The Backpackers Hostel Blog

Wed 23 Apr

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All day long at Las Ramblas de Catalunya

St. George’s Day is celebrated in all the Spanish autonomous communities: Aragon, Catalonia, and Valencia.

La Diada de Sant Jordi, also known as el dia de la rosa (The Day of the Rose) or el dia del llibre (The Day of the Book) is a Catalan holiday celebrated on April 23 similar to Valentine’s Day. The main event is the exchange of gifts between sweethearts, loved ones and respected ones. Historically, men gave their girlfriends and wives roses, and women gave their boyfriends and husbands a book to celebrate the occasion. In modern times, the mutual exchange of books is customary. Roses have been associated with this day since medieval times, but the giving of books is a more recent tradition. In 1923, a bookseller started to promote the holiday as a way to honour the nearly simultaneous deaths of Miguel Cervantes and William Shakespeare on April 23, 1616. Barcelona is the publishing capital in both Catalan and Spanish and this heady one-two punch of love and literacy was quickly adopted.

On Barcelona’s most visited street, La Rambla, and all over Catalonia, thousands of stands of roses and makeshift bookstalls are hastily set up for the occasion. By the end of the day, some four million roses and 400,000 books would have been purchased in the name of love. You will be hard-pressed to find a woman without a rose in hand, and half of the total yearly book sales in Catalonia take place on this occasion.

Additionally, April 23rd is the only day of the year when the Palau de la Generalitat, Barcelona’s principal government building, is open to the public. Inside this Gothic architectural masterpiece you’ll see huge displays of roses created to honour Saint George.

Catalonia has exported this tradition of the book and the rose to the rest of the world. In 1995, the UNESCO adopted April 23rd as World Book and Copyright Day. (Taken from www.wikipedia.org).

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[1] Taken from http://cosesdelraval.files.wordpress.com

[2] Taken from http://www.lesroquetes.com

Wed 30 Apr – Sat 3 May

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At CosmoCaixa (c/ Teodor Roviralta 47-51) Check prices

Barcelona will host the World Forum for animals (FMA) . On the common theme “Peace for Animals Too”, this Forum will be a wide international meeting with a number of actions in favour of animals, and a clear goal: to increase social awareness of the defence and protection of non human animals, under different views, and linked to the defence of Nature and life itself. There are going to be a parade, a concert, lectures, workshops/concerts and congresses.

To see the schedule of the activities click here

*(Photo taken from www.columbia.edu)

Thu 17 Apr

9pm at Palau de la Música Catalana, Sala de Concerts (C/ Sant Pere Més Alt, s/n)  Buy tickets

Paavo Järvi and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra return to Europe in April 2008, performing 12 concerts in five countries, including a concert at the newly renovated Salle Pleyel in Paris and the esteemed Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Two popular guest artists are featured on the CSO European Tour—the Dutch violinist Janine Jansen performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in and Britten’s Violin Concerto, and the Russian pianist Nikolaï Lugansky performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3.

Program in Barcelona
MOZART: The Nights of Figaro (obertura)
TCHAIKOVSKI: Concert for violin Re major, op. 35
SHOSTAKOVITCH: symphony No. 10, in Me minor, op. 93

JANINE JANSEN, Violin
PAAVO JÄRVI, Director

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Mon to Sun from 10am and 8pm Av. de les Drassanes s/n 6,50€

Since 1929, the Museu Marítim de Barcelona (Barcelona Maritime Museum) has built up a major group of collections that are illustrative of the Catalan seafaring culture and which make it easier to understand the factors that have given rise to and the nature of the country’s maritime history.

Highlights of the museum’s resources include the following collections:

1. Model ships
2. Nautical instruments
3. Ex-votos
4. Maritime paintings
5. Figureheads
6. Cartography
7. The replica of the royal galley of Juan de Austria
8. Schooner Santa Eulàlia

Taken from Barcelona Museu Maritim. More info at click here

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* Photo from www.electro-nico.com

17 – 20 April 2008

10.00 am – 8.00 pm  Montjuïc Exhibition Centre Halls 1, 2, 3 (Plaça de l’Univers) and 4

8€ Thu 17 & Fri 18 Apr – 10€ Sat 19 & Sun 20 Apr

Countries represented -Estimated: 75

The International Tourism Show in Catalonia featured the most comprehensive range of travel options, including national and international destinations, travel agencies, tour operators, airlines, accommodation options, etc.

