The pleasure of eating: Pollo Rico

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” 

― Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own

“Blood may be thicker than water, but it's certainly not as thick as ketchup. Nor does it go as well with French fries.” 

― Jarod Kintz, This Book is Not FOR SALE

When you live in a foreign city, you are interested in searching for places to visit, museums, bars, discos and so on, but there is another aspect of great relevance that should intrigue you - and that we unforgivably disregard on this blog: cooking.

You’re not fully enjoying your stay in a city if you don’t explore the local dishes, flavours and spices. The hugest mistake you can do is trying to reproduce your native country’s cooking in another place: if you want to integrate yourself, you have to be open-minded and to discover the typical cooking of the country you’re living in. Cookery is an important feature of each country's culture: you cannot say that you really know one place without tasting its cooking. 

The pleasure of food

I’m not here to suggest you restaurants in which you will taste haute cuisine at very expensive prices: we are students or interns, so we are searching for something good, but also cheap. That’s why I am going to present you a very rustic, cheap and cheerful place located in one of the most historical and characteristic barrios, El Raval. The restaurant is called Pollo Rico and takes its name from its main dish. This restaurant is a little bit unrefined, but there you can breathe the real atmosphere of El Raval and – above all – you can give a try to the typical Barcelonian cooking at very low prices.

Pollo Rico

As said, the main dish of this restaurant is chicken (‘pollo’). Pollo rico means 'succulent chicken' and it describes perfectly the course, which is really tasty. The combination ½ pollo and patatas al horno (or fritas or – for the gluttons – bravas) is the one I suggest you. If you’re not that hungry, you can choose the ¼ version. After the main course, you can end with crema catalana, the most famous Catalan dessert. 

If you don’t like chicken, anyway, there’s plenty of dishes among which you can choose, and with 8-10€ you can satisfy your appetite completely. 

Pollo y patatas fritas

Moreover, in this place you can enjoy the spirit of this barrio, goliardic, rustic and familiar. I strongly suggest you to go there once: if you’re not searching for fancy places, but for something down to earth, you’ll appreciate it. 

Back to 30s: Barcelona Pipa Club

If you're in the magnificent Plaça Reial, a hot-spot of Barcelona nightlife, and you ring the bell of "Pipa Club" at number 3, it will seem you that you're travelling across ages and that you've jumped into the 20-30s. You'll get into an old, Victorian flat, transformed into a fancy bar with the vibe of the beginning of the XX century. You'll see jazz musician jamming in the main hall and you will be able to drink vermouth while listening to good music and enjoying the atmosphere. 

Barcelona Pipa Club's location: Plaça Reial

The Barcelona Pipa Club was founded in 1980 as a non-profit association, which now counts over than 400 members. It was born as a pipe-smoking club, even if live music constitutes the main attraction.

The style - as already said - is very Victorian: it seems to get back to the London of the 20-30s, especially the Sherlock Holmes pub, which reminds us the foggy atmosphere of Londoner Baker Street. It is one of the most unique places you'll ever visit - especially if you're a vintage lover. 

Barcelona Pipa Club

The list of activities offered by Barcelona Pipa Club is wide: the gastronomic section, which organises gourmet assays and monthly dinners; the photographic one, which arranges laboratories and expositions; the cigar section for Havana fans; a literaly division which allows you to chat with writers; the pipe smoking courses, coherently with the true spirit of the place; painting and photography exhibitions; snooker, darts and chess groups and, last but not least, jazz concerts.

Every sunday, there is the jam session held by some jazz musicians, on monday and tuesday you can enjoy tango and milonga, while on friday there are always musicians playing different instrument with various styles, from blues to gipsy jazz . 

Barcelona Pipa Club: flier

Unfortunately, Barcelona Pipa Club will move soon to Grácia district, at number 21 in Carrer Sant Eulalia. I say unfortunately because Plaça Reial is - without any doubt - one of the most suggestive Barcelonian locations, and it will be difficult to recreate the same atmosphere. However, Grácia has its own allure, and I hope that Barcelona Pipa Club will not lose its timeless style. 

Carlotta Neuenschwander

From Zorba to Zara

Zara is without any doubts the flagship brand of chain-store - profitable INDITEX. Actually it’s most unconventional strategy was its policy of zero advertising. The company preferred to invest a percentage of revenues in opening new stores instead. The history of brand had started in 1975 when Amancio Ortega opened the first Zara store in downtown a Coruña.

