BARCELONA HIGHLIGHTS

BARCELONA TURIST INFORMATION http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/English/_3Ngb8YjSpL2a3y4pka50kmRE9iFJMC0YdWvWz1LskxvjXgtYwe2iRMDN BCBmV7uVn5EmcyFngZeKVOgw3J0_UWiZuK2vy68VQnxy2sW8XyQ TRANSPORT OFFICIAL WEBSIDE http://www.tmb.cat/en/home USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT BARCELONA http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/Useful-information-about-Barcelona/_3Ngb8YjSpL2_bRITYtt91GzyrtM9ciyjRYGjRXQS1c BARCELONA Apps http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/Mobile-Apps/_1d096tFVcJUB30LvIA_sk0JzLhRr3czPe71W_IX4cDk

You Must See

1.

Church of the Sacred Family - Placa Sagrada Familia. METRO SAGRADA FAMILIA L.5 OR L.2. http://www.sagradafamilia.cat/sf-eng/?lang=0

2.

Casa Batllo One of the houses Gaudi built. METRO PASSEIG DE GRCIA L.3 OR L.2 http://www.casabatllo.es/en/

Gothic Quarter Barri Gotic METRO CATALUNYA, METRO LICEO L.3 L.1

http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/Medieval-Barcelona/_vfSMlY1yIuKQTV1aq49kPBP9ljlmQOYEFV-Ro2sypNw_bix83Kl3MFpT7zDC-p6 and Barcino Barcelona Roman ages http://gospain.about.com/od/thingstodoinbarcelona/a/Roman-Barcelona.htm

4.

St Mary of the Sea Cathedral Iglesia de Santa Maria del Mar METRO SANT JAUME L.4

5.

Las Ramblas Walking street of Barcelona METRO CATALUNYA L.1 OR L.3 OR METRO LICEU L.3 OR METRO DRASSANES L.3

6.

Barceloneta (Little Barcelona) Area near the sea, shops, restaurants, beach, board walk. Walk all the way along the board walk (or rent bikes ride the board walk. This is my favorite thing to do. METRO L. 4 BARCELONETA O VILLA OLIMPICA

7.

Guell Park Huge park that Gaudi designed great for a sunny day METRO VALLACARCA O LESSEPS L.3 http://www.parkguell.es/en/index.php

8.

Passeig de Gracia Shops, restaurants and bars. Wedding is were starts Paseo de Gracia METRO PASSEIG DE GRCIA L.3 L.2 L.4 METRO DIAGONAL L.3 OR L.5

9.

Magic Fountain Montjuic Foutains Go around 9pm to watch the show METRO L.3 P. ESPANYA

http://www.barcelona-life.com/barcelona/montjuic

10.

La Pedrera Casa Mila Gaudi METRO DIAGONAL L.3 OR L.5 CAN YOU CAN ALSO WALK FROM METRO PASSEIG DE GRCIA L.3 OR L.4 OR L.2

http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/La-Pedrera-by-day/_vfSMlY1yIuKQTV1aq49kNTeHTkJFYax22AKjsrj-kpLA9njgU_7d9TWx_E_CNwN

11.

Parc de Montjuic Castle and park overlooking the sea. You can take the gondola (Teleferic) http://www.telefericodebarcelona.com/IndexIng.html you can also take metro P. Espanya L.3 and then take a bus and walk around castle with nice views at night or day http://www.castillomontjuic.com/ miro museum http://www.fundaciomiro-bcn.org/ mnac museum http://www.mnac.cat/index.jsp?lan=001 mies van der rohe pabellon http://www.miesbcn.com/ Caixa rum museum http://obrasocial.lacaixa.es/nuestroscentros/caixaforumbarcelona/caixaforumbarcelona_es.html Poble espaol (typical Spanish town. You can see all spain there) http://www.poble-espanyol.com/ Olympic Stadium and Palau Sant Jordi http://www.barcelona.com/barcelona_directory/monuments/olympic_stadium

12.

Tibidabo Mountain and Holy Heart Church (Sagrat Cor) Overlook, church, and park. Gives you a great perspective of the city. Afterwards get a taxi to have a drink at Restaurante Mirablau. Chill place with amazing views. To get there Take FGC (line S1 o S2) until "Peu del Funicular" + Funicular de Vallvidrera then you stop in
"Vallvidrera Superior" + Bus district 111 (every 30 minutos).

