I only got a ticket for the Barcelona Summercase of Friday the 13th. Brilliant. Amazing. Beautiful. Expensive :)
The Arcade Fire and The Whitest Boy Alive kicked ass. The Arcade Fire proved themselves as a magestical (is that a word?) orchestra. Too bad the organizers didn't give them more time, or else I am sure they would have done things differently. I am pretty sure this won't be the last I see of them :)
The Whitest Boy Alive was a pleasant surprise for me. I didn't know them before, but it was good fun to see them live. That drummer is amazing, by the way. The whole band reminded me of Napoleon Dynamite and Kev (a friend of mine. Who you don't know. So it doesn't really matter anyway).
Finally, a word to the organizers: Alright, fair enough, you want to make your money - You charge us 77.5 euros and you dont let us bring drinks inside. Fair enough, I guess. But not letting us bring food inside?? What the fuck?! The bocattas were at 4 euros(!). And when I ordered my fucking cheese bocatta (I am vegetarian), they told me there was no more cheese. How the FUCK do you run out of fucking cheese? Plain pure fucking incompetence. Not to mention they're a bunch of fucking ripoffs. 3 euros a beer?! 6 euros a cubatta?! Fuck off. I don't think I have ever seen so many sober people at a festival.
"Probably one of the most Spanish bars in Catalunya. Leo (a woman, contrary to what you may think) is a proud Andalucian. Flamenco, tapas and cañas are usuals down here. Gitanos do a bit of their dancing and clapping. If you wanna screw the atmosphere up, get your coins out and put a bit of Jimi Hendrix on the jukebox. Watch for angry stares from the regulars. But not Leo - she will join in as always :)" in Barcelona Nightlife: Bars, Clubs and Restaurants
Woah... it's been ages that Brighter Place has been updated - I guess it's a good time for one now: Sant Joan!!
Yep, you know it. It's that lovely time of year again. The beginning of summer. The long hot beach days are about to come. And what better way to celebrate that than a party at the beach?
Botellon, hogueras and live music. Djembés, guitars, fireplaces, people dancing around and stealing each other's flip flops ("What?" you ask... You'll understand!)
Now you know: have a big-ass dinner, invite your friends, drink a lot of wine and make you way to the beach. If you have to stay in Barcelona, I recommend Nueva Marbella beach. And not before 2am: it will be absolutely packed - trust me!!!
House parties: they're fucking great! You spend a couple of euros, take some drinks to the place and you can drink all you want. You meet people from everywhere, have random chats about everything and nothing - it's great!
I think there must be some sort of secret society that finds about these parties and goes from house to house every weekend. I swear I've seen the same people in more that 3 occasions at different parties around Barcelona. Who are these people? And where can I enlist in this secret society?
Maybe we could start that? If you're hosting a party or know of one - post it here! eheh, that would be great - cheap nights out every week, drink all you want and meet beautiful ERASMUS people from all over Europe - what else can you ask for? :)
Yep, that's right. From today onwards, every Saturday and holiday eves until the 18th of October, the metro will be open 24 hours. No more waiting around for cabs for hours and hours (especially in this crappy weather - what the f is up with that?!)... The Ajuntament are indeed giving us good presents every week. We thank you :)
I admit I have been dissing some of the stuff that has been happening in Barcelona lately - more than normal. But here's a good piece of news for you pissheads - the Ajuntament has just passed a law allowing clubs to stay open until 6am - an hour more than the current license. It's a win-win-win situation. Clubs make more money. Pissheads can get drunker. And the city can keep the drunks inside and then send them straight home when the metro opens - at this moment, those that live around Barcelona have to wait until 6 - so they stay on the streets pissing about, making noise, bla bla bla. So here is my congratulations to the Ajuntament for thinking about everyone! :)
Not to be confused by The Simpsons' Moe's Bar :) Nice people, nice decor, nice food and a sunny terrassa in Barcelona. What else can you ask for? On match days, there is a giant screen to watch the football. But the best is Friday nights in this bar. Live music, a bit of salsa, rumba, flamenco and anything with that latin flavour that makes you bailar! Don't forget to bring your computer for that afternoon coffee - free WiFi as well! :) in Barcelona Nightlife: Restaurants, Clubs and Bars in Barcelona
The red dancers, horns and pine trees of this village are worlds away from the (scary) religious processions of Barcelona. Easter Monday here is colourful and horny! Feel intrigued? Then hop in a car and tootle down to Cornella de Terí, a tiny town near Girona. Good Friday marks the start of celebrations for the villagers when everyone legs it to a nearby forest, lights a fire and munches on a traditional Catalan breakfast of toast, sausages and wine. Later they chop down the tallest pine and carry it back to the village (hmmmm, just how much wine did they drink?) where they festoon it with animal horns. Sounds strange huh? Well, it is pretty weird but that is Catalan festivals for you. Weird and wonderful...!
