Medieval Barcelona El Born or La Ribera: February 18, 2010

On our field trip to El Born and La Ribera, it was interesting to see how the area has transformed in recent years to become one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Barcelona. El Born is La Ribera's neighborhood within a neighborhood. The centerpiece of El Born is the Santa Maria del Mar church, which faces onto a beautiful square with wine and tapas bars. Known as the People's Cathedral, this is one of the most popular and frequently visited religious centers. Built in the fourteenth century, both the exterior and interior have been wonderfully preserved. Also, the stained glass windows are beautiful. At the back of the church is the area's main street, Paseo del Born, which is lined with cosy bars and restaurants. This small, intimate, and friendly neighborhood is where just about everything fashionable is happening now such as art, clothes design, interior decoration, etc.

The heart and soul of this community is the wide open Passeig del Born. From the thirteenth to the seventeenth centuries, this was pretty much the main square of Barcelona where public festivities and other events were held. Although the Boqueria on Las Ramblas may be the city's most famous food market, the main wholesale business was always done here at El Born. The textile museum is located in this area because in Born's early days it was home to the textile guilds of Barcelona. Guilds were a forerunner to the trade unions and the backbone of Barcelona medieval life. Many of the shields can be seen on buildings dotted around the Barri Gotic, which would have denoted the headquarters of each particular trade. El Call, the original Jewish ghetto, is also located within the Barri Gotic. The recently refurbished La Llotja, the city's first stock exchange, lies on it outer edge on the Placa Palau.

El Raval Barrio: April 22, 2010

The neighborhood, El Raval, is an interesting and exciting area that also has a darker side that people should be aware of. The area has a special personality and character all of its own that makes it a compelling place to visit. El Raval is part of the second stage development of historic Barcelona and used to be very densely populated until the city walls were removed around the turn of the 20th century and the Eixample area was built. Since 1988, the government started a huge urban regeneration project and invested a lot of money in cleaning up the area and it has become more modern and safer. This multi-cultural neighborhood has a variety of cafes, restaurants, and bars. In addition, there are numerous art studios, galleries, and trendy bookshops. The Museu d'Art Contemporani Placa Angels (MACBA) and the Centre de Cultura Contemporania de Barcelona (CCCB) are in the Raval area. It is also the location for an El Raval Humanities University. The CCCB is the first center in Europe to address the urban culture as a driving force behind change and a generator of social, urban planning and cultural developments.



The urban regeneration of El Raval has been led by public funding including money from the EU social cohesion fund. Today, private investment greatly exceeds public investment. The government has concentrated on improving infrastructure, municipal and district facilities, housing, employment, health, education, and social services. There were many kids in the area skateboarding which has become a popular aspect of coming to Barcelona.

Citrus Restaurant: April 13, 2010

Citrus is a modern, well-decorated restaurant with huge windows and views of Passeig de Gracia. It consists of Catalan and Mediterranean cuisine that include many meat and seafood options. The restaurant was recently renovated in April 2008 and decorated by Antoni Arola who is the winner of the National Design Award in 2003. Placed on the first floor of a building in L 'Eixample at the corner of Consell de Cent and Passeig de Gracia, its location is in the center of the city of Barcelona. The name Citrus is because of the decoration in fruit colors with paintings by Lluis Lleo. We took a panoramic glass elevator to the restaurant which was an interesting concept because of its location on the first floor. In Barcelona, they have a ground floor and then the second floor is considered the first floor. It took me a while to understand that because it is completely different from the U.S.

The Catalan and Spanish rice dishes represent one of Citrus' strong points. In addition to traditional recipes, there are modern variations like swordfish filet with a three mustard sauce. As for desserts, the Citrus sorbet trio with tangerine, lemon, and orange has become one of the restaurant's signature dishes. My roommates' family was in town visiting so they took us all out to eat. For a starter, I had the seafood soup which was amazing and I am normally not a fan of fishy soup. I ordered a steak with mushrooms in a really good sauce for my main course. I've realized the steaks here are a lot thinner than they are in the U.S. They ordered a few bottles of wine for the table as our appetizers came to the table. The atmosphere in the restaurant was very nice as you could see the bright lights on Passeig de Gracia through the 10 huge windows.

The waitstaff at Citrus was very friendly and made the experience enjoyable for all of us. Our personal waiter, Papa, was great. He made recommendations for us before ordering that were all helpful. He truly made the experience what it should have been. I would definitely go back because the food was authentic and we all had a great time.

