Issue 160 by Barcelona Metropolitan

MAy 2010 | Nยบ 160 | Free

Endangered Nature park at risk from new Barรงa development

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Contents May 2010 Cover story 14 Natural park under threat

Features 13 Interview Pau Estrada 18 City Branding Barcelona 22 La vida City clubs 26 Street life Carrer Ample 38 Food and drink Reviews and more

Regulars 6 You the reader 7 City snapshot 8 What’s on the web 11 Columns 29 On 66 Back page

Advertising 42 Food & Drink Directory 46 Marketplace

14 NATURAL PARK UNDER THREAT

From the Editor: One thing that many people who live in Barcelona, both foreigners and locals, agree on is that the city is missing natural spaces. Many of the parks and gardens are more akin to dusty corners than appealing urban oases, while the larger ‘green’ spots such as Parques Güell and Ciutadella are full to bursting with people. As such, it comes as a shock to discover that a natural reserve that borders Barcelona’s airport, with unspoilt beaches and varied species of birds and other fauna, is at threat from a development by FC Barcelona.William Truini investigates what’s at stake. Elsewhere, Cristina Slattery explores the concept of the Barcelona ‘brand’, while Regina Winkle-Bryan covers the past and present of clubs in the city. In Street life, we take a trip along Carrer Ample while in our culture section, you’ll find details of this month’s highlights, including music, art and comic-book festivals. Hannah Pennell

32 PRIMAVERA SOUND

Publisher Creative Media Group, S.L. Managing Director Esther Jones Senior Editor Hannah Pennell Assistant Editor Katy MacGregor Art Director David Robinson Graphic Designer Aisling Callinan Financial Manager Cecilia Ölmedal Sales Director Rainer Hobrack Account Executives Heather Anderson, Janna Nordstrom Marketing Director Hazel Walker Marketing Assistant Jade Anglesea Sales Assistants Alexandra Longstaff, Malini Sampat Editorial Assistants Sara Blaylock, Nadia El-Yousseph Design Assistants Emmy Beijk, Kim Alers Financial Assistant Anna Fletcher Morris Contributors Jonathan Bennett, Lucy Brzoska, Roger de Flower, Nadia Feddo, Pete Jenson, Nick Lloyd, Cristina Slattery, Nicola Thornton, William Truini, Regina WinkleBryan Photographers Lucy Brzoska, Patricia Esteve, Adriana Trif, Ranald Ward, Lee Woolcock Cover photograph and flamingo image this page Ferran Pestaña Rodríguez Illustrator Ben Rowdon Editorial Office Enric Granados 48, entlo. 2ª, 08008 Barcelona. Tel. 93 451 4486, Fax. 93 451 6537; editorial@barcelona-metropolitan.com Sales ads@barcelona-metropolitan.com General enquiries info@barcelona-metropolitan.com. www.barcelona-metropolitan.com Printer Litografia Rosés Depósito Legal B35159-96 The views expressed in Barcelona Metropolitan are not necessarily those of the publisher. Reproduction, or use, of advertising or editorial content herein, without express permission, is prohibited.

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260m2 apartment with 12m2 terrace - Barrio Gotic贸

Beautiful 100m2 apartment - Eixample

540m2 detached family house with 800m2 garden - Valldoreix

160m2 attic, with 160m2 terrace - Eixample

85m2 apartment, literally on the beach - Barceloneta

118m2 apartment - Between Sant Gervasi & Gracia

Modernist flat in Gothic area

Flat near the sea in Zona Olimpica

Loft in central area

260m2 flat+ 12m2 terrace in a listed XIX Century building renovated. Parking available. 4 bedrooms. Dining room. Kitchen. Living room. Study. Price: 2890.000 Ref. 1001BA

Front sea bright 120m2 flat+ 80m2 terraces. One parking. Dining room. Kitchen with gallery. 2 bedrooms + study. Terrace with summer porch. Walking distance to beach. Price: 2830.000 Ref. 994BA

115m2 authentic loft, situated in pedestrian passage near Plaza Urquinaona. Old Refurbished textile mill. Open space with huge windows, high 4 meter ceilings, iron columns. Price: 2580.000 Ref. 993BA

Entrance hallway, very large living/dining room, kitchen, 5 bedrooms (One in-suite, dressing area) and 2 bathrooms. Parking optional. Furnished. Price: 22.500 Ref. 1001BA

In a spectacular modernist building. Comprising of living/dining with access to the smaller terrace, stairwell leading to private solarium (160m2), kitchen, 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Furnished. Price: 23.600 Ref. 1122

JT May 2010.indd 1

Modernist building. Comprising of living/dining room with mosaic tiled floors, kitchen, 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Communal garden and pool. Unfurnished. Price: 21.900 Ref. 950

Comprising of reception room opening onto small terrace with amazing sea views, kitchen, 1 double bedroom, 1 single bedroom and 1 bathroom. Furnished. Cleaning service included. Price: 21.600 Ref. 306

Nice views to Montserrat. Entrance hall, large living room with fireplace, dining room, kitchen, 4 double bedrooms (Two in-suites with terrace) and 1 other bathroom. Home movie theatre. Garage. Price: 25.000 Ref. 935BA

Located in the heart of the Zona Alta area of Barcelona. Comprising of very large living/dining room, kitchen, 2 double bedrooms, office and bathroom. Unfurnished. Price: 21.600 Ref. 1142

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Dear Metropolitan, Catalan nationalism debate I just wanted to say thank you for your Understanding Catalan Nationalism debate at the Ateneu last week. I am from the US and have lived here for a number of years. I make regular attempts to get to grips with local politics but have really never felt as engaged as I would like to be. It was great to be able to listen to both sides of this particular debate and wonderful to be spoken to as if my opinion were important! I hope that you will be planning more of these debates in the future. I will certainly be coming along and I’m sure many other readers will feel the same. Best wishes, J. Spencer

www.meetup.com/Barcelona-Metropolitan-Readers: join up to find out about all our events.

Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Circuit Assembly Jehovah’s Witnesses will have their Circuit Assembly in their Conference Hall situated in the Horta area of Barcelona on Saturday and Sunday, May 22nd and 23rd, 2010. This is one of several large gatherings organised by the Witnesses within the Iberian Peninsula for the benefit of the many English-speaking congregations that now operate in Spain. The theme will be ‘Safeguard Your Spirituality’, based on what the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:5 and the book of Jude 17-19.The discourses and demonstrations will highlight the importance of focusing our minds and hearts on spiritual things despite the pressure and influence of this ungodly world void of spirituality. Those in attendance will be made up of a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic audience from around 24 different English-speaking nationalities, most of them based in Cataluña and the Valencian Community. All those interested are welcome to attend (free entrance): Horta Assembly Hall, C/ Tajo 61. It starts each day at 10.20am and finish at 4.30pm. For more information, contact me on martos@softhome.net Regards, Miguel Martos, News Department

Become a Facebook fan of ‘Barcelona Metropolitan’. Our page on Facebook features information about what’s going on in Barcelona, and offers users the chance to share ideas, tips and advice about being a foreign resident here.

Metropolitan events Special activities coming up this month Live music at Margarita Blue Join us on May 11th, from 7pm, at classic Barcelona bar Margarita Blue (Josep Anselm Clavé 6) for a night of socialising and live music. This is your chance to meet other foreign residents and

You can also follow us on Twitter—‘bcnmetropolitan’ posts regular tweets about what’s happening in the city and we’d like to hear about Barcelona from you too.

natives of Barcelona, as well as the Metropolitan team. Entertainment will be provided by Cuban band Latin Friends, who’ll take to the stage at 9pm to play their Latin jazz, while Margarita Blue not only serves a fine range of drinks and cocktails, but also a great selection of food. For more information, e-mail hazel@barcelona-metropolitan.com or join the Metropolitan group on www.meetup.com (Barcelona Metropolitan Readers).

Sarrià walking tour This month’s Metropolitan Sunday stroll, on May 16th, gives you a chance to discover the uptown neighbourhood of Sarrià.You will learn about the literary history of the area, as well as its religious roots and the time when it was but a distant neighbour of Barcelona. The tour will finish up with a chance to try arguably the best patatas bravas in the city. Meeting time and place: noon at the patio of Casa Orlandai, Jaume Piquet 23 (next to the FGC Sarrià station). Price: €12. Places are limited so please reserve by emailing readers@barcelona-metropolitan.com. Payment can be made in cash at the beginning of the tour.

Focus groups Metropolitan regularly organises focus groups about different aspects of the magazine and our website so that we can learn more about what readers and users want. If you would be willing to participate in such a group, it would involve spending a couple of hours with us. Refreshments will be provided. To take part in one of our focus groups, please send an e-mail to hazel@barcelona-metropolitan.com saying how long you’ve lived in Barcelona, your country of origin and how old you are.

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THE BEST OF BARCELONA DELIVERED TO YOU Sign up for your free newsletter Find out what’s coming up in Barcelona with our e-newsletter. Just go to the homepage of our website and sign up for your weekly mail.

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CITY SNAPSHOT

ANOUK, 22 DUTCH “I LOVE BLACK, IT FITS WITH EVERY COLOUR AND PRINT.”

JAVIER, 18 FRENCH “I USUALLY SHOP IN BIG SHOPPING MALLS.”

CELINE, 20 DUTCH “I LOVE STREET STYLE, WITH A FEMININE TOUCH.”

MOISES, 21 CATALAN “I ALWAYS SHOP ON THE CARRER DELS TALLERS.”

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The centre of Barcelona. A Tuesday morning in April. Spring is in the air. And some brave young souls are trying to leave their dark winter clothes behind and bring some colour to the city streets...

COLINE, 16 SWISS “I GET INSPIRED BY READING A LOT OF FASHION MAGAZINES.”

EMMY, 21 DUTCH “COLOURS MAKE ME HAPPY.”

LAVINIA, 17 SWISS “TODAY I AM A BIT ROCK ´N ROLL!”

GASTÓN, 19 CATALAN “I LIKE TO COMBINE SKATING WITH FASHION.”

JACOB, 17 SWEDISH “I PREFER SHOPPING IN SWEDEN.”

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Dogs of Barcelona

Most read 10. What people have been looking at on our website during the last month 1. ‘Barcelona Take-Out: the best food delivery services’ (Food and drink blog) 2. ‘Party in the back’, exploring the local success of the mullet haircut 3. ‘What’s for lunch: Non Solo Pizza’. Tara Stevens reviews this Italian trattoria, whose name says it all 4. ‘Top 10 essentials to finding work in Barcelona’ 5. ‘Essential Barcelona’, explaining what you really shouldn’t miss when visiting the city 6. Interview with South African harpist Kobie du Plessis 7. ‘Q&A: Setmana Santa’—understanding Easter in Spain 8. ‘International schools’. Our guide to local primary and secondary schools that teach in English and/or follow the English curriculum 9. ‘Best paella on the beach’ (Food and drink blog) 10. ‘Welcome to the dollhouse’, March’s review of Thai restaurant Petit Bangkok from Nadia Feddo

You might have missed... Dogs are certainly the best friend of man, woman and child in Barcelona—breeds of all shapes, colours and sizes can be seen in the city. Check out our on-line slideshow for more pictures like this one of Socrates and Enzo, and send us your own pooch photos. www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/dogs

Our culture blog, In the Know. This is the place to check for news of tickets going on sale for upcoming concerts, event cancellations and special one-offs happening around the city. www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/intheknow

Catalan nationalism forum: on video If you couldn’t make it to last month’s Metropolitan educational forum about Catalan nationalism held at the Ateneu Barcelonés (or you did, and would like to see it once more), go to our website where you can find video highlights of the evening.

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The forum’s panel (l-r): Erik Jeffery, Charles Ablett, moderator Richard Schweid, Nito Foncuberta and Lluís Bosch.

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The Informer

Animals... La Rambla is due to see all of its animal stalls

disappear by the summer, after the one authorised vendor allowed to continue his business said it would be impossible for him to meet all the legal requirements regarding the conditions of the stall. In the agreement signed at the end of last year between the city council and those who currently have businesses selling animals on the Rambla, José Ángel Cuenca was given the right to maintain his licence if he installed a larger establishment of 40 square metres. However, Cuenca has told the city’s Markets Institute and Ciutat Vella council that he won’t be able to do so, due to technical and commercial difficulties. “I’ve worked for 42 years on the pajarerías [lit. bird stalls] of the Rambla and I wanted to continue, but in the end, it wasn’t viable,” said Cuenca. Crime... Four of the most prolific Barcelona pickpockets have been sentenced to spend time in jail after repeated arrests. Another thief accused of repeat offences has left Spain while a sixth was, at the time of writing, on the run here and being actively sought. In total, the six pickpockets, who focused on targets in the Ciutat Vella area, were arrested 413 times last year, but were always released because Spanish law makes it very difficult to achieve a prison term for those whose crime is defined as an ‘hurto’ (robbery), which is classified as a misdemeanour. Gender... One in every five Catalan police officers is a woman, one of the highest European averages. According to figures from the Generalitat’s Interior Ministry, 3,075 of the 15,091 members of the Catalan police force (the Mossos d’Esquadra) are women. The number of female officers in the Mossos is almost the same as in the UK force and similar to those in some of the Scandinavian countries, while it is much higher than in other Spanish police forces—the national police body has only 8.7 percent of women, while in the Basque force, it is nine percent. Really... One of Hollywood’s main film distributors is considering stopping its supply of DVDs to Spain due to the high level of piracy here. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the director of Sony Pictures Entertainment, Michael Lynton, said that the rate of illegal internet downloads is so high in Spain that the country is very close to stopping being a viable market for the film giant. Last year, more than 25 million pirated DVDs are reported to have been sold from ‘top manta’ sellers (street vendors who lay their wares out on blankets, or mantas in Castilian). In comparison, only 14.6 million DVDs were bought legally in Spain during 2009, which was a 26 percent drop compared to 2008.