If you go, make sure you're there on Easter Monday at 12.00. Look carefully and a bright red Horned guy, a boy wearing a huge pair of Ram's horns, can be seen amongst the villagers (Actually he isn't difficult to miss). As 12 o'clock strikes, the festival begins and the Horned bloke leaps into action, the pine tree is raised upwards by all the villagers and dancing begins. It's actually pretty awe inspiring watching how they get the tree up so high, and strangely emotional...
Legend tells how this festival began in the middle ages when lords ruled over the town from hilltop castles, and still had the right to "try out" a newly wedded bride before she'd had a chance to indulge in a bit of rumpy pumpy with her own husband. One bloke from this village was so "fucked off"� that he killed the wicked lord, and from this day onwards the tradition stopped and the festival started. Remember the Spanish, "me ha puesto los cuernos"� to say that someone has "done the dirty and shagged someone else"? Remember in Shakespeare's times, men who had been cheated on were called "cuckolds"� and (metaphorically speaking) wore a great pair of horns on his head? So, we interpret that the guy wearing a pair of horns is a reminder of the town's past when literally every guy had "had the horns put on him"� by the evil lord. Of course there are other theories....
Indeed. We have been talking about how Barcelona isn't what it used to be lately. And unfortunately, it is the truth. This is not to say we have stopped loving it - but the sad fact is that it seems as if it is coming to a point where Barcelona will look just like any other city in the world.
Fortunately, however, to every action there is a reaction. To this invasion of McDonalds and Starbucks on our streets, there are movements who are well alive and kicking against the negative influences of globalism in Barcelona. Interested? Read on at bcnweek
There we were, sitting down on the suelo of Plaza Real,Saturday night, at about 4am, when that good friend of ours, Mr. Mosso, came up to us and told us to get up. "Qué pasa?", we were wondering. Apparently, it is illegal to sit down on the floor. There is actually someone, in the Parliament or wherever the fuck they write these stupid laws, who had the idea and bothered to write down on a piece of paper that it is illegal to sit down on the floor. Unbelievable.
Meanwhile, the dudes round the corner in Escudellers keep on, night after night, picking out naive guiris and stealing their mobiles, wallets, whatever. The hookers on the Ramblas keep on picking naive guiris and stealing from them as well. The Morroccans keep on pushing haxixe and coca to the people. But obviously, none of that shit matters. Because sitting down on the floor is illegal....
Remember last year when there was a macro-botellon in Spain? I reccommend we should arrange a macro-sit-down at some point... Funny that in the same city where George Orwell spent a great time fighting against the Republicans, Barcelona is very slowly starting to become somewhat of a mini-Orwellian state. Or maybe I am just going paranoid...
Bastards. Assholes. Freekin’ Catalan mofos. Conservative and boring like brown plaid. Why do “they” gotta ruin a good thing? It wasn’t like this last year. Nothing stays the same. Damn beige pants.
Amplifiers are being unplugged venue by venue, and the fear is that soon we will only have the haunting and horrifying distant bass thump and drunken hen pinched-squeal of the nightmare commonly known as Port Olympic falling over a silenced downtown. The city’s political agenda to create a neighbor friendly, more civic minded Barcelona is making a night out as fun as bible study. The London Bar, La Paloma and El Cangrejo are all classic, historic and muy divertido locales suffering a suffocating double chicken wing camel clutch. And those are just three of many. ¡COÑO! Read on at bcnweek...
