Barcelona with kids

The Shield walking down the hills of Montserrat

This winter I've had several families with kids, and there are two of them that I'll remember with all my love.

First was the Shield family, with 2 beautiful daughters: Natalya and Daniela. Their parents, Chris and Carol, booked me to take them on a daytrip to Montserrat. She is a musician and wanted to hear the choir, and he's a geologist and was fascinated about the mountain's geological origins. We took the St. Joan funicular, then strolled down following and easy (but sometimes steep) path down the mountain enjoying the views, the strange shapes of the mountains (we saw the Monkey, the Elephant, the Parrot...), smelling the local herbs such as rosmary and thime, finding interesting pebbles and rocks... And then of course we did the Escolania Choir.
It was a fun day! So fun... that the girls kept asking to have me again, and two days later we arranged another tour, this time to visit the Sagrada Família church. They are so lovely!

Joshua and the Giants

The other family I love being with was the Cohen. Peter, Janice and their kids Julia and Joshua are a delightful family who hired me for 2 mornings. On our first day together however Julia was undisposed, so her father stayed with her, and Janice and Joshua came with me exploring the Old Town. We missed the others, but had fun altogether. On our way to the Gothic Quarter we hit an exhibit on Giants (traditional cardboard sculptures used in Catalonia for festival parades) and we loved them. We also took the elevator to the roof of the Cathedral - Joshua was pleased to see I could take him into a church without it feeling like another boring church! ; )
And we finished our morning eating some delicious hot chocolate with churros.

Hot Chocolate with churros

Happily, the next day Julia was feeling better and everyone joined our second morning tour, where we did the Boqueria Market and the Gaudí sites (again, the Sagrada Família didn't look at all like any other church Joshua had been into, and it was even his favorite place in town!).

Innaguration days!

As locals say... when the local elections approach, plenty of things are innaugurated. And that's what's happened last week, when two main brand new sites have just been open.

The first one I want to talk about is Las Arenas shopping mall, former bullfight ring that after 3 decades of beeing closed is finally starting a new life and it's called to become a very popular shopping and food hub that will definitely be appreciated by the visitors of the Montjuïc Hill aswell as the participants to the many trade fairs organized in Fira Barcelona. There will also be a wonderful gim with a spa (to be open in May) and also the Museum of Rock, that will definitely become a must for teens and modern music lovers.
By the way, contemporary architecture lovers will be pleased to know the building was refurbished following a project by Richard Rogers. Do you want to learn more? Take one of my contemporary architecture tours!


The other big site is the brand new Museum of Sciences (also called Blue Museum, because it's hosted inside the triangular blue building at the Forum by Herzog & De Meuron - again, good news for contemporary architecture lovers!). This new museum is the result of the renovation of the former Museum of Zoology and Museum of Geology that used to occupied buildings from the 1888 World Fair in the Ciutadella Park. Now their collections and presentations have been modernised and they are going to become a new pilgrimage point for any visitor interested in sciences aswell as for many families with kids.

I'm planning to visit both of them as soon as possible, so stay tunned for more posts on them!

A children afternoon

My brother leaves in Andorra, so I don't get to spend much time with my nephew but this week the kid has a school holyday and he's in town. My mom and I decided to take him to Cosmocaixa, the Science Museum and he had an awesome time there!

We had heard there was a temporary exhibit on dinosaure skeletons, and since he LOVES dinosaures, we thought it'd be fun. And yes, the exhibit was a success (we did it twice!), but he also enjoyed so much all the interactive science experiments. Well, not that he's old enough to really understand what they were about (he's only 6yo), but there were loads of buttons to push and things to move! And you know how kids are! ; )

And the biggest surprise was the Flooded Forrest: they have reproduced the Amazonian Forrest environment so you can see it first from outside (huge piranhas!), but then you enter the backside of the glass cage and it becomes a subdued-light terrarium with more fish, and snakes, and spiders and then... you get out to the Forrest Garden. My nephew got so excited! He really felt like he was in a real forrest with all those plants and the birds moving around us. It also started "raining" on the marshland (we didn't get wet, though), and we could feel the warm temperature and the moist in the air. That was SO cool!

