The W Hotel

Roommates at Eclipse Bar.



The Eclipse Bar at the W Hotel.



This past weekend my roommates and I went to The W Hotel for drinks. We got all dressed up and lounged at the Eclipse Bar on Saturday. When we walked through the hotel lobby towards the elevators we were greeted by a hostess. We were taken aback. Although we did make a reservation, we were unsure whether or not we were allowed to visit if we were not guests at the hotel. The elevator doors opened and all I saw were the city lights. We continued into the bar and there were modern couches and tables all over the room. The DJ, located next to the bar, was spinning some great beats. The Eclipse Bar was very swanky.

As we sat at our reserved table, sipping on Cava and other fancy drinks, we felt like the women of Sex and the City. It was so beautiful to look out the massive windows and see the city's waterfront. This really added to the fun atmosphere of the bar. The lights were dim, the music was blaring, and people were conversing with others. It was one of the most friendly bars I've been to in Barcelona. Not only were the waitresses/bartenders friendly, but we were approached by a couple sitting at the table next to us and another group standing at the bar. After a little while, we were all buying drinks and taking pictures for and with one another. It was a really fun night and I would definitely go there again. Perhaps it'll be the spot for our final goodbye to the wonderful city of Barcelona!

FC Barca Game

Katie and Ruby at the game!

Camp Nou is the essence of Barcelona sports. Walking into the stadium you are immediately struck with the magic and awe of European futbol. The fans are the most loyal fans that you could imagine. The chants and roars fill the stadium with excitement. To say the least Camp Nou was an amazing experience.
Prior to the match my friends and I bought matching Messi jerseys. Upon purchasing these jerseys we were unaware of the magnitude and fame of the player who sports the number ten for the Barca futbol team. Messi is an extreme and utter phenomenon not only is he the most famous player on the Barca team but his skill and ability to shoot the ball to the back of the net has made him a European mega star.

The game we attended was on March 17th the home match against Stugarrt. The Germans surely showed their loud and proud personalities as their chants began to fill the stadium. Germans have always been known for their massive consumption of beer and more often then not this consumption leads to a rowdy and arrogant attitude. The screaming Germans only made this experience even more memorable because the fierce competition gave the stadium more thrill and adrenaline.

The night ended in a joyous victory for the home team as the people of Barcelona sang their anthem with great pride. I proudly swayed to the tune as I now consider myself a Barca fan. This was truly great experience and I can only hope to come back to Camp Nou in a very new future. GO BARCA!

Tapa Tapa Maremagnum

Lunch with Katie.



When the sun is shining and the water is glistening, Tapa Tapa Maremagnum is a delicious restaurant choice for lunch or dinner. A party can either sit inside or out but when it is a beautiful day, outside is the way to go because the delightful views of the sea. This restaurant has a wide variety of tapas. The portions are very tiny so it is fun to order many different tapas and share with the table. Some of my favorites are the mini hamburger, cheese and ham croquettes, chicken and asparagus kabobs, and paella. The sangria is delish and very refreshing.

When my friend was visiting for the weekend, my roommates and I decided to take her to Tapa Tapa. I had been there once before and had a good experience, the service was alright but the food was pretty tasty. We order many of the tapas I had the first time and a few new ones. Everything at the time was great. It was until later that night when my friend Hope felt very sick. Her stomach was upset and she felt extremely nauseated. Her illness continued throughout the night but in the morning she was a whole new person. So in the end she had had food poisoning from the food at Tapa Tapa.

My most recent visit to this restaurant was definitely under par. Everything that we wanted to order was sold out, plus the service was the worst ever! The waiter was slow and did not understand anything we were trying to say. He was unfriendly not accommodating at all. This by far was the worst service I have experienced during my time in Barcelona. My visits here started out nice but continued to get worse. It is an alright restaurant but after my three times there I would rather choose a different restaurant to eat at.

Flamenco Show

Female Flamenco dancer.


One of the great things about CEA is that they organize some activities throughout the semester for the students. The planned event that I was looking forward to most was the Flamenco Show. I used to dance and I have always enjoyed the preforming arts so I was really excited to see a real live Flamenco Show, especially in Spain. What a treat! However, the show was on a Tuesday night the week that my parents were visiting. I really wanted to see if they could join because I knew that both my mother and father would really enjoy it too. Fortunately, the show was not sold old and they were able to attend the show as well. This truly made the experience even better because I was able to share it with the both of them.

The show is held in a pretty large venue on Carrer de Balmes. Food and drink are also available at the show. The ticket price depends if you choose dinner and show or drink and show. The shows at Palacio del Flamenco change frequently. The music, created originally for this show, is interpreted live. The improvisation between the musicians and the dancers, makes the show different day to day. The show is made up of original choreography acts including soloist acts. There is approximately a cast of 15 artists on stage for each show.

The show I attended had eight dancers, both male and female; four musicians; and three singers. The dancers were my favorite part of the show. There were four young, female dancers that acted as back up. Then there was a male and a female who preformed solos, duets, and together with the younger females. There was also an older, more experienced male and female dancers that preformed longer, more intense sequences by themselves. The latter two were my favorite dancers. The speed in which the male dancer moved his feet were unbelievable. I was so intrigued by the female dancer. She was dressed in an all white dress with a shawl. She moved her arms and hands so gracefully that every movement she made looked so easy. She, too, moved quickly and used her shawl as a prop. Every sequence she preformed looked effortless. Their expressions were also passionate and strong. I felt connected with the two more experienced dancers the most because of their expressions. I rarely took my eyes off of the two of them.

