Camino Barcelona Blog

As a teacher I cannot stop laughing at the bad English translations by Spanish speakers.
Sometimes it’s because of Google, which does its best, but it’s not human. Sometimes it’s through linguistic carelessness, but whatever it is, they’re hilarious.

Sometimes sayings in Spanish become incomprehensible sayings for the English. Here are a few of my favourites:

- “Once a day” translated as ‘once veces al día’. I hope they’re not talking about siestas!

- “From lost to the river” – a translation of the saying “de perdidos al río”, which we use to express that since the situation is impossible you might as well do what you want. Better said “out of the frying pan and into the fire”!

- “Exit”translated by “Éxito” rather than SALIDA.

- “For tasters, the colours”, a terrible translation of “para gustos, los colores”… An expression we use to highlight individual freedom and the multitude of human tastes. “Each to their own” is a more understandable translation!

- “All the fish is sold here”, translation of the Spanish “Aquí está todo el pescado vendido”, used when there is nothing left to do in a place or situation.

- “To throw the house through the window” from the Spanish saying “tirar la casa por la ventana”, used when we exceed expenses for a special occasion… you would be more likely to hear “to push the boat out”.

- “To drink even the water out of the vases” this is without doubt my favourite. From the popular pure Spanish saying “Beberse hasta el agua de los jarrones”, which we use when a person hasn’t stopped drinking all day or night.

To be continued!

Anita

Hello again and a happy new year!

Here’s a blog to help you start 2013 in the best possible way!!!

There is a whole other Barcelona out there full of traditional, old bars. In these bars, homemade vermouth is sold on tap and time stands still. Maybe they stopped in 1962, maybe be was 1974 or even 1999 but when you enter one of these bared, you can’t help but notice that you’re in another era. It’s like a photograph of a Barcelona that once was.
So here you are, this is my way of introducing you to them. You are bound to fall in love!
In these bars you have to order vermouth and a little tapas dish. They are always cheap (more…)

Hi folks

Christmas is just around the corner and as every year we write about the Christmas traditions in Catalonia. Becca was very surprised of the Catalan traditions and has written this very funny blog. I hope you enjoy it!

Given that the festive season is approaching, I got talking to my house-mate here in Spain about how she was planning to celebrate. Firstly I was shocked and appalled to hear that she wasn’t going to have a big roast dinner. But this paled in comparison to the next 2 traditions she revealed.
When you think about Christmas you might think about the tree, the presents or even the baby Jesus but one thing that certainly doesn’t spring to mind is poo. Well… after reading this blog you might change your perspective a little bit…

In Catalonia there are some rather bizarre traditions which go alongside all the tinsel, trees and fairy lights. The first of them is caga tió (we have one in our school ) which consists of a log which has a face drawn on it, 2 front legs, a typical Catalan beret and is usually covered in a blanket so it doesn’t (more…)

Hi everyone

Halloween is around the corner and Naomi explains to you how we celebrate it here in Barcelona.

Enjoy it!

Hi guys!

We are coming to the end of October and all around the world there is a special tradition that is celebrated. I’m talking about the “Día de los Muertos” or as they call it in English “Halloween”! Millions of people celebrate this occasion with different customs and rituals and I am going to tell you a little about what you will be able to experience in Barcelona this year!

“La Castanyada” is (more…)

Hi folks,

Nikola has a really nice blog for you about Spanish food at Christmas time! Take notes of this recipe and try it out

In Spanish, Christmas Eve is called “La Noche Buena,” which literally translates as “The Good Night.” In Spain it is celebrated with a large family feast, which is eaten late in the evening and can last a couple hours. Some families attend midnight mass before or after the meal, although many are still finishing dining and sat around the table at midnight! In Spain, Christmas Eve is a time for celebrating in neighbourhood bars and cafes, and spending time with family and friends. It is not a time for giving gifts or for Santa Claus. Those traditions don’t begin until January 6th, which is called ‘Epiphany’ and which is also another religious holiday.
There are a wide variety of traditional foods that you will find served up across Spain on this particular night and each region has its own different specialties. It is particularly common for Christmas dinner in Spain to start with a seafood dish such as prawns or salmon, followed by a bowl of hot homemade soup.

Galets Soup is one of the typical (more…)

Hi folks,
This time is Nikola’s turn to present herself:

Hi Everybody,

My name is Nikola. I am from Prague, Czech Republic. I am currently studying in my last year at University specialising in International Relations.