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For more details on these and other local stories, check our news blog, The Informer, for daily updates during the week. www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/informer

Place your vote The public vote on the future of the Avinguda Diagonal takes place this month, giving Barcelona residents of all nationalities the chance to have their say on which of the two proposed new looks for the avenue they prefer, or if they think it should be left just as it is. To take part in the vote, you have to have been registered with your local Ajuntament (town hall) before January 1st of this year, and be at least 16 years old on May 10th. Voting will take place from 10am on May 10th until 10am on May 16th. You can vote in one of the following ways: through the internet (address below), or in person at various points around the city (tbc). For more information, including videos of the two alternative ‘new looks’, visit the Barcelona City Council website: www.bcn.cat/diagonal

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millions of flights to the uk discounted! extra legroom

online check-in

*food & drink

flights

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Conditions apply. *Available to buy

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Wild Barcelona

Sport shorts

By Nick Lloyd and Lucy Brzoska

By Pete Jenson In the lead-up to Barcelona’s hosting of the European Athletics Championships in July, each month we take a look at what’s making the headlines in the local sports pages.

Hidden hoopoes

woman comes out on the fire

tip of long pincer-like bills, they

escape to smoke a cigarette.

are greeted by their hissing young.

Nearby there’s a Judas tree: it’s

Hoopoe nests are renowned for their

seen better days and bears little foli-

stink, but I’ve never noticed an evil

age now. A hole gapes where a large

odour emanating from the tree. It’s

branch was once lopped off. As the

too high to look into or, for that mat-

woman stands and talks on her mobile,

ter, to receive a faceful of noxious

there’s movement and two eyes appear

fluid squirted by nestlings, another

at the hole.

defensive measure they employ.

Young hoopoe looking out of its nest Undeterred by the proximity of the

As they grow, the young hoopoes

office block, hoopoes nest in this tree

are no longer content to sit still in

every year. People are constantly walk-

the protective darkness of their tree.

ing to and fro, but it doesn’t bother

They lean out inquisitively, look-

them. Perhaps because these eye-

ing in all directions—at the sky,

catching, crest-flourishing birds have

neighbouring trees, at me. But one

perfected the art of melting into the

step too near and the faces rapidly

background. In flight they’re a flurry of

retreat and remain hidden. Soon

black and white and uncertain zigzag

they’ll be dispersing and the parents

direction. But on the ground they

will set about raising their second

blend with the dust of the paths or the

brood of the year. Hoopoes are com-

dappled shadows under the trees. They

mon in the outskirts of Barcelona,

forage near the nest, probing the earth

found in the gardens of Pedralbes

for bugs, unnoticed by busy passers-by.

and in Montjuïc castle. Increasingly,

Whenever the parents return to the

they can be seen in winter too, as old

nest, an item of food held fast in the

migratory habits change.

Nick Lloyd and Lucy Brzoska write for www.iberianature.com and run nature tours in Barcelona.

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Photos by Lucy Brzoska

Adult hoopoe foraging for food

ore Leo Messi magic last month left everyone in Barcelona struggling to describe the little genius and his opponents wondering how to stop him. There is a phrase over-used by pundits when talking about Barça’s number 10 that “the only way to stop Leo Messi is with a pistol.” After Messi destroyed first Arsenal and then Real Madrid, former Barça player Hristo Stoichkov decided to take things a step further, saying “the only way to stop Leo Messi is with a sub-machine gun.” It’s difficult to know where the “only way to stop Leo Messi…” hyperbole can go from here. Maybe the only way to stop Messi is with an “air to surface missile.” Or perhaps, in a return to innocence, some expert will eventually suggest that “the only way to stop Leo Messi is by tying his bootlaces together.” Always one step ahead of the game, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has already given up speaking about Messi. Asked by an English journalist to describe the Argentine’s genius after his four-goal haul against Arsenal, Guardiola simply shrugged and said, “What is the point of me talking about him? You saw for yourself what he did. You describe it.” Messi’s goal against Real Madrid—his sixth goal in seven games against them—won the clásico for Barcelona on April 10th and was the cue for thousands to take to the streets in celebration. It was also the cue for another Stoichkov gem who said, “Barcelona played football and Madrid played like donkeys.” The Barcelona fans who packed Las Ramblas after the match are now looking forward to the end of the season to celebrate the league and Champions League double, should their team stay the course in both competitions. “We’ll be back on May 22nd,” read the banner held aloft at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium by around 1,000 Barcelona fans who had travelled to support the team. The European Cup final will be played that day on Madrid’s ground and Barça will contest it if they get past Inter Milan in the semi-finals—that’s a sort of football equivalent to the next-door neighbour you don’t like very much having a barbecue in your back garden and not inviting you. Ouch. Finally, for anyone looking for a break from football, the cricket season will soon be in full swing and despite there being no real translation for ‘silly mid-off’ in Catalan, there’s a thriving scene in Barcelona. Interested players should check out ‘Barcelona Internationals Cricket Club’ on Facebook.

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BARCELONA BE PART OF IT

May social night at Margarita Blue Live Cuban music, chupitos, cava and good food. Whether you’ve just arrived in Barcelona or you’re a long-term resident, the Metropolitan social nights are an ideal place to meet new people and have a great time.

Sarrià walking tour 12 noon, Sunday 16th May

Sarrià: Literary spats in the streets and the best bravas to boot

sic from

Live mu

iends

Latin Fr

Via Augusta

Sarrià has many stories to tell, whether they be by the poet from the pasteleria or the Latin American luminaries that launched a literary boom. From its religious past and rural beginnings, through its pretty plazas C/ Ho rt de la Vila and passageways, to the singular sentiment that still lingers today. Join us for the second of our Sunday strolls through Sarrià Barcelona’s barrios. Our native English guide will brief C/ J you on the background of the district that resisted the aum e Piq uet Casa longest before being ensnared by the city. Orla nda i Get to know another of the city’s stand-out districts and ﬁnish the caminata with the best bravas in BCN. Meeting place: Price €12 (not incl. bravas). Places are limited so please 12 noon, patio of email readers@barcelona-metropolitan.com to book the Casa Orlandai, your place. Payment can be made in cash at the C/Jaume Piquet beginning of the walk. 23. 08017 (next to

Cuban a lively ying la band p zz. in Lat ja

Tues 11th May 2010, 7pm till late Margarita Blue, C/Josep Anselm Clave 6,

Drassanes

the exit of FFCC Sarrià)

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Pau Estrada

Illustrator, Catalan, 48

I am very interested in bringing the past back to life through illustrations and documentaries. I made a film about my parents, because they met in Michigan over 50 years ago—my mum, an American, just out of high school, and my dad, a Catalan student—and it was such an unlikely encounter, considering how little people travelled in those days. I started illustrating books when I was 15. I had always been the artist of the family and it was really thanks to my mother, because she started writing English textbooks and I was her illustrator. I studied at the Rhode Island School of Design. It’s the school where the Talking Heads came from. I always think it’s funny that their most famous alumni became musicians. The Picasso children’s book [Picasso y Minou] came about through my editor in the States. She had seen my private sketchbooks where I did my crazy streams of consciousness, and thought I could do it. With children’s books, you are usually restricted to drawing nice things and I had the need to express another side of myself. My style is very unusual for Barcelona. Here most people do ‘la línia clara’: it’s very graphic and flat looking, very cool. To do the Picasso book, I wanted to take the style a few notches up to match the material I was working with. I really had to commit myself to get the drawings right, to get the figures and the expressions right. It was a process of improvement and effort. I spent some time in Paris to get a feel for the place and explore where Picasso had lived. I got into studying French, as I always had the idea that a cultured person should speak French. The foremost French expert on Picasso, his friend Pierre Daix, had the nicest words to say about this book. We’ve just presented the Spanish and Catalan editions. It was one of my dreams to have a book published here in my city and to present it at the Picasso Museum. Sometimes the wildest dreams do come true. Barcelona is such a nice city now. My memories of growing up in Gràcia are of seeing buildings being torn down and of old houses and gardens being lost, and all these very ugly buildings being put up. It was extremely sad. They started the renovations in the Eighties. When they unveiled La Pedrera, it was so beautiful, people couldn’t believe it because for years it had been all grey and run down. I wish I had more time and energy to take in all of Barcelona’s art scene, but the CCCB is my favourite space. It’s pretty amazing, very eclectic. They do all kinds of challenging stuff. I’m a radical cyclist. I started cycling about 10 years ago and it’s wonderful that the city has changed with me. The Ayuntamiento organised a cycling day and the response was massive: it really changed the way the city feels today. People are careless about history in Spain. The destruction of the coastline outside of Catalunya, but also here, shows the lack of patriotism. If you want to be a nationalist you should also be an ecologist and you should be protecting your heritage for future generations. There is a rebellious, anarchistic, fatalistic and individualistic trend in the Spanish soul. Picasso was one example of that. We are a country that produces great individuals but at the same time, a lot of talent has not been appreciated. Many of those artists had to find their name, or blossom, abroad, before they were appreciated here. Interview by Nicola Thornton. Photo by Lee Woolcock.

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BARÇA VS. N

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. NATURE A massive development project threatens one of Barcelona’s last remaining pockets of wetlands and wild beach. By William Truini. Photos by Lee Woolcock.

t can be painful to visit the nature reserve of El Remolar-Filipines. This sliver of coastline on the Delta de Llobregat just southwest of Barcelona is so strikingly beautiful, its wild beach and wetlands dotted with myriad waterfowl species, its air scented with pine forest, that you can’t help but imagine what the place must have once been like on a larger scale. Before the surrounding area, some of the most fertile land in Catalunya, was parcelled up and covered by motorways, residences, industrial infrastructures, airport, port and crops (albeit, fewer and fewer of these last remain). A small piece of the delta’s once rich, vital ecosystem is now preserved within a patchwork of nature spaces, most prominently the Reserva Natural del Remolar-Filipines in the municipality of Viladecans. The reserve has two small lagoons that are visited by some 164 species of birds a year, as well as by over 30,000 people in 2009. The reserve also includes 2.7 kilometres of beach, the Platja de Viladecans, one of the last stretches of wild beach left on the Catalan coast. The protected beach is lined with wild grasses and is home to the endangered Spanish Psammodromus lizard and the snowy plover, among other rare species. Given that human visitors must park their cars about three kilometres inland from this beach, relatively few people actually make it out there in the summer. As rare and remarkable as this natural jewel may be, however, it is still not safe from the ever-encroaching human world. None other than FC Barcelona has recently announced plans to build a huge sporting and leisure complex, the ‘Barça Parc’, on some 30 hectares of undeveloped land immediately adjacent to the reserve. The area for the planned complex has long been the subject of dispute. “In the Thirties, during the Second Republic, there was a plan to build a holiday-leisure town here,” explained Ricard Caba, a resident of Viladecans and member of SOS Delta-Salvem Oliveretes, a group that is attempting to halt development of the land. “Then in 1972, plans were made for swimming, rowing and nautical facilities, in 1987 for a hippodrome, in 1992 for an aquatic leisure park and in 1997 for a golf course. But none of these projects were ever realised.” The proposed earlier projects were halted for different reasons. There was a lack of investors for some, others met stiff resistance from com-

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munity groups, while still others were stopped by new European Union legislation and court sentences. The growth of the airport of El Prat, Catalunya’s biggest airport, has also considerably conditioned any further development in the area. In September 2009, however, the town council of Viladecans gave the go-ahead for the Barça Parc project. Ricard Caba explained to Metropolitan that part of the reasoning behind the town council’s approval is a long-standing desire by Viladecans to gain greater access to the coast. Located about 10 kilometres inland, the town finally managed three years ago to bridge various motorways and complete a road from its urban area to the El Remolar-Filipines reserve and the wild Viladecans beach. The Barça Parc will further cement the town’s presence on the coast, where the town also wants to build a seaside promenade close to the wild beach. “The thing is, the zoning legislation for the land on which Barça wants to build dates from 1976,” said Caba. “The law, therefore, was made under a pre-democratic government; we believe it is illegal and needs to be changed.” Apart from questioning the legality of the zoning law, Caba and others also feel that the Barça Parc project doesn’t even comply with the dubious law as it currently stands. According to the 1976 legislation, the hectares in question can only be developed for sporting installations. The Barça project, however, calls for building not only a large new stadium and various playing fields, but also a shopping centre, an amusement park, a convention centre and a hotel. To further drive home the inappropriateness and doubtful legality of developing the area, Caba pointed out that the land in question forms part of Natura 2000, an EU-sponsored network that works to maintain biodiversity throughout Europe. “The Barça Parc is just another huge commercial venture,” he said. Another group opposed to the project is the Sociedad Española de Ornitología, or SEO, the national branch of Birdlife International, the bird conservancy organisation. According to an online statement by SEO, the massive new complex will have a severely negative impact on the already fragile ecosystem of the delta’s remaining nature spaces. As SEO puts it, “The complex will attract hundreds of thousands of

