Google Map Car Out and About?

Just nipped out and saw what looks like the cars used to take Google Maps images on my street (going through a red light, by the way!).



Apologies for the poor quality image, but it was a quick pic on my phone and it's very bright outside! There was the name of a website on the side of the car, probably a collaborator or something, but I'm pretty sure it'll have been updating images, as those ones at the moment are a bit out-dated. You can see the camera here:



I don't know about you, but I'm a big fan of Google maps - it's pretty incredible now, with the 3D buildings, similar to Google earth, and you can seriously check out your next holiday destination, for example before you even get there! I would use street view to check out a hotel before booking, for example, or the local area, etc. Any other uses you can think of? Let me know in the comments!

Coming to Barcelona soon? Check out these late deals on apartments in Barcelona and for a quick look at the sights in the city, see this Barcelona guide.

Mas i Mas Music Festival Barcelona

Mas i Mas Music festival brings together as many different styles of music as you can want or imagine. From Jazz to Classical to Techno to Flamenco, some of the biggest names in each genre will be happy to participate in the festival which keeps on going from strength to strength.



The city is taken over a little with some of the best locations for the respective music styles. Moog plays host for the Techno nights, Jamboree - a Barcelona institution - hosts the Jazz nights, Tarantos plays your Flamenco rhythms, Uptown La cove del drac is rented for special nights as well as the Sala Mas i Mas for the special classic evenings. That's not all. The UNESCO World Heritage sites of Palau de la Musica and La Pedrera also join in with some fantastic evenings on the rooftop, and even Luz de Gas plays some special nights.

The festival is sponsored by San Miguel and runs all the way through August, as if you didn't have many other parties to go to! For a full programme of events, download the pdf file here (sorry, only Catalan). There's never been a better time to check out the rooftop at La Pedrera with no queues and some fantastic string quartets, for example, than an August summer night, right?

Do you fancy some of the nights at Mas i Mas, or are you planning on going? Let me know in the comments and tell me which you're looking forward to. And if you're coming to Barcelona this August, there are some great deals to be had on last minute Barcelona Apartments, too.

Rooftop Cocktails in Barcelona Hotels

There's something very cool about wandering into a 4 or 5 star hotel, and heading striaght for the lift without the staff or consierge batting an eyelid. Oh, and if they do, you just slip them a "I'm just going up to the bar" and receive a nod. Well, it's the height of summer, we're heading for some great parties already this wekeend. But if you're not in the mood for an all night dance fest and fancy some cool cocktails, then there are some great places you can try out.

One of the most central locations is the Gran Hotel in the gothic quarter, right in front of the Plaça Sant Jaume (metro Jaume I). Stunning views of the Cathedral and the sprawling streets of the maze that is the gothic quarter below provide a perfect backdrop for your drinks.



Visit Up is the name of the rooftop bar at the Pulitzer, just off Plaça Catalunya. This bridges the gap between the old and new, just on the border of the old town and the "new town" of Eixample. August has a limited access, and September jumps straight back in where it left off (open every night bar Mondays - pun intended!). Both locations so far are a nice summer walk away from each other, and if the thirst gets the better of you in between, then you could always stop off at the next place.



Hotel 1898 on Las Ramblas has Bar Isabela where you can book tables for some snazzy grub, or nip up for a quick cocktail, too.




And although not strictly a rooftop bar, the wet bar at the W Hotel in Barceloneta is well worth a mention. There is also a 26th floor bar (indoors) if you fancy the view, but Wet Bar has the best of both worlds with style, DJs and the Med right next to you!



For more outdoor drinking tips, check out my other posts from last year. And if you're coming to the city this summer, and fancy your own terrace, why not check out these Barcelona apartments for rent, with a selection of central apartments, some with terraces and balconies.

Barcelona Music Conference 2010

As if there wasn't enough going on in the city this coming weekend, with Barcelona Summer Week festival just around the corner, there's another big music event this weekend, with an enviable line-up as well. Barcelona Music Conference sounds extremely formal, and given the location at Fira de Barcelona you'd be forgiven for imagining something a little more organised and classical, perhaps, but it's along the same lines as Summer Week, with a stellar line up of top DJ's and the potential for another looooongggg weekend if you can manage it!



Friday and Saturday, 6th and 7th August if you're looking for a party under a roof, then head to Plaça Espanya. As usual, there's a discounted price if you go for both nights. It's 35 Euros for each night, or 50 Euros for the two nights. The party starts at 5pm and goes on for the full 12 hours (likely more!) - just in time for the metro ride back home! Or if you're feeling particularly flush, you can get a table under the stage with a bottle for a cool 1000 Euros, and a snip at 500 Euros for the second bottle! Surely you could just nip across to Ibiza for the weekend for that price?!

So, are you heading to Barcelona Summer Week or the Music Conference? Looking forward to seeing anyone in particular? let me know and leave a comment below (no spam, please, I get bored of deleting spam emails!).

Coming to Barcelona this month? Check out these apartments for rent in Barcelona as a great way to save money between friends. And for a quick look at the city sights, see this Barcelona Guide.