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CASA DÉCOR: For its 2005 edition Casa Décor returns to the city centre. Casa Burés, a modernista building in the Eixample at Ausias March 30-32 (corner with Girona) has been handed over to interior designers who reflect the latest trends in the different spaces. Open daily from 11am to 9pm until 18th December. General entrance 12€ of which part goes to charity. More info: www.casadecor.es
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RAINS:
CHANGES IN SERVICES: Because of work for the AVE starting at
Sants, there are changes to various train services including to the
airport. From 4th December there will be a shuttle service
every 20 mins from the airport station to El Prat station to connect
with C2 services. To complicate things even more, work at the airport
means that the walkway over to the station is inoperative and a
bus service will take passengers to the airport station from
the terminals from 6am to 10.30pm. There will also be a bus service
from the airport to Sants complementary to the train service
(whatever that means!).
Estació de França is the departure point for night trains to Paris, Zurich and Milan, the day-time service to Monpellier and now also the ARCO trains which run down the Mediterranean corridor. These last services will however still stop in Sants too. In the near future trains from Girona and Figueres will terminate at Estació de França after Clot instead of going on to Passeig de Gracia and Sants.
More info on www.renfe.es.
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RAFFIC:
CYCLING IN BCN: There is now a parking place for bicycles
in the Barrio Gotico. Cycles can be parked for 15 to 20€
per month. Also places for mopeds. More info from Marion and
Nicolas, Tel. 645-13-00-51/667-33-76-11 or by e-mail to
mybeautifulparking@hotmail.com.
My beautiful parking is at C. Cervantes, 5, near Plaça
Tripi and Llotja.
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USINESS:
EVENTS AND CONGRESSES: The Convention Bureau in Barcelona offers
all kinds of technical services free to conference organisers
including help with planning, information on infrastructure,
addresses of equipment suppliers and caterers and help in
coordination. Also will arrange rental of venues, accommodation and
offers other advisory functions. The Convention Bureau has existed
since 2004 and works closely with the Tourist Office. It belongs to
the city authorities of Barcelona but with the aim of promoting
the whole metropolitan area. The address in Barcelona is:
Barcelona Meeting Total, Convention Bureau and Oficina de
Promoció Turística. Address: Travessera de les Corts,
131-159, Pavelló Lactància, 1a planta, 08028 –
Barcelona. Tel.and Fax: 93 402 29 66 and 93 402 29
68. e-mail:: meetingtotal@diba.es,
website: www.meetingtotal.org.
Sitges, which already hosts many congresses has its own Convention Bureau, which you can find under: http://www.scb.es/scb.php, the umbrella organistion for all Convention Bureaus.
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EISURE:
EXCURSIONS: Those who want an active weekend and the chance to
get to know the area better should look at the programme of “Garraf
actiu“, a company which organises sporting activities with
contact with nature- On offer: archery, kayak rental, riding,
mountain-bikes, trekking, climbing, quads, outdoor-training etc. They
can also arrange rental of masías for weddings etc Info on:
website: www.garrafactiu.com,
by e-mail to info@garrafactiu.com or Tel: 678 34 88 29.
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HILDREN:
EXCURSION: A local trip for whole family, for the winter months
too. In Natupark in Cerdanyola children and adults can enjoy
trying their climbing and other skills on the circuits in the
treetops (an idea imported from France, where there are 450 such
installations). Various levels of difficulty for beginners and
experts and for small children there is a play-house and a
Circuito, where children one meter and over can train balance and
motor skills. Admission prices are:15€ for adults, 9€
for children up to 8 and 11€ for children up to 15. Reduction
for groups. It is not necessary to prebook at the weekend, except for
large groups who should phone in advance. For visits during the week
it IS necessary to contact them in advance as the park only opens if
visits are booked.. More info: www.natupark.com or by e-mail to reservas@natupark.com.
Tel. 93 591 07 27. You can find it at. Riu Sec, s/n, Polígono
Industrial Polizur (Bosc. Tancat), 08290 Cerdanyola del Vallés.
Using AP-7, it is the Cerdanyola exit, then on N-150
towards Cerdanyola, taking first exit.. Opening times: 10am to 8pm.
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HILDREN:
CHRISTMAS AT PORT AVENTURA
Port Aventura will be open 26th December until 8th January (except New Year’s Day). . Special packages at the on-site hotel. www.portaventura.es
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HILDREN:
FESTIVAL DE LA INFANCIA: The 43rd children’s
festival will be held in the Fira on Montjuic from 27th
Dec. to 4th January. This is a very popular event with
over 200,000 visitors. More info, in English too, on www.firabcn.es.