The name of brand was absolutely a fluke. Supposedly it had to be Zorba after watching the famous film Zorba the Grek by Ortega.  The title was not right, because probably some local bar had the same name. 

Paradoxically, Spain is the only country in which ZARA is pronounced not “Zah-rah”, but “Tha-ra¨.

The first store featured low-priced lookalike products of popular, higher-end clothing fashions. The store proved to be a success, and Ortega started opening more Zara stores throughout Spain. During the 1980s, Ortega begun changing the design, manufacturing, and distribution process to reduce lead times and react to new trends in a quicker way, in what he called "instant fashions".

Porto was the first city, through the company was started its international expansion. It entered the United States in 1989, and two years later-France. This international expansion was increased in the 1990s, with Mexico (1992), Greece (1994), Belgium and Sweden (1994), etc. until reaching its current presence in over 88 countries.

The success of Zara lies in fast deliveries, approximately twice a week. Products that designed at the headquarters in Arteixo reach stores three weeks later. This is a stunning pace, forced by the fact that between 51pc and 55pc of clothing is manufactured in “proximity” markets, Spain, Portugal, Turkey and Morocco, instead of Asia. So while some competitors outsource all production to Asia, Zara makes its most fashionable items particularly in Galicia and northern Portugal where labor is probably cheaper than in most of Western Europe. This successful strategy is vertical integration, that give Zara possibility to quick respond on any market contingency. 

Zara was commented by Louis Vuitton Fashion Director Daniel Piette as "possibly the most innovative and devastating retailer in the world." Zara has also been described as a "Spanish success story" by CNN.

The most astonishing issue about ZARA is that the brand has managed to win over the fashionistas as well as the masses. From Hollywood to Bollywood, the brand is loved by all. Moreover Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge also has a strong inclination toward the brand. Kate Middleton has been recognized frequently in using ZARA.

Now Inditex continue to expand global online platform with the launch of online sales for Zara in Mexico and South Korea. In the previous year Zara opened 343 stores reaching a total 6,683 stores in 88 markets.

If you want to know where the nearest Zaras store in Barcelona is, look at the list below:

  BARCELONA - AVENIDA DEL PORTAL DE L'ANGEL, 11-13
BARCELONA - AVENIDA DEL PORTAL DE L'ANGEL, 32-34
BARCELONA - CALLE PELAI, 58
BARCELONA - PASEO DE GRACIA, 16
BARCELONA - RAMBLA DE CATALUNYA, 67
BARCELONA - CALLE GRAN DE GRACIA, 74
BARCELONA - AVENIDA DIAGONAL, 584
BARCELONA - GLORIES
BARCELONA - CARRETERA DE SANTS, 27
BARCELONA - L'ILLA DIAGONAL
L'HOSPITALET DE LLOBREGAT - CALLE PEREZ GALDOS, 10-12
BARCELONA - DIAGONAL MAR
L'HOSPITALET DE LLOBREGAT - GRAN VIA 2
L'HOSPITALET DE LLOBREGAT - LA FARGA
BARCELONA - LA MAQUINISTA
BADALONA - MAGIC BADALONA
CORNELLA DE LLOBREGAT - SPLAU!
SANT BOI DE LLOBREGAT - ALCAMPO
CERDANYOLA DEL VALLES - AVENIDA DE CATALUNYA, 46
EL PRAT DE LLOBREGAT - AEROPUERTO DE BARCELONA-ELPRAT 
GAVA - BARNASUD
SABADELL - RAMBLA DE SABADELL, 2-8
CASTELLDEFELS - L'ANEC BLAU
SABADELL - PADDOCK BULEVARD

A day at the beach: Sitges

In 1Global Translators, the majority of us are young interns who love travelling, so that what's better than taking the train and visiting some Catalan places during the weekend? After Tossa de Mar and Tarragona, last Saturday we went to Sitges, in order to sunbathe, dive into the (frozen) sea, lie on the beach and - of course - write an article, providing new Barcelonians with all the information they need in order to better exploit their stay in Barcelona!

Sitges

Sitges is a town about 35 kilometres southwest of Barcelona and it is famous as the 'Ibiza in miniature'. Moreover, it is known for the Film Festival - dedicated to fantasy and horror movies - and for the Carnival. 

The Carnival takes place between February and March and the festivity begins on Dijious Gras (Fat Thursday), with the arrival of Rei Carnestoltes, the main protagonist of the Carnival. 

