Barcelona never ending festivities

As for every year and all year for that matter, Barcelona is hosting one event after the other what seems sometimes to be an never ending party.
After finishing the summer holidays, the locals went straight into the street festivals, starting off with the biggest one in the neighbourhood of Gracia. Then moving on to the festival in Sants. After this Barcelonas own festival starts, Merce, where the city is full of events, concerts, theatre, folk dancing, the dragon fire parade (El Foc) and not to mention the fire works, ending the evening on the sky. The fire works are building up, each and every night of the festival it can be seen from the beach front down in Barceloneta to then end it off with the big finale at Plaza Espanya, the 24th of September n the day of the saints day of Barcelona, Mercedes, which is also a public holiday.

As soon as Merce has reached its end Barceloneta takes over from there. And the locals have gathered up during months for their yearly festivities. The streets are competing against each other for who can make the nicest decoration along their streets.
Anyone with a talent for something has been practising for the big day of performing in front of their neighbours up on stage. Bands are playing latest hits, old and young mixed up on the dance floor all with the same aim, to have some fun.
The festivities last for a week, with a big fair ground along the port, food stalls, markets selling arts and crafts. If you are planning to come to Barcelona in September, no matter what date you plan to come you are more then likely to coincide with one of these above mentioned festivities, and even outside of Barcelona the wine regions presenting their new wine harvest and fresh bottles of wines and cava.

Many people find it more pleasant to come to Barcelona this time of the year as it is still warm temperature and perfectly all right to swim in the sea, but also less tourist crowding the high lights of the city.
If you are planning to visit the city and have not yet booked any accommodation or need information about your stay, please do not hesitate to check our web site www.akaza.net or contact us, info@akaza.net

With greetings from the Akaza Team

Fiesta de Gracia in Barcelona 2008

The Neighborhood Festival of Gracia which is celebrated during the last half of August, is an incredibly well-organized and artsy local fiesta. Gràcia's residents spend months planning parades, concerts, floats, arts & crafts activities and more. During the day, events are held in the area's brightly decorated streets and squares. Acrobats build amazing human towers; performers dress up as giants and devils to express Catalan folklore.At night, the festival inspires live music, dancing, fireworks and general partying outdoors. Best of all, the whole city heads to Gràcia to join in the fun!When: From 15th to 21st of August 2008
Where: Grácia

Akaza offers apartments in the neighbourhodd of Gracia:
Pi i Maragall
http://www.akaza.net/en/apartments/Pi_i_Margall.html

Seneca
http://www.akaza.net/en/apartments/seneca.html

More information about Gracia
http://www.akaza.net/bcn-info/barcelona-and-its-neighbourhoods/the-gracia-district.html

Photo Exhibition

The Palau Robert has organised an exhibition of photographs taken by the professional photographers of the Reuters, the world's largest news agency. Eighty have been chosen from over half a million photos taken between 2000 and 2005.The exhibition is divided into five sections: religion, lifestyles, politics, armed conflicts and major issues, like terrorism, natural disasters and immigration. It also offers visitors the chance to see the images Reuters receives in real time. "Reuters: The State of The World" is a tribute to the 240 journalists who have died exercising their profession since the year 2000.
When: From 4th of July to 31st of August 2008
Where: El Palau Robert, Centre d'Informació de Catalunya
If you decide to cime to Barcelona and check out this exhibition Akaza Sevice agency can help you with not only accomodation in one of the 100 holiday apartments on offer, www.akaza.net, but Akaza can also set up other intersting activities during your stay. Wine tasting in the Catalan Wine country, Cooking Courses, Guided City Tours and so on.
Contact us at info@akaza.net

Bread and Butter Summer 2008

Just a quick reminder for all you fashion lovers out there. A fairly new event coming up on the fashion calendar is Bread and Butter Barcelona.
The next one is due to take place in July 2-4 2008.