13.

Palau de la Musica modernist building for musical performance http://www.palaumusica.org/

Out of Town, but near Barcelona 14.

Montserrat Out of town trip to a monastery and beautiful mountainside (take the train from Plaza Espaa). We took there our wedding classes course http://www.abadiamontserrat.net/(S(tbmjwhqcova4a2uutwwkxcjo))/Defaultangles.aspx

15.

Colnia Gell the church Declared a World Heritatge site by UNESCO. It was made by Gaudi

http://www.elbaixllobregat.net/coloniaguell/english/historia.asp

16.

Sitges very nice costal old town 30 minute train ride south of Barcelona. On Sunday or Saturday. (take the train from Paseo Gracia or Sants Estacin) http://www.sitges.cat/html/welcome/welcome.html

BARCELONA QUICK TRIP = A LOT OF WALKING, METRO & BUS

IF YOU HAVE 10 DAYS IN BARCELONA FOLLOW THE TRIP I MADE FOR YOU AND JOIN OUR CITY

IF YOU JUST HAVE 5 DAYS OR LESS YOU MUST DO: 1. DAY ONE. 2. DAY TWO. 3. DAY THREE. 4. DAY FOUR AND FIVE IN ONE DAY. 5. DAY SIX

IF YOU JUST HAVE 3 DAYS OR LESS YOU MUST DO: 1. DAY ONE AND DAY THREE IN ONE DAY 2. DAY TWO AND JUMP WITH THE TELEPHERIC http://www.telefericodebarcelona.com/IndexIng.html TO THE MONTJUC MONTAIN DAY SIX. REMEMBER THE LAST ONE IS AT 6pm

3. DAY FOUR AND FIVE IN ONE DAY

IF YOU JUST HAVE 2 DAYS OR ALMOST 3 YOU MUST DO:

1. Take the bus touristic and choose the red route during one day
http://www.barcelonabusturistic.cat/web/guest/rutes?p_p_id=Rutes_WAR_tmbrutesportlet&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=nor mal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column1&p_p_col_pos=1&p_p_col_count=2&_Rutes_WAR_tmbrutesportlet_struts_action=%2Ftmb-rutesportlet%2Fview&_Rutes_WAR_tmbrutesportlet_ACTION=GO_TO_VERMELLA

2.

Day four and visit Sagrada Familia

IF YOU JUST HAVE 1 DAY OR LESS YOU MUST DO:

1. Take the bus touristic and choose the red route during one day
http://www.barcelonabusturistic.cat/web/guest/rutes?p_p_id=Rutes_WAR_tmbrutesportlet&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=nor mal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column1&p_p_col_pos=1&p_p_col_count=2&_Rutes_WAR_tmbrutesportlet_struts_action=%2Ftmb-rutesportlet%2Fview&_Rutes_WAR_tmbrutesportlet_ACTION=GO_TO_VERMELLA