It was Saturday night. I decided I wouldn't go out after 15 days of manic searching houses, phoning random people on LoQuo, getting up at times that should be illegal (getting up at 7/8am?! Simply wrong...) and although I do enjoy my work, I just hate having to get up at a certain time.
Anyway, so it was Saturday night. I went home and was thinking of going to bed at about... midnite! And just as I was thinking to myself: this is wrong, it's Saturday night and you're going to bed at midnight, I get a phone call. L'Ovella Negra is the first stop. And off I go went into the Barcelona nightlife.
Went down from Verdaguer to Passeig de Gracia and was switching to the green line down to Catalunya. And something magical happened in between. As I was walking that long tunnel from the yellow line to the green line, I heard something. Something amazing. A beautiful girl playing something beautiful that was similar to a harmonium and a magical flute intertwined with her own voice. With the amazing acoustic of that tunnel. Has anyone else seen her before? I will try and speak to her or get videos of her next time. I was speechless until I reached Catalunya. And from there on is another story :)
Finally. Sort of settled down, found myself a place through an agency. I actually had found one through loquo, but as soon as I was about to get in the cab to move to the new place, the girl called me saying "We weren't able to renew the contract with the owner of the place - we're gonna have to leave as well". To be fair, she was nearly crying on the phone so maybe it wasn't entirely her fault. But then again, why agree with someone before you've renewed your part of the deal?!
Whatever. Doesn't matter now. I'm in a house, near Gracia, 15 minutes from work and with a nice little terrace. Just had a shower this morning and the pressure is crap. Oh well, that's the price you pay for going through an agency (actually, that's not true - the agency fee was €150,80!). In case you're interested, the agency is Habit Servei.
Anyway, all this to say that A Brighter Place is once again back to bring you stories, ramblings and random stuff from Barcelona and Lisbon! :)
So I'm moving back into Barcelona, reason why the updates have been so scarce lately. My first stop: LoQuo. It's amazing... dozens and dozens of people announce the room they have to rent in "the heart of Barcelona", with "amazing views" and "2 minutes from Las Ramblas".
For fuck's sake: I wana move into a room in a shared flat with cool people to live with in decent conditions. Not a fucking sales brochure! I am sorry - I am pissed off! Loquo is good because it's free and anyone can post their house there. But there are only so many offers and so much demand. I guess that's the way the housing market is at the moment - but with so much technology these days it would be cool to be able to filter out results you don't want, etc. And people could be a little more "real" and less "salesmen", if you know what I mean. There are the odd few exceptions, but the large majority are clasificados that sound and look like sales brochures.
If, by any random chance, you have a room to rent, in a decent house, with cool people, in Gracia - tell me so. If not, I will have to make do with temporary living and maybe even - gasp! - use an accommodation agency. The latter option is definitely easier but more expensive as well!
I'm sure everything will work out great - it always does. But until then, I'll just be pissed off. When everything does work out, you can be sure A Brighter Place will make Barcelona A Brighter Place again. You know, tell you where to get pissed, eat cheap and watch that obscure band in the darkest alley of Raval :)
I spend a lot of time out on my balcony. Call it one of the pleasures that Barcelona, climatologically and architecturally, affords to 60% of its residents. Across the street from my apartment building is another that shares many of the same oh-so-lovely 1950s elements: honeycombed pisos separated by brick façade and differentiated only by the varied flora on the balcones. I often wonder about the lives behind those sliding doors. We’re so close to one another, yet probably the majority of us will never meet, never inquire about each other’s days, never know who has a sick grandmother, or three children, or where we traveled last year for vacation. But we might well know the music taste of the stranger on the other side of the paper-thin wall, or that the lady in 3º1ª walks around her apartment in her skivvies.
Such is the nature of urban coexistence. Our sporadic pickup on intimate details of our neighbors’ lives forms plot points on a continuum of general ignorance. But somehow this mutual unknowing unites us as well. Those of us who love cities love the relative anonymity they offer, the opportunity to people-watch on a grand scale, and the daily affirmation that there’s always more to learn, and more to see. We are part of a living, breathing, uncontrolled experiment... (read on at bcnweek!)
This is Gracia. And this is where I want to live. Does nobody have a room to rent in Gracia? Or know anyone that has a room to rent in Gracia? Like maybe the girl in the photo? :) I'm cool, I promise!
