Primavera Sound Just Around the Corner...

So, as is customary each year, the warmer weather comes around, the council has (wisely) given more licences for terraces in an attempt to generate more custom for the locals and that can mean only two things: Summer is on its way, and the festival season is about to start.

First in line for the "big" festivals in San Miguel-sponsored Primavera Sound, which despite its "slightly-out-of-the-way" location in the Forum, keeps growing from strength to strength in its 11th year, and will take place from the 30th May till 3rd June. The festival is also embraced by other live music venues around the city, such as Apolo, and in fact, concerts have been happening affiliated to Primavera Sound all month in loads of the cool smaller bars around the Gothic Quarter and the Raval. There's also a more central stage this year at Arc de Triomf, too, opening and closing the event with two fantastic acquisitions in The Walkmen and Richard Hawley (ex-Longpigs).

One of the drop-outs this year is Bjork, who apparently has voice problems or jetlag or whatever. Hoever, fear not, as there are a whole host of other cool band, groups and musical ensembles to whet your appetite for a nice cool San Miguel (or any other well known beverage, not necessarily that one, obviously). The Cure, Mudhoney, Death in Vegas, Franz Ferdinand, Black Lips, Rufus Wainwringht....the list goes on and for a full set listing and line-up, check out the official site here. Looks like a great line up and a great excuse to get out and about listening ¡to some live music, too. Anyone planning on going this year ? Looking forward to anyone in particular? Let me know in the comments!

And if you're thinking of visiting the city this summer, check out BCN Rentals who have a great selection of apartments for rent instead of opting for a hotel room. And take a quick look at their city guide for those not-to-miss sights.

Formula 1 2012

At least for me, the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix in Barcelona (well, Montmelo) always seems to come around quickly. I should be used to it by now, as it's almost always the same date each year, but there's always that sensation of mid-May, a couple of music festivals along the way and all of a sudden we're in the height of summer. OK, well at least the weather is good outside, right?!

So starting tomorrow we have the come-back to Europe from Bahrain with Vettel still in the lead, followed by Hamilton but then hardly anything between the best of the rest, including Spain's darling, Fernando Alonso - always wanting to win on home soil - so much so, that he's not bothered about getting pole position tomorrow.

The easiest way to get to the circuit is on the bus from Paseig de Sant Joan/Diputacio run by Sagales. You can take the train but then there's a bit of a hike to actually get to the circuit. Bus time is around 45 minutes and costs 9 €.

Any predictions people? Let me know in the comments! And if you're looking for some last-minute accommodation deals, check out BCN Rentals apartments.

Inauguration Hemp Museum Barcelona

Stuck for something to do this Friday ? Well, the sun is out, the terraces are filling but there's also a special opening this Friday of Barcelona's new Hemp Museum. Sharing it's patronage from Ben Dronkers  - founder of the Amsterdam Hemp Museum - the new Barcelona sister version is housed in the fantastic Palau Mornau deep in the Gothic Quarter of the Catalan Capital. The museum exposes the origins of Hemp used in both industrial and nutritional uses, as well as cultural and medicinal uses of cannabis and a detailled look at the different varieties of the plant itself.

This week saw the Cultural Cannabis Awards held in the Museum itself with British Entrepreneur Richard Branson was in attendance along with special invited guest the Mayor of Rasquera - Tarragonian town thrust in to the spotlight in recent months for passing a local law permitting the cultivation of Cannabis in the region - the first of its kind in Spain. 


The location of the Museum also has an interesting story - built in the 16th Century by the SantCliment family (still named in a carrer in the Raval), it was discovered by Dronkers in 2002 in a "depolrable state". It has taken since then to slowly reform and refurbish the Palace to its former glory which now houses historical art and paintings from the 17th Century as well as botanical prints from as far back as the 18th and 19th Century all about the plant. It's tucked away on Carrer Ample (last on your left going down Las Ramblas), number 35.


The Mueseum opens tomorrow at 14h and will be opened by Jaime Prats, founder of the magazine  and emember of the Federacion de Asociaciones de Cannábicas (FAC). Although I've been invited, I won't be able to attend due to work commitments, but I can highly reccomend enquiring as to tomorrow's opening or heading on down there on another occasion. The opening hours are almost every day from 10am till 11pm and prices are 9€ for entrance - USDollars GBPounds and Euros all accepted as payment. 


Coming to Barcelona this summer? Check out BCN Rentals for some great deals on apartments. 