With an opening reception at Luna Park the 1st of July between 20-24:00 Bread and Butter is not the only fashion event held in Barcelona, Pasarela Gaudí and Barcelona Fashion week are well established events attracting thousands of visitors every year. So what makes Bread and Butter different? Well firstly the Bread and Butter team are keen to emphasis the fact that they offer a tradeshow for “selected” brands. The show focuses on the “current leading, trend-setting brands, and contemporary clothing culture at the top level”. Secondly, they support the “independent retailer”.
Atticus, Airwalk, American Vintage, Bensimon, Noa Noa, Sugarhill, Zoo York and many more...

As a result, suppliers such as H&M, Zara and Mango are excluded from all B&B events. A stylish and well-attended trade event great for item spotting and networking. Well worth visiting for anyone involved with Fashion and Design, Bread and Butter Parties, fashion shows are taking place all over Barcelona through out the event. Barcelona is already famous for being a trendy city and those in the fashion industry not unknown to come to Barcelona to check out latest street trends and during the Bread and Butter event, the streets are even more crwoded of fashion statements, individual not afraid of wearing what they like.

http://www.breadandbutter.com/

If you are planning to come to Barcelona during these days you might want to check out our availability for self catering apartments nearby the fair. http://www.akaza.net/ or contact one of our team members:

Akaza Team email.

Sonar 2008

Yet again Barcelona turned into a Festival place and space in the city centre. Sonar 2008. I was pleased to get myself organised this year as I wanted to attend Saturday day time, and last year we had to sit outside watch the event from a distance, a bit pooped that we could not get tickets no matter how hard we tried..
So this time I put the question out, who wants to go to Sonar for Saturday, in the end I think there was about 8 of us on and off.
As Kiki had to go to work at 17h we arrived early for her to get the most out of the few hours she had. We got there by 14h, beating heat, and effected people.

As we arrived the atmosphere was very chilled and really gave a festival feeling, people sitting around in the green fake grass covered floors. Chatting, listening to the music and chilling out, from probably was a hard night out night before.

I am not really interested in the Sonar night time. Lots of great artist and a paradise for electronical (and more..) music lovers. Mind you I would not have been against going to see Goldfrapp opening the Festival on Thursday, I love that woman, such a power!! Check out their video on the Sonar web site http://www.sonar.es/2008/eng/prog/concerts.cfm?dia=1&fecha=1&publicarp=1
But the whole concept of having the festival in a expo hall, just does not appeal to me anymore. I went there few years back to see one of my favourite DJs, Mr Scruff. Which was great, but I have not been back since.


When we arrived DJ Key was on the turn tables, a mix of music but a lot of fun music which brought us back in time with smile and giggles on our face, as it was a bit cheesy, but hey cheesy is good! Another one that my friends rated and boogied away to in some sort of a trance was “Flogsta vs Harmönia Klash” check this web page: http://www.myspace.com/harmoenia
A mix of DJs from Sweden and Finland (if I understood it right)

I think what amazes me with this festival, is how the whole vibe sweeps in over the city, and takes over. I mean this in a good way, every one seems to be having a great time, some with aid of substances some on a natural high. You don’t really see anyone being aggressive and in polite. Everyone is there for the same reason, listen to music and have a good time.

As a tourist service agent in Barcelona, renting out holiday apartments in central Barcelona, we tend to get a bit nervous that the Sonar people will not respect the neighbours, bring the Sonar party home..etc etc..
(I think that might be the ultimate, slightly over dramatised nightmare of mine..)
So far we seem to have once again been proved that the worries are a waist of energy and the apartments are as good as they were when they first entered them. Of course having all of them rented out during this busy period, there is bound to be incidents that is out of our hands, like electricity company deciding to shut down the electricity in one of the apartments for a few days. Lanterns where shipped in and immediate solutions of any sort, but of course hot water was a no go, lucky the weather was as hot as it was..and cold shower was not only the only option but more like a must. The guests got reimbursed a large amount of their rent due to the inconvenience, and I think everyone was left with a pleasing solution.

So we at akaza look forward to welcoming Sonar 2010 guests yet again and I will definitely be going back for more (but I think I will stick to daytime).

Spain Radios: Radios & Music networks blogs

Spain Radios: Radios & Music networks blogs

HI Jane you asked to be linked to our blog, http://akazaagency.blogspot.com which you are more then welcome to do.