The Tourism Show features different specialties, such as on-line tourism, active and adventure tourism, naturism and gay tourism.

The latter has, for the first time, its own space, the Pink Corner, which houses around 40 companies and associations, shows and informative activities. (Taken from www.firabcn.es)

Sectors

Official organizations
Accommodation
Travel agencies and tourist operators
Transport
Cultural and leisure tourism
Online tourism
Gastronomic tourism
Press
Raining and tourist services
Navigation
Camping and caravanning
Travel complements
Active tourism
Gay Tourism and LGTB friendly

Wed 23 Apr

9pm at L’Auditori, Sala 1 Pau Casals (c/Lepant, 150)  28 – 42€ Buy tickets

II International Piano Festival of Barcelona is presenting McCoy Tyner Quartet.

Modern jazz has been shaped by the music of McCoy Tyner. His blues-based piano style, replete with sophisticated chords and an explosively percussive left hand has transcended conventional styles to become one of the most identifiable sounds in improvised music. His harmonic contributions and dramatic rhythmic devices form the vocabulary of a majority of jazz pianists.

Tyner has released nearly 80 albums under his name, earned four Grammys and was awarded Jazz Master from the National Endowment for the Arts in 2002. He continues to leave his mark on generations of improvisers, and yet remains a disarmingly modest and spiritually directed man. (Taken from www.mccoytyner.com)

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“The Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau” -Hospital of the Holy Cross and Saint Paul (UNESCO World Heritage Site) dates back to 1401 when six hospitals in the city merged, forming the Hospital de la Santa Creu. With the growth of the city and the advances in medicine in the 19th century, the centre was unable to meet the demands of the time and construction of a new building was proposed.

Thanks to the legacy of Pau Gil, a banker, on January 15, 1902 the first stone of the new building was laid. “Sant Pau” was added to the old name of “la Santa Creu” to honour the wishes of its benefactor. The architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner was commissioned with the project. Over the years, the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau has become the most significant public building in Catalan modernisme.

600 years of history
Poster designed by Antoni Tàpies for the 600th anniversary
In 2001 the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau celebrated its 600th anniversary. Since it was first founded in 1401 it has undergone constant development. Its original mission – to serve the poor and pilgrims according to Christian Charity – has evolved to needs of today, to be a community-based, patient-focused reference centre. (Taken from http://www.santpau.es).

Address: Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167 How to go there

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* Photo taken from www.wikimedia.org

(Taken from http://www.museuhistoria.bcn.es)

The Museum of the History of Catalonia -MHCB , opened in 1996, it is situated in a medieval building that used to be a royal residence, explains the story of the city, and includes a visit to the Roman ruins in the museum’s basement.

It also comprises the Museum-Monastery of Pedralbes, one of the best examples of Catalan Gothic architecture, the Museum-House Verdaguer, dedicated to poet Jacint Verdaguer, the Park Güell Interpretation Centre and several other minor sites as follows

Conjunt Monumental de la Plaça del Rei

Plaça del Rei, s/n 6 € combined ticket for all MHCB centres
Opening hours: Oct 1 – Mar 30, from Tue to Sat, from 10am to 2pm and from 4am to 7pm.
From Apr 1 – Sep 30 from Tue to Sat, from 10am to 8pm
All year long, Sun and holidays from 10am to 3pm.
Closed on Mondays & annual holidays: Jan 1, May 1, Jun 24 and Dec 25.

Museu-Monestir de Pedralbes

Baixada del Monestir, 9 6 € combined ticket for all MHCB centres
Opening hours: Oct 1 to Mar 30, from Tue to Sat from 10am to 2pm. From Apr 1to Sep 30 from, Tue to Sat from 10am to 5pm
All year long, Sun and holidays from 10 to 3pm. Closed on Mon & annual holidays: Jan 1, May 1, Good Friday, Jun 24 and Dec 25.

Museu-Casa Verdaguer

Ctra. Església, 104
Vil·la Joana. Vallvidrera Free entrance
Opening hours: Tue to Fri arranged visits for groups. Sat and Sun from 10am to
2pm. Closed on Mon & annual holidays: Jan 1, May 1, Jun 24 and Dec 25.