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visitors to the zone, with the accompanying problems of mobility, and such an enormous increase of visitors will further degrade the already fragile nature reserve. Unquestionably, the project is far from being compatible with the basic principles of sustainable development and the protection of nature.” Most of the area on which Barça wants to build its complex is now the only remaining undeveloped area outside of the nature reserve. This land, SEO feels, should be protected to create a ‘biological corridor’ joining up the scattered patchwork of natural spaces in the delta. A source close to the project and Barça, who asked not to be named, explained that while the club was aware of complaints about the project, it is not their role to respond to those complaints. “Barça Parc is still in the developmental phase. The club is well aware that a part of those surroundings is protected, and close attention is being paid to that in the development of the project. Everything proposed will be compatible with that zone. We’re working on the project and there’s no date yet to break ground.” The Viladecans town council, meanwhile, defends its decision to allow the development, claiming that the zone risks even further degradation without greater civic involvement in its preservation. “Now people come and dump truckloads of rubbish on the property [adjoining the reserve], and the council has to divert resources to clean it up,” Enric Serra, head

of planning and development for the Viladecans town council, told Metropolitan. “It’s basically a question of funding. It’s all well and good to have protected areas, but who is going to pay to manage and protect them?” One unavoidable aspect of both the nature reserve and any future use of the land around it, is the El Prat airport. Every few minutes, jet planes blast off low over the reserve. As disturbing as this may seem to the birds and other local residents, the airport is in fact partly responsible for the health of the delta’s nature spaces, said Vicente Ortún, a long-time visitor to the nature reserve. “The mayor of El Prat has quite ably used the nature reserves as a bargaining chip in negotiations over the successive enlargements of the airport.” The latest, the T1 terminal opened in 2009, brought the closing of several undesirable campgrounds on the coast, as well as snack bars and chiringuitos. The quality of the seawater and the sand have improved as a result, said Ortún, and the waters of the Llobregat river are much less polluted. Still, Ortún worries that Barça Parc would seriously degrade the wetlands area. As community and environmental groups continue to fight to preserve what is left of the Delta de Llobregat, it remains for the formidable Barça, a team famous for its graceful and generous style of play, to decide whether it might not be best, in this case, to cede victory to a more than worthy opponent.

“It’s all well and good to have protected areas, but who’s going to pay to manage and protect them?”

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Branding Barcelona The name of Barcelona sums up many things to many different people, but is there a ‘Barcelona brand’ and if so, what does it represent? By Cristina Slattery.

ourists, investors and idealists have long been drawn to Barcelona, a city that has become renowned for myriad cultural, commercial and artistic characteristics, but does there exist a single Barcelona ‘brand’? What does ‘Barcelona’ signify? Can it communicate the same fundamental concept to different groups and who benefits as a result of the promotion of this image? The iconic Modernist ‘Barcelona chair’ designed by Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich for the 1929 World Exhibition evokes one image of the city. Advanced Micro Devices’s ‘Barcelona’ computer chip, conjures up another. And, in the athletic domain, one need look no further than FC Barcelona to see that a certain ‘style’ is represented by

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the team’s elegant play. The founders of Custo Barcelona, the fashion brand known for its flamboyant casualwear, added ‘Barcelona’ to the brand’s name in order to avoid being mistaken for Italians. Their publicist, Eva Martín of XXL Comunicación, emphasised that there was no consultation with the Ajuntament regarding this decision—it was “emotional”. However, “it can now be said that Custo Barcelona… suggests a particular way of looking at life,” Martín explained. Clothes retailer Mango, perhaps eyeing

Custo’s success, began including ‘Barcelona’ on its labels as a result of a 2008 agreement with the Ajuntament. ‘Mango Barcelona’ is another example of how a fashion brand capitalises on the cachet of this city. Another Barcelona product, Estrella Damm, one of the Damm Brewery’s line of beverages, is marketed abroad as distinctly ‘Barcelona’, though within Spain it is a ‘Mediterranean’ beer. According to Federico Segarra, Head of Damm’s Communications, a beer’s origin is an important factor to drinkers; therefore, Estrella is branded

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M | 19 as ‘The Beer of Barcelona’ to aspirational young people who see Barcelona as a city that represents a certain trendiness. Segarra acted as an extra in Woody Allen’s film Vicky Cristina Barcelona, unloading cases of Estrella. Thus, a visual image of ‘The Beer of Barcelona’ became part of a film that many in the target demographic might see. Indeed Vicky Cristina Barcelona provided Barcelona with significant visibility worldwide. For this publicity, the Ajuntament and Generalitat paid its makers €1.5 million (10 percent of the film’s production costs). However, although Barcelona may have become more well-known to the moviegoing public as a result of Allen’s film, the Ajuntament still struggles to define ‘Barcelona’. About a year ago, the Ajuntament conducted a survey of over 100 influential individuals in the city to better determine the city’s brand. ‘Integrative, pioneering, Mediterranean, social cohesion, lifestyle, frontier, climate, creative, Olympic, toler-

“What if we scratch the surface...to see what is underneath?” ant, diverse and egalitarian’ were some of the words and phrases that those who took part came up with to describe the Catalan capital. “It is the sum of all these things that makes Barcelona, which also wants to be recognised by aspects such as social innovation and sustainability,” explained Eva Gloria Jodar of the Ajuntament’s 18-monthold ‘branding department’; this is part of the council’s communication department and doesn’t officially have its own name, although it prefers not to associate itself with the word ‘branding’. Despite the creation of this Ajuntament section, there are doubts in some quarters regarding its attempt to brand Barcelona. One concern is money. A Horta resident and businessman, who preferred not to be named, asserted that the Ajuntament is spending “a lot of money on branding to cover up the fact that they are not providing

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A Custo Barcelona catwalk show

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essential social services.” In contrast, Jordi Cortés González, another lifelong Barcelona resident, disagrees with the idea that any money the Ajuntament spends on promotional efforts comes at the expense of such services, citing the central government’s inclination to promote Madrid. Another worry is the image of the city that is being projected. Mar Pérez Unanue works for the European Union Film Industry Support programme, which works with local production companies to help them promote their films and encourages them to co-produce with European partners. Pérez concedes that while Pedro Almodóvar, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Woody Allen and Steven Soderbergh may enjoy using Barcelona as a backdrop for their films, the on-screen images she sees bear little resemblance to reality. Barcelona is selling a “set”, in Pérez’s view, but, she wonders, “what if we scratch the surface…to see what is underneath?” The Ajuntament would say that branding the city is not in conflict with maintaining the city’s infrastructure or meeting the needs of citizens. For instance, the urban renewal project of 22@Barcelona, where two hundred hectares of industrial land in Poblenou has been changed into a district of innovation, is an attempt by the Ajuntament and others to develop the Barcelona brand as a symbol of the 21st-century knowledge economy. The district has attracted over 1,500 companies since 2001, Yahoo! R&D, Microsoft, SanofiAventis and Indra amongst them, and the project includes a commitment to improve the neighbourhood through the construction of housing and green areas. Of course, not all residents of Poblenou are thrilled with the changes that are taking place. Some complain that what was traditionally a neighbourhood of fishermen and factory workers is becoming unrecognisable. But, the Barcelona brand attracts companies. In fact, multinational Schneider Electric’s decision to establish its EMEAS— Europe, Middle East, Africa and South America—headquarters in 22@Barcelona, was made partially due to the city’s brand. The company’s Institutional Relations and Communications Director Francesc Corberó

acknowledges that the company wouldn’t mind collaborating on the Barcelona brand going forward. “If there’s a fashion capital, like Milan, or a financial capital, like London, why not make Barcelona the worldwide capital of energy efficiency?” said Corberó. In line with this vision, the Ajuntament has entered Barcelona in a competition for the title of European Green Capital 2012 and 2013. Will ‘green’ become yet another adjective to define Barcelona? Biocat, an organisation responsible for promoting biomedical and biotech enterprise in Cataluyna, is looking ahead, too. It is partnering with the Ajuntament to advance the ‘Barcelona Biotech brand’. According to Dr. Manel Balcells, president of the Executive Committee of Biocat, this brand emphasises “the capabilities of this location and the opportunities that [it] offers to foreign partners and investors.” Meanwhile, the Ajuntament and other organisations with key interests in the city are still assessing just what ‘Barcelona’ represents to diverse audiences worldwide. Will a coherent ‘Barcelona brand’ be developed as a result of this process? Sources at the Ajuntament acknowledge that there has been a lack of coordination in the past with regard to the Barcelona brand, which has prompted this analysis. Without a salient identity, the city risks losing investment. But, the delicate balance between economic interests and authenticity deserves careful attention: no one wants to live in a brand. And, if the city’s essence can actually be ‘branded’, will this be positive for residents? After all, nobody wants to wake up one day and discover that the soul of the city is anywhere and everywhere but here.

Other examples of brand Barcelona - ‘Uneix-te al movement Barcelona’ has been the slogan of gym chain DiR since August 2009. ‘Join the Barcelona Movement’ reflects the personality of the gym’s more than 80,000 members who literally “move” Barcelona, according to Marketing Director, Cristina Elson. - A satirical bi-weekly magazine in Argentina is called Barcelona: European solutions for the problems of the Argentines. - The ‘Barcelona computer chip’ is produced by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), a major semiconductor company based in California. According to CEO Hector Ruiz, speaking at the time of its launch in 2007, “‘Barcelona’ was designed to win in four key areas: performance, investment protection, virtualisation and energy efficiency.”

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|M The Sala d’Actes at the Ateneu Barcelonès hosting last month’s Metropolitan event on Catalan nationalism. Photo by Lee Woolcock

JOIN THE CLUB Barcelona has a long history of clubs and associations, although some are now threatened by changing social habits. By Regina Winkle-Bryan.

“I don’t want to belong to any club that would have me as a member.” Groucho Marx

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side from Groucho Marx, most people want to belong to something. We need community, support and a place where ‘everyone knows your name’. Much of our identity is connected to the groups we belong to, whether that be our immediate family, a church, the local wateringhole or a Meetup.com group. Foreigners in Barcelona use clubs as easy diving boards

from which to jump into their new adopted home. It’s a fast way to meet people and, depending on the club, to get to know Catalan and Spanish culture. However, while being a ‘joiner-in’ is still popular with many people, the type of club they sign up with and their reasons for doing so are gradually changing, a phenomonen that Barcelona is witnessing at first hand.

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The Sala d’Actes at the Ateneu Barcelonès hosting last month’s Metropolitan event on Catalan nationalism. Photo by Lee Woolcock

M | 23 During the last century, foreign and local clubs, societies, asociaciones and centres ﬂourished in the city. Opened just after World War One, the now defunct British Club was one of the first foreign resident organisations to set up a headquarters in central Barcelona in an elegant entresuelo on Plaça Uquinaona. The reason for the club’s foundation is clear: from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century, many British businesses were established in Barcelona and, as a result, many nationals from the UK emigrated to the city. Lloyds Bank was here, as were many British insurance companies and textile factories, like Scottish jacketmaker Fabra Coats, while English shipping agents were also heavily involved in the Catalan textile industry. Though British businesses employed Spaniards, the uppermanagement was always from the UK. With so many Brits about, the British Chamber of Commerce was set up in 1908, and the British Club followed shortly thereafter. “All the new ex-pats who came into Barcelona, the British ones, almost automatically joined the British Club because it was a little bit of home,” explained John Connolly, former British Society president, describing the Club’s atmosphere in the Twenties. At the Club, Britons could play bridge, have tea, play snooker or cards and peruse the English library. Miles away from Britain, with limited Castilian and no modernday resources such as Easyjet, Skype and MSN messenger, the foreign residents of 100 years ago may have suffered more severe homesickness than today’s new arrivals and, if they did, the British Club was there to see them through it with gin and tonics and traditional British events like celebrating the Queen’s Birthday and whisky tasting. As communication and transportation options improved, the British Club, which once had a substantial membership, began to decline. It moved to Carrer de l’Argenteria and then eventually gave up on having a headquarters altogether and sold the property. Around 1980, the British Club closed its doors, and in 1981 opened anew as the British Society.

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Currently the British Society has about 200 members of all ages, though most are over 40. While the group is not what it once was, it is still very active and provides one service that it always has: assistance for British people who are new in town. “Sometimes it helps to have someone you can call, in your own language, to ask where the best place to hire an electrician is,” explained another former British Society president Brenda Wright. Though the Society is still an important social gathering place for many, unless it can attract younger members it could eventually come to an end. The British Society is not the only club in Barcelona struggling to recruit young blood. Down in El Raval at the Centro Aragonés, a place that promotes the culture of the Aragón community, president Jacinto Bello López is considering the same issue.

