Barcelona, known for its lovely weather, crazy nightlife, glamorous architecture and let’s not forget the multiple championship winners – FC Barcelona, it feels like life in this city is in a painting made by the great Picasso, you don’t know where to start! Having checked all the ‘to-do’ list here from Guadi’s works of art that are scattered throughout the city to all the other major touristic destinations, I was invited one afternoon by a local friend of mine to experience a different way of having fun. We went for a short trip to Montjuic. Walking uphill from Plaza España through the lush green scenery overlooking the incredible view of the city, I was amazed to learn about an abandoned tunnel made into an outdoor wall climbing area for the public. I was told; a group of climbing enthusiasts set up and equipped the place voluntarily. I was even more surprised to know that the majority of the people who were there were locals from Barcelona, it was the perfect place to make friends with really chilled and down to earth Catalans. Climbers of all ages, young and old, boys and girls as well as some families enjoying their afternoon climbing from one side of the tunnel to the other. It is known to be Europe’s largest outdoor free climbing zone made for professional climbers as well as for beginners. It is recommended that you buy your own climbing shoes (CAT shoes they call them) from any sports equipment store, it will just make it easier for you to cling onto the climbing holds. The tunnel is filled with climbing holds and is well-lit for the night as well! Around the tunnel extending through the mountain sides are the places where professional climbers are climbing rocky cliffs holding on ropes. It’s a great experience if you want to try something different and meet new people! On the way back down you cannot ignore the lights and sounds of montjuic’s great dancing fountain. It’s great how you always find something new to do in this city, every day I feel like I landed here just yesterday.

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The Barcelona suburb of Gracia is normally a sleepy, residential place, inhabited by many artists, students and intellectuals. However for one week in August each year, it is home to one of the greatest festivals in the world, the famous Festa Major de Gracia. A million people from Spain and further afield flock to Gracia each year to witness the awe-inspiring sights of the fiesta. The festivities commence with the opening speech of Catalan celebrity chef Isma Prado on the balcony of Gracia Town Hall on the 15th August each year.

The parade starts in Plaza Ruis i Taulet and includes the famous human pyramids or “castellers”. They even walk these “castellers” from plaza to plaza to impress the crowds who are holding their breath watching this sight. You can also see performers dressed up as characters from Catalan folklore, including giants, devils, dragons and trabucaire bandits.  By day there is a full programme of concerts and activities and by night, there are fireworks, live music and dancing and thousands of people partying on the street into the small hours and beyond. There is a competition that is run for the best-dressed street as part of Festa Major de Gracia. The locals take the competition very seriously and make over their streets into great works of art, which are best viewed at the beginning of the festival before the parties take their toll! The streets that are particularly recommended to view are the Carrer de Joan Blanques and Carrer de Verdi who frequently win the top prizes with their innovative creations. The whole area is decked out with flowers and garlands and the Catalan appreciation for music and celebration take over. The festival has been running for almost 100 years and has steadily drawn more and more people to join to 120,000 residents celebrate their creative and bohemian home.

Catalonia is one of seventeen automous regions of Spain and encompasses the cosmopolitan Spanish capital, Barcelona, as well as the beautiful beaches of the Costa Brava and the historic city of Gerona. So the Festa Major de Gracia is just one of the many things that the dynamic Catalonian region of Spain has to offer. You can join the party by finding great Catalonia property for “http://www.kyero.com/property_guide/55539-cataluna-property-guide“

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Barcelona is a city that always has so much going on, especially musically. There usually seems to be a concert going on somewhere, whether it be a small, free concert in a tranquil park to a beautiful garden or a full-out, large techno rave going on at Montjuic. For the entire month of August, the MasiMas Festival will be going on in venues all over Barcelona. The festival started originally as a way to liven up the city during a quieter month in which many locals take their holidays. Now, MasiMas has grown to be much more than a little bit of fun during a boring month; offering over 160 concerts in all different styles from classical to flamenco to electronic and everything in between- the month of August promises never to be dull! The main event this year will be a free concert in Plaça Reial paying tribute to the Jamboree Club and celebrating 50 years of music, so be sure not to miss out on this show, which promises to be spectacular, and check out the festival program for whatever else may strike your interest! http://tinyurl.com/MasiMas

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For many decades Barcelona has welcomed an eclectic mix of cheap beer and sangria drinkers, wine connoisseurs, sun seekers, architecture fanatics and gastronomy experts to its sun drenched Mediterranean shores. It now also welcomes those in search of sun soaked summer sanctuaries with the backdrop of a vibrant and bustling city centre.

