these are no travel guide photos

by Mercedes Delgado on June 22, 2011

in Confidential Information,Información Privilegiada,Life in the City

Do not let anybody tell you how Barcelona looks like. The best pics come out when they show a feeling, when they are the result of a life experience.  You will not find photos like these in a catalogue or in a travel guide of Barcelona.  These are photos of real people, of people like you, they have a heart and soul and you can only see them here.

How many times we travel looking for that typical picture shown in the leaflets of tourism of such and such city and when we are there we simply cannot find it… and we are right there?  that is because the eye makes the difference. Let’s run away from the typical manufactured view and let’s make something closer to reality.

Maybe you can name some of the places here shown…maybe not.  Barcelona is an amazing city full of amazing corners… is there any place that you have seen that is invisible to the eyes of others?   Do you want to share it with us?  Give us your personal view of places that everybody have seen, or give us your personal glance of places you have been the first one to discover.

Thanks to our lovely friends Maria and Olivia whose generosity allow us to see places through their eyes.

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To MWC or not to MWC

by Jaume Barberena on February 15, 2011

in Confidential Information,Technology

Mobile World Congress. Em. Double u. Cee. I finally find myself using the official abbreviation, after holding out for a long time still calling it 3GSM, like an old timer. Back when it started in Barcelona five years ago, it was a different beast. Back then, all the buzz was about highly technical network stuff I didn’t really understand. But there was a promise that it would make mobile internet fast, really fast. Well, I’m not so sure that we have a fast – really, really fast – mobile internet connection anywhere near Barcelona, or that I could afford it if it did.

So fast forward to 2011, and one more MWC – this time around it’s tablets, tablets, tablets… I am writing this on my ipad, finally cutting edge technology even I can understand. Used to be a time when 3GSM MWC week was the only time of the year I didn’t feel completely awkward about carrying two blackberrys, speaking into one, while writing messages on the other… at the same time!

A chance encounter with cool blogger Rob Kerr on Sunday night – his light light up while he tells me and a friend about the new Xperia Play game phone he just saw at the SonyEricsson presentation, and I’m hooked. There might be something in it for me, after all.

As anyone who’s ever innocently tried to book a Valentine’s day getaway to Barcelona on the expectation that it is the middle of February, so low season, and couldn’t find an apartment in Barcelona or anywhere nearby knows, this is the highest week of the year in the city. It is an incredibly busy week, everyone is in a rush to set up their booths, go to meetings, tweetups, more meetings… and did I mention the parties?

We often get requests from clients ranging from recommending a catering supplier, delivering a package to our office or getting a hair dryer. All in a day’s work. But what in the world do you tell someone who asks you for a submarine??

Monday 17:00 I walk through the gates of mobile nirvana, only a couple of hours to get my fix. Good. Don’t wanna overdo it, there’s still three more action-filled days to go.

Jaume birra

Free as in free beer, courtesy of Miyowa

Special thanks to Markus Lonka and his great crew at Mixem Solutions for generously providing a pass to MWC.

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THE MEETING IS AT 18.30 OR AT 6.30PM?

by Mercedes Delgado on December 15, 2010

in Confidential Information,Información Privilegiada,Practical Matters,Random Stuff

my nephew's clock

What is the meaning of this question?

It is not the same time?

Of course it is the same time.  Here comes the problem of how we “name” the time.

One day has 24 hours, isn’t it? then let’s name them.  Therefore after 12 noon comes 13 and 14 and 15… and we will end the day -midnight- at 24 (or 00.00 – both are used without distinction).  This is called the “24-hour clock” and is a convention of time keeping in which the day runs from midnight to midnight and is divided into 24 hours,  indicated by the hours passed since midnight, from 0 to 23. This system is the most commonly used time notation in the world today.

But usually we don’t say “I saw James at 14.15…” , most of us will robably say “I saw James at 2.15 in the afternoon”.  Therefore it makes sense to say that the 12-hour time is mostly used in speech for ease of use, and 24 hour time is preferred in writing.

The 24 hour clock has also been called railway time (in Europe, therefore in Barcelona), continental time (in England), and military time (in the US).   It is also the international standard notation of time.  In the 12 hour time system, midnight is usually written as 12 AM, and midday (noon) as 12 PM.  The Latin tags Ante Meridiem (before the middle of the day) and Post Meridiem (after), abbreviated to AM and PM, are required to indicate the difference between, say, 1:30 in the morning (01:30) and 1:30 in the afternoon (13:30). You forget about AM and PM if you use the 24 hour time system.