“All the new expats who came into Barcelona, the British ones, almost automatically joined the British Club because it was a little bit of home.” “It looks bad,” Bello López told Metropolitan. “The other day I was with another Centro director, and he told me that within eight or 10 years they would probably have to close their club.” Bello López is more optimistic about the Centro Aragonés. He believes that with its 1,500 current members, and its role as an important cultural institution in the city, it will hold on for another 20 to 25 years. However, he does see an end coming. Just as the British came for commerce and set up clubs in Barcelona, so did Spaniards. As waves of emigrants came to the city throughout the 20th century, asociaciones,

peñas and centres sprang up throughout Barcelona to represent every region of Spain, from Andalucía to the Basque country. The Centro Aragonés is one of the finest of these asociaciones: located in a wellpreserved Modernista building, the Centro dominates the corner of Carrer Joaquín Costa and owns the Goya Theatre, which is in the same building. Asociaciones and centres like the Centro Aragonés are culturally important in that they keep regional customs alive with folk dancing, traditional holidays, and the preservation of historic costumes. At the Centro Aragonés, members with stamina can sign up for classes in the traditional Aragonés jota dance. Unfortunately, the expense of keeping an asociación going is high in Barcelona, and although many of these clubs receive money from the government plus take a monthly fee from their members (€6 a month at the Centro Aragonés), rises in rent prices could see many asociaciones forced to move or shut down. Such was the case for the Hogar Extremeno, a gathering-place for those from and interested in Extremadura, which used to be housed on Portal del Angel, at number four. The centre had an intimate terrace that was popular with foreigners and locals alike, especially on humid summer nights. When the Hogar Extremeno’s lease ran out, they were asked to pay many more thousands of euros in rent, or move. They closed down in October 2008, unable to pay, and now an Esprit boutique has taken over what was once a charming slice of Barcelona history. Hogar Extremeno’s former patrons were so upset by its closure that a Facebook page asking people to boycott Esprit was set up. It has over 800 members. However, the news is not totally bleak for those managing Barcelona clubs, or indeed for those looking for places to join, as many old and new clubs continue to thrive here. The 150-year old Ateneu Barcelonés continues to sign up members. Originally a men’s club, the Ateneu has managed to attract new members through a wide variety of events, an accessible membership

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fee, and its fabulous library and building, which offers a garden oasis in the centre of the city, with tortoises and a goldfish-filled pond. Similarly, the Barcelona’s Women’s Network continues to bring women together with many events every month, while at the cocktail hours organised by the American Society, an important new trend is in evidence. It’s not uncommon to discover that half of the people there are not from the US originally—instead, people are increasingly gathering less according to their culture and more by shared interest.

People are increasingly gathering less according to their culture and more by shared interest.

Meetup.com is proof of this. While the idea is always to physically meet up, members of the internet social network initially get in touch online, finding local groups that focus on a specific pastime or shared interest, such as photography, cinema or language exchange. Indeed, nowadays, some of us may prefer first joining a club from the comfort of our laptops, being able to find others who we know we share an interest before actually geting to know them face to face, rather than simply turning up at an unfamiliar club. Though we live in a society where virtual groups and communication are more and more accessible, online forums have not yet replaced our need to get together and physically meet others. These days in Barcelona, we join clubs not so much because of our culture or nationality, and more by common interest, and that’s a good thing.

(which take participants out to explore the Catalan countryside), and offers many other events.You must speak English to join. www. britsoccat.com - Centro Aragonés (C/ Joaquin Costa 68): This club just turned 111. Located in a Modernista building, it has a beautiful library for members to use. Anyone can join for just €6 a month (it’s not necessary to be from Aragón). Serves a good-value menú del día for about €8. http://centroaragonesbcn. tripod.com - Hogar Extremeno’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/group. php?gid=28207951589

More info: - The American Society: Organises July 4th parties, and a monthly cocktail event, which is usually well attended, as well as many other activities throughout the year. www. amersoc.com - Ateneu Barcelonés: Historic private members’ club at the centre of Barcelona. Strong supporter of Catalan culture, it also houses the local branch of the PEN Society and hosts various talks and courses. It costs €60 to join and then there is a monthly fee of €27: this gives you access to the extensive library, including many foreign publications and books, and the beautiful patio garden. Canuda 6. www.ateneubcn.org - Barcelona Women’s Network: International group for women aimed at helping new arrivals settle in and provide regular social events (including mother and toddler groups, coffee mornings and evening get-togethers) for those living here. www. bcnwomensnetwork.com - The British Society: Formally the British Club, this organisation celebrates the Queen’s birthday, has info on Witty Walks

- Meetup.com: an online social network that aims to bring people physically together rather than simply corresponding on the internet. Anyone can join and anyone can start a club for a small fee. Many special interest groups are represented. There are more than 60 Barcelona groups offering everything from book clubs to a vegan club as well as a Metropolitan readers’ club. www.meetup.com

Other clubs in Barcelona: - Associació Catalana d’Amics de Nova York (ACANY): Corsega 459, tel. 93 458 1932 - Casa de Andalucía de Barcelona: Santa Engràcia 68, tel. 93 318 6138. www.casadeandaluciabcn.com - Centre Cultural Euskal Etxea Barcelona (Basque centre): Plaçeta Montcada 1-3, tel. 93 310 2200. http://euskaletxeak.org - Centro Gallego de Barcelona (Galician centre): Rambla Caputxins 35-37, tel. 93 301 2892. www. cgb.cat - Circulo Ecuestre: Expensive private members’ club that was inaugurated in 1856 and is famed for its rooftop swimming-pool. Located on Balmes with Avinguda Diagonal. www.circuloecuestre.es - Find more on our website: barcelona-metropolitan.com/groupsandclubs

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La Lionesa, nº. 21 Gilda, nº. 38

Carrer Ample

Text by Nadia El-Yousseph.

utting through Barcelona’s Gòtic quarter, running parallel to the Passeig de Colom, you’ll find Carrer Ample, a street brimming with modern urban life and funky shops but also home to the impressive Basílica de la Mercè church, named for Barcelona’s patron saint. Amongst the varied businesses you find there, one that stands out is the confectionery shop, Papabubble (nº. 28), which gives visitors a chance to see the science of the sweet-making process at close hand. Willy Wonkastyle bubbling pots are manned by workers who stir in the brightly coloured syrups kept in the shop’s front displays. “As the street is unique so are the stores,” commented owner Alejandro Siniawski. He said that, when planning the shop back in 2004, they looked for a location in the Gothic area because of its bustle and popularity with locals and visitors alike. Not far away stands La Lionesa (nº. 21), a grocer’s that has been on the street since the 1800s. The shop sells a variety of local items including meats and cheeses, and prominently displays its Spanish-only wine selection. “We used to sell other wines, French and Argentinian varieties,” explained manager, Javier Muñoz, “but they just didn’t sell. Our customers prefer Spanish wines.” The store attracts the odd passing tourist, but its

base clientele consists of neighbourhood residents and restaurants. Overflowing with nautical pleasantries, Bar Hook (nº. 35) is a piratethemed bar with a giant effigy of Captain Hook himself. In true pirate fashion, the Neverland-inspired location offers a huge variety of rums all served to you by eye-patched waiting staff. If all that seems a little theme-like for you, then a less-Disneyesque drinking option is the tiny but delightful Bar 32 (nº. 32). Small but perfectly formed, if you manage to bag the table by the front window it makes a perfect spot for watching the comings and goings of the street on a sunny day. If you can’t get a seat there, fear not, you aren’t short of options. There’s the Italian-style Cin Cin Spritz (nº. 54), Chekere (nº. 52) or restaurant-bar Gilda (nº. 38) where you can order some food whilst enjoying a copa. In fact there are plenty of places to get something to drink on the street. If you get peckish too, then La Dentelliere (nº. 26) is one of the more upmarket options. A bistro-style interior and Mediterranean menu plus French owner Evelyne Ramelot’s charm all make it a popular place. If you prefer your dinner eaten on the hoof then you could try a piadina (like a cross between a pizza and a quesadilla) at Cicciolina (nº.12) or grab a traditional slice at Pizza Pazza (nº. 42).

Papabubble, nº. 28

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Pizza Pazza nº. 42

Hook, nº. 35

Bar 32, nº. 32

Signs of protest Many of the balconies on Carrer Ample have signs hanging from them reading, ‘Volem un barri digne’, Catalan for ‘We want a decent neighbourhood’ and put there in response to the more unsavoury aspects of the street.

Franco de Toledo

Espace Ample

Making room for art Carrer Ample’s only cultural spot, Espace Ample (nº. 5) is located opposite the Basílica de la Mercè. The art gallery hosts a number of international art exhibitions, most recently a multidisciplinary show on gender stereotypes. The art is hung on brightly-coloured walls and rooms are adorned with typical domestic items—desks, dining-room tables, comfy sofas—giving it a homey feel. “We want people to experience the art as if it were in their homes, not in a sterile art gallery with white walls,” said gallery director Franco de Toledo, who is originally from Chile. Espace Ample has also been active in the local community, co-sponsoring an art route throughout the city. “We installed art in many places around Barcelona, from offices to hair salons trying to bring art into people’s everyday lives,” said De Toledo. The eight-year-old gallery has borne witness to great changes in the area. “This street used to be quite run-down,” said De Toledo, “but we saw that it was transforming and we wanted to be a part of that transformation. I love how lively the street is, but it is still stigmatised.” “There’s no investment in the Gothic quarter,” he continued, explaining that the street is completely ignored by the city throughout the year until the annual Festa de la Mercè in September, when the street is given a much-needed, but temporary, makeover. “The residents of the street are fighting for the church to be included in the tourist circuit so that the street will get more exposure to tourists the whole year long, not just for a The gallery’s gardens few days in the summer,” said De Toledo.

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While there are some robberies, it’s not that the street is dangerous, but rather that there is a lot of drug dealing after dark, according to locals. In addition, graffiti is a constant problem for business and apartment owners alike, while the huge number of vacant buildings attracts squatters. “It scares you,” said Joan Rodri, a garage owner whose family has worked on the street for generations. “We’ve asked the police to make their presence more visible. Now they patrol the neighbourhood streets in pairs the entire night.” “There are always drug dealers on this street, but it’s nothing very serious,” commented Papabubble owner, Alejandro Siniawski. Nevertheless, he welcomes the increased police presence in the area, preferring that they regulate crime, rather than letting it fall into the hands of residents and business owners.

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On GIL SCOTT-HERON P. 32

PRIMAVERA SOUND P. 32 SWAB ART FAIR P. 34 SALÓN DEL CÓMIC P. 36

The Mercat de les Flors plays host to the spectacular feats of Les Colporteurs, a famous French high-wire walking troupe as they perform Le Fil Sous la Neige on various dates between May 8th and 23rd. See www.mercatflors.org for details.

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Emili Godes: Cactus © Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya. MNAC. Foto: Calveras / Mèrida/ Sagristà

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Avant-garde photography from Prague, Paris and Barcelona is featured in this exhibition. It includes over 200 images from, the first half of the last century, a time when photography was only just being recognised as an art form in its own right. Praga, París, Barcelona. Modernitat fotogràfica de 1918 a 1948 Until September 12th MNAC

13th

Paris-born artist Gil J. Wolman was a key member of the Lettrist group, a precursor to the Situationist movement, and inventor of the megapneumie, a poem of breath and pure sound. Gil J. Wolman. Sóc immortal i estic viu June 4th until January 9th, 2011 MACBA

11th

27th Aerosmith are back on the road with the catchily titled ‘Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock Tour’. After rumours of them looking for a new singer, the irreplacable Steven Tyler et al are here again, older, wiser, more craggy of face, but back on stage together. Aerosmith June 27th Palau Sant Jordi

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Born in Montreal but of Haitian descent, Melissa Laveaux’s unique finger-style guitar playing and soulful vocals have won her numerous fans and seen her tour the world. Melissa Laveaux June 11th Luz de Gas

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Live A SELECTioN oF THiS MoNTH’S CoNCERTS

Who’s on Megadeth: Razzmatazz, June 1st Alicia Keys: Palau Sant Jordi, June 2nd, 8.15pm Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings: Bikini, June 3rd, 9pm Hadouken: Razzmatazz, June 5th God is an Astronaut: Bikini, June 5th, 8.30pm Rx Bandits: Apolo [2], June 6th, 8pm Cypress Hill: Razzmatazz, June 10th Crowded House: Razzmatazz, June 24th Kiss: Palau Sant Jordi, June 24th Chris isaak: l’Auditori, June 30th, 8.30pm

