News During My Time in Barcelona

As a journalism major in the United States, I have really enjoyed the aspect of this class that is focused on news. Here are three articles that I have found interesting, been moved by, or intrigued by them in comparison to typical news in the United States.


International News


April 27, 2011: La Vanguardia


Today, one article addresses that four Roma were injured, one seriously, in a clash that occurred last night with far-right in a town in northeastern Hungary, where paramilitary groups organize marches intimidating for days, in a further escalation of the tension generated by radical groups. The paper displayed a picture taken by the AP of one of the youths that was attacked after the match between Roma and right-wing groups in Hungary. This picture took me by surprise because the man is covered in blood. In the US, I am not used to seeing people exposed after such violence so this picture was very moving for me to see.

Here is the article: http://www.lavanguardia.es/internacional/20110427/54145069031/cuatro-heridos-en-una-pelea-entre-gitanos-y-ultraderechistas-en-hungria.html

National News:


April 28, 2011: La Vanguardia: Barca Wins the first assault in the Bernabeau thanks to a great Messi

Nothing is better than when you actually experience the news around you. While standing at a bar watching one of the most important games of the season in Spain, I had the chance to fully experience this. Messi was insanely good, Pepe was expelled, and Mourinho also was expelled to the stands. There is nothing like being surrounded by 100s of Barca fans cheering and shouting "Messi" to get you excited about futbol. After the game, I went to La Rambla because I saw on the news that people were celebrating. After a great night, I found these pictures from La Vanguardia and I really think they say it all.

All of the pictures above are from La Vanguardia.

link:http://www.lavanguardia.es/deportes/futbol/20110427/54146339409/el-barca-se-lleva-el-primer-asalto-en-el-bernabeu-gracias-a-un-gran-messi.html

Local News:

April 7, 2011:EL PERIÓDICO incrementa su audiencia en 17.000 lectores/EL PERIODICO increases its audience by 17,000 readers

I am very interested in journalism trends because it is what I study at home. Because of this, the particular article was very interesting to me.According to the article, the number of readers of El Periodico tends to rise.This was reflected in the last General Media Study (EGM), released on Thursday. The audience of the newspaper, the main daily newspaper header Zeta Group, has grown in the period April 2010 to March 2011 by 17,000 readers in Spain, which means an increase of 2% from a year earlier, to a total of 782,000 fans. The reporting of Catalunya also show the upward march of the Newspaper, who earns 10,000 readers in one year. This is a very interesting trend to me. It is important that a paper from Catalunya is gaining readers, so I think that this article is extremely significant-

link to the article:http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/sociedad/periodico-incrementa-audiencia-17000-lectores-966311

El Mar: Barceloneta and Port Vell

During my studies in Barcelona, I have learned how important the sea is to the lives of people, the culture, the economy, and daily life. Historically, the sea was important for trade, transportation, and food. Barcelona gained regonition and power through their connection to the sea. Because of the sea, it was able to trade products with other countries. Now, the sea is equally significant in the lives of locals and tourists. The beach city aspect of Barcelona is very important for tourism. The fish and seafood in Barcelona is very fresh because it is on the sea which is very important for cuisine. Food is an integral part of Barcelona, as I have learned. Although I do not eat shell fish, the tuna, tilapia, and white fish that I have eaten in Barcelona is some of the best I have ever had in my life.

The areas in Barcelona near the sea are very important to the city and I have really enjoyed exploring these areas. Barceloneta is one of my favorite areas of Barcelona. I love the beach because it is so relaxing. When i walk around the Barceloneta area, I feel a little further away from the big city and more tranquil. It is always nice to go there with friends or even on solo walks during the day and really appreciate the beautiful atmosphere.

Port Vell is also amazing and a place that I love to visit. Port Vell was a very important part of the 1992 Olympics. Because of this, it is very developed. It is really interesting to me that there is so much olympic history in this area of the city. Through my courses, I have learned that the movie theater on Port Vell actually used to be the dining hall for the athletes in the olympics. It is really fascinating to me that when I am exploring Port Vell, I am walking right past the dining hall where famous athletes such as Michael Jordan used to eat in 1992. Furthermore, Port Vell is really pretty. It is right off of La Rambla and again, after walking down one of the most hectic and chaotic streets in the city, it is very nice to be able to be taken away to paradise as you walk around the port. The beautiful palm trees, bright blue water, and people walking around with looks of pure joy on their faces make this another place I really enjoy.