You start in the city's old heart

DAY ONE +Walk from plaza catalua down to the sea direction take las ramblas. You can stop in the macba museum, it is a contemporany art museum (http://www.macba.cat/en/index) area if you want, after you must stop in la boqueria market, then take las ramblas again go plaza del pi, also the square next. Then walk around all the old area barrio gtico carrer petritxol, carrer la palla, carrer del call, etc ) until cathedral (all the roman city), museo mares, plaza Felip Neri, Plaza del Rei, after go to the City Hall then take Carrer Ferran and then Plaza Real and go to Ramblas again walk until the end of las Ramblas/Colon Monument. DAY TWO + last day you finish in the end of las ramblas at Colon. See the drassanes from the middle ages and the wall. And then take a boat that is called las golondrinas and see the city from the sea. (if you just have 2 or 4 days do not take the boat) After you can walk maremagnum mall all the area walk (http://www.maremagnum.es/en). Also take the street Paseo Colon Walk until Museu Historic de Catalunya (you do not have to enter) it is just you have to take this street and then paseo de borb walk until barceloneta area (until the two towers/close to hospital del mar that area is call Olympic Village). And also you can walk to the other side to the Hotel vela (W hotel). DAY THREE + 'El Born' district. Museo Picaso. Walk all the area. Museo textil caf, etc. Parque de ciutadella, zona olimpica (1 or 2 days) going up until Palau de la msica you almost arrives to Plaza Catalunya city center again. Born district or El Borne is a nice district to shop and have drinks. If you just have 2 or 3 days do not enter in the museums just pass from outside. The building and the area is nice. DAY FOUR + visit park gell, gracia district (alternative district like an old town tons of cafes, little shops and restaurants. Plaza de la virreina, carrer verdi, plaa de la vila and Gran de gracia are the big spots). So if you take Gran the Gracia down you ended in jardinets de gracia (Paseo de Gracia where is the wedding venue) from diagonal paseo de gracia go to la pedrera casa mila (all Gaudi. Go inside!). Park Gell to Diagonal Paseo de Gracia it is a long way so better take metro and sometimes walk so you can see things. If you just have 2 or 3 days skip gracia district and go Park Gell and then go to Paseo de Gracia with Diagonal by metro (metro Diagonal) where the wedding will be and walk a few minutes until La Pedrera nice house from Gaudi. Go to the deck. So day 4 and day 5 can be together. DAY FIVE + again go to Walk up and down Passeig de Grcia Eixample district - specially around 7pm when everyone is out for a stroll. Just take in the wonderful architecture and do a bit of window shopping. Go to casa batllo visit inside another Gaudi's house. This time also take Rambla de Catalunya and walk all Eixample district. DAY SIX + plaza espanya, arenas, The Magic Fountains of Monjuic. Run from 9.30pm - 11pm on weekends throughout October - May, then the days are extended. Miss van der Rohe, Fundaci Caixa forum, el Poble Espanyol, Palau de Montjuic Mnac museum, Miro museum, teleferico, stadium all the area, el grec, gardens (if it is good weather cactus garden). Palau Albeniz if it is open DAY SEVEN + les corts and Pedralbes area: Barcelona FC football match.Barcelona, why not go and see one of the best teams in the world in at Camp Nou Stadium (one of the biggest stadiums in the world). You can buy your tickets in advance online (check out www.footballticketsbarcelona.com or http://www.spanishfootballtickets.com...) or at the stadium on the day of the match. Also visit palau reial, monastir de pefralbes, or shopping la illa, corte ingles o centre pedralbes, you can walk around the les corts area near the church (remei) like an old town. 3 minuts from corte ingles. If you have 2 or 3 days skip this part. DAY EIGHT + Take both the old tram ( Tramvia Blau) and Funicular up to the Tibidabo. Tibidabo is a hill overlooking Barcelona with amazing views. There is an amusement park, a Catholic Church, and a

Comunications Tower (Torre de Collserola) by Norman Foster which provides the highest viewpoint over the city. (0.5 day or 0,75day). If it is good weather + hospital sant pau, Sagrada Familia modernism, do climb the towers of Sagrada Familia (Gaudi).

Out of Town DAY NINE + Day trip to Montserrat by train..not by car but by train. You will have to take a cable car (Montserrat Aeri) from Montserrat-Aeri station or a rack railway (Cremallera de Montserrat) from Monistrol de Montserrat to the actual monastery. You can easily spend a whole day there.

DAY TEN + Sitges very nice costal old town 30 minute train ride south of Barcelona. On Sunday or Saturday. (take the train from Paseo Gracia or Sants Estacin)

DAY ONE: BASIC WALKING TOUR IN THE OLD CITY CENTER

(1) Las Ramblas Long promenade from Placa deCatalunya to port. Go to Santa Anna Street and see the church (2)El Ravel - until recently one of the citys darker areas, now a funky ethnic mix approaching gentrification (3) Museu dArt Contemporani de Barcelona, at Plaa dels ngels 1 (www.macba.es). (4) Santa Maria del Pi (Plaa del Pi), 14th-century Gothic church (5) Palau de la Virreina a baroque palace built for the ex-viceroy of Peru (6) Mercat de Sant Josep (la Boqueria) produce market, at Las (7) Gran Teatre delLiceu (opera house), (8) Palau Gell - The grand residence Gaud designed for his immensely wealthy patron Eusebi Gell. (9) Plaa Reial, a classical square of mid-19th-century apartments, with towering palm trees (10) Plaa de Sant Jaume, the heart of the Barri Gtic. (11) City Hallthe Ajuntamentor Casa de la Ciutat

(12) Palau de la Generalitat, seat of the government of Catalonia. (13) Museu dHistria de la Ciutat Roman-era Barcelona. (14) Sal del Tinell (15) Plaa del Rei, (16) Palau del Lloctinent (viceroys palace) (17) the Catedralde Santa Eullia (Plaa de la Seu).