Steve Bug. BeCool, June 17th

he multi-faceted Festival de Barcelona, better known as the Grec, raises anticipation amongst some foreign residents of summer cultural events in their own language. Unfortunately, the 2010 festival is not full to brimming with special treats for the English speaker (the invited country is Japan); however, there are enough language-neutral items on the programme for most people to find something to get their teeth into. For events in English, the musical section is your best bet, with UK singer Corinne Bailey Rae presenting her second album and US jazz musicians Joe Lavano, McCoy Tyner and Dee Dee Bridgewater all performing—all four can be seen in the splendid surrounds of the Teatre Grec. in theatre, director Bijan Sheibani (last seen at the Grec in 2008 with his acclaimed The Brothers Size) returns this year with Eurydice, showing in English with Catalan subtitles at the Teatre Lliure, a neat inversion of what is generally on show the rest of the year at this venue. The new interpretation of Orpheus and Eurydice, combining elements of

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Greek mythology and Alice in Wonderland, is written by US dramaturge Sarah Ruhl. The dance programme has various interesting propositions: Turkish contemporary choreographer Aydin Tekir presents harS, which creates a synergy between solo dancer Aysé orhon and a harp; orhon is adept at both dance and the instrument. Wild Cursive is a new production from Taiwanese group Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, based on Chinese caligraphy. other recommendations include: surreal Japanese musical project, Maywa Denki; El fil de Latung La La, which is officially in the theatre section, although there is no actual text in this piece that is dominated by the colour orange and the visual poetry of director David Ymbernon; and Öper Öpis, a circus act featuring acrobats and dancers performing on a continually tilting stage. Grec 2010: Festival de Barcelona June 13th to August 1st various venues; www.barcelonafestival.com

Photo by Robert Workman

flaVour of a fesTiVal

Eurydice

Corinne Bailey Rae

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Theatre of light and song

n its 17th season, Sónar, the International Festival of Electronic Music and Multimedia Art, returns to Barcelona to celebrate three of the longest days of the year. On June 17th, 18th and 19th, the city will crawl with techno-maniacal festival-goers who’ve come to see both the crème de la crème of electronic culture and some of the best newcomers on the scene: the Chemical Brothers one night; a relatively unknown DJ set the next. Sónar is a three-day assault on your senses, but not just for the music—with new media artworks an important underpinning of all things Sónar, get ready for multimedia projections and light shows that enliven these concerts with mystifying and theatrical visuals. With a three-day pass you’ll see it all, but even a single day or night ticket will get you in to experience some of the world’s most technologically advanced musicians and artists. To make the most out of your 2010 Sónar experience, here is a taste of what you can expect to see away from the main line-up. Arguably one of this year’s most dramatic events will be the Jónsi show on Sónar’s last night, June 19th. The music of Jónsi, the side project of Sigur Rós frontman Jón Þór Birgisson, is described by Sónar as ‘baroque pop’, an apt description if Birgisson’s day job is any indication. If the music is not enough of a pull, take a look online at the preview videos of Jónsi’s concert setup. He’s teamed up with 59 Productions, a UK-based production company that specialises in multimedia design for live performance. Jónsi’s music, evocative and influenced by nature and the magical, will be personified by 59’s elaborate construction and lighting scheme. This is going to be some wicked theatre. Also consider Japó, an unexpected creative collaboration between Barcelona’s own Auditori instrumental group, bcn216, and experimental DJ and sound artist, Cristian Vogel. Vogel will man the visuals (with some help from local technology wizard Ricard Marxer and new media artist Óscar Sol), while bcn216 perform a repertoire based on the concept of Japan. Note that this special performance will take place at l’Auditori de Barcelona on Thursday, June 17th—tickets for all Sónar events that take place at l’Auditori must be purchased separately. Sónar has joined creative forces with the Grec Festival de Barcelona, the annual celebration of theatre, dance, music and the circus arts, to bring a particularly exciting creative event to the city—one that will surely impact all of its dwellers and visitors. Head over to the Teatre Grec, or look south to Montjuïc on the night of the 17th, when Japanese composer and visual artist Ryoji Ikeda will present both a light installation, ‘Spectra (barcelona)’, and an audiovisual show, ‘Test Pattern (live set)’. The first, visible from all parts of the city, will cast an enormous column of light into the sky. Ikeda’s ‘Test Pattern’ will shine flickering lights that respond to a mathematical soundscape onto the Teatre Grec gardens. So if you’re all signed up for the, as always, impeccable musical line-up, do remember you could also be lucky enough to witness some of the most forward thinking audio-visual artists at work this year. -- Sara Blaylock

Sónar June 17th, 18th and 19th Various venues www.sonar.es

A prophet returns

ob Dylan is many things to many people. A poet, liberal, singer-songwriter and doyen of Sixties’ counterculture. His name and career achievements are a feature on many lists; his song

‘Like a Rolling Stone’ was named number one in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of all Time and Dylan himself was included on the Time 100 list of the Most Important People of the Century. Coming from a smal-town beginning, he crossed America, answering the call of New York City, where he settled in Greenwich Village. Within two years, he was already commanding that people sit up and pay attention to his angry, protest songs delivered with a venom about what he saw as the ills of a sick world. Dylan has travelled the course of life in the guises of folk musician, poet, novelist, rhythm and blues

performer, Christian and leader. Quoted as saying that at times during his life the only place he was happy was on stage, his Never Ending Tour is perhaps a testament to this sentiment. Started in 1988, the tireless performer has played over 100 dates every year for the entirety of the two decades, racking up, at the end of 2009, over 2,200 concerts. Apart from a recent hitch when plans to play China this year fell through due to his radical past, his tour and the music go on. Bob Dylan June 24th, 9.30pm Poble Espanyol

For more live events, visit our website: www.barcelona-metropolitan.com

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21/4/10 14:11:38

Arts SWAB—Fira d’Art Contemporani Barcelona After the postponement of last year’s event due to the economic downturn, SWAB, Barcelona’s Contemporary Art Fair, is back for 2010 in a new venue but with the same focus on emerging talent and young international artists. After two years in the historic Reials Drassanes venue, this year the fair will be based in the Italian Pavilion at the Fira de Barcelona, a nod to its growing proﬁle and importance on the international art scene. Chosen by committee, 32 galleries are taking part this year, 15 from Spain as well as representatives from the US, Berlin and Paris. We take a look at three participating Barcelona galleries, ﬁnd out about their programmes and ask what SWAB means to them.

Instalación de escultura. (2010). Nei Alberti

Untitled. Herbert Baglione

Blanca’s Neighbour. Santiago Giralda

Serie Guerreros (2008), Sixeart

Untitled (2006). Boris Hoppek

Still life. Christian Van Minnen

MiTO opened its doors in 2004 with the specific aim of promoting the most original and conceptually innovative work. Both director Joaquín Tugas and art director Alfredo Mannelli seek to pay special attention to artists working in unconventional techniques and aim to encourage alternative readings of conventional values. This is their second time at the fair, having previously taken part in 2007, and they have eight artists participating in this edition: Erik Mark Sandberg, Brian Dettmer and Christian van Minnen from the US, Steve Gibson and Anthony Gayton from the UK and Spanish artists Santiago Giralda, Luis Vidal and Javier Velasco. When asked about working with SWAB, director Joaquín Tugas said, “We participate in SWAB because it is a show that fits our profile, our fresh and young gallery style and it has a great international impact.”

Robert Grimm, the man behind Iguapop Gallery, started his project in 2004 by betting on a few young artists who were not yet accepted into the classic city galleries. Iguapop has been involved in SWAB since the start, with those running the gallery convinced it is an essential way to meet a specialised audience. “We meet people passionate about contemporary art. Participation in this show I would say is almost mandatory! We joined with the same passion and the same willingness to make artists known who have an amazing career but are not yet in the history books,” said Leticia Martínez Madroño from the gallery. This year, the main pull for their stand will be an installation by gallery artist Boris Hoppek, a piece being kept under wraps for now. There will also be work by Victor Castillo, Ana Bagayan, Gary Taxali and Miss Van, and an exhibition by Herbert Baglione (pictured) will run concurrently at the gallery.

The N2 Gallery exhibition space was inaugurated in 2005. From the beginning, the main idea was to show work from a multidisciplinary perspective by national, as well as international, emerging and mid-career artists. With around six exhibitions a year, N2 has been participating in art fairs since 2008. The project for SWAB 2010 is based on the work of three Spanish artists who worked together for the occasion, but without abandoning their individual themes. The main feature of their booth will be a tent-cloth installation by Nei Alberti (pictured), that provides a space to show work by Sixeart (pictured) and the artist SUSO33. “Barcelona has long needed a fair of this type,” said Mònica Ferrer Gimeno of N2, “and we want to support the initiative in the best way, which is to take part in it! Furthermore, it is very important for us to participate in fairs as we are still a very young gallery.”

Galeria MiTO—Stand 15 Rossellón 193 Tel. 93 217 9012 www.mitobcn.com

Iguapop Gallery—Stand 8 Comerç 15 Tel. 93 310 0735 www.iguapop.net

N2 Galería—Stand 31 Enric Granados 61 Tel. 93 452 0592 www.n2galeria.com

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20/4/10 18:12:42

Something else COMIC BOOK WRITER

The Losers © Jock

he 28th Saló Internacional del Còmic de Barcelona opens this month with the usual impressive list of artists and writers in attendance for book signings, round-table discussions and exhibitions. A large US contingent includes underground icon Gilbert Shelton, known for his work on titles like Wonder Warthog and The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers. French invitees include Guillaume Trouillard and Jacques Tardi while from the UK come writer Andy Diggle (pictured) and his drawing partner Jock (Scottish artist Mark Simpson), known for their work together on the action-thriller series The Losers, which has been made into a feature-length film. We swapped emails with Andy ahead of his visit here to find out about his work. Have you always been interested in comics? Which ones did you read when you were younger? I learned to read with Asterix and British war comics like Battle, Warlord and Commando. Then I discovered 2000 AD when I was 10 years old, and it completely rewired my brain. You can’t overstate the impact 2000 AD had on an entire generation of British comics creators. You have what many people would describe as a dream job—how did you get started in the industry? I studied comics at university as part of my Media Studies degree, and I think it was my dissertation on ‘comics technique’ that helped get me a job as an editorial assistant at 2000 AD. But I always wanted to write rather than edit, so eventually I quit to go freelance and I’ve never looked back. You have written for characters like Batman, Daredevil and Judge Dredd. Is there a certain amount of pressure in writing for such loved and wellknown characters? Sure, there’s pressure, but it’s pressure I put on myself. You have a balancing act to perform: giving the readers what they want, but not the way they expect. With established characters, it’s important to be respectful rather than reverential, I think. You have to be willing to mess with the formula. How did the film adaptation of The Losers come about and how involved in the process were you and Jock? We weren’t heavily involved with the film production, although they did invite us to visit the set during the final days of filming in Puerto Rico. It was a very weird and exciting experience, seeing these characters we’d invented, walking around the place, saying our lines and blowing stuff up! What is your general opinion on the surge of comic-book film adaptations? I’m glad Hollywood has started being a bit more respectful to the source material instead of always ‘dumbing it down’. Films like Ghost World, The Road to Perdition and A History of Violence have shown that there’s more to comics than just superheroes. 28è Saló Internacional del Còmic de Barcelona May 6th to 9th Fira de Barcelona, Palacio número 8 www.comic-28.ficomic.com

WORDSMITHS WELCOME

arcelona attracts foreign writers. Whether it is the inspirational streets or the stimulating views that bring them here, it’s hard to know, but it is a constantly growing community. To encourage this creativity and celebrate the talents of these writers abroad, we want to help them promote their work. So if you’re based here and have published a book in English, be it a novel, a collection of short stories or poems or, perhaps, a funny memoir, we now have a place on our website where you can leave details about your work. Go to our new Reading Corner feature, and write a comment telling us brieﬂy what the book’s about, the name of the publisher, where to buy it and how much it is. Every month or so, we will include a more in-depth interview with a Barcelona-based English-language writer. www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/readingcorner.

