Spanish in Barcelona

Gargoyle in the Barrio Gótico | Photo: Tom Walton

Your social program in Barcelona this week:

• Tuesday 9th | Because of its architecture, the lovely old part of Barcelona is known as the Barrio Gótico and we're going on a stroll around it today (16.00).
• Wednesday 10th | The MACBA is one of Barcelona's top contemporary art museums: come along with us this afternoon (16.00).
• Thursday 11th | Today's excursion takes us to see some of Barcelona's fabulous Modernista architecture (no, it wasn't all designed by Gaudí!) (16.00).
• Friday 12th | After a week's break due to our annual ELT Conference, our Friday Club language exchange is back as usual this evening (in the bar/on the terrace, 19.00-21.00).

Join us in Reception ("C" floor), unless otherwise stated, at the times given above.

What on earth is THAT…?! | Photo: Tom

We're not actually sure what the grotesque animal decorating the façade of a building on Carrer Aribau [map] is supposed to be: it appears to have wings and horns (or are they ears?) like those of a sheep.

But, then again, grotesque animals — often on buildings dating back to the last decade of the nineteenth century or the first of the twentieth — are in fact quite a common feature of the buildings to be found in the Eixample district [map], and in other parts of the city, as we've seen before.

Your social program in Barcelona for the first week of February…

• Tuesday 2nd | We're going to the Palacio Real today, a trip which also takes us to one of the less well-known works by Gaudí, the gatehouse at the Pabellones Güell, with its magnificent dragon (16.00).
• Wednesday 3rd | This afternoon's trip takes us to visit the lovely Parque de la Ciudadela and the Estación de Francia. If you are interested in architecture, there are some fascinating things to see there (16.00).
• Thursday 4th | Our film this week is José Luis Cuerda's award-winning Girasoles ciegos [website], which stars Maribel Verdú, one of the big stars of contemporary Spanish cinema. Come along and practise your listening skills (16.00)!

Join us in Reception ("C" floor), unless otherwise stated, at the times given above.

NOTE There is no Friday Club language exchange this week as our annual ELT Conference will be taking place on Friday and Saturday — with 175 people attending!

On a wall in a side street… | Photo: Tom Walton

The Barrio Gótico is somewhere to explore on your own: when you've got an hour before or after class, or whenever, go get yourself lost there…!

It's also one of the most popular events on our social program — exploring some of its hidden corners.
Come with us on our walk this afternoon (meet, 16.00h in Spanish Reception…).

This week we recommend you the first novel of Barcelona-born "Pablo Tusset"…

• Título: Lo mejor que le puede pasar a un cruasán (2001)
• Autor: Pablo Tusset [Wikipedia]
• Nivel: Avanzado
• De qué va: La novela cuenta el recorrido de Pablo Miralles por los barrios más pijos de Barcelona en busca de su hermano desaparecido.
• Una cita:

Desde luego, el apartado que más temo de las reuniones familiares es la sobremesa. En el momento en que se sirven los cafés, mi Estupenda Familia ha agotado ya los temas de Cultura y Sociedad y empieza a hacerme preguntas personales, casi siempre relacionadas con mi estado civil, mi horizonte profesional o mis expectativas vitales a medio y largo plazo. Hubo un tiempo en que me complacía en escandalizarlos improvisando toda clase de aspiraciones inadmisibles para un joven pijo, sacarme el carnet de taxista, o emplearme en una cadena de montaje, no sé, pero a estas alturas de mi existencia –y más aún en las circunstancias concretas de aquellos días- no aspiraba siquiera a escandalizar a mis tíos […]

• Versión cinematográfica
• Por qué me gusta: Tiene mucho sentido de humor y te hace reír. Puede ser difícil por la gran cantidad de referencias culturales, sociales, generacionales…

Like Sarrià, the district of Gràcia [general information | map] was once a separate town — at least until 1897, that is, when it officially became part of Barcelona, as the latter started to expand.

In August, Gràcia has a great Festa Major and its other attractions include some great places to sit on a terrace in the sunshine, one of the less well-known Gaudí houses (the Casa Viçens), as well as plenty of other interesting architecture, as we discovered on a recent photowalking tour.

Come along with us and explore on the social program, Wednesday.

Photo (above, right), the Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia (aka Rius i Taulet) | Photo: Tom Walton

Balcony in the district of Gracia: come with us, Wednesday | Photo: Tom Walton

Your social program in Barcelona this week…

• Tuesday 26th | No trip to Barcelona would be complete without seeing the Sagrada Familia, the Gaudí cathedral. This afternoon we'll also be going just up the road from the Sagrada Familia to the equally magificent Hospital de Sant Pau (16.00).
• Wednesday 27th | Our walk this afternoon takes us into the bohemian district of Gracia [general information | map]: interesting history, lovely architecture, great bars (16.00)!
• Thursday 28th | Come and explore some of the hidden corners of the Barrio Gótico with us this afternoon (16.00).
• Friday 29th | Come get yourself some extra Spanish practice at our Friday Club language exchange (in the bar/on the terrace, 19.00-21.00).

Join us in Reception ("C" floor), unless otherwise stated, at the times given above.

Hidden in the Gothic Quarter | Photo: Tom Walton

At the end of the Carrer Bisbe Caçador [map], a short side street leading off the Plaça Sant Just, there's another little square which (according to the map) doesn't even appear to have a name.

Because the street is a dead-end, because there's nothing especially remarkable to "see" in the square, you'll find that it's almost always deserted and ignored.

Stay and sit a while…

Ángel recommends us somewhere central to try some Catalan cooking, for lunch or dinner, just off the Plaça Universitat…

• Nombre: La llavors dels Orígens.
• Dónde: Enric Granados 9 [mapa]. Metro Universitat (L1 and L2).
• Me gusta: La carta en los manteles, que se puede consultar en Internet, como las recetas de los platos. Así puedes intentar repetir en casa.
• Cuándo: Para comer o cenar.
• Qué tomar: Cocina catalana de temporada.
• Web: www.lallavordelsorigens.com
• Nos lo recomienda: Ángel

Inside the Park Güell… Come with us, Tuesday | Photo: Tom Walton

The social program in Barcelona this week…

• Tuesday 19th | We're going to one of Barcelona's must-see places today: Gaudí's Park Güell, for many visitors to Barcelona their favourite place in the city (16.00).
• Wednesday 20th | It's just a short distance away from IH and is one of Barcelona's most popular museums: come with us this afternoon to the Picasso Museum (16.00).
• Thursday 21st | Our walk this afternoon takes us on a stroll round the Barrio Gótico, the old part of Barcelona and the very heart of the city (16.00).
• Friday 22nd | Join us on the terrace and in the bar after class today for our very popular Friday Club language exchange (19.00-21.00).

Join us in Reception ("C" floor), unless otherwise stated, at the times given above.