BARCELONA RESTAURANTS ,TAPA'S BARS and cafs.

You must go to one of a modern restaurant, and a classic one. And also one of the boquerias market tapas bar and one of the tapas bar classic and authentic (probably no so nice) In no particularly nor order...all types of places and budges. I organize them per districts. All the food is Mediterranean and some if them nouvelle cuisse but Mediterranean or fusion. In the list are some of the most important stars chefs. I include the ones representative for our country or also because a super nice views. Also I did not write all the districts restaurants. In some Districts that you will not have too much time to spend time, if you are visiting Barcelona for just 2 or 3 days, like Grcia district. But there is full of restaurants and bars and shops. It is like and old town has a Brooklyn atmosphere but in Europe style. . EIXAMPLE AREA (NEAR THE WEDDING AND THE HOTEL. WELL EIXAMPLE IS BIG SO SOMETIMES WILL BE FAR FROM THE HOTEL) Hofmann (the workers are from the very famous cooking school. The owner it is one of the famous cookers from Catalonia and Spain. Super nice food and service)$$$ classic. This is not in example is a little up from Diagonal but it is kind close from the hotel area. C/ La Granada del Penedes 14-16, 93 218 71 65 Moments - Restaurant (hotel mandarin. Also the hotel offers a nice bar to have a drink) star chef $$$$ modern Passeig de Grcia, 38-40 13.30 a 15.30h Martes-Sbado // Cena: 20.30h a 2.20h Martes-Sbado // CLOSE Domingo y Lunes 93 151 87 81 Metro/Bus : Passeig de Grcia, Also inside the hotel Mandarin: Blanche and the Bar inside it is super nice. At summer Mimosa terrace. Moo $$$ modern Rossell, 265 (inside Hotel Omm . Also the hotel offers a very nice bar to have a drink and a disco downstairs) star chef 13.30-16.00, 8.30-11 Lun-Sab. Telfono : +34 93 445 40 00 Metro/Bus : Metro Diagonal Petit Comit $$$ classic with a twist of modern Passatge de la Concepci, 13 13h a 1h 935 50 06 20 Metro/Bus : Diagonal [L1, L3] Tragaluz $$ modern. Passatge de la Concepci, 5. International/Mediterranean. hotel magestic the top terrace (deck). Nice place to have a cocktail and some snack. Super nice view from

Paseo de Gracia$$ modern hotel condes de barcelona the top terrace (deck). Nice place to have a cocktail and some snack. Sper nice view from Paseo de Gracia$$ modern Madrid-Barcelona: Calle Arago, 282. In the old days it was the train station from the trains that came to Madrid to Barcelona and also the other way. It is Next to casa Batllo near Passeig de gracia. Classic traditional food. Very typical restaurant old style. $ Tot: Coa new restaurant in leixample area. Very nice decoration in a classic way. Nice fusion food (US Italian- Mediterranean). 35euros/pers Caf de la Pedrera: Passeig de Grcia, 92. Inside la Pedrera. $$ Bar Veldromo: Muntaner, 213 classic tapas from a star michelline chef. near the hotel Hesperia $ Sandwich & Friends: aribau 179. The catalan illustrator Jordi Labanda who used to work for Custo Barcelona. He is the one who made all the draws from the walls. The restaurant has a lot of sandwiches. $ Bar Berlin: muntaner 240, to take a drink near the hotel Hesperia to have a vermut or a beer. Even a coffe. . IN BETWEEN CITY CENTER AND EIXAMPLE DISTRICT Ciudad Condal (for classical tapas very fresh food it is a "nice bar")$ Rambla de Catalunya, 18, 933181997 . Old CITY CENTER El Quim de la Boqueria (inside the boqueria market. Local fresh food from the market and tapas. It is a bar)$ classic Also if it is fool try at Pinotxo Rambles 91, 933019810 El Xampanyet (tapas bar very authentic)$ classic Carrer de Montcada, 22 | Next to the Museu Picasso, next to museum textil also an nice caf situation +34 933 197 003 Bar Lobo $ Restaurant Modern decoration and casual food. Cuisine: Mediterranean, Japanese Address: Pintor Fortuny, 3 Phone: 934 815 346 barlobo@grupotragaluz.com : www.grupotragaluz.com Ra modern and casual. $ nice food. Different styles and fusion food. http://www.ratown.com/ de 7pm a 2am bar, dinner and drinks! C/ del Carme, 31. Passatge 1.800 - - 615.959.872 granja-viader (authentic antic milk store. They serve very good chocalate with whipped cream with churros)$ classic Carrer d'en Xucl 4-6 xocoa (nice chocalate store, all the area it has "old milk store" that also serve chocolate and churros)$ classic. Carrer petritxol and plaza del Pi is full of this chocolateries with churros Can Culleretes, Carrer d'en Quintana, 5. Gothic area. Super traditional restaurant the oldest in Barcelona. $