A quick tip to convert easily the 24 hour time nomenclature into the 12 hour use from 12 (noon) onwards -needless to say only for the PM hours-  is to subtract 2 from the hour, and the last (hour) digit will tell you what the time is.  That way:

The 24 hour tower clock in Venice that lists hours 1 to 12 twice

13.00 hours – 2 = 11.00 hours (the last digit is 1 therefore it is 1 PM)

17.30 hours – 2 = 15.30 hours (the last digit is 5 therefore it is 5.30 PM)

22.55 hours – 2 = 20.55 hours (the last digit is 0 therefore it is 10.55 PM)

23.00 hours – 2 = 21.00 hours (the last digit is 1 therefore it is 11.00 PM)

and of course 24.oo (or 00.oo) is midnight because 24 – 2 = 22 and this means a 12 !!  NOTE that minutes remain the same…

Enjoy your time!

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YOU’D LOVE TO BE IN BARCELONA ON DECEMBER THE 2ND!!

by Mercedes Delgado on November 30, 2010

in Confidential Information,Información Privilegiada,Life in the City,Random Stuff

shop, shop, shop… shop til you drop!

At last Barcelona takes the train of the FASHION NIGHT OUT.

New York was the pioneer of the idea three years ago, in a bid to support the fashion industry.

Its original pretense was so simple – extending store hours along with additional incentives, all as remedies to shore up the weakening retail sector in New York City.  However a season later, the idea first facilitated by Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief, the legendary Anna Wintour, is now a global event, with 16 countries participating.

This is now a young classic,

and therefore Barcelona City Council is launching an initiative similar to that done by Vogue in major cities worldwide where it achieved major success, becoming a classic in a very short time period. One of its latest editions was in Madrid.

It is not only shopping, it is fun, shows, famous dj’s, parties and cocktails in all shops, bars, restaurants and hotels participating in the event. Gifts and all sorts of surprises and promotions in bars and participating stores. Barcelona, unable to ally with Vogue Spain because the magazine can only choose one city per country, has teamed up with Harper’s Bazaar which will host a big tent at one of the side roads of Passeig de Gràcia.

The key is buying flowers,

Passeig de Gràcia is the stage where the show is performed and the city will look gorgeous because that precise night the Christmas lighting will be switched on for the first night this year. Get your Shopping Passport and enjoy the shopping night. The passport is the accreditation that allows you the access for shopping at any of the stores that participates in the project -from 8 pm to 12 am-… and even to participate in 5 draws, with 5 fabulous prizes!

You can register during The Shopping Night at one of the two accreditation booths that you will find along the Passeig de Gràcia to get your Shopping Passport. (Rosselló street with Passeig de Gràcia and Gran Via with Passeig de Gràcia. From 10 am)…  Then all stores will open up to the big party.  Each time you buy for a value of 20 EUROS, a flower will be stamped on your Passport. The more flowers you have stamped on it, the more opportunities you have to win at the numerous draws that will take place during the night.

Happy Shopping!

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HAVE THIS IN MIND WHEN YOU COME TO BARCELONA… (OR ANYWHERE ELSE)

by Mercedes Delgado on November 17, 2010

in Confidential Information,Información Privilegiada,Life in the City,Practical Matters

Barcelona is in general, a safe city and not to visit it because you are afraid of what might happen is a terrible waste of a potentially wonderful experience. Problems are most likely to start when you don’t take the right precautions and so you start to be the victim to a scam or pick pocket or bag snatch. Thieves prefer to choose easy victims so keep your wits about you and let us give you some hints that will help. [click to continue…]

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Why Design Loves Barcelona

October 26, 2010
BCN Design Week poster

Barcelona is world famous as a city that emanates culture, creativity, art, trends and design, elements that combine and interact to trace the particular style of an international brand. In the last 25 years, the city has become one of the favourite bases of operation for architects, designers, photographers, illustrators and creative professionals from all [...]

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Barcelona or Kabul? [VIDEO]

October 10, 2010

We shot this video in the midst of the protests on September 29th’s general strike from our balcony overlooking the Plaça Catalunya. Is it really Barcelona? Or is it Gaza? Kabul? Send your opinions in the comments below.

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Homage to Banesto

October 5, 2010
Banesto builing in Barcelona

Only a few days ago, a group of protesters broke into the Banesto building on Barcelona’s Plaça Catalunya and set up a squatters’ camp to be the headquarters for acts of protest which would culminate in clashes with riot police coinciding with the 29 September general strike. The Banesto building has sat empty for many [...]

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From the Airbus to the Aerobus

September 29, 2010
Fly into Barcelona on the Airbus

Let’s talk about how you can get into Barcelona if you take the Aerobús. The Aerobús is quite a practical transport if you’re headed towards the places near Gran Via and Plaça Espanya as well as in the area surrounding Plaça Catalunya in the old town of Barcelona, for instance along La Rambla. If you’re [...]

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Why taxis are the entertaining way into Barcelona

September 28, 2010
T2 Barcelona airport terminal taxis line

Let’s talk about how to get to Barcelona from the airport in a taxi today. Who’s it for? It’s just for anybody who wants to get into town quickly without having to wait at a bus shelter or at a platform for a long time, if you’re carrying a lot of bags and you want [...]

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