One of us, a Brighter Place crew member, is moving back to Barcelona from Lisbon this February. And he needs a room. Preferrably with cool people. In Gracia. For four months. Any offers? :)
Some of my friends have assured me they are Albanians. Others say they are Bulgarian or Romanian gypsies. Either way, their nationality doesn't really matter. These dudes have been on the Ramblas for as long as I can remember, conning stupid, dumb, naive tourists in thousands of euros every single day. If you've been in Barcelona for a while, I am sure you have seen them around as well. Here's a little video one of those tourists took of them until he was made to stop... The con involves gamblers, lookouts, observers, hot-woman-who-looks-like-a-tourist and "passers by" who are all in on the scam. If you're curious on how they actually con the tourists, the trick is known as the "three-card monte".
If your time in Catalunya coincides with the winter months, you might have heard talk of “Calçots” or a “Calcotada.” You might also have noted the subconscious licking of lips and rubbing of hands as a local person reminisces about their Calçot filled memories. This is because the Calçotada is one of the strangest, dirtiest, most satisfying yet medieval-seeming culinary experiences in Europe. Click the title to read on... culTOURa
They use an impressive sales technique after quoting prices and options. It’s closing time and time is money. Going straight for your weakness, they smoothly reach down and grab your cock through your jeans. You jump a little at the surprise of it all. You’ve been in various business situations, for sure, but this is a first. Your local baker never gave you the old yank and pull, “chapata o bagguete?”
But this professional has nothing to do with pan, and she (he?) asks, “Are you afraid, amor?” You reply with “I’m just not so experienced with this,” trying to be as polite as possible. You are, after all, a gentleman. So you ask how much she (he?) costs, thinking to yourself all the while, “Why can’t I be sure if this woman is a man?” Congratulations, you are officially integrated into BCN. read on at bcnweek
After the Ajuntament decided to install the Anti-Civisme law last year, the first group of people to suffer were the skaters. And now they're cracking down on the beloved Bici. Basically, they are trying to make it nearly impossible for bikers to park their bici anywhere in Barcelona. Click here to sign a petition against this law - every little helps!
Apparently, MySpace is opening up offices in Spain. But they are not sure where in Spain they are going to open yet. I am not the biggest MySpace fan myself, but because of the enormous quantity of good music - and how it has opened up doors to so many good bands - there are, indeed, some very valid and positive points about MySpace. Unfortunately, it is owned by those evil dudes at News Corp.
Anyway, MySpace is coming to Spain - and Barcelona wants it. Here's a little video on youtube about a dude who supports the cause, talks about his company, creativity, Barcelona and those beautiful obscure bars in Raval that we love so much :)
True story: This past summer I walked out of my flat with a somewhat remarkable hangover to find a flock of pigeons frolicking about in a sizeable pool of vomit.
The vomit was of the chunky variety as opposed to the more liquid alcohol-based sort. The heat, the hangover—the pungent smell of someone else's bad time was more than my own stomach could handle, so I pulled over to contribute. Mine was of the nothing-in-your-stomach-any-more-so-you-just wretch-and-gag-dramatically-until-some-bile-is-forced-up assortment.
I walked away from the whole gastric debauchery to San Pere més Baix where I passed by a panadería and then proceeded to die and go to heaven. The smell of fresh...(read on...)
My mother used to tell me it's good luck to step in shit (although she called it "Dog Mess"). I'm sure she was just trying to make me feel better, but she also thought it was good luck to have a pigeon shit on you (see a pattern yet?). My mother should move to Barcelona. She'd probably be a millionaire inside a month.
You're familiar with the poo-dance. The little sidestep you take at the last second when you spot the little brown gift. It throws you off balance, but rarely interrupts a conversation. It happens so often, why would anybody comment? Read on from bcnweek...
Yep, it is puente time. 80% of the city is puenting. The act of taking a day off between two holidays. And a weekend. What does this mean? Most companies don't work today. Public offices will only provide minimum services. And you're probably not even in Barcelona right now. You've done the puente as well. Or you've decided to finally venture out in the city with no traffic or people to see. If you go out tonight, you will most probably only find tourists doing the puente in Barcelona. Or clueless foreign students that think they should go to Uni today because today isn't officially a holiday.