Els 4 gats: Carrer de Montsi, 3. Modernist.In the old days use to com writters, painters, politics..old style restaurant.$$ Fonda Espaa: another emblematic hotel and restaurant old style of Barcelona. Carrer de Sant Pau, 9-11 $$ El Gran Caf: Carrer d' Aviny, 9. Traditional and old restaurant very big and at gothic area $$ Casa Leopoldo: traditional restaurant. A very good food, old style decoration. Usually intellectual people just to go $$ Caete calle de la unio 17 (close to las ramblas ) restaurant for tapas and small dishes very good quality and also very good wines and cavas. $$ . PARAL.LEL AND PLAZA ESPAA AREA Tickets //41degrees (from Bulli. Ferran Adria super star chef) $$$$ modern Avinguda Parallel, 164 Martes a Sbado de 19:00 a 23:30 932 924 250 Metro/Bus : Metro: L3 Poble Sec Quimet & Quimet (for tapas and montaditos is like a bar. The favorite montaditos bar from Ferran Adria) $ classic decoration but modern montaditos C/Poeta Cabanas 25, 93 442 31 42 . IN BETWEEN BEACH AN OLD CITY CENTER 7 Portes (traditional place, tapas, paellas and local food) $$ classic Passeig d'Isabel II, 14 . BORN DISTRICT Cuines Santa Catarina inside Santa Catarina Market next to the Cathedral $-$$ tapas and more. Modern decoration but classic food Big Fish: Carrer Comercial, 9 good fish in Borne district $$ in an elegant and modern way and also decoration Espai Sucre: Carrer de la Princesa, 53 (Borne district). Original dessert menu but it does not taste sweet too much. Modern way to present deserts llike main dishes. $$ Sandwich & Friends: Paseo Born, 27. Born distric (next to this restaurant in Born a lot of cafes and nice bars to take tea or a drink). The catalan illustrator Jordi Labanda who used to work for Custo Barcelona. He is the one who made all the draws from the walls. The restaurant has a lot of sandwiches.$ la vinya del senyor to drink a wine infront Santa Maria del Mar church (super nice church. You must visit was my second option. For me the nicers in Barcelona). Also you can also have a little tapa or sweet in bub next to this place.

. BEACH AREA Sal caf: Next to Hospital del Mar next to the see $ modern. Torre d'Alta Mar (the views are very nice. 75 meters high near the sea)$$$ modern Passeig de Joan de Borb, 88. Torre de Sant Sebasti Barcelona, Bestial (next to the sea mediterranian food, also Italian) $$ modern. Ramn Tras Fargas, 2-4 Barcelona, 08005 arola (hotel arola) Sergi Arola star micheline chef $$$$ modern Marina 19-21 13.3'h a 15.30h y 20h a 23.30h 93 483 80 90 Metro/Bus : Ciutadella, Vila Olimpica Cal Pinxo Platja (very nice mediterranian and local food, nice views too) $$ Carrer del Baluard, 124 classic in a modern way. .

DRINKS
Drinks in the W Hotel Ecliplse 26th Floor Great views of the beach. It is a must at nigh Boca Grande This is a big space also has a restaurant. I prefer there to go for a drink Ocaa OLD CITY CENTER PLAZA REIAL Nuba, LES CORTS hotel omm, EIXAMPLE CLOSE TO LA PEDRERA Dry martini EIXAMPLE Caf royale OLD CITY CENTER Disco: luz de gas EIXAMPLE CLOSE TO HOTEL HESPERIA .