These hotspots have much historical significance in addition to personal significance to me. I am really glad that I have had the opportunity to explore these areas of the city!

Torres Vineyard

On the study journey in January, we visited to Torres Vineyard. This was a very fitting field trip because wine is very important to Catalan culture. On this trip, we got off the bus and went into a room where we were able to taste some of the wine that was made in Torres Vineyard. It was very delicious. After we had a chance to taste the wine, we walked to a trolley and got in. From the trolley, we were taken through the vineyard and shown the process of how the grapes are grown and picked. In addition, we saw how they were fermented, stored, and more. It was very interesting although the ride through the vineyard was kind of ho-key because their were ghosts of the owners and other silly things that explained the vineyard. Nonetheless, it was cool to see.

Wine is very important to Catalonia for many reasons. Since the 11th century, Catalonia has been a center of wine production. It is a large wine producer, both in size and historic significance. Wine is also a very important part of the culture in Catalonia. People consume wine in a social manner, with friends and family. It is something that is a pleasure in life and can be enjoyed with food and friends. I always liked wine, but it wasn´t until I traveled to Barcelona that I began to love wine in a deeper sense. I think this is because it is something that is so prevalent in Catalan culture. For example, if you go to get menu of the day, you are always offered wine with your lunch. This is something simple that always reminds me what an integral part wine is in the lives of Catalans.

Because it is so important to the daily life and culture of Barcelona, it was very informative that we were able to see the process in which the wine is manufactured. I think it was very smart of IES to take us on this trip and it was a very mind opening experience.

Field Trip to the Guilds

Unfortunately, my camera died during this field trip so I do not have any pictures. However, this was a really interesting field trip for me because the area we walked through near El Born is one of my favorite areas in Barcelona.

During the first part of our trip, we walked by where the shoemaking guilds were. We learned that at 15 years old, men began interning for shoemakers. They were not paid for 3 years and their only form of stipend were a pair of shoes each year. The warehouse would be on the bottom of the building and the owner of the guild lived on the first floor. The lower people lived higher up which is strange to think about in todays day and age with penthouses and the yearning to live on the top of the building. However, in those days, there were no elevators so it was a reward to live closest to the warehouse, entrance, and bathroom. The buidings were covered in plaster and because the cement and stone did not have room the breathe, the plaster is very worn. It was interesting to actually learn why these buildings are the way they are.

After learning about the shoemakers, we went to the center of the old city. It is nearby the port and where people used to meet to exchange and compare goods, especially wool. Looking at it now, I would never realize that it was the center of the city; it certainly looks much different than plaza catalunya. However, it was interesting to see where everyone used to meet to exchange goods, make announcements, etc.

It was also interesting to see the old financial district and the old stock market near Barceloneta. I had walked by that building many times and never knew what it was. It always looked as if it was very important and I figured that it was a government building, but it was nice to finally get an answer of what it was.

Although the weather was less than perfect, I found this trip very informative and interesting.

OVELLA NEGRA

My favorite bar in Barcelona is called Ovella Negra. There are apparently three locations, but I have only been to two. There is a smaller one off of La Rambla and a large one near the marina. The large Ovella Negra is my favorite because it is so different from anything that I have ever seen in the United States. It is a large beer hall that extends further than any bar I have ever seen. There are two bars where you can order cups, pints, pitchers, or towers of sangria or beer. The sangria is my favorite. It is sweet and tangy and has fresh oranges in it. Sometimes if you are lucky they also give you popcorn which is always a great added bonus.

Torre de Cervesa

However, my favorite thing about Ovella Negra is not the delicious drinks nor the massive venue. What I absolutely love about Ovella Negra is the mix between americans and locals at this establishment. On any given night you can be sitting at a table with your friends bordered against a group of locals just like you. It is a really great atmosphere. Whether I meet locals or simply feel comfortable and confident that they are there, depending on the night, it is definitely a tranquil environment. Part of coming abroad is being immersed in culture. It is very easy to go to a discoteca every night with all Americans and never take time to actually notice that you are in Barcelona and not just some beach town in America. I would never want to do that because I feel that coming abroad is important for the cultural experience. Because of this, I really like to go out in a place that reminds me where I am and where I came from. I think this bar does just that and that is why it is my absolute favorite.