Sitges' Carnival: Rei Carnestoltes

Sitges has been blessed by Nature with a great location, between the sea and the Garraf Massif, and has quickly become a touristic destination. Moreover, Sitges has become widely popular for LGTB community, since is one of the most gay-friendly places in the world. 

On the Sitges' official touristic website, they claim that Sitges benefits of 300 sunny days per year! In addition to this, Sitges offers you over 18 kilometers of coast with beach bar services, toy libraries, sun loungers, sunshades and umbrellas, sorts facilities, massage services, sailing schools, water activities and beaches awarded with ISO 14001, EMAS and Sicted certifications.

Sitges

Sitges is considered the Spanish Saint-Tropez, because its setting by the sea and the Parc Natural del Garraf: the property prices, in fact, reach those of the most expensive European cities. 

So, if you're having a studying or working experience in Barcelona, you definitely have to visit Sitges, defy the cold water and have the first swim in the sea even at the end of April! 


Carlotta Neuenschwander

Feria de Abril de Cataluña

Do you want to breathe the Seville's air in Barcelona?

Then you cannot miss the Feria de Abril (The April Fair) in Parque del Fòrum! It is the Catalan version of the Andalusian Fairs. The most famous one is held in Seville (that is why the fair is also called “Feria de Abril de Sevilla”).

The word Feria originates from the Latin term feria, feriae. With this word Romans marked the days with no civil activities devoted to religious cult. The first Feria dates back to 1847, thanks to the authorization of Queen Isabel II. During 1920s, this celebration reached its peak and became one of the symbols of the Andalusian culture.

The Feria in Barcelona does not have, as you can imagine, the same popularity as the Seville's original celebration, but it is certainly a great event and an occasion to discover the traditional Sevillanas dance and much more.
The Feria de Abril is divided in two different areas as per two different themes.
The first one is the amusement park area, with many attractions like candy floss, shooting galleries, ferris wheel and similar attractions.

The second and main theme is the “casetas” area. The term casetas, individual decorated marquee tents which are temporarily built on the fairground, means little houses in Spanish, and in each of them you can find different groups dancing Sevillanas, eating Spanish food – such as chorizo, patatas bravas, bocadillos – singing traditional songs aloud.

In my opinion, the most beautiful feature is the huge amount of colours, dresses and people – from children to the eldest of grandparents – that you can find in the Feria. You will be fascinated by sophisticated dresses, different sounds and people.

Regarding to apparel, men wear the traditional “traje de corto” (short jacket, tight trousers and boots) and women wear “faralaes” or “trajes de flamenca” which is a flamenco-style dress.

If you love folklore, to be in the middle of crowd, singing and dancing flamenco, next year you should visit the Feria de Abril. You will absorbed by the Andalusian atmosphere.

Por la carretera ~ Manu Chao and his concierto clandesti in El Hospitalet

José-Manuel Thomas Arthur Chao is a French-born artists of Spanish origin. He began his successfull career in the mid-1980s with his first group, the Hot Pants, but it is with Mano Negra, a "multiracial" band founded in 1987, that Manu Chao reached popularity. 

"Mano Negra started playing in a subway in Paris before the band started to be known and selling records. We started in a subway for a living. This is what made the musicians of Mano Negra. And so the people using the subway in Paris was very eclectic. There was people from a lot of different countries, different cultures. So we have to be able to play all kind of music to please all the people in a subway. So that was a perfect school to learn a lot of different style of music."

In fact, Manu Chao and his band are influenced by many different music genres, such as punk, rock, French chanson, Iberoamerican salsa, ska, reggae and Algerian raï, that create a unique music style appreciated in all the world. His songs and lyrics deal with immigration, love, social problems and often carry a left-wing message. Moreover Manu Chao sings in many different languages, such as Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, English, Galician and Arabic, even mixing them in the same song.

His experience with Mano Negra ended in 1995, and Manu Chao started his solo career in Madrid with a new group, the Radio Bemba Sound System. In this new phase José-Manuel wrote some of his most famous songs, like Clandestino (1998) or Me Gustas Tu (2001). 

He considers himself a citizen of the world, however he actually lives in Barcelona (even if he rarely stays in Spain), a city that perfectly matches with his way of living, full of live and energy. The people love him, and he loves his city, he even opened a bar in Barri Gotic, the Mariatchi, and he owns a disco in El Hospitalet where he often performs.