Off the Tourist Path

Aire de Barcelona Hot and cold water mineral bath spa. Great way to unwind after a long day of walking.$ can go couples Hotel Mandarin Spa $$$$ super nice and design swimingpool inside the Hotel Mandarin. With tons of nice treatmens for you. .

BARCELONA SHOPPING AREAS

Barcelona is amongst Europe's top cities for fashion and you can find most of the mainstream stores. As a shoppers paradise, it offers

a unique service: the Tomb bus (T1) takes you directly to the main shopping areas. Departing every seven minutes from the Plaa Catalunya the air-conditioned bus has armchairs, music, and magazines. A ticket costs 1.25 per trip and you can jump off at any of the 28 stops. The best shopping areas in central Barcelona are Avinguda Diogonal, Passeig de Grcia and the streets to its southwest, the Barri Gotic streets such as Carrer de la Portaferrissa, Carrer de la Boqueria, and Carrer de

Ferran, and around Placa de Sant Josep Oriol. Also Born district and Gracia district for alternative shopping. . EIXAMPLE AREA Avinguda Diagonal is the place to look if you're after international fashion. Shops along here include Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani, Gianni Versace and Gucci. El Bulevard Rosa- Indoor arcade of over 100 shops in the heart of the Barri Gotic area - mostly clothes boutiques. The side streets in the area are lined with a multitude of antique shops - visit Bulevard dels Antiquaris, which has more than 70 antiques shops, mostly furnishings, paintings, decorative items Rambla de Catalunya big street full of stores, starts at Diagonal and ends in Plaza Catalunya . LES CORTS El Corte Inglsspread over 9 floors and possibly the most important chain-store in Europe, can be found on the and two in Avenida Diagonal (one next to my house and the other next to the Hesperia Hotel). Lilla Diagonal complex was the first commercial centre to be opened in the nineties. Just after I came from my senior year from US. Before we did not have malls in Barcelona. Due to its size, it was known as the Superblock". Home to over 100 big-name shops the mall can be found on the Avenida Diagonal. . PLAZA ESPAA ARENA SHOPPING CENTER GO THERE JUST FOR THE VIEW Carrer de Sants. Street with a lot of shops (if you just have some days do not go there to shop) . OLD CITY CENTER El Corte Inglsspread over 9 floors and possibly the most important chain-store in Europe, can be found on the Plaa de Catalunya, Las Ramblas has no shortage of decent bookshops, flower stalls and restaurants but if you are into photography then Arpi has five floors relating to all things photographic (still, video and cinema). For a good second-hand collection of cameras, try Casanova - Carrer de Pelai. El Raval. Clothes and complements shopping is a real pleasure in El Raval thanks to all the little one-off boutiques you can find in this unique area on the left side of Las Ramblas. In Elisabets/carrer dels Angels, very near the MACBA Museum, a very special group of shops with Camper, Vialis, Twigy and Juan-Jo Gallery. Also around this area is a lot of discos shops Of course you certainly should not miss the world famous Boqueria Market with it's fantastic displays of fruit, vegetables, meats and seafoods. Carrer Petritxol, Carrer del Call and Carrer Aviny and Carrer de la Palla (antics and specialists nice stores). It is nice to walk by this area There is a street market being held somewhere in Barcelona every day of the week. In Barri Gotic, there are crafts an antiques markets on Thursday and Friday, and a coin and stamp collectors' market on Sunday morning. The Portal de lngel, just off Placa de Catalunya, is lined with an endless array of shops selling the most exclusive brands of clothing and accessories.

Plaa de Sant Josep Oriol is usually filled with street musicians, fortune-tellers and painters. This area is full of designer boutiques and handicraft shops that will definitely tempt you into buying. The Centre Comercial Maremgnumis a small shopping mall with shops, discos, bars, restaurants, rooftop mini golf course, cinemas and aquarium. Located at the end of Moll de la Fusta open from 10am to 10 pm allyear round, and the only mall to be open on Sundays. This is the perfect spot to find what you are looking for and experience fashion at its best. Carrer de Montcada, you'll find several specialists stores and galleries the biggest being Galeria Maeght. . Flea markets: Large Els Encants Vells - is held every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday next to Placa de les Glories You can find everything there - all at bargain-basement prices. Mercat de Sant Antoni is on the edge of El Raval and has a Sunday morning market where old maps, stamps, books and cards are sold. Also on Sunday mornings Plaa de la Virreina has stalls that sell almost every imaginable second-hand artisan item. . .