Calcots

One of my favorite meals that I have had in Spain has been on the Valencia trip when we went to the sit down lunch. The food was so authentic and amazing. One of my favorite parts of this meal were the calcots. I liked them so much that I have gone numerous times since that trip to get them in restaurants.


Calcots are a variety of the green onion from Lleida, Catalonia. They are milder and less bulbous than onions. Apparently, they are between 15 and 25 centimeters and have a diameter of around 2 centimeters more or less. They are planted similarly to onions in trenches as a single bulb and grown throughout the autumn and winter. They are around the shape of a small leek. Xat de Benaiges was the peasant farmer who planted these for the first time. In catalan, calcar means to cover with dirt, which is how the name Calcot came to be.


Eating calcots is seen as a gastronomical event at the end of winter of beginning of spring. You peel away the charred part of the calcot and dip it in sauce. They are dipped in romensco sauce and usually accompanied by red wine or cava. Here are some photos from the first time I ate calcots.

calcots

My first taste

Remainders after we ate all of the calcots

Romensco Sauce

Ingredients

medium sized tomatoes                                                                                                                                                                                          1 head garlic, halved

2 Tbs. plus 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1.5 oz blanched almonds
1.5 oz peeled hazelnuts
1 dried chilli, de-seeded and slit open
2 to 3 Tbs. red-wine vinegar
2 Tbs. red wine
salt to taste

Put the tomatoes, half of the head of garlic and a generous pouring of olive oil in a hot oven to roast for about an hour or until they start to caramelise. When they are golden, but not burnt, take the tray from the oven and leave it to cool.

Meanwhile toast all of the nuts in a pan with a little olive oil for a few moments, until they are just brown and then put them to one side to cool. Press the chilli into the pan for a few seconds on each side and then put it in a cup of hot water to hydrate for about 15 minutes.

Next put the nuts, chilli and the rest of the garlic (chopped) into the food processor. Blend for a few seconds then add the cooled tomatoes and garlic from the oven, season with a couple of pinches of salt and slowly add olive oil, while blending. Add the vinegar and red wine at the last second to give it extra flavour. This sauce is supposed to be rustic and coarse so don’t blend it too much.

Calçots can be bought widely across Catalunya, but they maybe trickier to get hold of elsewhere. Many specialist grocers will stock them in season but if you cannot find any you can replace them with some good sized spring onions. Weather permitting, you need to barbeque them on an open flame until they are blackened on the outside but soft and white in the middle. You can use a regular oven grill if necessary.

Enjoy your feast the real Catalan way with plenty of friends, cava, and red wine!

Patatas Bravas

Patatas Bravas are one of my favorite foods in Barcelona. They are a basic and traditional tapa eaten in different part of Spain. It is popular in nice restaurants, tapas bar, take away establishments, and more, as well as in big cities and small villages. It is safe to say that I eat Patatas bravas at least once a week. I think that Patatas bravas are one of the few foods that have such a differentiation between them depending on where you order it. Some are more mayonaisse based where others have more spice, garlic, or other unique sauces. One of my favorite types of Patatas Bravas are from Bo De B. They have greek sauce, garlic mayo, spicy sauce, and pesto on them. Here is a recipe that I found. It serves four and is very easy to make in 30 minutes.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons of olive oil
• 4 large Russet potatoes, peeled, and cut to 1-inch cubes
• 2 tablespoons minced onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 tablespoons spanish paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco Sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon ground thyme
• 1/2 cup (4 fl. oz) Ketchup
• 1/2 cup (4 fl. oz) mayonnaise
• Chopped parsley, to garnish
• 1 cup (8 fl. oz) olive oil for frying

Preparation

In a saucepan, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion is soft. Turn off the heat, and add the paprika, Tabasco sauce, and thyme, stirring well. Transfer to a bowl and add the ketchup and mayonnaise. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

Potatoes

Sprinkle the potatoes lightly with salt and black pepper. In a large skillet fry the potatoes in 1 cup (8 fl. oz) olive oil until cooked through and golden-brown, stirring occasionally. (Take care when adding the potatoes to the saucepan because the oil will splatter due to the salt). Drain the potatoes on paper towels, check the seasoning, add more salt if necessary, and set it aside

Mix Together

Mix the potatoes with the sauce inmediately before serving to ensure that the potatos retain their crispness. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve warm.