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21/4/10 14:10:17

The unbearable lightness of eating

fish: sushi and ceviche are the central themes in Komomoto, the new incarnation of El Japonés de Princesa. Still owned by Grupo Tragaluz, its look has not changed much since its previous turn as El Japonés: the basic monochrome decor and Wagamama-esque canteen tables and sushi bar are still there but it has acquired a bit of colour by way of a wall covered with tacked-up photos, drawings and other paraphernalia that looks rather like a corporate vision of a youth hostal message board. The young staff are assembled with the racial even-handedness of a Benetton advert and all are preternaturally cheery. Nikkei cuisine is pretty on the plate and well liposuctioned, thus posing no threat to the immaculate cubist structure of the fashionable clientele’s cheekbones. It poses no threat to the structure of your stomach either, to be honest—portions are small. The menu reads well though: yucca chips and edamame beans rub shoulders with interesting maki sushi combinations such as salmon and rocket or grilled eel and mango and, just when you get tired of all that fish, the antidote comes along in the form of a porky anticucho. We mixed a set lunch menu and some à la carte dishes. One of the lunch options was okonomiyaki with shrimp and sweet corn (tinned, unfortunately). This was described as Japanese pizza but was more like a floury, soggy omelette. (To get an idea of how okonomiyaki should taste —crunchy and filled with crisp shredded vegetables—go to Bouzo on Ronda de Sant Antoni.) For the main course we tried a beef roll, which was much better—crisp veggies wrapped up in a thin roll of tender beef with a nice smoky, fruity flavour from the aji panka chili sauces. Going à la carte kicks the cooking up a notch. For starters we had a small criss-crossed stack of chicharones de pulpo al olivo, finger-length slivers of crisply fried octopus, which came with a delicate little heap of cucumber, coriander and peanuts. Of the two dipping sauces, one was sharp and limey with a little jolt of jalapeño but *** Komomoto: C/Princesa 35, tel. 93 315 2504, www.grupotragaluz.com the other was a sickly purple mayonnaise made with KaOpen: 1-4pm, 8pm-midnight daily. Lunch menú €12, à la carte lamata olives and best forgotten. We also tried the ‘spicy’ about €35 for three courses and drinks. ceviche: salmon, tuna and corvina (meagre, similar to sea bass) with leche de tigre, which is basically the by-product of ceviche f all the freak show fusion food out there, Japanese-Peruvian preparation: concentrated key lime juice, fish and blended aji limo sounds like one of the most unnatural. And I speak as someone (hot pepper). It was delicious but small; to make it a main course it rewho has been to Glasgow and actually eaten a battered and ally needed the typical Peruvian additions of raw onion, boiled sweet deep-fried Hawaiian pizza. With brown sauce. potatoes, toasted corn or yuyo seaweed. Japanese-Peruvian, known officially as Nikkei, was the gastronomic Generosity finally came in the shape of dessert, a towering bowl result of Japanese immigrants arriving in Peru after the two countries of rose-flavoured ice cream, and a green tea tiramisù but even this lifted trade barriers in 1873, but it was chef and restaurateur Nobu couldn’t fill us up. Really, it was all slick and competent in the way Matsuhisa who catapulted it to global recognition when he started that the Tragaluz machinery usually guarantees but after paying the serving South American sushi over a century later. bill, my main thought was this: I’m still hungry. The common thread in the two cuisines comes in the shape of raw

Thumbelina portions of Nikkei cuisine are served up at Komomoto. By Nadia Feddo. Photo by Patricia Esteve.

Market Watch

s the garden veggies and the grape vines start to grow, so does the snail population. But how many of these little mo-

lluscs could you eat? In the gastropod heartland of Lleida, around 60 snails or so is considered normal for a main course but in the heat of the moment at Lleida’s annual Aplec del Caragol, or Snail Festival (May 21st to 23rd, www.aplec. org), it is not unusual to consume 300 or so at a sitting.

The use of snails (caragols or cargols) in Catalan cooking is recorded in cookbooks

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Snails

dating back to the 12th century. The Aplec del Caragol, however, started in 1980 as the idea of local gastronome Manolo Calpe, and the event now sees around 12 tons of snails brought in from the rest of the country, North Africa and South America to be guzzled down in just three days. Some 12,000 locals and 200,000 visitors crowd onto the banks of the river Segre and the Camps Elisis to try snails cooked a la llauna (on metal trays with salt and pepper and allioli to dip), a la catxipanda (with onions, aubergine and various

pork products), a la brutesca (on a stone tile covered with burning straw) and any number of other methods. If you want to try caragols a la llauna at home, buy smallish Bover Comù (hélix aspersa) live snails from somewhere like Petras Fruits del Bosc (stall 867 in the Boqueria) and wipe each one thoroughly before cooking. If you don’t have the outdoor space to cook them on vine cuttings (or any other hot-burning wood), then try using both the grill and the oven simultaneously to give them a good blast.

20/4/10 13:49:20

Reviewed eateries are rated using stars with five being the best.

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What’s for lunch

***** Libentia: C/Còrsega 537 (Sagrada Família), tel. 93 435 8048. Open:Tues-Sat 1.30-3.30pm, 8.30-10.30pm. Lunch menú: €18 (includes water but not wine), taster menú €39, à la carte around €45 for three courses without drinks.

f you fancy some cut-price posh for lunch, the best place I can recommend right now is Libentia. It is one of the new breed of so-called ‘bistronomics’—quality restaurants luring the punters with an affordable lunch menu—and offers that rare combination of excellent food, solicitous service and value for money. For €18 you can sample a high-voltage menú del dia with a spread of dishes that you would pay at least €50 a head for à la carte. Their fair pricing even extends to the wine list: all wines are available at the same price as you would find in a bodega and they simply add a corkage fee of €3.90. Libentia’s three young chefs, Jaime Tejedor, Dídac Moltó and Sergi Ferrer have racked up previous experience everywhere from El Bulli to Saüc, and it shows. Since they scooped the Gran Premio Cocinero Revelación at January’s Madrid Fusión food congress, it’s been essential to book well in advance, especially for lunch. The amuse bouche was a slice of warm tocino (cured meat) with apple sauce followed by some unbelievably good warm olive-oil focaccia (from Forn Trinitat). Starters were a superb ajoblanco poured over a little cake of shredded cod topped with yellow plum ice-cream and a huge platter of veal carpaccio with pine nuts, rucula and (rather thick and chewy) parmesan. The main courses were a perfectly roasted lamb palpis with cous cous and aubergine and a lovely rich honeyed sauce along with an enormous wedge of rare bonito in a dashi broth with courgette. For dessert, I had two little pats of rich truffled chocolate on a pecan nut sable stabbed through with a shard of caramel and adorned with toffee ice cream while my companion had an excellent banana tatin with yogurt ice cream. My only niggle is the aggressively boring decor—if you call a restaurant Pleasure (Libentia’s translation from Latin), you conjure up images of the Roman Empire with orgies of feasting and grapes overflowing from golden platters. Not a narrow grey corridor bunker enlivened by one wall-sized photo of a dead dandelion head. That aside, this place is perfect. --NF

Read the food and drink blog on our website for the latest gourmet news and reviews: www.barcelona-metropolitan.com

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20/4/10 13:49:32

Talent Search People Multilingual recruitment across borders

On March 27th Talent Search People attended Bilingual People Fair, held at historical Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. The fair is the largest and most exciting of its kind across Europe. It provides a great possibility for companies to find and recruit the most talented multilingual candidates from various disciplines, and for candidates to meet industry’s top companies and recruitment agencies directly face-to-face. Talent Search People was represented among 25 other companies specialized in multilingual recruitment, most of them from Ireland. This year the fair attracted over 3000 candidates, of which 80% from Dublin area and 20% outside. Sylvia Pascaline, consultant at Talent Search People confirms that the amount of interest was incredible. “When we were pre-

paring our stand half an hour before the opening, there was already a long line of people waiting for outside to get in”, she says. “When the gates finally opened at 10 am, we were occupied almost non-stop till the closing time. We spoke over 500 candidates who were truly interested in coming to Barcelona and since Saturday we have been receiving new CVs continuously”. Talent Search People’s mission was to create more visibility among international candidates and raise more interest to come to work in Spain. According to Sylvia, mission was fully accomplished: “Candidates were pleasantly surprised that there was one agency concentrated only on working in Barcelona and that we were able to answer all their questions regarding living in Spain. One candidate, originally French

but living in London, travelled to Dublin only because of us – he said that he had been interested in working in Barcelona for a long time and finally got the information and contacts he had been looking for”. In short, it was a perfect success story. The countdown until next fair has not started yet - but we are already looking forward to meet you all there!

Email: info@talentsearchpeople.com www.talentsearchpeople.com Tel. 93 265 6726 C/ Consell de Cent, 417-419 3o - 2a 08009, Barcelona

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15.000 EQUIPAMENTS DE TOT CATALUNYA. TOT EL QUE BUSQUES, A UN SOL CLIC. Entra al nou portal de la Generalitat de Catalunya. Des d’aquí podràs accedir de forma fàcil i còmoda a tots els equipaments de Catalunya públics i concertats. Troba tot el que busques amb un sol clic o ara, també, des del teu telèfon mòbil. Centre d’Observació de l’Univers d’Àger

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Food&Drink

Bar - Live Music 7 Sins Bar and Lounge4EIXAMPLE e New food menu with an even bigger selection of American style burgers, including chicken fillet and vegetarian options. Tasty tapas accompanied by one of our 7 beers on draught or 7 deadly cocktails for the ladies…? Entertainment every weekend in the basement club bar where you will find local & international DJ’s as well as live music acts. A great pre-club venue to get your weekend started. Big screen sports events over 2 floors. All Champions league games. Join them on Facebook “7 Sins Barcelona” to receive info on weekly events.

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Located in the heart of old Barcelona, Margarita Blue has become a classic in the city’s bar scene. Delight in the dishes from the ‘‘Mexiterranean” kitchen, such as a variety of tacos, amazing guacamole, fresh carpaccio and tomates verdes fritos or take pleasure in a drink or cocktail whilst appreciating new music and spectacular shows that alternate between theatre and performance art. Come along to the Metropolitan Social Night on Tuesday May 11th at 7pm with live Cuban music starting at 9pm. C/Josep Anselm Clave 6 | Drassanes Tel. 93 412 5489 | www.margaritablue.com Mon-Fri 1.30pm-4pm, 8pm-2.30am, Sat-Sun 6pm-2.30am | RV

C/Hospital, 104 (Rambla del Raval) Liceu / Sant Antoni | Tel. 93 329 82 77/609 221 400 Wed-Sat 7.30pm-2.30am, Sat-Sun open at 1pm for lunch RV

smoking dog4Eixample e Smoking Dog is a place where both foreigners and locals get the chance to meet, hang out and chill. It’s conveniently located next to the famous Opium Cinema. They have a wide selection of local and imported beers including Guinness, Heineken and Murphys on tap. Come here to meet new friends or just grab a beer and watch a game on Sky Sports or enjoy the great international music.

Café – Ice Cream Shop

C/Paris 191 | Diagonal/Provença | Tel. 625 115 245 www.smokingdog.webs.com | Every day 7pm-3am

Bakery Fabulous Baking Co. 4Sant Gervasi Come by and enjoy Fabulous Baking Co. Old-fashioned bakery Bakeware store Baking ingredients Tea room Join them on Facebook “Fabulous Baking Co” for updates on their new baking and cooking classes.

C/Bisbe Sivilla 48 | FCC Puxet | Tel. 93 418 6616 www.fabulousbakingco.com Mon-Fri 9.30am-8.30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-2.30pm

Cake - Designer Ki-Cake Personally Designed Cakes. Become a fan of Ki-cake on Facebook. Surprise your partner, friend or children with a very special gift. Infinite number of decoration and flavour possibilities. Made to order for any special occasion including birthdays and weddings. Tel. 647 282 414 | info@ki-cake.com | www.ki-cake.com

Food & drink_May10.indd 42

ART I SA4BARRI GÒTIC Natural and organic delicatessen, café and ice cream shop. • Fantastic selection of the most typical Catalan products, made in the most traditional and natural way • Perfect as a treat for yourself, or a gift for a loved one • Choose from a selection of different crêpes, sandwiches, cakes and natural ice-cream for a truly original experience.

NEFW &D IN

C/Colom 2 (Plaça Real) |

Liceu | Tel. 93 186 3623 | www.artisa.es | Every Day 10am-10pm

20/4/10 18:20:23

M 43 Indonesian - Thai BATIK4SAGRADA FAMILIA

SHANTI4LES CORTS

Close to the Sagrada Familia you will find a small and very special restaurant with authentic Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai and Singaporean cuisine. Enjoy one of the house recommendations “Satay” or “Nasi Goreng”. Menu del dia runs Monday-Friday for 9.50 and 11.50. Reservations are strongly recommended Fri & Sat nights.

Shanti (which means peace in Sanskrit) have selected a rich and varied menu comprised of traditional dishes that offer an authentic Indian experience to even the most discerning palettes. Using classic recipes their dishes respect tradition but come with modern presentation. Try their tasting menu for only 24.90 (+IVA).

C/Valencia 454 I Sagrada Familia I Tel. 93 231 6015 / 677 594 533 www.restaurantbatik.com I Mon-Sat 1pm -3.45pm Tues-Sat 8.30pm-11.30pm Closed Sun and Mon Evening

Come to Shanti and enjoy authentic Indian cuisine with inner peace and a 10% discount with this advertisement for the month of May.

Indian - Hindu Moti Mahal4RAVAL Conveniently located between the Rambla de Raval and Paral-lel, Moti Mahal offers an extensive menu of Indian cuisine, including madras and tika dishes, sheek kebabs, traditional soups breads and biryanis.  A large variety of vegetarian dishes are also available.  House specialities are the clay oven-cooked tandoori dishes and the tofu paneer pakora.

