BARCA – CAN THEY WIN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – AGAIN???

In case you had not heard, Barca THUMPED Real Madrid this past weekend with a 6-2 finish. I dare say, it may have been one of the happiest moments of my life, just after meeting Claudia Schiffer in person. The men are in true form – but it begs the question – can they continue the thumping to take it to Chelsea??

Barca will play Chelsea this Wednesday, May 6th, and after a 0-0 draw in their first matching, I am biting my nails that Barca can overcome their stage fright on the European stage. PLUS!!!! It has been posted that Thierry Henry will not be able to play in the match-up with Chelsea. The soccer Gods will hopefully shine on the Camp Nou this week.

For those that have never been, the Barca museum at the Camp Nou in the Les Corts District of Barcelona is a great place for soccer fans to spend an afternoon. Get a quick drink up the street at the tony Princesa Sofia Hotel, or at one of the many cafes-restaurant up the street on Avenida Diagonal. Great place to jog too!

Visca Barca!!!!!!!!!!!

Catalan – Is It a Language?

I think I am going to have to set something straight. Everybody keeps commenting in cyberspace about the language Catalan, is it a language, is it a dialect of Spanish, does it really matter to anyone?
Well, yes it matters, particularly if you are from eastern Spain, southern France, the Balearic Islands, the Island of Sardinia or the Principality of Andorra – all places where Catalan is spoken. Language is a foundation of any culture – and should be respected and nurtured.
During the Roman Empire the middle and lower classes spoke what was considered a vulgar form of Latin. Street-talk if you will. This sidewalk lingo stuck around particularly on the Eastern Iberian Peninsula after the Roman empire fell. The language became known as Catalan over the centuries and is having a resurgance in the areas above metioned.
You will remember that once the Roman empire fell, the Moors conquered most of the Iberian peninsula. The Arabic language of the Moors mixed with pure Latin, creating modern Castellano [Spanish]. This is why many root words in Spanish are Arabic. So, in essence, Catalan is a much older language than Spanish.

Some key phrases for your trip to Barcelona:

Thank You: Gracies or Merces
Please: Si us Plau [pronounced: sisplau]
Where is my beer?: On esta la meva cervesa?
Where is my girlfriend?: On esta la meva xicota?
I want a glass of wine and a hot dog!: Vui un got de vi i una butifarra!

Market Hotel or NH Podium?

I recently got an inquiry from an American group wanting to know about the Market Hotel in Barcelona. The group is older, wants something economical yet clean and will allow them to walk with ease to city sights. Are you in this same predicament??? This is what I told them:

I had a chance to look at that hotel, and I had not heard of it. That is not strange though as there are a lot of new boutique hotels. I think in general it could be a good find. It is in Eixample-esquerre, which is affectionately known as “gayxample”, so if there are a lot of men around, dont be surprised. That also probably means a lot of trendy bars and restaurants within walking distance. It is two blocks south of the Gran Via which is a beautiful thoroughfare to walk, and as you stated, the Mercat Sant Antoni is a block south, which is great for food shopping. Directly east is the Gothic quarter and the Ramblas and the Raval. The Raval is traditionally the Muslim quarter now become hip with young artists, but also traditionally known as a bit dangerous if walking alone. The further south of the hotel you go towards Montjuic the less attractive the neighborhoods become, and the further north and west of the hotel, the more chic.

That said, if it is reasonable, then it seems like a good fit because you can walk to most everything, and if not, there are several metro stops nearby.

There really are no “unsafe” parts to Barcelona, especially given there are usually more people walking around at 3 in the morning than at midday, but pickpockets are very prevalent in the central core for tourists. Keep nothing in your pockets [men] and keep purses tighly against the body and within eye-shot.

Another idea would be to research the NH Hotel Chain. This is a Spanish chain with very affordable rooms and always very nice. I would look into possible the NH PODIUM which starts at 100 euros a night. It is in the Eixample-Dreta which is very chic, and in a recently restored late 19-century art-nouveau building. It is 4 blocks east of the Paseo de Gracia and 4 blocks north of the Gothic Quarter, and the Via Laietana which takes you directly to the Harbor area, and the extremely trendy El Born Section of the Gothic Quarter.

Ahhhhh PAELLA!

A beautiful specimen of a "Paella Mixta."

     It has been said that the Paella is the greatest thing Spain has exported to the rest of the world. Besides Penelope Cruz and Camper footwear, I dare say that may be true.