So if you are visiting Barcelona with kids, Cosmocaixa is definitely a great place to go for an afternoon. Take either a taxi, or from Plaça Catalunya the FFCC train to Avinguda Tibidabo, then from there the196 bus takes you to the door.

Also, if you are planning to join any of their additional activities such as the Planetarium or the TocaToca, make sure to book them online as they always sell out (yes, even Mon-Fri afternoon in low season!).

And one more thing! The easiest way to visit the Museum is taking the elevator or the scalators to the -5 floor, and from there go back up (as the best part is in the very bottom floor).

Batman in Barcelona

Where would Batman go if he ever left Gotham City? Barcelona, of course!
Or at least that is what happens in the new Batman release: "Batman in Barcelona: Dragon’s Knight USA". The book has been publish simultaneously in Spain, Italy and the US.

The heroe arrives to the city chasing the evil guy scaped from Arkham. The story has a certain parallelism with the legend of Saint George and the Dragon, famous in our land because Saint George is our patron saint.

A fun way to approach Barcelona to kids and teens... as well as adults!

A week with the St Exupéry high school, from France

Two years ago I spent a whole week being the tourguide for the students of the St Exupéry high school from Nantes, France. Although during their trip they had a few unexpected incidents, they had a lot of fun and really enjoyed themselves. You can read a review in my website.

This year they asked their agency to hire me again for their new trip. We had a very complete program that included the major Gaudí sites, two gardens (Botanical and Labyrinth), the Old Town, the Olympic sites as well as an excursion to Girona.
Again we had a lot of fun, and again I helped them solving some things, and in the end their trip was a success.

I want to thank them for being such great kids and for all the good moments we had together!

Easter traditions

Easter isn't as big in Barcelona as it is in other places of Spain such as Andalusia, however you can get the feel of it if you are willing to.
Here are a few ideas:

- Palm Sunday. First of all, you need to get yourself a palm (well, to be strict your godmother should buy it for you). The best palm markets are in front of the Sagrada Familia church and in the Rambla Catalunya. Boys get long palms called "palmó", and girls get palms with tricky lacery work ("palma"), and they decorate them with laces and candy that they won't be allowed to eat until the mass is over. Adults usually carry laurel branches, although women (specially the elderly) might prefer a miniature palma. Palm blessing is performed at 11am at the Cathedral in the Gothic Quarter and at 11:45am in front of the Passion Façade of the Sagrada Familia church. Or if you prefer a very local experience, head for the Caputxins de Sarrià (2 Cardenal Vives i Tutó st., 5 minutes walk from Maria Cristina (L3 Metro) and Reina Elisenda (L6 Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat).

- Via Crucis. The procession of the Holy Cross on Easter Friday. At the Sagrada Familia in front of the Passion Façade at 9am and 10pm, and at the Cathedral at 6.30pm.


- Mona for your godchildren. On Easter Monday godchildren are given a mona by their godfather. They used to be a cake decorated with one hard-boiled egg per each children the kid is old. However, nowadays the tradition has evolved and most monas are now amazing chocolate figures that can be bought in most pastry shops. So organize a family lunch, and eat your mona for desert!

Whales spotting in Catalonia? Now it's possible!

I used to think that if I wanted to see whales and other cetaceans I should go far away. But now it's possible to do it also here in the Mediterranean, near Barcelona!

From March to November whales, dolphins and other sea mammals travel along our coastline in their way to Liguria (Italy), and the Bufalvent Association is making a research on them and allow people to join their one-day sails to catch sight of them.

Their website is only in Catalan by now, but you can probably find some good online website translator if you are interested in reading it.

