5 Reasons to try Salsa Classes in Barcelona

Salsa classes are increasingly popular with people of both men and women and in Barcelona this trend has meant an increase in the number of opportunities to take classes in this dance form. Below are some reasons to give salsa a try:

Salsa suits people of all ages
Salsa is not something which is limited by the age of the participant. Whilst many of the dances are fast paced, there are also slower numbers which are suitable for people who are slightly older. The principles of salsa can arguable be applied to music of all different rhythms and people of all ages can enjoy the pleasure that salsa brings.

Salsa is good exercise
The fast paced nature of most of the salsa dances makes it good exercise, and the best part of it is that most of time you are so caught up in the fun that you don’t even realise you are exercising. The more experienced you become at salsa dancing the more strenuous you can dance and for longer periods.

Salsa is a means of expression
Many people find it difficult to express themselves through speaking or writing but find that they can really let themselves go whilst dancing.

Salsa can ignite passion
Salsa is a very passionate art and can be a good way to re-ignite the spark into couples who have been together for a long time. Equally, if you are hoping to make progress with people of the opposite gender then taking them to a salsa class is a good way to initiate some physical contact and take things forward.

You can impress your partner
Learning to dance is a good way to impress your partner as they will be amazed by your rhythm and your eagerness to learn new skills. It is well known that people who can dance in rhythm are more attractive to the future partners.

Interested in taking salsa classes in Barcelona or Barcelona belly dance classes in Spain?

3 NEW Stag and Hen Events for 2012

Stag and hen parties are a traditional way to sign off ones single life before they get married. Many parties indulge in traditional activities, but below are some different activities to consider.

Cheerleader parties
Learning some traditional cheerleader moves can a fun way to build a bond with others on the hen party. The session will generally last a couple of hours and involve interactive activities led by a qualified instructor. Whilst the idea of cheerleader parties may be something which only appeals to hen parties, there are similar events which can be undertaken by stag parties, such as mixed martial art training. This is a masculine and fun way to interact with each other under the full guidance of a qualified instructor.

Bobsleighing
Stag parties tend to partake in slightly more adrenaline driven activities than their female counterparts. Thanks to evolutions in technology, bobsleighing is something that can now be enjoyed in many countries around the world, not just those which now have high levels of snowfall. In this event the participants run with a cart on ice to gather momentum before guiding it around a track. This event is not solely for men, and many women will also enjoy the challenge. Try bobsleighing as a Stag group.

Pole dancing lessons
For many women the idea of pole dancing is a symbol of sexiness, and the chance to share experiences in learning the basics in this event is a great way to provide a talking point and memories to take forward into the wedding day and beyond. Men can also partake in this activity, with the result inevitably being a challenge to see who can hold the most difficult positions. If you like the idea of Pole dancing classes, you might also, for hen parties, want to also consider belly dance lessons for hen groups. This can be a lot of fun and usually gets everyone into a good spirit before going out for a meal and drinks.

Why I love travelling to Barcelona

Each time I am planning a trip away I look into brochures of many of Europe’s cities, staring for hours at the different attractions which each city has to offer as well as researching the weather and climate, but more often than not there seems to be a gravitational pull steering me towards the city of Barcelona. But what is it which attracts me back to this city so often?

When contemplating why I like Barcelona so much, the first thing that springs to mind is the atmosphere which always welcomes me. Regardless of the time of year there is always a sense of excitement and the feeling that something is happening. This is largely due to the fact that there are so many visitors to the city at all times, which is something that can often detract from a city’s charm yet somehow always seems to add to the experience here in Barcelona. 

The second reasons why I love Barcelona is the fact that there is so much fascinating architecture to explore, not only in the shape of the city’s more famous structures such as Sagrada Famila and the cathedral, but all over the city including the charming side streets and even the more modern buildings.

Alongside the obvious characteristics such as the food, the fabulous weather, the great football and the friendly locals, the other main reason that I love travelling to Barcelona is that I can enjoy all of the wonders of the city yet reach some of Europe’s finest coastline and beaches within 20 minutes. This diversity of activity, for me, just cannot be matched.

RCD Espanyol – the unforgotten team in Barcelona

 With Barcelona being home to the best club side in the world it comes as no surprise that the city’s second team, RCD Espanyol, are often neglected by the media and by visitors to the city. Espanyol are amongst the largest clubs in the country and attract around 40,000 fans to their home games, and in most cities around the world this would qualify them to be the leading team in the area, especially as they regularly finish in the top half of Spain’s top league, La Primera Liga. Espanyol has a rich history since being formed in the year 1900, including the fact that they were the founding member of La Liga and the first club to win the Copa del Rey.