Owners of well established Spa’s in popular Catalonian spa areas such as La Garriga and Caldes de Montbui have commented that competition to provide luxury body treatments in secluded peace and tranquility has always been fierce in Catalonia’s capital. However in recent times they have noted that tourists and are now opting for the smaller lesser known Health & Spa centres in less touristy areas of the city.

These smaller establishments provide a range of exotic very well priced treatments for both men and women and are very diverse in their offering of special added elements to ensure a truly relaxing and memorable experience.

Take Mexican born Manuel de La Garza who has peppered his cosy pyramid decorated Mayan spa with an assortment of potted cactus’ to bring a touch of Mexico to the well- to-do “Sarriá Sant Gervasi” area of Barcelona. His popular 80 minute “Full Body Citric Seduction” ritual is designed to repair and rejuvenate skin which has been over exposed to the sun. “The Golden Maya” and the “Secret Stones” rituals are both designed to energise mind and body through the use of specially selected aromatherapy oils, powerful revitalizing stone massages and other secret sensual pleasures!

Another example of Barcelona’s holistic offering is Mailuna, a beautifully bohemian centre in the Raval area of Barcelona where you can buy a book on yoga, eat a nutritious meal, enjoy an aromatherapy massage for two and enjoy a relaxing meditation class all in one evening.

“Health and relaxation is certainly one of the most sought after experiences by our clients” says Josephine Anagor, Director of Experiences Company Lifestyle Barcelona. Her company offers 100’s of different fun experiences to tourists visiting Barcelona. “We now have a selection of over 20 different massages ranging from the standard Thai and Swedish massage to the more exotic Balinese or Hawaiian massage. It’s funny historically our clients used to make requests for Skydiving or Go-Karting but over recent years our clients simply seem to want to relax by day and party by night and what better European destination to do just that!”

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So by now, you must have heard that Barcelona has plenty to offer: legendary nightlife, stunning architecture, fascinating culture, mouth-watering cuisine, beaches- the list goes on and on. However, did you know that Barcelona is not just a great city for adults to let loose and play, but a fabulous destination for family trips and kid-friendly activities? One of the first things I noticed upon arriving in the city and exploring my neighborhood, Gracia, is the plethora of children’s shops in the area- they are seriously the majority of stores and once or twice I have walked past a window and seriously considered trying to squeeze myself into the largest size available! This certainly explains all of the well-dressed children I have seen here- be them running around in the large playground/ park in the middle of Via Augusta, splashing in the water at the beach, laughing hysterically as they navigate the maze in the Labyrinth Park, or simply enjoying a meal with their parents. Okay, so you get the point that if you bring your children here, you will be able to take them shopping- but for most people that does not really make for an enjoyable family vacation. So what else is there to do with the kids? I have already briefly hinted at certain activities, such as the beach, Labyrinth Park, and eating, of course. However there’s so much more - check out the “mornings at the zoo” organized just for kids in Park Ciutadella, the Barcelona Aquarium, the amusement park at Tibidabo for fun with an incredible view of the city, Bubbleparc in Maremagnum, expose your children to some of the fabulous culture with special art programs run at the MACBA, and, if you all can stay awake, the Magic Fountain show at Montjuic is a must-see! Barcelona never fails to offer something for everyone, on any given day and if you somehow can’t find something just right for you or your family, we’re up for the challenge, so just ask us!!

