Barcelona is well-known as a great destination for all the shopping fanatics. Everything that you have been searching for so badly, you can always find here! There are, for instance, special designer’s shops like one in Raval – The Air Shop. Everything from the assortment is filled with air – inflatable decoration, i.e. paintings, lamps or artistic pillows. The prices are relatively high, but like typical designer shops – a customer does not pay for an actual product, but more for the idea included in it. If you are looking for something original and definitely beautiful, this one is perfect! Another very interesting designer store is Vincon (Passeig de Gracia) which sells products from contemporary art, such as furniture, decoration, utility items or simply things that are interesting in design and pattern. You can find basically everything there – starting from objects such as tables, chairs, even kitchen or bathroom installations to small designer items, including graphic and industrial design.

Another interesting shopping attraction is the Manga shop (not to be confused with high street clothes shop chain Mango!), located nearby the Eixample district (metro Urgell). It is an ideal place for all of the Japanese cartoon lovers. Unique, hand-made figures are the biggest attraction of the store, but you can also find many other different items– comic books (translated into several languages), DVDs, T-Shirts and playstation games. If you are a fan of cartoons, but not necessarily Manga, there is another shop, selling cartoon figures (Fontanella Street, next to Pl.Catalunya). You can buy figures of Fred Flintstone, Sponge Bob, Dexter etc – a great present not exclusively for children, but for everyone who likes cartoons!

If you are looking for some cool gifts for your friends, you should definitely check out Art Montfalcon shop (Boters 4, Barri Gotic). This store is ideal for anyone who wants to buy something with the accent of the city itself, but not necessarily a typically touristy item like the ones that you can find on La Rambla. You can find a wide range of extraordinary things there, such as original stickers for laptops/iPhones, candles, figures with Gaudi patterns, to original designer products such as boxes, cans and tin paintings all in 1960 style. But the store is also full with many other products like pottery, clothing, watches and jewelry. There are many small things that are perfect for the unconventional gift, I saw a small barrel organ that played famous pieces of music also novel table games such as an old IQ testing game! In short if you are searching for original gift ideas in the city Barcelona shops can offer you a lot more than Gaudi or Sagrada de Familia monuments! There really is something for everyone in this city you just need to be prepared to look for it! Happy Shopping!

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Most of the cinemas in Spain project movies with Spanish dubbing. However, there are a few cinemas that screen movies in their original versions (OV). The following list presents where you can go to watch a movie in English in Barcelona:

Cines Verdi (5 salas)

Web: http://www.cines-verdi.com/

Address: C/ Verdi, 43.

Tel: 93 238 7990

Metro: Fontana

Cines Verdi Park (4 salas)

Web: http://www.cines-verdi.com/

Address: C/ Torrijos, 49

Tel: 93 238 7990

Metro: Fontana

Icària Yelmo (15 salas)

Web: www.yelmocineplex.es/

Address: C/ Salvador Espriu, 61.

Tel: 93 221 7585

Metro: Ciutadel.la - Vila Olímpica

Renoir-Les Corts (6 salas)

Web: www.cinesrenoir.com/

Address: C/ Eugeni d’Ors, 12.

Tel: 93 490 5510

Metro: Les Corts

Filmoteca de la Generalitat

Web: http://cultura.gencat.net/filmo/

Address: Av. Sarrià, 31-33.

Tel: 93 410 7590

Metro: Hospital Clínic

IMAX

Web: www.imaxintegral.com/

Address: Moll d’Espanya del Port Vell

Tel: 93 268 3300

Metro: Drassanes o Barceloneta

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Today is the International Women Day (8^th March), celebrated in many countries in the world and is an official holiday in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China (for women only), Croatia, Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal (for women only), Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Zambia. It originates from the socialist movement in 1908, while 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. The first National Women’s Day occurred in USA on 28 February 1909, however the International Women’s Day was established two years later thanks to Clara Zetkin - the leader of the ‘Women’s Office’ for the Social Democratic Party in Germany. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women’s Day - to press for their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties and working women’s clubs, Women´s Day was first celebrated in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19, 1911. However, the final date of the festivity 8 March was established after a women’s strike in Russia who struggled for “bread and peace” in response to the death of over 2 million Russian soldiers during World War I. As a result, women forced the Czar to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. The strike took place on Sunday 23 February 1917 according to the Julian calendar then in use in Russia which is 8 March in the Gregorian, used elsewhere.

In many countries the International Women’s Day refers to Mother’s Day when children and grandchildren give flowers and small gifts to the beloved women from their families. In some countries, like Portugal, children give teachers some small presents as well. In Italy, to celebrate this day, men give yellow mimosa flowers to women. There are also feminist demonstrations organized this day, like these ones in Poland.