C/Agustina Saragossa 3-5 (in front of CC L’Illa) Maria Cristina - Tram 1,2,3 L’Illa Tel. 93 252 3115 | www.restaurantshanti.com Mon-Sat 1pm-4pm, 8pm-11.45pm Closed Sun | RV

International

Menu of the day is on offer Monday - Friday for 9.25 and an evening and weekend tasting menu for 14.95.  All items can be prepared mild, spicy, super spicy or suicide. Take-away is available. C/Sant Pau 103 | Paral.lel | Tel. 93 329 3252 www.motimahalbcn.com Every day 12pm-4pm, 8pm-12am Closed Tues Lunch | RV

Govinda (VEGETARIAN) 4BARRI GÒTIC A restaurant veteran for 23 years, Govinda specialises in vegetarian Indian cuisine. The international menu features talis, a salad bar, natural juices, lassis, paninis, pizzas and crêpes. It offers a vegan-friendly, non-alcoholic and authentically decorated environment with lunch and weekend menus. Pl. Villa de Madrid 4-5 | Catalunya | Tel. 93 318 7729 www.amalteaygovinda.com | Tue-Sat 1pm-4pm, 8.30pm-12am, Sun-Mon 1pm-4pm

Indian - Modern

Hard Rock CafE4CIUTAT VELLA Hard Rock Cafe Barcelona offers an inspired, creative ambience with incredible rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia on display. Come and taste authentic American food. Their berbecue entrees slow cooked in the cafe’s hardwood smokers are delicious. Visit the bar to try a premium cocktail and check out the live music and special events on offer. Don’t forget to stop at the Rock Shop for fine, classic, cotton T-shirts or a collectable Hard Rock pin. May 18th Maldita Nerea in Concert 15 Purchase tickets at Ticketmaster or at Hard Rock Cafe All proceeds go to the Vicente Ferrer foundation. Plaça Catalunya 21 | Catalunya | Tel. 93 270 2305 | www.hardrock.com/barcelona | Restaurant: SunThurs 11am-2am, Fri, Sat and hol eves 11am-3am | Rock Shop: Sun-Thurs 10am-1.30am, Fri, Sat and hol eves 10am-2am

Jamaican Stush & Teng4Eixample E

BEMBi4Eixample D Bembi offers an authentic Indian experience unlike any other in Barcelona. Traditional Indian recipes are passionately prepared and presented in a modern, stylish way by their India- and UK-trained master chef. Experience Bembi in trendy surroundings, and try their lunch menu for 14 (choice of four starters, main courses and desserts). Highly recommended is the menú de degustación for 26.50, you can try the chef’s selection and Hyderabadi lamb biriyani (succulent lamb and basmati rice cooked with a natural dough seal).

Food & drink_May10.indd 43

Stush & Teng is Barcelona’s first Jamaican restaurant. Enjoy the reggae vibe and Jamaican-based cuisine in a beautifully sensuous and stylish setting. The lunch and dinner menu include traditional Jerk chicken, salted fish and ackee (a delicious Jamaican fruit with a milky taste). New menu of the day for 9.50 on offer. At midnight, Stush & Teng converts into a laid-back lounge bar with excellent music and a good selection of classic fresh fruit Caribbean cocktails that are a must!

C/Rossellò 209 | FFCC - Provença Diagonal Tel. 93 368 9393 | www.stushandteng.com Mon-Fri 1pm-4pm, 8pm-11.30pm, Sat 8pm-2am

20/4/10 18:20:58

44 M mediteranean Creative

nepalese mulet4EixamplE D

namaskar nePal4GRÀCia

Mulet’s ambience is minimalist where the pleasure of savouring delicious food comes first. Exotic meats such as buffalo and African gazelle, as well as tantalising fish dishes are just some of the options available. Take advantage of Mulet’s set menu deal; choose any appetiser, main dish and dessert for only 23 (IVA included) available Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and Saturday and Sunday lunch time. Every Friday and Saturday night enjoy fabulous cocktails and drinks at the bar. Wine tasting events are the last Thursday of every month.

Experience traditional Nepalese homemade cuisine with spices mixed to create incredible flavours by their trained Nepalese chef. Vegetarian set menu 11,75, meaty set menu 12,75. Homemade desserts. Great quality dishes in a friendly family environment namaskar. C/Hipòlit làzaro 34, Local 1 ( Pi i Margall 38-40) | Joanic | Tel. 93 213 1220 Tues-Sun 1pm-4pm, 8pm-11.30pm, Closed Mon | www.restaurantnamaskar.com

thai thai thai4EixamplE E

Thai Thai restaurant invites you to taste and enjoy traditional Thai food with tropical ingredients from Thailand prepared by Thai chefs. They specialise in all kinds of Thai curries. Thai Thai has created a delicious tasting menu for only 24 and a fresh menu of the day is on offer for 9.50 during the week.

C/Valencia 350 | Verdaguer/Girona Tel. 93 459 1723 | www.restaurantmulet.com Mon-Thurs 8am-4pm, 9pm-11pm, Fri 8am-4pm, 9pm-3am, Sat 1.30pm-4pm, 9pm-3am, Sun 1.30pm-4pm | RV

C/Diputació 91 | C/Princep Jordi, 6 | 8pm-12am | RV

mexican

Urgell | Tel. 620 938 059 | www.thaithai.es España | Tel. 663 126 398 Every day 1pm-4pm,

la haCienda4BORn

thai graCia 4GRÀCia

Billing itself as “The Mexican Experience” with hacienda decor and traditional masks adorning the walls, this newly opened restaurant offers special dishes using traditional Mexican recipes with a twist. Recommended are the house specialities molcajete, beef, chicken or veggies sizzling on a volcanic rock with chorizo, avocado and spring onion, or nopalitos gratinados, grilled fillets of cactus - and don’t forget the tequila! There are many types on offer including 4 frozen margaritas and Jimador.

A new Thai restaurant has just opened on the edge of Gràcia! Expect authentic ingredients all imported from Thailand and cooked by experienced Thai chefs. The pad thai, green and yellow curries have excellent subtle flavours. Simply delicious! The special tasting menu for 21 is a huge hit and allows you to try all the exotic dishes Thai Gracia has to offer. An affordable 11 menu del dia is available during the week. The warm hospitality and attention to detail to every dish at Thai Gracia will keep you coming back for more.

NEFW &D IN

C/Rec 69 (Born) Jaume I, Barceloneta | Tel. 933 100 073 | www.lahaciendabarcelona.com Open every day 12pm-3am.

take-away

Food & drink_May10.indd 44

C/ Córcega 381 | Metro Verdaguer / Girona Tel. 93 459 3591 | www.restaurante-thai-gracia.com Every day 1pm -4pm 8pm-12am | RV

vegetarian Pim Pam Burger4BORn

amaltea4EixamplE E

Quality is of utmost importance making it the best burger and frankfurter take-away in town. Special hamburgers, chicken burgers, bratwurst, frankfurters, home made chips and stroganoff are also available and are all prepared on the premises.

Visit Amaltea vegetarian restaurant, where tasty and healthy meals are served in a welcoming environment. Dishes include cereals, pulses and vegetables, with homemade puddings. The cuisine is creatively international with care taken to ensure all ingredients are fresh and dishes are well balanced. Menu of the day 10, night and weekend menu 14.50.

C/Sabateret 4 I Jaume I Tel. 93 315 2093 burger@pimpamplats.com I www.pimpamplats.com Every day 1pm-12am

C/Diputació 164 | Urgell | Tel. 93 454 8613 www.amalteaygovinda.com Mon-Sat 1pm-4pm, Mon-Sat 8.30pm-11.30pm, Closed Sun

21/4/10 14:24:48

main pages - My 10.indd 8

19/4/10 10:28:58

| M | Beauty | Health | Wellbeing

Marketplace 4 Services directory To advertise in this section, call: 93 451 44 86 or email: ads@barcelona-metropolitan.com

beauty health & wellbeing

home services

education

services business employment

Hairdressers Bodywork/Massage Beauty / Spa Dentists Doctors Chiropractors Hypnobirthing Pharmacy Veterinarian Psychologists / Psychotherapists Personal Coaching Martial Arts Dog Care Painting & Carpentry Architecture & Construction Interior Design Building Security Plumbing Relocation Real Estate & Accommodation Transport / Storage Travel Services Language Schools Nursery / School Translation Course Computers Design Drinks distributor Electrician Television Services Financial Services Legal Practices Insurance Job Opportunities

46 47 46-47 47 48 48 48 48 49 49 49 50 50 50 50 50 50 51 51 52 51-52 52-53 53 53-55 55 55 55-56 56 56 58 57 58 58-59 59-60 60-62

Beauty / Spa

Hairdressers

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Beauty | Health | Wellbeing Beauty / Spa

Bodywork / Massage

| M | 47

Dentists

English Dentist Dr. Nicholas Jones BDSLDSRCS Col. No 4090

FREE CHECK-UPS

General & Cosmetic dentistry Orthodontics Implants & Tooth whitening Smile makeovers Diagonal 281 (Sagrada familia L5/Monumental L2) Tel. 93 265 80 70 / Mob. 607 332 335 Open Monday to Saturday

nickteeth@hotmail.com www.nickteeth.com

American Dentist

Associate Member of American Dental Association

...open monday to saturday

Clinic: Castellnou 47, 08017 BCN Tel: 932 051 903 / 696 664 430 / 636 312 522 Email: tingsvall_ mccarthy@hotmail.com www.tingsvall-mccarthy.com Transport: Station Les Tres Torres (L6) & Bus 16, 30, 66, 70, 72, 74.

46-51 may.indd 47

Dr. Joseph de Vilallonga

We Fix Smiles 100% Ceramic Crowns First review at no cost

General Dentistry Implants

Emergency Line

659 443 583

www.clinicavilallonga.com English, Japanese and Spanish spoken

American Dental Association

Calvet, 15 pral. 1ÂŞ - 08021 Barcelona â&#x20AC;˘ Tel. 93 209 61 21

20/4/10 11:38:21

| M | Beauty | Health | Wellbeing

Doctors

English Doctor

Leila Catherine Onbargi, M.D.

OBSTETRICS and GYNECOLOGY

Dr. Steven Joseph

Centro Medico Teknon

Member of the Royal College of General Practioners U.K Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists U.K

American Board Certified

General Practice · Mental Health

C/Vilana, 12 • consulta 161 Barcelona • Tel: 93 393 3161

Extensive range of primary care services Access to all medical specialists/investigations

Email: dr.onbargi@gmail.com www.teknon.es/consultorio/onbargi Fellow, American College OB/GYN Diplomate American Board of OB/GYN

ENGLISH • SPANISH • FRENCH

Col nº 38291

BSc, MBBS, DRCOG, MRCGP, MRCPsych (London)

GOOG

medical centre

Tel 93 330 2412 • Mobile 627 669 524 Email: googol@hotmail.es www.googolmedicalcentre.com

Gran Via Carles III nº-37-39 08028 Barcelona Les Corts

Chiropractors

Pharmacy

HypnoBirthing

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Beauty | Health | Wellbeing Veterinarian

Personal Coaching

| M | 49

Psychologists / Psychotherapists

English Speaking and Trained Counsellor and Psychotherapist Help and Support with; • Lack of Energy or Low Self-Esteem • Improving Family and Personal Relationships • Feelings of Anger, Loneliness and Isolation, or Anxiety • Expat Issues and Adapting to, or Preparing for, Change • Achieving a Particular Goal or Finding a New Direction • Changing Unhelpful or Destructive Habits or Patterns of Behaviour

Free Initial 20 minute Introductory Meeting

Jonathan Lane Hooker

Psychotherapist, Counsellor, Coach and Guide Tel: 93 590 7654 • Mob: 639 579 646 • jonathan.hooker@yahoo.com

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21/4/10 14:15:41

| M | Beauty | Health | Wellbeing

Martial Arts

Dog Care

Wing Chun is a concept-based system of self defence from southern China, renowned for itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simple, direct techniques. Improve both your body and mind. Find out more at:

www.wongshunleungspain.org Contact David on 617 357 184 or david_615734@yahoo.co.uk Classes every Tuesday & Thursday 7pm - 8.30pm C/ Enric Granados 48, 08008, Barcelona

Interior Design GRAHAM COLLINS PROPERTY CONSULTANCY INTER IOR DESIGN & DECOR ATION Puzzled by the property market ? Need a renovator that speaks your language ? Want that designed look on an Ikea budget ? C / CONSULAT DEL MAR 35, 3er BARCELONA t: 0034 678 75 75 11 e: grahamcollins@talk21.com

Architecture & Construction

Painting & Carpentry

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Building

20/4/10 11:39:22

Beauty | Health | Wellbeing Security

| Home Services | M | 51

Plumbing

Locksmith Specialists in security Lost your keys? CanÂ´t get in? Unlocking locks Changing locks Metal shutters Automatic Safety doors Security systems Fences & balconies Access control

Give me a call:

Real Estate & Accommodation

607 88 66 22

24 hours | Reasonable rates | English spokenn info@mastercerrajeros.com

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Beauty | Health | Wellbeing Veterinarian

Personal Coaching

| M | 49

Psychologists / Psychotherapists

Free Initial 20 minute Introductory Meeting

Jonathan Lane Hooker

Psychotherapist, Counsellor, Coach and Guide Tel: 93 590 7654 • Mob: 639 579 646 • jonathan.hooker@yahoo.com

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| M | Home Services

Relocation

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Transport / Storage

20/4/10 13:52:50

Home Services

Travel Services

| Education | M | 53

Language Schools

New courses starting every month

Enrol today to speak Spanish tomorrow!

