Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Ravel field trip

Raval Field Trip
Our final field trip of the semester was to the Raval Neighborhood.  Raval is located just on the left side of La Rambla, opposite of the Gothic Quarter.  This was an area greatly improved by the renovations to the city after the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.Before the Olympics, this area used to be filled with sailors working on the port, prostitutes and drugs dealers.  Now it is a mix of students, families and all types of people.  It is also a neighborhood in Barcelona where you can see a lot of skateboards and young people hanging out in the plazas.  This was the first time during my stay in Barcelona that I had been to Raval, and I wish I had been more.  Friends who had studied here before had recommended restaurants and bars to me in this area, but I didn't know the area so I never came.  I actually came back to this area a day later to get a real European haircut, which turned out great.  

This is the Convent dels Ángels, an old convent that is now a church

 This is the sign outside of the Center of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona


The Museum of Contemporary Are of Barcelona

Just outside the campus of University of Barcelona, the largest public university in the city.  You can see young people lingering in the plaza outside of their classes.

University of Barcelona Campus from a distance



A Plaza near UB where you can usually find many people with their dogs or people skateboarding

A sign for the CNT-One of the Anarchist parties of Spain in Barcelona

Since the streets in Raval are too small for trash trucks to drive through, their garbage is dealt with underground.

One of the streets in the neighborhood

After the field trip, I decided to stop by La Boqueria Market because it was nearby just on la Rambla. This is the biggest market in Barcelona, and you can find any food you possibly need here.  They have fresh meat, fish, bread and pastries, fruits, vegetables, drinks and all kinds of ready to go snacks.






L'Eixample Esquerra- Entença Presentation

Entença

Arial view of Eixample.  We live in the top right corner near the intersection of Diagonal and Josep Taradellas

Google Maps View of where our Apartment is located

 
Hospital Clinic
Urgent Care Clinic
Emergency Room
Dermatology
Cardiology
Physical Therapy
Pharmacy

Bibliotecha Agustí Centelles
This is our nearest library and also serves as a civic center.  It has a large selection of books, music and movies.  There are many study areas to read or for students to study in, and there is a school just nearby.

Mercat de Ninot
This market is located right next to Hospital Clinic, but is currently under construction.  The original market is very large, but for now there is a temporary market under a large tent.

Piscina Sant Jordi
This facility hosts a full size Olympic pool and training facilities.  It has some free hours for the public but is mostly for members.

Dry Martini
We went to Dry Martini on Xavi's recommendation and really thought it was a cool lounge/bar place.  

Espit Chupitos Bar
This was one of our favorite bars, although very touristy.  It is within walking distance to our apartment so we go there pretty often.

3 News

Spanish National News:

Rajoy se abre a recibir a Mas aunque ya ve las posiciones fijadas

http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20131217/54398302293/rajoy-abre-recibir-mas-ve-posiciones-fijadas.html

Spanish President Mariano Rajoy said that he would meet and talk with Artur Mas, President of the Generalitat of Barcelona.  He does that that he doubts that anything productive will come of this meeting because the positions of Spain and Catalonia are fixed and can't be changed.



Local News:

Los servicios municipales de Barcelona subirán un 1,5% en 2014

http://www.lavanguardia.com/local/barcelona/20131217/54398302258/servicios-municipales-barcelona-subida-precios-2014.html

The cost of many municipal services of Barcelona are to increase 1.5% this next year.  Services included in this increase are bicing whose cost will rise 1.5%, and access to the Barcelona Zoo, which will also increase by 1.5%.  The admission to the Tibidabo theme park will not increase next year.


International News:

Snowden hace campaña para pedir asilo en Brasil


NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden is now looking for asylum in Brazil.  Brazil reportedly has no interest in the offer and will most likely deny his request.  Snowden is still currently in asylum in Moscow, Russia where he is awaiting potential asylum in another country.