All of the costumes were fun and flashy for both the males and females. I loved the all white, backless dress on the older females. Even in the audience, I could see every definition of her arms and back. For one of the last numbers, the five female dancers came out dressed in bright, vivid floral dresses that where different in colors and slightly varied in pattern. The dance was up beat and the mixture of all the different colored and floral dresses dancing on stage was beautiful. I really enjoyed my time at Palacio del Flamenco and would definitely attend another show.

Princesa 23

Valentine's Day dinner with Ruby and Lauren.


One of my favorite restaurants in Barcelona is Princessa 23. It is located in the El Born area of the city but there is also a beach bar by the Barceloneta metro stop during the summer months. The closest metro stop in El Born is Jaume I on the yellow line. The hours are 11:00 am - 3:00 pm Friday and Saturday and 11:00 am - 2:30 pm Sunday through Thursday. One of the main things I love about this restaurant is the atmosphere. Although it is not a Moroccan bar the interior is covered in rot-iron light fixtures and large middle eastern couches surround the perimeters. The lights are dimmed and have an accent of red around the room. One down side is that the restaurant is very smoky. The tables are very close together and I do not like the have smoke around me when I am eating. But the music is always great, ranging from island jams to todays hip-hop.

The menu of course is delicious. To start their cocktails, frozen margaritas, and daiquiris are all amazing; especially the strawberry daiquiris! The melon salad, the beef skewers, and the salmon are my favorites. I've been four times (once a month!) and I have ordered the beef skewers every time. The meat is juicy and the sliced papas have so much flavor. Princesa 23 is not solely a Spanish restaurant but it does provides tapas and bocadillos. On the 23rd of each month they have special drink offers and host parties.

At times there is a wait for a table at Princesa 23. Moreover, once you are seated there is also a wait for a server to approach you. The drinks take a while to get and the check takes even longer. One time our waiter forgot to bring our sangria to the table. We waited and waited and finally we were finished with our meal and did not care for it anymore. Although the service is very slow it is still worth it. The food is yummy and it is a great place to meet up with family and friends for a drink and/or dinner after a long day!

La Boqueria

La Boqueria Market, located off of Las Ramblas in Barcelona, is a large open market that is “for the people.” The market’s entrance is a tall, metal tent with a large mosaic sign stating, “Sant Josep, La Boqueria.” The long line of produce stands begins immediately upon entering the market. The colorful, ripe fruit is piled high, while the chocolate candies are carved into a variety of shapes and sizes. When you enter the market you are greeted by friendly, third and fourth generation merchants. These people devote their lives to La Boqueria and were raised in its rich atmosphere.

The market began as an open-air travelling market. The market dates all the way back to 1217, but it wasn’t until 1826 that the market was legally recognized. In its early days as a travelling market, merchants would sell products such as meat and straw outside the city walls. At the time, the space inside the city walls was far too small for any type of market.

The market became better known and merchants from other towns tried to sell their products within its walls. The competition was already vicious between local merchants and outside merchants were kept out. However, the merger of two nearby market squares into one formed La Rambla de Sant Josep. Its location became key as Las Ramblas’ popularity grew. Las Ramblas became known as “pedestrian lane” and the market became a place for people to stop and enjoy its presence and/or purchase groceries for their families.

In 1826, the market began being regulated by the general captain of Catalonia. Only a year later, on October 18, 1827, the market on La Rambla de Sant Josep was announced to the public. This market was demolished and relocated in 1840. The first stone was placed on St. Joseph’s Day to build what is now known as La Boqueria. By 1911, the market was extended and gas lighting was installed, the fruit and vegetable stands were moved under the porches, and the fish merchant shop was built. Two years later in 1914 the metal roof was built which creates the grand entrance for the market, a market that is on all Barcelona tourists’ “must see list.”

Carnival

Butterfly fairies for Carnival.


When I first arrived to Barcelona I had never heard of Carnival. It wasn't until a few days before the festivities started that I learned the history of Carnival. There are many explanations for the origin of the name. The most popular one is that the word comes from Italian “carne levare” which is derived from the Latin words “caro” meaning flesh or meat, and “vale” meaning goodbye or farewell. Therefore, "Carnival" literally means "goodbye to meat" which is significant as Carnival falls before Lent, a forty day and night fasting period.

Carnival is a festive season and the main events are usually held during February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party. People often dress up in creative costumes during the celebrations. The outfits are not gruesome unlike the American holiday, Halloween.

There are many activities that occur during Carnival. Most of the festivities during the Barcelona Carnaval are in the neighborhoods of Barcelona, especially in the food markets. Some neighborhoods have their own parades and competitions for the children such as fancy dress and food and cooking competitions.

Carnival is also celebrated in Sitges, a popular holiday resort town in south of Barcelona. The atmosphere is very eccentric and the costumes are extravagant due to the large gay and lesbian community in Sitges. Most of the young people in Barcelona travel to Sitges to enjoy the parade, music, and night life on the beach.

My experience of Carnival at Sitges is one that I will never forget. The trains from Barcelona to Sitges were filled with people, we were like packed sardines. All the seats were taken and others were standing and sitting anywhere there was room. Once we arrived even the streets were flooded with people dressed up in all sorts of costumes, drinking and dancing. The performers in the parade were very outspoken and inappropriate to say the least, but it was all fun and games. After the parade, which went through the entire town, everyone migrated to the beach for a HUGE dance party. It was a night full of fun and one that will be ingrained in my memory for a lifetime.