The International Women’s Day contributes to a great promotion and protection of equal rights, living conditions and standards worldwide. It is also a good occasion to reflect upon what has been done, measure the results and set new actions for making situation of the women better.

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I am not a huge fan of jazz music personally, but listening to a live concert is a completely different experience. And Barcelona is a great place to do so. You can find many official concerts like these ones in l’Auditori (the music school) or the jazz music clubs but if you are fonder of alternative places, Barcelona has plenty of them to offer. Recently, I went to a jazz concert in the Electric Bar. It is a bar in Gracia - an eclectic and very artistic district of Barcelona. The concert was organized before the so-called Jam Session, which is an open activity for all jazz fanatics – you can just come and play and/or sing. I could listen to a session like this and I have to admit I was pretty amazed by the performance! People who don’t know each other and never played together before created one band and gave a really stunning show – really worth recommending! There are paid concerts (the price starts from 3€), but there are also many concerts for free. Interested? This is a website about Jazz concerts, clubs and Jam Sessions in Barcelona!

http://www.urbaanjazz.com/index.php?ville=Barcelona&lang=english

Check out the videos from the concert:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxkyTZqS7Eg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIB0sALHAuI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvcyTufvIJU

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While searching for some cultural attractions in Barcelona, I found many interesting exhibitions and galleries. I have to admit that some of them were pretty amazing and Barcelona surprised me one more time offering another way of spending spare time completely for free! Let me tell you something about my latest discovery: exhibitions at Palau Robert (Passeig de Gracia, 107). “Catalonia in the world” is the name of a photo reportage, made by Gustau Nacarino, presenting different events in Catalonia, Spain. The exhibition shows that Nacarino is not only a photographer but more a journalist and a correspondent in his own country who tries to contribute to “raising the world’s awareness of Catalonia”. And not just as a tourist destinantion. His pictures present various places in Barcelona throughout 40 years, which is very interesting to see how, for example, Estacion Nord (North Station) looked like in 1965. But this is only one part of Naracino’s exhibition. A great part was dedicated to the musicians that visited Barcelona in a certain moment in time – great pictures of artists like Queen (79), Bob Dylan (81), Bob Marley (78) or Boy George (83). Exhibition includes music and videos as well.

Another exhibition available in Palau Robert is called “Xarxes, un viatge per ler infraestructures de Catalunya” (In Catalan) which means “Networks, a journey through infrastructures of Barcelona”. It presents the urban side of Barcelona, including statistics, music, videos and real objects like metro carriage placed right there in the middle museum – very authentic! I picked up interestingly quirky information such as the amount of refuse produced each day in Barcelona… 57.500 tons! Want to know more? Palau Robert – from 10 till 19h every week day.

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While visiting Barcelona, you might need Internet sometimes…Don’t like using Internet cafes? There you go!

The list of Wi-Fi points in Barcelona!

Centro Cívico Casa Golferichs
Centro Cívico Cotxeres Borrell
Centros Servicios Sociales Sagrada Familia
Espacio de Personas Mayores Esquerra Eixample
Espacio de Personas Mayores Fort Pienc
Espacio de Personas Mayores San Antoni
Mercado de la Concepció
Archivo Municipal de Les Corts
Centro Cívico Casa Deu
Centro Cívico Pere Quart
DHUB Pedralbes (Museo de las Artes Decorativas - Museo del Textil y de la Indumentaria)
Mercado de Les Corts
OAC Distrito de Les Corts
Servicios Técnicos de Les Corts
Centro Cívico Casinet d’Hostafrancs
Centro Cívico Cotxeres de Sants
Centro Cívico Font de la Guatlla
Centro Cívico La Cadena
Centro de Servicios Sociales de Sants
Centro de Servicios Sociales La Marina
Centro Deportivo Municipal La Bordeta
Museo Etnológico
OAC Distrito de Sants-Montjuïc
Punto de información juvenil El Punt
Punto Multimedia Sants y Espacios para Jóvenes
Parque de la Ciutadella
Parque de Joan Miró
Parque del Laberint d’Horta
Parque de La Pegaso
Parque Ciutadella
Centro Cívico Casa Elizalde
Centro Cívico Sagrada Familia
Centro Deportivo Municipal Estación del Norte
Espacio Joven de L’Eixample
OAC Distrito de L’Eixample
Centro Cívico El Sortidor
Centro de Servicios Sociales Poble-sec
Centro Cívico Can Castelló
Centro Cívico Casa Sagnier Centro Social de Jóvenes Punto de
Información Jóvenes
Centro Cívico L’Elèctric - Comisionado Les Planes
Centro Cívico Vallvidrera-Vázquez Montalbán
Mercado de Sarrià
Mercado de Tres Torres
Hogar de Ancianos Casc Antic
Hogar de Ancianos Pati Llimona
Centro Cívico Barceloneta
Centro Cívico Convent de Sant Agustí
Centro Cívico Drassanes
Centro Cívico Pati Llimona
Centro de Servicios Personales Erasme Janer
Centro de Servicios Personales Gòtic
Centro de Servicios Sociales Barceloneta
Centro de Servicios Sociales Drassanes
DHUB Montcada (Exposiciones temporales y galerías de estudio)
Foment Ciutat Vella
Guardia Urbana
Museo Barbier-Mueller de Arte Precolombino
Museo Picasso
OAC Ayuntamiento
Sala Ciutat
Hogar de Ancianos Navas
Centro Cívico Sagrera
Centro Cívico Trinitat Vella
Centro Deportivo Municipal Trinitat Vella
Centro Garcilaso
OAC Distrito de Sant Andreu

