Introduction:
Any other city in Europe that's attracking so many youngsters? Guess not. Really wonderful place, and you can run around naked since last summer, so what are you waiting for?
Contacts:
db,
nadav (not inhabitants)
Accomodation:
Hostal Malda (no reservation, cheap)
Clubs / Clubnights:
The nicest place around is the Fonfone. It's a sort of a dance-bar with great music almost every night of the week. A really beautiful & nice little club with a good music policy, though mainly on a warm/latin/jazz house tip. Design of the club is incredible! Check:
www.fonfone.com for agenda & infos ...
The area where it's located is full of other cool bars & clubs (near Plaza Georges Orwell)
A lot bigger but remaining very interesting is La Paloma. Located in an old classical theatre & completely renewed, it's an amazing place where you'll hear very eclectic music, from salsa/bossa to electro, from jazz to techno. Check:
www.lapaloma-bcn.com
On a more electro/techno tip there is the famous The Moog club which is the heart of the electronic scene there. Have a look @
www.clubbingspain.com/Clubs/catalunya.php for an extensive list of all clubs & discos.
Record Shops:
Best record stores are Verdes records and Wah Wah. Another central record shop is Sci-Fi, located in one of the streets that lead from the Ramblas to the MACBA.
Most of them are located in the young & "hyped" area called El Raval (Near the Macba). There are about 5 or 6 interesting shops in the street called calle Montalegre & around in calle de Tallers, on Plaza dels Angels & calle d'Elisabets. I remember one called Tasmaniac which was cool ...
City Magazines:
If you don't speak Spanish or Catalan, get a magazine called B-Guided which is a great guide of the city in Spanish and in English.
B-Guided should be available in any of the magazines shops, and if not, you will find it in one of the more hip design or clothes stores.
Food:
Don't try the paëlla ... It's not the best ... Definitely have an afternoon with all the tapas and the rose wine near the harbour ... Wonderful! You can also attend the bar from Manu Chao in the Barrio Gotíc ... Good for drinking and meeting creative creatures ...
Lots of vegetarian restaurants (Two suggestions out of the blue: Juicy Jones & Foodball). Oh and do check La Bocqueria, the market.
Transport:
Airport is on a 20min drive (go by train or a special bus service). Cheap flights with Virgin Express or Ryanair (from/to Girona).
Do Do's:
You have to visit
MACBA (Museo d Art Contemporani de Barcelona)! Incredible building & lots of interesting exhibitions.
Then the usual places to be seen like Gaudi's buildings (La Sagrada Familia and Casa De La Musica!) , Parc Guell (It's really nice if you smoke a little hash before walking through Parc Guell. but not too much!), Picasso museum, Juan Miro exhibition & co ...
The hill of Tibidabo can offer some quieter moments out of the town, if you wish to have a small break as well as the various parks/gardens like Parc Guinardo which you'll find near the center, they're worth the visit.
Another favorite spot is the Barrio Gotic (gothic quarter). Seriously beautiful at twilight.
Brian recommends reading Jean Genet's 'Thieves Journal' before visiting BCN. He spent most of his life in three places outside of prison in France: Antwerp, Barcelona and Jordan. This book takes place mostly in Barcelona, on the streets. Brian's all-time favorite book.
Do Dont's:
Try to look for other stuff than Gaudi too. There is a LOT of Gaudi, we mean a LOT, and it's all very beautiful, but you probably wanna see for some other stuff too.
Anything Else?
Enjoy, it's a beautiful city.