     I am an ethnic Valencian, and my family harkens from the Province of Castellon, about a 2.5 hour drive south of Barcelona. The Valencian region is where the paella originated, and where it is still the best. The Albufera region of Valencia is a low-lying land full of moisture where the famous Bomba rice is grown. From this a traditional paella is cooked out of doors, only with the wood of an orange tree. It is the musky citric essence of orange wood that truly injects a paella with an orgasmic quality to the pallette. Paella is either “de mar” or “de montana”, which means from “the sea” or from “the mountain.” A sea paella only has shellfish and maybe some fish, whereas a mountain paella has rabbit and white escargot. Modern “paella mixtas” are what you find in restaurants that cater to tourists, which throw in everything but the kitchen sink. Mixta paellas are not traditional, but I agree… they still are scrumptous.

El Raval

If you have never been to this corner of Barcelona – you havent experienced the true essence of Modern Barcelona. The city is now a melting pot of old and young, Catalan and not Catalan, local and from far away. As you are descending the Ramblas from Plaza Catalunya you head right into the narrow streets of the upper Gothic Quarter bounded by the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Rambla del Raval. For a period of time El Raval had become the Middle Eastern corridor of the city where new immigrants built their lives and falafel stands. Now it is much more, and secret bars, restaurants and fascinating people await you.

Barcelona Animals That Love Gaudi

Snapshots of the City of Barcelona

 All images courtesy of Manya Kay [international pie-making extraordinaire] and Clay Rockefeller [speed-walking aficionado] (c) 2008.

Gaudi Snapshots of Barcelona

Salvador Dali – A Master in the Village of Magical Light

     I am an artist. At least I like to call myself one even though I work as an attorney. People think that the two areas cannot be woven together, but art has no ego. Art will invite itself into any area of life, any situation and any emotion. Art does not care about cliques, about image, art only wants to be. Art can only be if you reach into your soul and create it. Without the human soul art cannot exist.

     There once lived, in my humble opinion, one of the most amazing artists that was able to pour his soul into every creative endeavor he commenced. His name was Salvador Dali. Criticised by many, called a loon by others, he chose to only listen to what art thought of him. Dali and art had a tempestuous and often violent relationship where a tug of war of sorts burned wildly between the desire to be loved and the desire to be left alone. The remants of this crazed love affair are paintings, images and creations – of pure genius.

     One of Dali’s passions was his home: The Village of Cadaques. He bought at first one of a dozen old fishermen huts in the outlying Bay of Port Lligat, a rugged and desolate location locals never dared to live. After many years, Dali had combined several old fishermen huts into a large home with sweeping views of the bay and the Island of Port Lligat. From this location, many of Dali’s fanciful creations garnered their inspiration. Looking at a Dali painting one can almost smell the salt and lavendar in the air and hear the squak of angry and cold seagulls.

     One of the highest selling Spanish pop-rock groups of all time, Mecano, devoted a song to Dali, and the town of “magical light” – Cadaques. The song is both haunting and moving, encapusulating perfectly the life of Salvador Dali, and the bay of Port Lligat.

     Attached is a wonderfully created montage of images depicting Cadaques, Dali and his masterpieces…  Enjoy…

Valencia

     Another easy day trip from Barcelona, is the majestic city of Valencia. Hop on the Euromed bullet train at Sants train station, and in less than 3 hours you are in another amazing city by the Mediterranean. Valencia in recent years has evolved from a small city entrenched in old customs and an agricultural society, to being one of the most prominent destinations in Europe for art, architecture, and well…. just all ’round fun.

     Historically, Valencia was deeply rooted in the cultivation of oranges, a crop that is still widely grown throughout the region. The Valencian region has always been known as well for its rice, fish and locally created Lladro porcelain sculptures. In fact, a trip to the Lladro factory in nearby Roques Blanques is a cool stop as well for arty sorts. Last year the America’s Cup Louis Vuitton Regatta was centered in Valencia, which made the city embark on a massive building boom including a new waterfront, port and rehabilitation of the historic core. Add to this the building of the “City of Arts and Sciences”, complete with an opera house that resembles a Spanish Conquistador’s helmet, architectural buffs are sure to have their socks blown off.

     Here are some recent pics of this truly gorgeous city – Valencia…

Old Town Valencia

Castle

Central Core

City of Arts and Sciences

Truly Futuristic

Train Station - Valencia

Cathedral - Valencia