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This past weekend I, along with what seemed to be enough people to fill the entirety of the city, went up to “Plaça Espanya” decked out in my yellow and red gear on Sunday night- ready to cheer my head off for the Spanish team! The crowd was packed tight, the projected game barely visible for a 5′ 4” girl, the sangria and cerveza was flowing, and the chants of “yo soy español” reverberated enthusiastically. Although the game stretched on for a long time without a point being scored by either side, the crowd continued to gasp, shout, cheer, and endure the occasional “cerveza” shower in support of the Spanish team. Perhaps the fact that more than a third of the team members are from Barcelona influenced the spirited and thrilling atmosphere of the night. No doubt, when the game-winning goal was scored and 2 minutes later the championship title officially became Spain’s first, the crowd went WILD! And who better to score the winning goal and bring Spain their first World Cup victory than one of Barcelona’s own- Andrés Iniesta The excitement was off the charts and the celebrations, cheers, dancing, fireworks, fountain- splashing, horn blowing, singing, outrageous festivities and merriment lasted well into the night. The pride and genuine happiness those in Barcelona displayed in support of the Spanish win cannot be denied and I feel incredibly lucky to have been here during such a weekend- definitely one for the history books!

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The last Saturday, 10th of July, more than 1 million zealous Catalans were claiming their independence from Spain. The manifestation was peaceful, yet full of emotion! All the important figures from the Catalan government were leading the march and giving the speech to the nation. People were singing the national anthem of Catalonia, carrying Catalan flags and posters with some fierce slogans and phrases. The march went from Diagonal through Passeig de Gracia, ending in Tetuan. The whole distance, which in fact is around 2, 5-3 km was fully packed! Just for the record for those of you who don’t know Barcelona’s streets very well, Passeig de Gracia together with Gran Via are one of the biggest and widest streets in Barcelona! People seemed very determined to show their attitude and unite with the Catalan spirit of independence, despite the heat and humidity of the Spanish summer weather. Many of you might wonder why on earth they want to separate themselves from Spain so much? Behind the idea of being independent for cultural issues, there are a lot of financial connections that Catalonia has with the Spanish Government that are not really at all convenient for Catalans. And on top of that, there are the different languages and different cultures… But on the other hand, would Barcelona and Catalonia be so attractive to the tourists without the Spanish “background”? Would people be interested in coming to Barcelona as much as they are right now if it was not Spain? Would bars and restaurants withdraw” bocadillos con jamon Serrano” and “tortillas de patatas” from their menus? There are some very fair points speaking for Catalan independence indeed, but independent Catalonia as a separate country raises many more questions…..

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My friends and I had been hearing about Montjüic de Nit (the Night at Montjüic) all week long and had made plans to check it out on Saturday night. In true Spanish fashion, we arrived pretty late into the night. Unfortunately, not in true Spanish fashion, the festivities were set to end pretty early at 2 AM. Instead of approaching the merriment head-on from the Plaça d’Espanya, we approached from a quiet, lonely side of the mountain where we could vaguely make out the vibrations of some music and felt unsure as to whether we had made a wise decision to spend one of our precious weekend nights in Barcelona at this seemingly unpopular event. It was my first visit to this mountain overlooking the city and, upon reaching the top, not only was I taken aback by the gorgeous views, but I was also in awe of all the locals and young people who had come out in droves and were milling around all over the mountaintop and hanging out on the steps of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya. We were excited to find that this art museum had remained open for the special night and was offering free admission to those in attendance. Without a doubt, we could not pass up such a wonderful opportunity. Since we had only given ourselves the chance to spend a little over an hour enjoying the entirety of the Nit de Montjüic, we each decided to pick the exhibit that most intrigued us, split up, and come back together in the lobby in approximately a half hour. I chose to check out the modern art wing and was immediately struck with the beauty of an immense stained glass panel located at the entrance and the feeling of reverence lasted the whole of my exploration; with pieces by Gaudi, Picasso, Camarasa, and many other legendary artists, I could barely contain myself from drooling- just kidding…maybe. Over a half hour later, my friends and I reconvened in the lobby and each raved about what we had just seen. We headed back outside and in the direction of the source of music we had heard before: a huge, live techno show down below. There were moving colorful lights, an excited and jam-packed crowd, a feverish, raging beat, and plenty of “cerveza”- what could be more conducive to a night of incredible fun? We danced on the outskirts of the crowd for a bit and all the way through Plaça d’Espanya to the metro. The atmosphere of the entire night was perfect and exemplified the mixture of culture, fun, spontaneity, and aesthetic splendor that makes Barcelona one of the best cities on earth! I would love to see you all at Montjüic de Nit 2011! However, beware of the tendency to arrive late as it was quite a shame to not have been able to enjoy the entire variety of music, sports, museums, and galleries that the night had to offer

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Booking add-on trips to your client’s Mediterranean cruise itinerary just got a whole lot easier, thanks to Lifestyle Barcelona. Offering travel agents more than 350 answers to the “What can we do in Barcelona?” question, the city’s premier experiences company puts its flexible, English-speaking team at your disposal for ideas and on-the-ground information.