This weekend, in particular, he held two conciertos clandesti in his disco, the Salamandra. Why clandestine concerts? In Barcelona he often performs in secret concerts to avoid a huge request of tickets (and resulting disappointements), so only if you're a regular client of his bar, or if you are a true fan of him (if you are really lucky too!), you will found out about his shows. 

Yesterday, 5th of May, Manu Chao performed for more than two hours without any true break, more than 20 songs in his set list, and energy, really a lot of energy in every single song. This is, in fact, why Manu Chao is so appreciated by his fans, even at the age of 53 he seems a young, crazy boy on the stage, always singing and inciting the public that follows him singing every word and dancing at every song. Clandestino, El Viento, Desaparecido, all his best known songs, spaced out by Pinocchio and other crazy motifs, entertained a public of less than 1000 people in a quite familiar atmosphere. A lot of good music, but also social engagement characterized this concert, with a speech about the human rights crisis in Mexico, with the disappearence of 43 mexican people in mysterious circumstances: 

¡Vivos los llevaron, vivos los queremos! 

With his music kaleidoscope, you will feel lighter, happier, so if you are fishing in troubled waters, if you have some problems, and if you feel sad, just go to one of his concerts, and you will forget everything for the next three hours.

Pase lo que pase, sea lo que sea, próxima estación: Esperanza.

Barcelonian tips

When moving to a new country, there are some unconditional things to deal with, in order to live in peace. By reading this article, you'll become familiar with the Catalan regulation and organisms that aim to help you with it.

First of all, your situation depends on your country of origin. If you are a citizen of the European Union (EU), and/or if you are from a State that is member of the Schengen Area, it's gonna be easier for you to live in Barcelona. 

Indeed, as you may know, the Schengen Area, formed by 26 countries, abolished any form of border control. Moreover, if you are from the EU, you don't need a visa to move from a country to another.

    Full Schengen members (EU member states which have implemented the Schengen Agreement)

    Associated Schengen members (non-EU member states which have implemented the Schengen Agreement)

    EU member states which are bound to implement the Schengen Agreement but who have not done so yet)

    EU member states outside the Schengen Area

If you come from the rest of the world, you should ask for a visa in order to be allowed to take up residence in Barcelona, and in Spain in general.

Once you're in the city, you must think about paperwork. The very first thing to do, if you're here to work, is to ask for a NIE - Número de Identidad de Extranjero - compulsory to sign an employment contract. After that, you should get some information about "la tarjeta sanitaria", that is to say, the Spanish medical card. The first year that you own this card, you'll be able to read "acces catsalut primer nivel", meaning that you only have access to general practice. However, if you need a specific care, a committee regularly meets in order to define the real needs of each one. From the second year that you have the medical card, it's indicated "acces catsalut segon nivel", and you'll have free access to every kind of medecine.

Lots of organisms in Barcelona are here to help you to understand the functioning of Spain. The first one is the SAIER - Servei d'Atenció a Immigrants, Emigrants i Refugiats - located in Avinguda Paralel·lel, 202-204 (metro station: Espanya, L1, L3). It has existed since 1989 and its goal is to help imigrants and refugees who live in Barcelona. Then, the SOAPI - Servicio de Orientación y Acompañamiento para personas inmigradas - counts an office in each districte. It gives general information about rights and duties, administrative steps, the area knowledge, etc. The OACs - Oficines d'Atenció Ciutadana - also exists in every districte. It aims to facilitate the administrative steps.

About specific needs, you should take note that the PIADs - Puntos de Informació y Atenció a las Donas - are here to help women when it comes to discrimination or violence. There's one of them in each districte. The "oficinas d'habitatge" aim to help people to buy or rent social accomodations in each districte. Barcelona Activa, located in Carrer de Llacuna, 162-164, is an organism that may help you to set up your company in Barcelona. Finally, the "oficina d'atenció del consorci d'educació de Barcelona", located in Plaça d'Urquinaona, 6, helps families to put their children into the educational system.

Some interesting phone numbers:

- emergency phone number: 112

- Police: 092

- Firemen: 080

- ER: 061

By the way, you may wonder what a "districte" is. Actually, Barcelona is divided in 10 districtes that are administratives areas, in order to facilitate steps. In these districtes, you can find barris, that are neighbourhoods.

Barcelona's districtes

Barcelona's barris

I really hope that this is gonna facilitate your arrival in that beautiful-sunny-hot city! =)