CHRISTMAS IN BARCELONA
In Catalan you say "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" like this: Bon Nadal i Feli Any Nou in Spanish you say Feliz Navidad y Prspero Ao Nuevo. If you're looking for a white Christmas in Barcelona the chances of that happening are pretty slim. Yes, once in February 2004, there was a light fluttering of snowflakes for approximately half an hour. But this was the first time in 10 years that Barcelona city center had experienced snow and we have not experienced snow since. I would like to have snow in my Winter Wedding but I think nobody sales you that : ) Approx. Temperature can be about 54F/ 14C during the day and in the evening and early in the morning half of that temperature. So bring a coat! But Christmas in Barcelona is a truly special time and Barcelona is a perfect city for Christmas shopping. Our Christmas starts the 24th until the 6 of January (the 3 kings festivity). There are a lot of family dinners during these days and a lot of food in the table and sweets (turrn, polvorones, dry fruits and chocolates). But it is not as typical Christmas like northen European Countries or United States. I think we are more austere in decorations, lights and presents. We focus more around food, family and table.

I will explain New Year's Eve ('Noche Vieja') that is the festivity close to my wedding and some of you will enjoy with my family. I will not be there because I start my honeymoon in Sidney for New Years Eve. New Year's Eve (Noche Vieja) in Spain is a party night like everywhere else in the world, though the structure is a little different to in other countries - remember you have to think in Spanish time!

Rather than starting early and building to a crescendo at midnight, the Spanish see in the New Year sober (well, nearly sober), either with friends or with family, and then go out to the bars at about 12.30. The partying then continues until about 6am (if you fancy an early night) or much, much later, if you don't! There is an 'ancient' tradition, started by some shrewd farmers about 100 years ago when they were left with too many grapes after the harvest, of eating twelve grapes at the twelve bongs of midnight. This is a fun ritual, only spoiled by the fact that it is almost impossible to buy seedless grapes in Spain - in the rush to chomp down the dozen grapes, everyone ends up biting into a seed and pulling a silly face. A word of advice: there are four higher-pitched chimes just before the main ones at midnight (known as 'los cuatros') that announce the start of the real ones - make sure you don't start eating your grapes too soon. It catches people out each year - one year a television presenter made the fatal error! For every grape you get right, you will get a month's good luck.I do not explain the rest of the fests during this days because

more of you will not be able to enjoy like the 3 kings festivity.

Christmas things that you can found in our city during the wedding dayssome are super estrange..probably for you!

You will found lights at the commercial and important streets .

The galet is a macaroni commonly found in broth at Christmas. Big plastic versions appear on Barcelona streets. .

El Pessebre de Nadal - nativity scenes A Spanish and Catalan Christmas would not be complete without the nativity scene, complete with palm trees,

shepherds, three kings, Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus. The nativity scene in Catalonia is called El Pessebre de Nadal in Catalan. Pessebre means "stable", but El Pessebre de Nadal refers to the manger or the crib, where Christ was born. It is also called El Beln in Spanish. Beln de Jud means Bethlehem of Judea Crib scene displays can be found many places in Barcelona on plazas, in churches and in all Catalan homes, both in statue form and living nativity plays called a "pessebre vivent". The official Barcelona outdoor pessebre is on Plaa Sant Jaume in the Gothic quarter of Barcelona which is open from beginning of December 2011. Nativity plays are called "Pessebres Vivents." The shopping mall Maremagnum has a series of nativity plays (pessebres vivents) for children in December. You can find more information about pessebres here: http://www.pessebresvivents.cat/index.htm Places in Barcelona to see a Christmas Pessebre include: Outdoor Pessebre in Plaa de Sant Jaume Cloister of Barcelona cathedral La Seu - entrance from Carrer del Bisbe El pessebre diorama in the Iglesia de Beln (Esglsia de Betlem) on Las Ramblas 107 Sagrat Cor de Jess del Tibidabo - church on Tibidabo hill Museu Monestir de Pedralbes - Museum & Monastery of Pedralbes

El Caganer - The Christmas crapper Among the figures in a good Pessebre you will find a funny little fellow, called "El Caganer", which is a Catalan Christmas tradition is the cheeky figure of Catalan navitivy scenes as El Caganer literally means The crapper or "the shitter." It is a an elf or gnome-like figure wearing the traditional Catalan "barretina" red beret and with his trousers down, his backside bare, defecating! Very naughty guy! .