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There are many ways to improve communication. Lifestyle Barcelona together with Madiba Incentives proposed a – multinational IT a very good offer – a 2-day-event with icebreaking and incentives activities. The first day the event was held in what is widely referred to as “a unique open-air museum” in Barcelona called “Pueblo Espanol” (Spanish Village) while the second day was held at the Olympic Canal, a part of the Olympic Village, built for Olympic Games in 1992.

The first day event theme was “Catalan Tradition” which perfectly matched with the location of “Pueblo Español”. At the beginning, the group was all warmly welcomed by the animators at the entrance, who presented the museum and then moved the group on to the Town Hall, where the actual session took place. The group of 50 participants were divided into 2 teams, each team had to build their own human tower, called a “Castell” in Catalan. Building human towers is a Catalan tradition performed at many festivals here in Catalonia.

No proper Castell building is possible without “Faja”, a black tissue belt of 5 meters length, which supports the back of a participant and reduces the risk of any accidents. The tower was built in two phases: first, the “pinya” the base of the tower followed by the subsequent levels that were created by participants climbing onto the shoulders of those beneath them. But don´t worry, of course everything was kept under the professional guidance of the numerous Human Tower coordinators´. Only the professionals are able to climb to a height of any risk.

Each team had to choose a team leader – usually it was the most dynamic person in the group. Team leaders divided the tasks among their members according to ability, physical build and character. For example slight, short and brave people would likely be chosen to climb up one level as opposed to form part of the base for obvious reasons!Tower building is a very fragile process and has to be done carefully and everyone needs take responsibility for their role in the team.

But don´t forget what is essential in this activity – management and foremost, teamwork. That´s why this activity is a great and unconventional way of proper team-building and facilitation skills. This activity is also a very good icebreaker. Even though the people are from one company they are spread across international branches and hence they did not all know each other. During this activity participants need to be very close to each other and cooperate in order to achieve their common aim.

The winning team is the one who finishes building their tower first. This is the competitive element of the activity but after building two separate towers, both teams united and built one tower together. This was a very amusing activity which merged the two teams and gave them the opportunity to contribute to a common goal. Throughout the whole activity, musicians played traditional Catalan music giving the whole event a fun and festive feeling all the way through to the final celebration ceremony.

The second part of the event was the performance of the traditional Catalan dance called “Sardanas”. The animators demonstrated the steps of this dance and provided the group with traditional costumes: “Faja” for men and a traditional cap for women. All dressed up and full of the traditional spirit they began to dance. The basic rule for this dance is to form a circle by holding hands and then rhythmically perform the steps together. This activity was also a great icebreaker as dancing together hand in hand participants completely forgot about their office status… your boss is your dance partner now - fun!

The second day was dedicated to “Mini Olympics. It took place at the Canal Olympics, built for the Olympic Games of 1992. The group was divided into eight teams. Each group had 20 minutes for 1 out of 4 competitions: archery, rowing, pedal karts and the traditionally called “Puente competition”. The latter competition required participants to walk along wooden planks, set upon large barrels and get from one point to another without their feet touching the ground. After completing one competition each team rotated until all of them had completed each competition. Believe me, it was very amusing to see colleagues rowing madly or competing with the boss in pedal karts!

At the end of the competition, the teams were awarded with medals of gold, silver and bronze. Some team members confessed that although they didn´t win anything Mini Olympics was an amazing activity to get to know their colleagues. Through fun and enjoyment they developed teamwork and cooperation. The event set in the real Olympic Games environment gave more authenticity to the event and definitely, motivated them to do their best to win!

Lifestyle Barcelona: Enjoyment through fun and professionalism!!

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This one is really worth mentioning!!