They depart at 8am from l'Estartit and return at noon. The trip includes the boat and sailors for a group of 15 people (if it's less people other ships are available as well), Catalan breakfast with tomato bread and sausages, a class on cetaceans and educational material.
Their 2009 price is 98 euro for adults and 75 for kids upto 12yo.

They can't guarrantee you'll see whales as it just depends on the animals and your good luck, of course! But you'll learn a lot and will enjoy a great morning sailing and enjoying the magnificent views of the Empordà coast.

I can organize it for you and your family if you are in Barcelona. For 790 euro (sailing fees not included) we'll get to L'Estartit in a private minivan with driver, where you'll be able to join the whale spotting trip. We'll return to Barcelona afterwards, or for an extra 90 euro we'll extend the trip 2h for some beach time, a local lunch or visiting some cute pitturesque Empordà village.

New!!! Excursions to the Monkey Foundation!

The Fundació Mona (or Monkey Foundation) was set up to end the exploitation of primates in captivity. They have established a sanctuary near Girona in Spain, which provides a home where rescued chimpanzees and other primates can live in a natural environment and where people can be inspired to understand and respect wild animals.

Their center is opened for visits from Wednesday to Sunday, and now I'll be offering excursions to their facilities, where you can watch families of chimps exploring the towers, ropeways and natural landscape of their spacious new home. Mona Foundation volunteers are always on hand to explain the story of the rescue of the chimps and answer questions about the protection of primates in the wild.

After the visit, we'll head for lunch to Girona or Tossa de Mar, where we'll also get some light sightseeing.

To learn more about Fundació Mona, visit: http://www.fundacionmona.org.

Fundació Mona

The Maritime Museum for the Gauch family!

Teresa from The Spanish Travel Boutique asked me to take the Gauch family on two city tours. One of them was to include the Maritime Museum. This isn't a usual request for guided tours, so for me it was a pleasure to prepare the visit and show them around.

They were really impressed by the museum:
First of all by the building itself, as it is located in the medieval Royal Shipyards were Catalan boats and ships were built during centuries.
Then, of course for the collection including gorgeous models of all kind of boats, old navigation instruments and maps, and the star of the museum: a wonderful real-size replica of the Royal Galley of John of Austria that battled in Lepanto in 1571.

A very educational and fun tour for the whole family!

Christmas like a local. Part 6: The Three Wise Men

Just one more special day left for the end of Christmas time in Barcelona!
January 6th is the day of the Three Wise Men (Tres Reis Mags, in Catalan) or the Epiphany. We celebrate that the Three Wise Men followed the shooting star to find the baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Betlehem and brough him gold, incense and mirrh as gifts.

This is why that's the traditional day in Spain for kids to get their presents (despite Santa Claus invading our lifes lately due to globalisation...).

Everything starts with the child writting a letter to his/her favorite Wise Men: Melcior (the White), Gaspar (the Blond) or Baltasar (the Black), about the presents they'd like to get for having been good kids during the year.

They take the letter to a Wise Men Page (this year you can find one at the Virreina Palace in La Rambla, and there is usually one near any Corte Inglés as well.

On the 5th the Three Wise Men arrive to all cities and parade around the streets. In Barcelona they'll arrive by boat at the Moll de la Fusta pier at 5pm, then proceed to the Ciutadella Park before starting their parade crossing the whole city towards Montjuic at 6.30pm. Everything about their itinerary and the Wise Men time in Barcelona, and much more about Christmas in the city here.

After the parade or "Cavalcada", all children must quickly go back home, eat dinner and go early to bed. But before they'll make sure to leave some cava wine and turron for the Wise Men, and some water and old bread for their camels. We also leave a shoe so they know who leaves in the house and needs to get some presents.

The next day, when the family wakes up, presents will be there for everybody. And after that, usually starts an itinerary around the houses of other relatives (grandparents, uncles and aunts, close friends...) to see if the Wise Men left anything for the kids as well.