Whatever you think about Barcelona, the puente is lovely. You only take one official day off work and you get 5 days' holiday. There are very few nations in the world where you can do this and get away with it. Honestly, stop complaining about how you tried to get something done today but it wasn't open because Spaniards (or Catalans) are a bunch of lazy bastards. Enjoy the ride, make the most of it, relax and take a chill pill. How can you not love Barcelona?
The real Barcelona. The dirty Barcelona. The beautiful Barcelona. Someone once said this street had "more whores than doors". What a lovely description. Carrer Robadors in Raval captured by someone in pure daylight. Home to the flamenco-jam sessions of Robadors 23. As scary as it may look to some of you, you just need to learn how to blend in. Welcome to Barcelona :)
We first told you about it in our facts section. And it is now getting international publicity! Don't believe us? Read this: "It’s Tuesday, 4pm, its only 14 degrees out and 2 girls in sweaters are using it. It’s Thursday, 7pm, down to 12 degrees and we’re up to 5 people and 3 dogs. It’s Saturday, midnight, and the temperature is far from the minds of the 9 drunken friends who keep playing. Internationally know as a forum of democratic, diplomatic debate (Forrest G. in China, baby!) the ping-pong table is ubiquitous in Barcelona. Rather than the Macba, it’s the ping-pong table at the Plaza of Dr. Fleming that beats with the true pulse of upper-Raval. It is here that one can really get to know the brash local flavor in its richest form: from anti-artists of the Escola Massana to the Filipino cooks taking hard-earned break from the depth of Barcelona’s kitchens. The very air is alive here, out front of the bar Iposa, the café Dos Trece and my “okupa” house. Here the table is THE meeting point and the start and finish of many a great adventure and story." in le cool
We told you about Sociedad Cerrada in Barcelona a few weeks ago. A video of the party is now available to view - "Love, Happiness, Freedom and Fantasy" is what they like to call it. If you are into crazy raves and orgies, or are bored of the usual nightlife activities in Barcelona - this one might do it for you...
The life of an ERASMUS student in Barcelona isn't easy. Too much drinking, studying (?) and partying. Anyone ever get one of those "I'm not your mother" notes from your flatmates? Obviously, no one has any time for cleaning up kitchens anymore. The cucarachas say thank you.
This is gonna be one hell of a crazy party. This one will put a whole new twist to the Barcelona nightlife. The Sociedad Cerrada is for very open-minded people. If you are not, forget about it. People will come from the most varied backgrounds. Students & Teachers. Cops & Robbers. Even Marilyn Monroe will be there. And sex on the dancefloor. Interested? It's this Saturday (11 November), so read on...
Barcelona isn't all about getting pissed and waking up from hangovers. True, the nightlife in Barcelona plays great part of a student's stay in Barcelona. But that's not all. Catalunya (not just Barcelona) has a lot of culture (other than the Picasso museum and Parc Guell, that is)... And we've decided to share a bit of that with you.
Sounds weird and wonderful and it is. Perhaps the most Catalan of all Catalan traditions, Human Castles are everything that you can imagine and more. Great tower like structures made from people (Yes, people…) are slowly built high into the sky as... (read on)
So, thinking about living 'on-the-cheap', literally? Well, Barcelona is a great city for squatting, if that's what you are into...We have some info on known squats (okupa) as well as general information. if you don't know what we are talking about.
Before anything else, squatting is ILLEGAL in Spain! So think about that before considering it as an alternative to rent...We warned you!
Yin and Yang; Bright and Dark. In case you missed it, there is a darker side to Barcelona.Students are known to be curious and like to prowl about the city's dodgiest places during the night. And we have it all here for you. By the way, the dark side is not recommended by your doctor. Sweet dreams are made of this...
Catalunya independent? Sounds like a thing of the future... Well, it is 2057, Catalunya is independent. And the Sagrada Familia is ready. And bcnwek has the story.