La Fonda del Port Olimpic Restaurant: March 11, 2010

La Fonda del Port Olimpic is located at the heart of Barcelona's tourist area in the port. It is a traditional Catalan restaurant that has great food for a good value. The restaurant is traditional and well-run. A large amount of the restaurant's menu is seafood, but there are also meat, pasta, and other dishes. There was a large group of about 20 of us all at one big table. We sat inside because it was cold outside, but they have a tent across from the entrance to the restaurant with heating lamps where people can eat. They have this special that consists of bruschetta, salad, calamari, mussels, and then a choice of either paella, salmon or a steak. I ordered the paella which was probably one of the best paella dishes I have had since I have been in Barcelona. The calamari and mussels, which are personal favorites of mine, were also very delicious. In addition to all of this food, they provided us with all you can drink red and white wine. So you are probably assuming this going to be an expensive meal, right? For everything, including a dessert shot at the end of the meal it was 17 Euros. The service was phenomenal. I was never looking for the waiter asking for more wine or anything. They were extremely friendly and rather than having one waiter who takes you through your meal, we had various waiters throughout the meal. They also had musicians playing guitars throughout the restaurant almost as if it was a mariachi band.

This experience solidified what I had been learning and hearing from teachers and friends. A meal like this is all about the dining experience and being social with one another. Rather than rushing the customers out of the restaurant like many places do in the U.S., they want you to relax and enjoy the food. Not only is La Fond great because of its food and unlimited amount of wine, but it is also located next to the beach front. As you walk to the restaurant you will pass several small bars/clubs that are not as crowded as some of the larger clubs we go to. Once we finished our meal and on our walk to one of the larger clubs, we bar hopped from one to the next. It was a complete change of scenery than we were use to but it was really fun. I would highly recommend this restaurant because of its prime location, great food, and fun atmosphere.

Catalunya and France Sign for First Transborder Hospital: April 18, 2010

For local news, I read an article in La Vanguardia about the recent signing for the construction of a transborder hospital in France and Catalunya. The government of Spain was represented by the Minister of Social Health, Trinidad Jiminez, while the government of France was represented by Roselyne Bachelot. This agreement to build a transborder hospital is the first of its kind in the European Union, and Jiminez hopes it will serve as an example to future projects. This construction is based on a common feeling between the two nations, and is a response to increased touristic pressures in the general area.

When completed in 2012, the hospital will give services to 30,000 citizens in both areas. The total cost of the construction will be 38.5 million euros, but 18.5 million euros has been covered by the E.U. through a grant. The rest of the cost will be shared between France and Catalunya. Officials see the project as a "worthwhile collaboration," which will demand the use of three languages and a new approach to healthcare. This is not the first project between France and Catalunya, as a high-speed train is currently being constructed between Barcelona and Paris. It is hard to believe that a hospital can be constructed on the border of two different countries. Living in the U.S., I could never see a hospital being built on the United States/Mexico border. I believe the idea of this project is beneficial to the European Union because it will bring countries together that would otherwise never collaborate in health care or other governmental issues.

The Foreigners Pass Taxi Exam Without Speaking Spanish or Catalan: April 23, 2010

In an El Periodico article, foreign taxi drivers pass the taxi exam without speaking Spanish or Catalan. This issue along with identity theft are some of the ongoing problems among those who wish to obtain a drivers license illegally. Since September, the administration has required a language test prior to registration. The objective is to avoid drivers who memorize the questions and solely use the GPS to navigate the city. Being a taxi driver has provided shelter for those individuals who have become unemployed or just arrived to Catalonia. According to the Metropolitan Taxi Institute, 11% of drivers are foreign students.

Jose, a taxi driver for 36 years, explains that the test is complicated. Many of his colleagues openly complain that the calls they receive are impersonations and usual traffic tests. In some schools the tutor has to speak in English so that part of the class can understand. The president of Union Taxi de Catalunya, Luis Berbel, wonders what would happen if you went to a restaurant and the waiter asked you in signals what dish you want because you do not understand. Many immigrant drivers ask their clients to enter the destination in a paper copy so that he can put it in his GPS navigation system. The whole purpose is to provide a better service and not to discriminate. The image of the taxi here in Barcelona is deteriorating because of these controversial issues. From my experience, I have had many difficult encounters with taxi drivers because of the language barrier. Many streets in Barcelona that you would expect driver to be familiar with have to be looked up either in their book or by GPS.

FC Barcelona Proclaims Historic Comeback in Champion League Semifinal: April 27, 2010

In a local news article from La Vanguardia, FC Barcelona looks to overcome its first leg loss to Inter Milan. The loss came as a shock because Barca has been able to dominate the majority of its opponents. Barca players wore T-shirts calling for fan supposet and they promised to ¨dejarse la piel¨ in the upcoming game. The response has been immediate. Barca shirts have been paraded throughout the streets as the internet stories boil and motivation videos have been posted on YouTube. This is a new and different environment for not only the players of FCB, but also the young fans. The passion for this team is at an all time high. The people of Catalunya take pride in Barca and what they have accomplished.

The upcoming game is particularly crucial for Leo Messi who was the star against Arsenal in the previous round. Now, he has gone four games without scoring a goal. The match is also a battle between two of the best coaches on the continent, Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola. Inter Milan´s coach understands that the strength of his team lies in its ability to play on the counterattach. This game is the last obstacle that remains for Barca in their pursuit to Madrid where the Champions League Final will be played. This year in particular is an important year for FCB to make it to the finals because Madrid was knocked out of the Champions League. The rivalry between Barca and Madrid is as strong as ever which is why Barca would love to win the cup in their city.