Solidarity Rose for Sant Jordi

Next week is Sant Jordi in Catalunya, and is always a popular and well celebrated day. I compare it sometimes to England, as Saint George is also the patron saint of England, and the day goes by pretty much unnoticed. Ask any Catalan the date of Sant Jordi, and they'd tell you the 23rd April like a shot. I'd wager that around 20% of English would know!

As is customary with the day, Barcelona council supports a cause and promotes the idea on the web. This year the very worthy cause is the Solidarity Rose project which is in its 18th edition and is an initiative from amics del gent gran. The idea is that citizens buy either a rose or a book (as per the tradition) and take it to an elderly person they know, spend some time with them and thus raise awareness of the large numbers of old people who are lonely and much of the time alone. Participants are then encouranged to share their tale on Facebook and Twitter with hashtag #rosascontraelolvido. So you can take a real rose or you can pick up the one that has been made specifically for the day in many different outlets (200 in total including supermarkets, shops, etc.) and the price is 3,50€. Good idea I think and I hope it is a success. Being self employed I don't keep a strict clock with work, and have made lots of friends in and around my neighbourhood who are all retired and who I bump into a lot. I know that some of them are lonely despite having families here, so this is an even better idea for those people who have no-one.

Fancy coming to Barcelona this spring? BCN Rentals has some great solutions for your accommodation needs.

Football Frenzy Begins!

Last night saw the start of many a groan from a supportive wife as a 9 day football frezy begun. Real Madrid were (deservedly, in my opinion) beaten by Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena - site of the final of this year's Champions League competition. That was the first of a two-leg semi final, and this evening sees the mouth watering Barcelona travelling to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in their first round tie.

Mourinho - ex-Chelsea boos - has already dismissed Chelsea's chances of progressing past the seemingly invincible Barça, and despite Di Matteo doing a preety good job at chealse since Villas Boas' departure I have to say I agree with him and can't see Chelsea toppling Barça over two legs. I'll predict a tight tie tonight, possibly not much fgootball being played, and it may even end up a draw.

That means next week, Bayern travel to the Bernabeu with a huge advantage of being in front, although Real have that all important away goal. And Chelsea will come to Camp Nou knowing they are still the underdogs.

Sandwiched in between is the small matter of La Liga fixture of a certain Barça vs Madrid this weekend! I still don't know why the Spanish press call this a "derby" when the two teams are hundreds of miles away, but I've kind of got used to it by now, so a derby it is. THE derby. These ties are always hot-blooded affairs  - perhaps more so since Mourinho's arrival at Madrid - and usually cards are dealt out left right and centre. I expect this game to be exactly the same and it may even be a showcase for the possibility of the final everyone outside of Germany is expecting in the Chamopions League final, too. Mourinho always moans that it's impossible to win at Camp Nou but I sometimes think that their players don't do a lot to help themselves either.

It's all shaping up to be a veritable feast of football, right?!! Any predictions from you guys and gals? Let me know in the comments!!

Coming to Barcelona soon? Check out these Barcelona apartments and a great alternative to a hotel. And for a quick look at the city sights, see this Barcelona guide.

Third Annual Puppet Festival! TOT Barcelona!

Well, time flies. I had a few posts ready as drafts for the rest of February and beginning of March, but that's too late now! I'd actually like a refund on February, cos it was terrible. My kids were ill, I was ill, then they were ill again. Never seemed to stop, really. So, apart from me being super busy with work, I'll try and keep up with the blog!

What better way to start, then with another one for the kids - big and small. This weekend sees the return of the Festival TOT  - the third annual festival of puppets and theatre. Puppeteers using their feet as puppets (no, really), different versions of The Emperor's clothes, shadow shows, giants there's all sorts going on this year and as always, there are workshops for families, kids, and shows for both young and old in the evening, too.

The festival starts tomorrow night, and takes place in Poble Espanyol which is a great place to host the event up on Montjuic. This year sees the Polish company, Bialostocki, offer a puupet version of Robert Scott's journey to the South Pole in the evening for the adults. Family tickets cost 25€ and then you have to pay for the individual shows that you want to go into, but this ticket also includes entrance to Poble Espanyol, where you can spend the whole day (they have kids gyncanas and all sorts of arts and crafty things like glass blowing and pottery making, etc.) so not a bad way to spend your Saturday or Sunday, right? Anyone been before? Thinking of going this year ? Let me know in the comments!

Thinking of visiting Barcelona this spring? Check out these Barcelona apartments instead of looking for a hotel.