All the best
Andrea

Barceloneta a secret of Barcelona

Barcelona’s Little Secret

Why Barceloneta is Where to Stay and Play in the Catalan Capital-

By Regina WB

Shhhh; it’s a secret. It’s hard to keep a lid on anything in Barcelona, but Barceloneta has just about succeeded. And maybe I should keep it that way? After all, it’s my neighborhood, and I don’t want it to be over-run with hotels and cheesy souvenir shops. You’ll keep it between you and me, right?

Let’s take a look at the typical visitor to Barcelona; they stay on or near La Rambla, they tour the Gothic barrio, they eat tapas and drink sangria. If well-informed, said visitors will wander down to the Mediterranean Sea and have a look at Barceloneta and its port. But will they eat in Barceloneta’s authentic seafood restaurants such as Can Ramonet? Will they sample delectable tapas at La Bombeta’s noisy tables or El Vaso de Oro’s crowded bar? Probably not. Those who are in the know come to Barceloneta to eat, drink, spend the day, and if they’re wise, spend the night.

Wait. I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me fill you in on Barceloneta, the neighborhood which consists of some of Barcelona’s most developed seaside property.
A small barrio, Barceloneta is bordered on one side by the city’s port, with darling houseboats and a view of Montjuic’s cliffs. On another side sits the hip neighborhood El Born, and to the east are the sea and an expansive boardwalk perfect for strolling, roller-blading, biking, jogging and walking Fido while viewing the Med. Indeed, just down the boardwalk from Barceloneta one encounters Fank Gehry’s Fish sculpture and the five-star Hotel Arts.


In contrast with Hotel Arts, Barceloneta apartment buildings are not grand, nor are they decorated with ornate cherub statues or fanciful iron-clad terraces. They are tall and thin with potted plants and drying socks, shirts, jeans and skirts flapping from small French balconies most days of the year.
The neighborhood was set up in 1750 by the city for blue-collar workers and has long been a fisherman’s barrio. Why would the city give the lowest-paid residents the beach-front property? Simply because there wasn’t a beach in Barcelona before the 1992 Olympic games. Prior to lighting the torch, Baceloneta was a dreary, seedy portside neighborhood, and no one who didn’t have to wanted to live there. But things change. Nowadays, the barrio has a new image and buildings are being fixed up and many foreigners are moving into the area because of its beachside positioning. While Barceloneta is becoming popular, it will never be ritzy, which will keep it diverse, unique, affordable and inviting.

For the same reasons, it is one of the best places to stay in Barcelona for those visitors who want to have a more bona fide experience in a real neighborhood on the Med. If you want postcards, overpriced hotels, tourists and tourist prices, stay in the center of the city. If you really want to get to know Barcelona, stay in Barceloneta. That said there are just a few hotels in the area and virtually no hotels within the barrio proper. Enter Akaza apartment rentals. I love this idea because it really gives visitors the full experience. Instead of staying for a week in a hotel, travelers can rent a vacation apartment in Barceloneta from Akaza rental agency and live like the locals do. Renting an apartment is about the same price as a hotel but better for families and plus allows guests the chance to cook and have a cozy ‘home base’ for exploring the city. There are many agencies who offer short term vacation rentals around the city but Akaza is the only one which specializes in Barceloneta, with virtually all of its rentals in the eclectic little district.


So there you have it, the big secret, the inside scoop, the cat in the bag. Take it from this local and pay a visit to Barceloneta on your next visit to Barcelona before they stick in a McDonalds or a cheapo shop selling Mexican sombreros and dumb t-shirts. As we all know too well, the good stuff never lasts long, with authentic individuality ever fleeting in a more and more homogenized world. In other words, get it before it’s gone.

Additional Information at:


AKAZA RENTALS: Web: http://www.akaza.net/

CERVECERIA: EL VASO DE ORO: Calle Balboa 6,

Video clip of Barceloneta: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Pnc5FSzloRs

BARCELONETA GENERAL: http://www.acib.cat/es_barrio_playa.html