Centre d’Interpretació del Park Güell

Pavelló de Consergeria, Park Güell
c/ d’Olot, s/n 2,30 €. 6 € combined ticket for all MHCB centres
Opening hours: Tue to Sun from 11am to 3pm. Closed on annual holidays: Jan 1, May 1, Jun 24 and Dec 25.

Refugi 307

c/ Nou de la Rambla, 169) Price 2€
Opening hours: Sat and Sun from 11am to 2pm. Closed on annual holidays: Jan 1, May 1, Jun 24 and Dec 25.

Espai Santa Caterina. Centre d’Intepretació Arqueològica

Plaça Joan Capri (Mercat de Santa Caterina) Free entrance
Opening hours: Mon, Tue, Wed and Sat from 8.30am to 2pm; Thu and Fri, from 8.30am to 8pm.

Centre d’Interpretació del Call

Placeta Manuel Ribé, s/n Free entrance
Opening hours: Wed, Thu and Fri from 10 am to 2 pm; Sat from 11 am to 6 pm; Sun and holidays from 11 am to 3 pm

Information and bookings

Tel. 93 256 21 22 Fax. 93 268 04 54
reserves-mhcb@bcn.cat
Mon to Thu from 10am to 2pm and from 4pm to 7pm, Fri from 10am to 2pm

Thu 29 May – Sun 6 Jul

Vicente Amigo, Diego el Cigala, Juan de Juan, Tomatito, Rosario and other marvellous flamenco artists at the third edition of the Festival De Cajón! in Barcelona.

From May 29th through Jun 6th flamenco shows will be featured at a variety of venues throughout Barcelona: Palau de la Música, Sala Apolo, Luz de Gas and the Gran Teatro del Liceo.

Program

Thu 29 May Vicente Amigo

9pm at Palau de la Música Catalana (Palau de la Música, 4-6) 22 a 48 Euros Buy tickets

Wed 4 Jun Diego El Cigala

9pm at Palau de la Música Catalana (Palau de la Música, 4-6) Precios: De 22 a 48 Euros Buy tickets

Sat 14 Jun Juan de Juan

9:30pm at Sala Apolo (Nou de la Rambla, 113) Precios: 20 Euros Buy tickets

Sun 15 Jun Duende entre nosotros + Guillermo Cano

8:30pm at Luz de Gas (Muntaner, 246) Precios: 10 Euros Buy tickets

Wed 18 Jun Encarna Anillo

9:30pm at Sala Apolo (Nou de la Rambla, 113)Precios: 18 Euros Buy tickets

Sat 28 Jun Las Migas

9:30pm at Luz de Gas (Muntaner, 246) 12 Euros Buy tickets

Fri 4 Jul Tomatito

9:30pm at Palau de la Música Catalana (Palau de la Música, 4-6)18 a 45 Euros Buy tickets

Sun 6 Jul Rosario

8:00pm at Gran Teatre del Liceu (C/ La Rambla 50-59)42 a 68 Euros Buy tickets

Sat 12 Apr

9pm at Razzmatazz (Sala 1 – C/Almogàvers, 122) 25€ Buy tickets

Ian Brown is an English musician and former lead singer of the Madchester band The Stone Roses.

Since the band’s acrimonious and prolonged break up in 1996, Brown has released five solo albums. He has appeared on several club tours and has performed at the Glastonbury Festival three times since 1998.

He is considered to be an influential artist and has had twelve UK top 40 singles.In the 2006 NME awards, Brown was presented with the “Godlike Genius” award. He said that as well as his work with the Stone Roses, he considered the track “F.E.A.R.” to be one of his moments of genius.

In October 2006, Brown made a surprising move to headline the Rockit Hong Kong Music Festival held outdoors in Victoria Park HK. During the two-day event and prior to his appearance on stage he strolled around anonymously and mingled with members of the crowd. His eventual stage performance was hailed by the South China Morning Post and other local newspapers as a great success.

In September 2007, Brown released his fifth studio album, The World Is Yours. The album represented a more political approach in his music, particularly the anti-war single, Illegal Attacks. (Taken from www.wikipedia.org)