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HRISTMAS:
FAIRS: The traditional Christmas Fair in
front of and round the cathedral, Fira de Santa Llucia, starts
on 2nd December and runs until 23rd, from 10am to 10pm.
Here you can find crib-figures, Christmas trees, mistletoe,
ornaments etc and also stalls with handicrafts. In Plaça
de Sant Jaume a modern crib-scene will be set up. there is also a
Christmas Fair in the park at Sagrada Familia until 23rd
December. There Father Christmas will be visiting from 10th
to 17th December from 5-8pm so children can give him their
letters. Just before Christmas another fair is set up along Gran Via
from Muntaner to Entença, the Fira de Sant Tomas i Reis.
Starts on 20th December, the eve of Sant Thomas`s day
and runs until the early hours of Epiphany morning. Toy stalls (watch
prices here!) and lots of other stalls (handicrafts and otherwise)
with presents for all age groups. For more information on these and
all other activities during the Christmas season look at www.bcn.es
Once it’s all over Christmas trees can be left at the special tree- recycling points between 7th and 16th. January. They are then taken away and recycled for compost.
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HILDREN:
THEATRE IN ENGLISH AND CATALAN: La Magia dels Ki-Kids, directed
by Angel Llacer at Teatre Condal on Parallel is a musical show for
children where characters speak Catalan and English, so is as a fun
way to learn languages. Based on the series Ki-Kids, it combines
entertainment and learning with the emphasis on the values of
friendship and solidarity. Performances during the week up to
Christmas are for schools only; at weekends and from 27th
December to 8th January for the general public (closed
1/4/6 Jan). Performances at 12noon; tickets cost 10€. Tel:
93-442-3132.
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HRISTMAS:EPIPHANY
(REYES): The Three Kings reach Barcelona on the evening of 5th
January when they are greeted by the Mayor at Moll de la Fusta at
approx. 6.30pm. Their boat can be visited from 2nd Janury to 4th
January from 11am to 6pm on Moll de la Fusta (Port Vell).
Children can also hand in their letter to the kings there. The
carriages of Melchior, Caspar and Balthasar can be admired in
Palau de la Metalurgia on Av. de la Reina Maria Cristina (Trade Fair
near Plaça Espanya) until 4th January from 11am to
8pm.
The campaign “No child without a toy” encourages children to take a new toy to the royal workshops to help the Kings so they have enough presents for everyone. More info: www.bcn.es. Other toy campaigns are organised by the Red Cross (new toys only: hand them in at district offices ) and COPE radio on Av. J. Taradellas (can also be second-hand in good condition). There are also toy-collection points at the Fira de Sant Tomas i Reis on Gran Via.
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ONTACTS:
MEETINGS: The Town Meetup groups have a number of groups for
people interested in a particular field. Aimed at newcomers and at
those already here who are interested in meeting up with other
enthusiasts. Groups here for: graphic design, Spanish language,
TV-fans, interior design. Details of meetings on :
http://newintown.meetup.com/50/.
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NTERNET:
CONTACTS/PROPERTY/WHAT’S-ON: www.loquo.com:
For jobs, property (sales and rental), contacts, second-hand
items, courses, forums, services look at www.loquo.com
where everything is very clearly laid-out and up-to-date. There are
pages for other Spanish cities and very good daily events
calendar . It is also very easy to post ads.
CHILDREN:
English-speaking Mother and Toddler Group: A
new mother and toddler group has just started up under the auspices
of Barcelona Women’s Network but open also to non-members. For
mothers and children aged 0-3, it gives everyone a chance to
socialise in English and the children a chance to sing, play
and listen to stories, all in English.. Meetings on Wednesday
mornings from 10.30 to 12.30 on the top floor (atico) of
Institut Nord-America (“IEN”) at Via Augusta 123 (between
Muntaner and Plaça Molina FGC stations. Cost is 3€ for
BWN members, 5€for non-members. This includes drink and snack
for child, plus regular activities; drinks and snacks for mothers are
available in IEN cafeteria (payable separately). More info from
Alexia Perversi pperversi@hotmail.com
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EBSITE
OF THE MONTH: www.accessiblebarcelona.com
is a website set up by Craig Grimes, a Barcelona resident who
is a paraplegic . The website looks at accessibility at different
sights, in restaurants , availability of disabled toilets etc ; also
public transport options.. Although the website is aimed at visitors
and includes a booking service for recommended hotels, adapted taxis
etc, it is also useful for residents, whether wheelchair-users
themselves, or hosting visitors in wheelchairs, or even just
pram-pushers. Also gives emergency phone numbers and
useful links. The site is available in English, Catalan, Spanish.