Ti de Nadal - The Christmas log . You can see some where but it is for the 24th of december Another Christmas tradition in Catalonia is the Ti de Nadal. In this context the word "Ti" is a Catalan word. The word "ti" in Catalan means log. In Spanish "Tio" means "uncle or guy." So "Ti de Nadal" is "Christmas log" not "Christmas uncle" or "Christmas guy." The Ti de Nadal Christmas log is a small log with a happy face painted on it and wearing the typical Catalan barretina red hat. You can also see giant Ti de Nadal at children's Christmas events. The Christmas log is also called Caga Ti. which means "the pooing log". It works like this. The Christmas log is pampered and looked after by children from the 8th December ( the day of Immaculate Conception called Dia de la Immaculada Concepci,) until Christmas Eve 24th December. The Caga Ti even gets a blanket to keep it warm at night. Then on Christmas Eve children sing the Caga Ti song to get the log to poo some presents. While they are singing they hit the log with a stick. When the song is finished with a final load cry of Caga Ti! ( = the imperative tense of the the verb "to

defacate" so it means "Shit log!") and someone puts a hand under the blanket covering the Christmas log and takes out a present which the log has pooed! Great fun and the kids love it! Another old tradition is that if you have a fireplace you burn the Ti" log, but many choose to keep it for next year. .

All the Christmas markets are until the 23th of December. So you will not see them but we have a big market for the 3 kings. So parents can buy there the presents for their kids. It is a traditional market in the street. Fira de Reis a la Gran Via - The Three Kings Fair Location: On street of Gran Via between streets of Rocafort and Calbria. Dates: Open from Friday 16 December 2011 to 6. January 2012 from 10.00 to 20.00 and on 5. January 2012 until 03.00 "La feria de Reyes de la Gran Via" is also called "Sant Toms i Reis" (St Thomas and Kings) - and also sometimes called the Twelfth Night Fair: This is one of the biggest Christmas and New Year markets for gifts and toys in Barcelona. It has around 300 markets stalls with toys and other traditional "Reyes" gifts like "carbon de azucar" (candy coal!) http://www.firareisgranviabcn.com/nuevo/ .

Spain is a culinary crossroads, a cuisine formed by the confluence of different cultures over the centuries. Christmas is the time when this rich gastronomic mix is at its high point. There is so much variety that youll want to taste everything! Many sweets are traditional desserts made with almonds, honey, sugar and fruit. Four of the most popular Christmas desserts, found in almost every household are turrn, polvorones, mazapan and mantecados, each described below.

Turrn is a very old, traditional sweet of Moorish (Arabic) origin and has been a popular sweet for centuries. We have differents flavors

Traditional Polvorones or Almond cookies are a rich, shortbread-type cookie. They are very traditional sweets whose recipes have not changed in centuries, with the exception of the use of the modern mixer. These cookies are very flakey and soft and are made with flour, lard or vegetable shortening, powdered sugar and cinnamon. The dough is refrigerated, then rolled out, cut and baked.

Mazapan or Marzipan Although Venice and the Orient argue with Toledos claims to having invented marzipan ormazapan, it is generally thought that the Moors brought a sweet almond and honey mixture to the Iberian peninsula when they invaded in the 8th century. They are believed to have called it mauthaban or mahsaban. There are still other stories from Venice and even one about the nuns of San Clemente feeding the soldiers who were wounded in Navas de Tolosa battle in 1212 A.D. a type of almond bread.

Do you remember the poem, Twas the Night Before Christmas? Well in Spain it should be, Twas the night before Kings Day, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even the mouse. However, peek through the window of any bakery (panadera) and you will hear the clatter of baking pans, ovens and probably a few stressed bakers trying to finish the hundreds, even thousands, of Roscn de Reyes they will need to have ready for the queues of clients in the morning. For Kings Day would not be Kings Day without a Roscn de Reyes on the table. . . VISIT, WALK, SHOP, EAT, DRINK AND ENJOY MY CITY. FOR ME THE BEST CITY IN THE WORLD TO LIVE !