Since it was set up by London-born siblings Tony and Josephine Anagor in 2003, Lifestyle Barcelona has built up a strong network of professional Spanish providers and trusted collaborators to offer clients a seamless service and an unmatched range of fun experiences in and around the city.

The company takes experiences the locals have been enjoying for years, such as tapas making, cava drinking, shopping, mountain climbing, Flamenco dancing, fishing, sailing, and much more, and add its own creative twist so it becomes an unforgettable part of any vacation.

Beautiful Barcelona is the undisputed cruise capital of the Mediterranean, welcoming 1.2 million passengers a year. It is also the top European city from which to start or end a cruise, meaning many passengers choose to enjoy extra days in this vibrant city.

Whether your clients have only half a day to find out what makes Barcelona one of the most-visited European destinations, or a whole weekend, leave it to Lifestyle Barcelona to organise a tailor-made or off-the-shelf experience that will bring a smile to the face of every customer.

From the romantic honeymoon or anniversary couple, to the family of four, Lifestyle Barcelona has done all the ground work to find an experience for every profile of client and for any number of people; all the travel agent needs to do is help them choose from relaxing, cultural and gastronomic packages to the more active airborne, driving or water sports possibilities.

“We pride ourselves on our large portfolio of happy customers and strive daily to exceed expectations through our innovation, style, professionalism and energy,” Miss Anagor says. “It is our goal to keep providing unique and fun ideas that can be easily organised at short notice and that are guaranteed to be remembered by your clients for all the right reasons.”

www.lifestylebarcelona.com

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As a newcomer to Lifestyle Barcelona, I thought it would be fun to begin sharing my experiences with you all. Work itself has been pretty great so far; does there exist a better way to accustom yourself to a brand new city than by working for a company dedicated to researching, spreading the word, and introducing people to the city in question in an exciting and unique new way? ¡Creo que no! But, when I’m not in the office, I spend my time exploring Barcelona and becoming even more amazed by what the city has to offer every single time I venture out. As I have only been here for slightly over 2 weeks, of course I have spent some time hitting up a few of the most popular tourist locations: Parc Guëll, Casa Batllo, Porto Olímpico,etc.- ring any bells? I doubt it will come as a surprise that their fame is well deserved, but I will be living and working in Barcelona for the entire summer and have already begun to love the city in a way that goes far beyond a touristic appreciation. For a girl who lives off of turkey sandwiches at home and finds eating a hamburger to be a stretch, I was shocked to discover the simple, but undeniable pleasure of a bocadillo con jamón y queso or going out with friends for some cava or tinto de verano and sampling some delicious new tapas that I never had imagined I would enjoy. And I swear to you that the Spanish have the right idea when it comes to indulging in the biggest and best meal of the day at lunch with the menú del día. I could rave about the food all day; however, there are so many other wonderful aspects of the city to share! Even if I am just wandering around the streets (whether by choice or a failure to understand a map correctly) I am never disappointed- there is gorgeous architecture to be seen everywhere; none of the buildings look as if they are trying to fit in with the rest, they are all intricate, beautiful, and have their own personality. Even the sidewalks on the Passeig de Grácia are ornately flowered tiles! And when said wanderings have happened due to a failure to orient myself correctly, a not uncommon occurrence thus far, I have been lucky to discover that the locals here are extremely easy-going, friendly, and more than willing to offer directions and a patient ear as I practice my rough Spanish (even though the official language is Catalan). I look forward to learning more about the city in the coming weeks and being able to enlighten you all with my findings…¡Hasta luego!

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