What about environment in 2057? Will the Verds have more say and importance in 50 years' time? And where does global warming stand? Did the Generalitat's massive use of fresh water hose down the city streets every single night back in 2005\2006 make any difference? bcnweek
It is 2057 and we are in Barcelona. What is the best neighbourhood to live in Barcelona? Is it the Eixample? Les Corts? Tibidabo? Maybe... Raval? Ravatlantis opens in Antic Carrer Elisabets on October 1, 2057. Confused? bcnweek enlightens us.
What will be Barcelona like in 50 years' time? Will the Sagrada Familia finally be ready? Will Catalunya be independent? Will the Raval be the new luxury area in Barcelona? How will the intense tourism in Barcelona affect the city? Will the prices of student accommodation and housing in Barcelona continue rising forever? All these questions will be closely looked at in the coming days by our friends at bcnweek. Today, an article about biotechnology and its effects on people in Barcelona 2057...
Ojos de Brujo. Bands made in Barcelona. The bewitched eyes of this band’s gaze—Ojos de Brujo—transform the fruits of keen observation into magic through lyrics that constantly denounce the world’s... (cont) bcnweek
Muchachito. Bands made in Barcelona.The kid is Barcelonés and a former street cleaner born in Santa Coloma who composed sweeping the streets of El Carmelo. His lowly initiation came playing in bars and... (cont.)bcnweek
Estopa. Bands made in Barcelona. Two brothers from Cornellá, former employees of the SEAT factory, make up this BCN band. They make music full of energy, intermingling rumba, reggae, rock, rap and bossa...(cont.) bcnweek
Barcelona is rich in music festivals, parties, nightlife and beer. In fact, fiesta is probably the reason why so many of you come to study in Barcelona. Barcelona's music scene is bustling. Festivals have been popping up everywhere for some time now—in summer, there's Summercase, in winter, Wintercase. International bands have put Barcelona on their touring schedule, and Catalan bands like Ojos de Brujo are starting to gain international success. But is this the music scene paradise festival promoters would like you to believe? bcnweek tells us.
Have you noticed our ever-growing number of bars in Barcelona? Every week, the best bars in Barcelona are inserted by our hard-working field researchers (ie: ERASMUS students!). Be assured that you WON'T find most of this information on any of the content-poor, pretentious-rich tourist guides under the Barcelona nightlife section out there. They are solely dedicated at the poor guiris visiting Barcelona. So, go ahead, visit the Play! - Bars in Barcelona section. And remember, you can (and should!) add your own bars, so long as it's not a Puerto Olimpico guiri hotspot...
Barcelona has a worldwide reputation for its party nightlife. The Sonar festival, the beach parties, the small and cheap bars and Razzmatazz. But just when you thought you knew it all, you find a party... in a parking lot!
How many of you ERASMUS students are out there in Barcelona? Where do you come from? How much does the average student spend per month(mostly on student accommodation, drinks, fast-food and general nightlife!? What is the Barcelona Ajuntament doing for students? And, most importantly, are ERASMUS parties here to stay? bcnweek finds out.
They come every winter, every spring, summer, and fall. They come in droves…in packs. They come from France, Iceland, Germany…Europe. They come from the Americas—North, South, and Central. They have a few things in common: they’re all students, they’re all here temporarily, and they’ve all been given a free folder with their program name proudly plastered on the front. ERASMUS—WHAM!—here’s your free folder, welcome to Barcelona. Our friends at bcnweek have done it again.
Here's a few tips for you students out there wanting to rent an apartment in Barcelona. Warning: Renting student accommodation in Barcelona can be a pain in the ass... Written out of experience by our friends at bcnweek
This is the time of year where thousands of students invade Barcelona to "learn Spanish" (yeah right). This is also when the student accommodation market in Barcelona is at its highest and us, students, are who suffer from ridiculous prices and conditions. From our friends at bcnweek
Our brand new Barcelona iPod Travel Guide is available to DOWNLOAD. We got some tips (after looong hours of research) on the nightlife in Barcelona, where to drink cheap, eat cheap and dance til mornin' The new version has been completely re-designed to better suit your needs. It now looks better, reads better and is, well... a lot cooler Available for both iPod 3G and 5G models. Oh, and it's gratis. Free. Completely free! :)
So many things happen in Barcelona and some of them are right under your nose and you just don't realise it. It seems like everyday I find something new, something fresh, something that makes me love this city more and more. Click on the title to see