With Valentines Day just around the corner we have all begun to subtly remind our significant others of their fast approaching opportunity to show us just how much they care… (Or is that just me?). Anyway this year at Lifestyle Barcelona we are spoiling you for choice. From Romantic Horse & Carriage tours and Chocolate Tasting for Two to a range of Spa Treatments and private Balloon Flights you guys and gals can really enjoy being extra original with our range of romantic shared experiences. Also until the end of February we are offering reduced prices on a number of our experiences so don’t wait too long to click here for more information!

For Valentines Day 2010 however, the experience that has my vote is the new Aphrodisiac Night for Two! Set in a beautifully bohemian location in the centre of Barcelona this experience includes a sensuous 30 minute massage for two followed by a carefully prepared “aphrodisiac dinner” for two. During the meal you and your special someone will be passionately entertained by professional Tango dancers who will help bring this beautiful experience to a wonderful climatic end! Sit back, let go and allow your senses be awakened. But remember it’s for one night only – Saturday 13th February 2010. For more information email us at: info@lifestylebarcelona.com and one of our staff will be more than happy to help! Happy Valentines Everyone!

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The Lifestyle Barcelona team is not scared of a little bit of dirt and competition. It was a fierce fight between the colleagues. A few followed the track perfectly, while others couldn’t take control of the monster machine and drove right into the barricade of tires. It was certainly not a typical Gran prix race, because we from Lifestyle Barcelona love some action and silliness.

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Driven by a love for Spanish food, Wine and culture, I am interning this autumn and winter in Barcelona, Spain. As a Dutch International Business student I have the chance to do my internship for 5 months abroad. I have been told that a great way to boost your resume is to spice it up with a bit of international experience. Although I am not quite ready to launch myself into the job market yet my internship at Lifestyle Barcelona has certainly helped me get started.

I remember being back in Holland searching for an internship online, sending out my resume, having several phone interviews etc. , until I found THE ONE!

I looked at lifestyle Barcelona’s website and I immediately got enthusiastic about the company. I used the link to visit Lifestyle Barcelona’s Blog and I enjoyed reading them. They have been written by the previous interns. They also posted pictures of their experiences with the Lifestyle Barcelona crew. I also found lots of funny videos and beautiful pictures from Lifestyle Barcelona on youtube and on facebook.

I knew that as an intern at Lifestyle Barcelona I would have to work hard, but that I would learn a lot and would experience things I’d usually never get the chance to do in a typical internship. I think everyone is familiar with the typical internships. The ones where you are only responsible for making coffee and using the photocopy machine! At Lifestyle Barcelona they have a whole different definition of an intern. Here the interns form an integral part of the team and our opinions and suggestions really count. I attend weekly meetings, support the corporate sales team, deal with individual or group tourists, maintain the online marketing campaigns and develop a company manual. Lifestyle Barcelona expects hard work, professionalism and enthusiasm and in return I get rewarded culturally and educationally.

I was quite nervous about the job interview, but in the end there was no need. I had pleasant conversations with my current mentor. I felt secure and confident about going to Barcelona and working for Lifestyle Barcelona. The previous Intern, Leigh Foley, really helped me get to grips with my daily schedule and speaking to visiting tourists all day really helped me get to know all the unique experiences that Lifestyle Barcelona offers very quickly indeed! I was amazed about how much work is put into each client especially when it comes down to organizing events for corporate companies.

Having been in Barcelona for only 2 months, what amazes me is how much it feels like home. A large factor contributing to this is that I have done plenty of walking, such that I almost feel like a local!

2 weeks ago I experienced something for the first time ever! I ran a marathon! Ok, so it was not a full marathon, infact it was not even half actually it was a 5k charity run for breast cancer. All the girls from Lifestyle Barcelona took part in the fundraising ‘Carrer de la Mujer’. The girls finished strong! The run was surprisingly tolerable, even enjoyable, and definitely a unique experience.

Besides the marathon I have also experienced a lot more with the company, I have been Night time Sailing, Wine Tasting, taken part in the GoCar experience and even enjoyed an Arab bath and massage spa day! Next Friday we’ll be trying out a new experience. Curious? Watch this space for more information about the New Experience!

I also had the opportunity to go to the Entrepreneurs Network Barcelona meeting. The subject of the meeting was: ‘How to use Social networking as an Effective Marketing Tool’. The speakers were two very important players in the social networking movement, here in Spain; LINQIA and XING. They showed us a video about Social Media that was quite interesting and entertaining.I met people on a professional level as well as a social level, and I learned a thing or two about international corporate culture. I got the kind of immersion that helps with my language and culture-learning, while meeting some interesting new people.

I meet the coolest people, attend some exciting events and learned a lot about the company, planning events, tourism etc. I don’t t know what to expect over the next two months but I am open to the experience of soaking up the LIFESTYLE BARCELONA!

THE INTERN

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