Tapa Portion from Tapa Tapa

Tapa Portion from Princesa 23

Tibidabo

Tibidabo is a mountain that overlooks Barcelona. It is very easy to get to by taking the L7 FGC. I have only gone to Tibidabo once, but I very much so enjoyed it. I went during the first week in March with one of my friends who was visiting and some of my friends from Barcelona. Tibidabo is the tallest mountain in the Serra de Collserola, which I didn't know. Once I hiked to the top, this was clear because it presents viewers with an amazing look of the entire city of Barcelona from 512 meters in the air.

On the top of Tibidabo, there is also a beautifully, magnificant church. It was designed by Enric Sagnier and it took  60 years to construct! One of the coolest parts of this particular church is that it has a giant sculpture of Jesus Christ on top. I climbed to the top and again, it was a great view of the city!

Something interesting that I learned about Tibidabo after researching is that it's name is derived from the bible."…et dixit illi haec tibi omnia dabo si cadens adoraveris me" means "And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me" (Matthew 4:9) and "…et ait ei tibi dabo potestatem hanc universam et gloriam illorum quia mihi tradita sunt et cui volo do illa" — "All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it" (Luke 4:6). This phrase means I will give to you, was said to Jesus to the devil as they looked down from an exceedingly high mountain upon all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, according to the bible. Although I am Jewish and haven't really studied this part of the Bible, I think this is very interesting. Through my research, I learned that the name of Barcelona's hill thus refers to the popular tradition that it was in fact theexceedingly high mountain itself.

The mountain showcases religion, beauty, and fun(with its amusement park on the top) and is a very interesting place to visit in Barcelona!

FC BARCA GAME

Anyone who knows me knows that I love sports. At home, I love to watch the Chicago teams in many different sports including baseball, basketball, football, and hockey. I used to love soccer/futbol when I was younger and played. I remember watching the world cup as a ten year old and I was enthralled. However, as I grew up, I lost interest in this sport. However, as soon as I arrived in Barcelona, my interest in futbol was sparked again. 

At IES, I am taking a Business of Sports class. Naturally, seeing as we are studying in Barcelona, we talk about futbol during every class. Whether were discussing Messi, controversies, Catalan pride, or simply the sport, FC Barca is a topic that we never seem to be able to shy away from. I learned very quickly that this wasn't necessarily because I am in a sports class, but moreso because I am in Barcelona. The futbol obsession in Barcelona has been an integral part of my experience. One particular part of this experience that stands out is when I went to my first and only FC Barca game. It was the second saturday night that we were in Barcelona. I went to a local bar with my friends to catch up and soon after we headed to the game. I was so excited to see camp nou and the energy of the stadium. My favorite part about going to games for any sport is the fan interaction and being able to appreciate the sport with others who are enjoying the same thing as you. It is a really unique connection similar to attending a concert, but almost better in my opinion. As soon as we entered the stadium, I heard people screaming, saw flags waving, and could feel the energy immediately. One of my favorite parts of the night was when they sang before the game. Children and adults alike were belting out the ballad, smiling, waving flags, and as completely cheesy at it sounds it was a beautiful moment.

Futbol and FC Barca defines Catalan culture. The focus that Catalans put on the sport, players, rivalries, stadium, and more, is very important to the culture. I think that in order to fully experience Catalan culture it is important to go to a game, cheer with Catalan pride, and get a glimpse of Catalan life through the lens of sport.

View of the FC Barca Stadium from the top(my cheap seats)

FC Barca painted on the stadium seats

Catalan Flags and FC Barca flags

CARNIVAL!

