The terrace at Cafè del Born Nou, Plaça Comercial, 10
Choosing a neighborhood in Barcelona wasn’t easy at first. I was moving on after years of living in Madrid, what many call the most genuine Spanish city out there, and I had been warned that my experience in Barcelona might not be the same in that aspect. People told me that its authenticity wouldn’t be as palpable, and that I might have a hard time truly immersing myself into the culture. And this was something important for me.
After much debate and seeing at least thirty different apartments, it so happened that the one I fell in love with was in the Born. This had its pros and cons… the Born is a beautiful neighborhood with an awesome location, it’s lively and bustling yet safe and pleasant… but on the other hand, after the very diverse Raval, the Born is arguably the least “Catalan” neighborhood in the city. Having undergone a recent gentrification, the once seedy neighborhood has become one of the trendiest around, and its population has evolved into a cosmopolitan melting pot of bohemian expats, replanted immigrants, wandering tourists and the like. Read the rest of this article…
Australian-born, Barcelona resident, Brett Hetherington has kindly shared a chapter from his new book, “The ReMade Parent: Why We Are Losing Our Children & How We Can Get Them Back”. Chapter 5 asks the question, ‘Is Spain a parent’s paradise?’.
If after reading this chapter you’d like to read the whole book you can purchase the Kindle or Paperback version for the current low price of £2.80 and £5.27 respectively.
Spain: A Parent’s Paradise?
Sometimes I’m asked why I am living in Spain.
The short answer is that like many other immigrants I live in Spain because I want to. It took ten years of trying to arrange work here (from outside Europe) but a main reason my partner and I have chosen this country is because we believe it is one of the best places in the world to bring up a young child.
But is there in fact somewhere on the planet that is virtually a paradise for parents, and therefore more likely to be ideal for children too? Is here the place where there is no need to re-make parenting because perfection has already been achieved? Read the rest of this article…
So, the guys at OK Apartment have spent what looks like a great deal of time and effort in surveying 1,454 people from 15 different nations to find out what attracts people to Barcelona.
Is it the sun, the sand, the señoritas? Or, as you might expect, a bit of Gaudí. All is revealed in the infographic below.
So whether this inspires you to visit a place you’ve been meaning to for ages, or acts as a little reminder to give certain areas a wide berth, I hope you find it interesting. Read the rest of this article…
There are some fantastic young film-makers out there. But Pau García Laita is one of my favourites. I can watch his tilt-shift short films again and again and see something new every time.
This time the subject is the province of Girona. Go full screen, watch and enjoy.
The background behind the film and a list of locations in the video are below.
Read the rest of this article…
When I first read this I thought, ‘way too promotional, this is going back’. But once I’d read it a couple of times I liked the ideas Michelle was giving for her oils, and oil pulling I had never heard of! And they are based in Barcelona after all. So I thought it ok to let this one slide. I hope you agree.
“As my dogs, Hipopótamo and Pingüina, scratch and nuzzle to awaken me from my deep slumber, I start to feel the warm, Spanish sun on my face. ‘I should have closed the persianas last night’, I think to myself. Closing the blackout blinds would have definitely helped me sleep in after a long night on the town in Barcelona. I finally resign to my canine children and take them out for a walk around the barrio, suddenly refreshed and energized!
My next move is usually oil pulling. I grab my Dribble Dots Seductive Sesame Oil in the kitchen and swish around a tablespoon in my mouth for about 15-20 minutes. On this rare occasion, I choose to spit, not swallow, and my mouth feels as clean as ever! This ancient Ayurvedic practice is key to ridding your mouth of toxins and bacteria. A happy side effect is that it whitens and strengthens teeth.
Coffee is another must for me. Although I love espressos and cortados, in the morning, it must be a café con leche with steamed soy, almond, or rice milk. I admit that I adore the Italian moka coffee pots or the fancy cappuccino machines, but for my home I love Nespresso. A fortunate byproduct is seeing the dreamy George Clooney and Matt Damon in the commercials every time I waltz into the store! The best way to top my coffee? A dribble of Mouthwatering Walnut Oil. Or perhaps Perky Pistachio Oil. It really depends on how I rolled out of bed! Read the rest of this article…
BCN Type in progress
I know, you’re wondering whether this has turned into a site about type after last weeks Barcelona font post. But this one I couldn’t resist.
From the hand of German born, but Spanish influenced, Simón Prades, comes BCN Type. Grungy, futuristic lettering inspired by Barcelona’s famous grid system. Read the rest of this article…
This is a bit of a geeky post but what the hell. I love Barcelona. And I love typography. So what better than a Barcelona font! Read the rest of this article…