RCD Espanyol play their home games in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat, which is to the west of central Barcelona and has won a prestigious award. The stadium is brand new and has all of the hallmarks of a modern arena, something which took three years and around 59 million Euros to achieve. Previously the club had played their home games at eight other venues, including the venue which hosted the 1992 Olympics. This makes the club amongst the most travelled in the world. However, now that Espanyol are settled into their new arena they can begin to build upon the already large fan base and create a fortress which other clubs will fear.

Recent triumphs for Espanyol include the Copa del Rey in 2005 and reaching the UEFA Cup final the year after, narrowly missing out to fellow Spanish club Sevilla.

You can buy corporate tickets for RCD Espanyol games through www.spanishfootballtickets.com - an official agent for the club.

3 Places to enjoy real CATALAN food in Barcelona

The people of Barcelona are proud of their Catalan roots, and there are a number of places around the city where you can enjoy genuine Catalan food. Below is a brief guide to some of them.

Cal Boter (62 C/ Tordera)
This restaurant is well established having been founded in 1986. It is a high quality establishment which offers high quality Catalan food with a modern twist and is a great option for those who have no previous experience with this food type as the quality is guaranteed and the atmosphere of the restaurant will add to the experience and cover any angst you may have. The service is also pretty special whilst the Catalan wines complete the meal.

Els Quatre Gats (3 Carrer de Montsió)
This restaurant is great for two reasons, the first being that the genuine Catalan menu is high quality and delightfully delivered, and the second being that this restaurant has a grand history, both in terms of the building within which it is found and the people who have dined here over the years. This restaurant used to be a meeting place for many of the city’s best artists, including Picasso, who would display his work here.

Agut (16 C/ GIGNÀS)
You should definitely aim to eat in the old town at least once during your visit to Barcelona, and arguably the best restaurant for Catalan food in this area is Agut. The fact that this restaurant has a loyal local following is a good indication of its true quality, whilst the prices are lower than they could be for food of this quality.

If you are interested in Catalan food, you might also enjoy the Barcelona Wine and dine tours which company's such as Barcelona Adventure offer for groups visiting the city.

3 Barcelona Cinemas for watching movies in English

As Barcelona is such an action packed and exciting city there may be the odd occasion where you just want to sit and relax. Below are some of the cinemas showing English films which you can escape to within the city.

Cines Renoir
This is a chain of cinemas, of which you can find 2 branches within Barcelona. It is primarily a Spanish film cinema but also shows films in their original language, which naturally means that there are a significant number of English films, with many of American origin. You may not have a great variety of films to choose from but the standard of the cinema makes up for this. You can visit the Cines Renoir site for direct movie information.

The Alexis Cinema and movie theatre
This is another cinema which mixes English speaking in amongst the more dominant Spanish films. The times of the films can be reasonably limited due to the reasonably small market so you should be sure to check times as if you turn up on a whim you could be waiting for quite a while. This cinema is located on Rambla de Catalunya (not La Ramblas), which is a pleasant area with plenty of restaurants in which to enjoy your pre film meal.

The Filmoteca of Catalunya
Located on the Avenida Sarrià, which is not one of the more commercial areas of the city, this cinema library is funded by the council and show a mixture of new and old films, including those in the English language. Again, be sure to check the times of English films in advance of arriving.

If you are looking for entertainment in Barcelona, you might also be intersted in:

• Golf in Barcelona - with some great courses in and near Barcelona.
• More information on movie cinemas in Barcelona, Spain.
• Get ready for the new Barcelona football tickets season.

5 Reasons to take Salsa lessons in Barcelona

Salsa Lessons are a somewhat traditional activity to undertake when on holiday, and below are some of the reasons why you should take salsa lessons when in Barcelona.

Good exercise
Salsa is a physical activity which can be quite vigorous at times. For those who do not enjoy conventional exercise this is a fun alternative and you probably won’t even realise that you are exercising. Don’t let the exercise aspect put you off though, you can work at your own pace.

Good way to meet people
Salsa is an activity which attracts people from all different walks of life who appreciate the value that the activity has in terms of fun and life enhancement. Therefore, it is a good opportunity to meet other people, especially as you will alternate dance partners and be required to interact with them.

Great fun
Salsa has a great feel and rhythm to it which makes it fantastic fun to participate in. The nature of many of the dances dictates that you will have a smile on your face.

Cultural
Salsa is a common activity in Barcelona and by taking part in lessons you can immerse yourself in the culture of the city where expression through dance is in the blood.

It is a skill you can take home
Salsa is an activity which is enjoyed around the world, and therefore any skills you acquire whilst taking lessons in Barcelona you can take home with you and build upon. Indeed, with the natural rhythm which the Barcelona residents possess, you may even find yourself with superior skills than your peers at home.

Interested in other lessons also in barcelona? The barcelona life drawing classes can be very popular and