Spending Carnival in Sitges, Spain was one of the most memorable cultural experiences that I have had thus far in Catalonia. The energy and the excitement of all the people gathered for the festival is contagious. My encounter with carnival began as I was walking to dinner with two of my friends down gran de gracia. I didn't realize that there would be a parade and suddenly, I was bought into a world of candy flying from every directions, people screaming with delight, umbrellas waving in the air to catch candy, and drums blaring through the streets as a parade moved towards the city center. I was amazed to see such a thing. This experience was very fun and although I was already planning on going to Sitges for Carnival, this made me that much more excited.

I went to Sitges on the Tuesday before Carnival ended. We arrived earlier than most and walked to where the parade was being held. It was crazy. There were so many people singing and dancing. Each parade had a unique theme and it was really fun and interesting to see the different themes.

Alice in Wonderland Float

Energized Dancers

Superhero Float

Dragon Float

My friends and I in the road watching the parade

There were so many people!

I think going to Carnival was an important cultural experience because it opens your eyes to how life is in Catalonia and what they value. I think that if someone were to see 4th of July, Halloween, or other holidays that are coveted in America, they would get a sense of what life is like in that country. Although I was only there for a few hours, I know that this event was very important and cultural stimulating.

Chica y Rita

On one of the lovely March days where Barcelona was "blessed" with a ton of rain and an extreme lack of sun, a few friends of mine and I decided we'd go to see a movie in Spanish. I live in Gracia, which is a very unique area in Barcelona. It is very residential and Catalan. I love living in this unique, off the beaten path neighborhood. My friends and I decided we'd go to the movies in Gracia. I had walked packed this cinema many a time with my señora Conchita and she had told us about the theatre.  We knew we wanted to see Chica y Rita because the advertisements for this movie had literally exploded overnight in every metro around the city. For a brief period of time, you couldn't enter a metro without seeing  the naked figures of Chica and Rita intertwined behind a piano. This was intriguing to us and if we were going to go see a movie in our non native language, we might as well see a very unique movie.

We went to a 4:10 show. When we went to the theatre originally, it wasn't even open until 4. This was a bit of culture shock for me because movies start playing around 12 at home. When we bought our tickets, they assigned us seats. I was shocked because I had NEVER been assigned a seat in a movie, even for opening shows for Harry Potter. We got to our seats and slowly but surely, the theatre filled up. Surprisingly, it was filled with children. I was shocked children could see a movie that was advertised by naked cartoon figures. To each his own I guess. 

The movie began as all movies do: with previews. Seeing Disney film trailers in Spanish was really great. When the movie began, I understood a lot more than I expected. The film is romantic, unusual, but very intriguing. I would recommend that everyone see a movie in Spain. It is very reflective of the culture and very interesting to see a foreign movie in a foreign country.

Montserrat

During one of the many long weekends we have here on IES, some of my friends and I went to Montserrat. Montserrat is a mountain top monastery about an hour away from Barcelona in Catolina. We took a Renfe train to the mountain and a cable car(which was awesome!) to the first level of the town.

Montserrat is a very interesting place to have such an important religious icon. The monastery is situated on the top of the mountain. Through research, I learned that many Catholic and Catalan pilgrims come from all over see the Black Madonna in Montserrat.

I also learned that this Monastery is one of Catalonia's most important religious retreats from Barcelona. Many people make overnight hikes and come to this religious place to watch the sunrise and see the beautiful view of Montserrat. This is also significant because this is the highest point above sea level in Catalonia.

My experience in Montserrat was unique. My friends and I had our fair share of challenges during our trip. The funicular was broken and all of the best hiking trails seemed to stem from the final stop of the funicular. We couldn't figure out how to get to the stop without taking it(besides climbing up the broken funicular tracks which seemed like a bad idea). Being the adventurous group that we are, we decided we would hike up random paths and hope they worked. We kind of had the "all roads lead to Rome" kind of philosophy. Apparently, not all roads lead to the Monastery because we were unable to find it. By the time we reached a summit, it would have taken us too long to hike to the monastery and then we would miss the last train to Catalonia. 

I enjoyed roaming the hiking trails, but I have to admit that I was a little disappointed in my lack of discovery. I did get a chance to see some sites on the first level of the mountain which was interesting. However, I do wish I had the chance to see more. Nonetheless, Montserrat is a beautiful place and here are some pictures of my experience.