CEE, Roger de Llúria 123 (Provença) <M> Diagonal/Verdaguer Tel. 934 880 080 info@cursos.org http://www.cursos.org

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|M|

Education

Language Schools

SPANISH COURSES

ACELE

Catalan Association of Spanish Language Schools

Your guarantee of high quality service (*) abcCollege www.abccollege.es

Centro Humboldt www.centrohumboldt.com

Enforex www.enforex.com

BCN Languages www.bcnlanguages.com

Don Quijote www.donquijote.org

IH Barcelona www.ihes.com/bcn

(*) All ACELE schools have been accredited by the Cervantes Institute and/or CEELE.

“I really enjoyed the Spanish classes and learned a lot.” “My Spanish improved rapidly.” Lene Sandvik Norway

Josephine Tustin Canada

“Small classes!”

Fleur Van de Wijgert Holland

“A warm and friendly environment with great teachers.” Carol Mallinson Australia

“I’ve learned more Spanish at Speakeasy in 3 weeks than I’ve learned in the US in 3 years.” Tom Carey USA

“Rewarding and intense.” Carina Mikka Olsen Denmark

“I’ve learned a lot!” Anna Tomaszewska Poland

“Very friendly staff, excellent teachers and great location.” “I’m really speaking Spanish!”

Dionne Jacomello Greece

Merel Fernandes Holland

Spanish lessons from 4€ www.speakeasybcn.com

52-57 may.indd 54

Tel: (+34) 933 427 197

20/4/10 13:53:39

Education

| Services | M | 55

Piano Lessons

Nursery / School

Translation Course

Day Care and Kindergarten

Summer school Saturday workshop for children After-school activities Family space and workshops for parents Children’s bookshop “El Jardinet” Excellent quality of care with only 7 children per teacher Appropriate installations and warm environment with a garden, animals and vegetable garden Flexible time-table to suit your family (from 8.30 to 18.30) Groups divided by language with native speaking teachers: CATALAN, ENGLISH, GERMAN AND SPANISH

In Poblenou:

Llatzeret, 9 (Metro Poblenou)

Tel.

663 021 457

secretariakinder@gmail.com www.kinderbarcelona.org

Personalised education for overall development - children from 0 to 8 years

Computers

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|M|

Services

Computers

Design

Drink distributor

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Services

| M | 57

Television Services

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| M | Services | Business Electrician

Financial Services

British qualiied accountants with local solutions

Traditional accounting and taxation covering both territories Outsourcing Solutions for all sizes of enterprises Cost reduction appraisal Assistance to doing business in either UK or Spain Business development and Strategy Bespoke Services

Legal Practices

www.spectrum-ifa.com

Financial Advice on all aspects of living in Spain from our experienced, regulated and qualified team. For your free guide to independent financial advice email barcelona@spectrum-ifa.com or phone 93 665 8596

Independent Financial Advisers

Regulated in Spain. Offices also in France, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Switzerland The Spectrum IFA Group en España – Baskerville Advisers S.L. CIF B-63/137.020 – Correduría de Seguros; Nº de registro RDGS J2306 Paseo de Gracia 63, Principal 2a, 08008, Barcelona - Seguro responsabilidad civil AIG Europe Nº 0131900503.1330 Registro Mercantil de Barcelona, Tomo 35489, Folio 170, Sección 8, Hoja B-269534

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Business

| M | 59

Legal Practices

Insurance

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| M | Business | Employment Insurance

Job Opportunities

Ambitious, money hungry sales people wanted. For an english speaking telesales role.

Earn 10,000€ per month, no experience necessary Send cv to: eurosalesrec@live.co.uk

Agents/Distributors wanted: MEGACALL Fast expanding Telecoms business specialising in the S.M.E (PYMES) market are now recruiting sales agents. Monthly recurring income. Full training given and full office back up. Send your CV to admin@megacall.es or call 952667511 for more details

tentamente si los datos que figuran en esta prueba son correctos, especialmente el nombre, dirección, números de teléfono, al, etc. Esta prueba no debe devolverla a menos que observe alguna incorección. En este caso, rogamos indique claramente s son dichas incorecciones y nos la remita sellada y fimada, en un plazo inferior a tres días a Barcelona Metropolitan - Dpto. Granados, 48 Entlo. 2ª, 08008 Barcelona o al fax 93 451 65 37.

anuncio sea de color, tenga en cuenta que esta prueba está realizada en una impresora con menos resolución que la que a. Por tanto, tome los colores, en cuanto a su tono, meramente como una aproximación, así como la definición en si de todo ostensiblemente cuando está impreso.

8/3/10 10:56:57

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Business

| Employment | M | 61

Job Opportunities

ELON ENJOY BARC

WITH A STABLE JOB

58-62 may.indd 61

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| M | Employment Job Opportunities

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Barcelona Be part of it

Want your sofa back?

Our centrally located apartments are available from one night to several weeks, with prices and sizes to suit all budgets.

Metropolitan Accommodation can provide the right apartment for your nearest and dearest, leaving you to really enjoy their stay. Tap into the 15 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience we have of living in Barcelona and feel confident Metropolitan can offer you peace of mind when it comes to finding accommodation for your visitors. To check availability visit www.metropolitan.barcelonasuite.com or click through from our website. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hesitate to call us on +34 93 451 4486 or email metropolitan@barcelonasuite.com if you have any questions.

April 2010 V2.indd 1

19/4/10 13:09:29

main pages - Apr 10.indd 20

16/3/10 17:55:00

It’s all our fault

ello and welcome to the new deFloribus

fleeced this month. And yes! Those videos will

sites bear as much resemblance to a real solution

website, itsallourfault.com*. We are

be available on our website too. With a simple

to our current problems as the Corte Inglés Fun

a consortium of large companies and

click of your mouse, you’ll be able to watch our

Run does to sport. Or fun. And yes, they were

loathsome individuals, advised by a crack team

shame-faced executives give you, good, honest

supposedly dreamed up over the kitchen table

of marketing executives and media planners,

citizens, your rightful share of our ill-gotten

by a nuclear couple just like you. Who think like

plus a sprinkling of eminent celebrities whose

wealth. After all, we stole it from you.

you. Dress like you. Act like you. And (accord-

expertise in other fields (avant-garde cuisine,

A word of warning: don’t be taken in by our

ing to our market research) could be you, and

mountain climbing, unicycling) makes them

imitators and so-called competitors. Sites like

certainly will be in the Hollywood movie version

amply qualified to comment on the current eco-

weareallinthistogether.org,

of our fantastic website. Unless Tom Hanks and

nomic climate.

ellgetyouout.net and hasanyonegotapaddle.es

wegotyouinsow-

Meg Ryan are available.

At itsallourfault.com, we firmly believe that

might claim to be grass-roots movements of the

But only itsallourfault.com offers you the

as architects of this country’s financial prob-

people and not cynical acts of staggering banal-

chance to parade your gullibility online in re-

lems, we should be the first to acknowledge our

ity and hypocrisy, but only itsallourfault.com

turn for the vague promise of fleeting fame and,

responsibility and make what amends we can.

guarantees you a new video of gormless punters

possibly, a meaningless prize. Only itsallour-

So we will be returning our second homes, hand-

winning our worthless lottery every single day.

fault.com guarantees to make you look foolish

ing over the keys to our fast cars, sharing out our

Yes, the others are harnessing the tools of cap-

online in front of so many strangers. Or offers

stock options, share dividends and the contents

italism, dressing them up as altruistic disinterest

you the chance to enter the itsallourfault.com

of our many bank accounts, and throwing open

and selling the result back to you at inflated (but

weekly draw (prizes may go down as well as up).

the doors to our palatial apartments to help ac-

carefully hidden) cost. Yes, they largely consist of

Only itsallourfault.com has such a well-designed

commodate the homeless. Not a very creative

today’s pariahs—faceless organisations, market-

website, thanks to our team of dedicated web

solution, you’re thinking. But the difference at

ing executives and media planners whose com-

designers. Or as much media exposure, thanks

itsallourfault.com is this: we’ll be posting videos

bined contribution to society is dispiriting, de-

to our team of dedicated media planners. And

of our actions. Just so the world can see how very

bilitating and downright pernicious. Yes, they’re

only itsallourfault.com offers you the chance to

sorry we are. And that’s not all. Our institutional

given a human face by celebrity endorsements

join the itsallourfault.com online community. So

members will be cutting executive pay so they

from the bored, the broke or the creatively bank-

can pass savings on to the consumer—and send-

rupt. Yes, they claim to have attracted several

lourfault.com jackpot. Just click on our website,

ing camera crews out with your bills. This way,

thousand members. Some even claim to have a

enter your bank details and we’ll do the rest. Af-

we’ll be able to catch our customers’ expressions

similar number of participants as the Corte In-

ter all, we’re all in this together.

of pleasure and surprise that they’re not getting

glés Fun Run. This is not a coincidence. These

-- Roger de Flower

*our lawyers would like to point out that any similarity to estosololoarreglamosentretodos.com is entirely coincidental

HOROSCOPE by Nuria Picola

www.nuriapicola.com

Aries

This month, you might gain sudden understanding about a problem. You may also take an unplanned trip abroad. You’re preparing for a big change. In love, you desire independence.

Taurus

Congratulations! You’re in a time of maximum energy and renewal. Unexpected expenses and luck with investments could arise. For job-seekers, look at telecommunications and transport.

Gemini If you’re single, you will experience unexpected situations, and new friends will enter your life. If you are in a relationship, you could undergo severe tests. You must watch your health.

Cancer

Leo

You are in a place of good energy and excellent health. Your social life is sparkling, but your personal finances are in a period of revision. You could experience delays to your income.

Virgo With regards to your work, this is the right moment to launch into action. Your objectives and the situation your company is in will make finding a new job necessary.

Libra This month everything can seem hidden to you, shrouded in a certain mystery. It’s time to understand change and death, and to reach a better understanding about life.

Scorpio This month you can try

Sagittarius It’s a month for visiting places and not staying at home; instead you will feel at home wherever you go. You have to look after your body and it’s advisable to practise yoga.

Capricorn You’re in good financial shape. You will generate enthusiasm for something important, but take exaggerations into account. Make sure your feet remain firmly on the ground.

Aquarius

Pisces Pay attention to your family and social life. You could have professional demands that affect them but try to let this pass. Your personal finances could experience some movement.

You have to be friendly and cooperate with others to achieve your objectives, so start using your social skills. You could experience positive money changes and find new friends.

You might have an altercation with a boss or parent— this could make you confused about the place you occupy in life. Important changes at work suddenly present themselves.

different financial techniques and strategies—the rules don’t count, but your ideas do. Allow yourself to be guided by intuition. Your children will surprise you.

scoop

By Ben Rowdon

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Finest Real Estate Maresme & Sitges

Alella: New const. Home aut. syst., int. pool. Garage 4 cars. Pol. room + solarium. Pan. views. 5 bed., 4 bath. Liv. surf. 567 sqm. Plot 978 sqm. ID-No.: W-0083YA. Price: € 1,650,000.

Cabrils: Terrace + garden + Jacuzzi. Home aut. syst. Double windows, radial heat., garage 3 cars. 5 bed., 3 bath. Liv. surf. 450 sqm. Plot 1,300 sqm. ID-No.: W-008U1C. Price: € 910,000.

Alella: Corner house close to the sea. Garden, porch, garret, comm. area, 2 pools, leisure area, 4 bed., 3 bath. Liv. surf. 266 sqm. Plot 177 sqm. ID-No.: W-0099O2. Price: € 594,500.

Sant Vicenç de Montalt: In Supermaresme urb. dev., Liv. surface 450 sqm. Plot 2.000 sqm. 6 bed., 6 bath., pool, sea views. Surveillance. ID-No.: W-008VAS. Price: €/month 3,500

Sant Vicenç de Montalt: Magnificent property 4 bed. (2 suites), 5 bath., Barcelona and sea views. Surveillance. Home aut. syst., serv. room. ID-No.: W-008UFD. Price: €/month 4,000.

Sant Andreu de Llavaneres: Unique property. All appl. incl. Tennis court, gym, pool, alarm, 5 bed., 5 bath. Liv. surf. 743 sqm. Plot 2,545 sqm. ID-No.: W-008UFC. Price: €/month 5,800.

Sitges: 1st class flats. Home aut. syst., jacuzzi, heating-a/c, pool, pk., 24h. surv. 2-3-4 bed., 1-2 baths. Liv. surf. < 92 sqm + 20 sqm terrace. ID-No.: W-008071. Price: from € 587,000

Mas Mestres: Country house. Summer kitchen. Pool 10x5, cinema room, garage, heating. 6 bed., 5 baths. Liv. surface 250 sqm. Plot 2,000 sqm. ID-No.: W-00807B. Price: € 850,000.

Sitges: Centric house in loft style. Heating, chimney, gym, terrace, alarm. 5 beds (1suite), 4 baths. Liv. surface 350 sqm + 25 sqm terrace. ID-No.: W-00809A. Price: € 1,950,000.

Maresme Shop · Tel.: 93 540 22 22 · Maresme@engelvoelkers.com · www.engelvoelkers.es Sitges Shop · Tel.: 93 540 22 22 · Sitges@engelvoelkers.com · www.engelvoelkers.es

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