After that, there is a family big meal that always finishes with the traditional Tortell de Reis, a marsipan bread dough similar to Mardi Gras King Cake. Inside the cake there are two surprises, the "good one" and the "bad one". If you get the fava bean, that's the bad one: you'll have to pay the cake! But if you get the little king/wise man figure, then you'll be crowned king of the day and you'll have the right to wear the paper crown that came with the cake.

And after that, Christmas time will officially be over!
Children will still be given another day off before going back to school on the 8th after almost 20 days of holydays.

And as for adults... well, it'll be time to dieting after so much food and wine these days!

Christmas like a local. PART 3: Christmas for children!

Christmas is always a big thing for kids, who are delighted with the magic of traditions and presents.
Barcelona children have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the holydays:

- Advent Calendar. The countdown for Christmas starts when you buy an Advent Calendar in a bookstore at the stationer's. This calendar goes from December 1st to Christmas, and has a little window for each day, that you open as days go by.

- Setting up the Nativity. That's a huge event for the family. I told you everything you need to know about it in my first Christmas post.

- Caga Tió. This tradition might sound a bit scathologic, but it actually refers to the land fertility, and therefore wealth and good luck in general. On Christmas Eve, a Tió or Pooing Trunk is set in a prominent place of the house living room. Traditionally, it has a smily face painted in one end and wears a "barretina" hat. You must cover it with a blanket, so it doesn't get cold. But the trunk is still freezing, so children must warm it up so it can "poo" them their presents, and they do it by hitting it with a stick and singing a traditional song. I've heard many different versions of this tune; in my family we used to sing something that could be translated as: "Poo trunk, poo cottage cheese and honey, if you don't poo enough, I will burn you". Yes, maybe not too reassuring for the poor trunk but it is effective! After singing it a few times always hitting the trunk with your stick, you can lift up the blanket and... surprise! the trunk will have certainly pooed presents and sweets for you!



- December 28th, day of the Innocents. That's the equivalent to April Fools for many countries: a day to fool people and have a laught at them. Children often cut off paper dolls (LLUFES in Catalan) to hang them at the back of people when they don't notice...

- Childhood Festival in Montjuic. Every year the Barcelona Fair organises a kids festival with hundreds of activities for kids. In 2008 it'll be from December 27th to January 4th. Unfortunately, their website is only in Spanish.

- The Man of the Noses. A Catalan Legend says there is a Man that has as many noses as days are left before the year is over. This poor man can only walk in the streets on the last day of the year, when he has only one nose. Children walk around watching people noses and wondering who must be this misterious man... A big-head carnival figure of the "Home dels Nassos" will be parading the streets. Check out the city council website to know more about its itinerary.

- Toy Fair in Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes. Every year the central part of this street holds a Toy Fair with dozens of stalls with the best toys and games to tempt both kids and adults.

- A letter for the Three Wise Men. Although globalization is making him more and more popular, in Spain Santa Claus is still beaten by the Three Wise Men as present carrier. Usually each child has a favorite Wise Men: Melchor (the white), Gaspar (the blond) or Baltasar (the black), and writtes a letter for him, telling him all the presents he/she wants to get for having been a good child. After writing the letter, it must be giving to a Royal Page. You'll find one in the Palau de la Virreina (99, Rambla) from December 29th to January 4th.

- The Three Wise Men Parade. They come to the city with their camels and pages and parade the streets before starting their important job of distributing toys among the Barcelona children during a long long busy night for them. This year they arrive by boat at 5.30pm at the Moll de la Fusta pier, then the Parade starts at the Ciutadella Park, through Via Laietana and towards Montjuïc.

- Getting ready for the Three Wise Men to come. Of course, January 5th is a night when children must go early to sleep. But before that, they will make sure to leave some turrón and cava for the Three Wise Men, and water and old bread for the horses. We also leave a shoe near the nativity, so they know where to leave your presents.