barcelona, all of my guy friends started off wearing their baggy jeans and pants and by the end of our semester, their pants all miraculously started to get tighter and tighter. This is the way of the Catalans. Just embrace it.
4) DO wear scarves. Scarves in the spring, scarves in the summer, scarves in the fall, scarves in the winter...it's all acceptable in Barcelona. I came to Spain with 2 or 3 scarves and left with 10-12. Catalans wear scarves probably every day and they come in all colors, patterns, materials, fabrics and qualities.
5) DO embrace boots. Another trend Catalans love is boots. From ankle boots to books which go over the knees, Spaniards wear boots with almost everything, especially in the colder weather. Pull some boots on over your leggings or skinny jeans and you're all set!
6) DO dress up. As a rule of thumb, if you're wondering if you look too casual, you probably do. Catalans always dress up as oppose to dressing down so try to embrace that.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Tapas
One of the first things you'll want to do when you arrive in your new city is, of course, EAT! In my opinion, there's no better way to experience a culture than to eat your way through it. And what's one of the foods Spain is most known for? Tapas! Although tapas were originally created in Andalucia, a region of Spain where Sevilla is located, as an American in Barcelona, you still have to try some tapas to really experience Spain (although I highly recommend going to Sevilla for the real stuff).
Origins of Tapas
There are several theories surrounding the origin of tapas. Perhaps the most famous theory is that when King Alfonso X was drinking a beer, flies and other bugs were flying around the drink so much to his annoyance that he requested a piece of bread or cheese to put on top of the cup to keep the bugs out. This practice was then repeated and spread vastly. In Castellano, or Spanish, tapear means "to cover," and the word tapa means "lid,"which is perhaps how tapas originated.
So...What Exactly is a Tapa?
Tapas are small plates of food which can range from anything from cheese on a small piece of toast, to roasted potatoes with a special sauce. My favorite tapas are croquettas de jamon y queso and patatas bravas. I highly recommend you try both of these as they are Catalan specialties and can be found at almost every restaurant in Barcelona. Tapas aren't a specific type of food, but a way of serving food. Tapas are also not appetizers. In Spanish culture, it is customary to make an entire meal out of tapas -- you don't stop eating and ordering tapas until you are full.
The Best Tapas in Barcelona...
Cal Pep -- located in El Born district at Placa de les Olles 8, Cal Pep is legendary, and the prices reflect that status! But the tapas are all fresh seafood and well-worth the price.
Can Paixano -- a cava bar located by Playa Barceloneta, Can Paixano is always crowded with young people. The environment is always extremely crowded and you can never get a waiter, but once you do....order up! The tapas are worth the wait!
A meal of tapas in Sevilla -- tortilla de berenjena y queso, croquetas de jamon y queso, pollo, albondiga, queso y jamon con pure de papas, crepe de queso de cabra y frambuesa
There are several theories surrounding the origin of tapas. Perhaps the most famous theory is that when King Alfonso X was drinking a beer, flies and other bugs were flying around the drink so much to his annoyance that he requested a piece of bread or cheese to put on top of the cup to keep the bugs out. This practice was then repeated and spread vastly. In Castellano, or Spanish, tapear means "to cover," and the word tapa means "lid,"which is perhaps how tapas originated.
So...What Exactly is a Tapa?
Tapas are small plates of food which can range from anything from cheese on a small piece of toast, to roasted potatoes with a special sauce. My favorite tapas are croquettas de jamon y queso and patatas bravas. I highly recommend you try both of these as they are Catalan specialties and can be found at almost every restaurant in Barcelona. Tapas aren't a specific type of food, but a way of serving food. Tapas are also not appetizers. In Spanish culture, it is customary to make an entire meal out of tapas -- you don't stop eating and ordering tapas until you are full.
Cal Pep -- located in El Born district at Placa de les Olles 8, Cal Pep is legendary, and the prices reflect that status! But the tapas are all fresh seafood and well-worth the price.
Can Paixano -- a cava bar located by Playa Barceloneta, Can Paixano is always crowded with young people. The environment is always extremely crowded and you can never get a waiter, but once you do....order up! The tapas are worth the wait!
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