Why I have chosen to take a work placement in Camino Barcelona?

At Camino Barcelona we are a large international team so you are always learning new things and getting to know new cultures and languages. In addition to this, the location of our languages school is perfect, right in the centre of Barcelona and the school has a really student friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

I chose Camino Barcelona for my internship in order to gain a new work experience opportunity abroad and also the opportunity to improve my languages skills. For me this work placement is such a valuable experience and a great thing to do while you are young. Such an experience broadens your horizons and makes you feel more independent. I would recommend (more…)

 Hi everyone

On Wednesday the 30th, to coincide with turning on the Christmas lights, the Amazing Passeig de Gracia is going to offer all kinds of activities and will stay open until midnight.

This is an event that should not be missed! We’ll give you a quick summary of the best events right here.

Go into the most luxurious hotels in Barcelona and drink cocktails, see live music (in Hotel OMML), try haute cuisine specialities (in Hotel Alexandra, Hotel Condes de Barcelona and Hotel Mandarín Oriental). Enjoy a glass of cava in the Hall (in Hotel Avenida Palace) or watch concerts while sampling the gastronomic menus designed especially for this night (in Hotel Claris, bosanova en directo). You can also try the most fashionable cocktails in the world in the five star Hotel Mandarín Oriental, or sip them while you admire pieces of art from the world of fashion in Hotel Majestic. Or if you have a sweet tooth, why not try biscuits dipped in the very best chocolate in Hotel Alma.

The shops are offering DJ performances and discounts of up to 70 per cent, in Custo and Berska for instance. So pick up some Christmas shopping along the way, with more discounts on offer in Calcedonia, Mango and many more!

Everywhere promises to attract celebrities, offer music, drinks, presents and great discounts.

There is a grand tour of luxury fashion, and the design school of Barcelona will be giving workshops and putting on catwalk shows in the street.

It is sure to be a great night, and it all kicks off at 8pm.

I’ve already cancelled everything in my schedule! I can’t wait to try the marvellous food and drinks, and see all the glamour. Are you going to let yourself miss out, or will we be seeing each other amongst all the lights and all the surprises?

You can see all the information at: http://www.theshoppingnight.com

Cheers,

Anita

Hi again,

I am sure many of you have seen long queues close to lottery offices here in Barcelona these days.

The reason is the Spain’s beloved Christmas lottery which gives out the biggest lottery worldwide - 2,520,000,000 Euros this year!

Yes, that’s 2.5 Billion Euros!

On 22nd December, most of Spaniards are glued to the TV watching the Christmas lottery (Lotería de Navidad in Spanish), also commonly known as “El Gordo” – the  ‘ fat one ‘ or the  ‘ big one’.

This draw is called el gordo because it is the most money played in Spain in the whole year.

The Spanish lottery dates back to 1812 and it is the oldest in the world.

Lotería de Navidad works differently to most lotteries in the world. Tickets are very expensive, but you do not have to buy the entire ticket. But, if you don’t buy the whole thing, you can’t get all the winnning!

Spanish people play the “gordo” as an old Christmas tradition. Everyone gets at least one lottery ticket like the one in the picture (decimo). They cost 20 euros each, and if you buy ten of them, you have the billete which is for “el gordo” and its cost is 200 Euros.

The day of the draw, people  gather around the TV or radio to watch if for the whole morning. The children of a school in Madrid sing the winning numbers. They have been practicing during all the year for this day. The children who sing the “gordo” become famous for one day!

According to reports in the press, about 98 per cent of all Spanish people hold at least a small portion of a lottery ticket in the Christmas Lottery each year.

You do not have to be a Spanish national to play el gordo. You can get Christmas lottery tickets in different places: If you want to get a ‘decimo’, you would have to go to the Lottery offices. If you just want little ‘participaciones’ on different numbers, you can get them in bars, restaurants, shops, and other public places.

Spaniards are very superstitious when it comes to picking the lottery numbers. Last year the number 11710 was sold in two hours and it was symbolic because it is the date when Spain won the World Cup in South Africa on 11th July 2010 – as the number 11710.

There are some lottery offices which become famous for ‘giving out’ the number of the ‘Gordo’ or other big prizes in a certain year. In Barcelona, there is a very popular Lottery Office just off Plaza Cataluña where a lot of people get a ticket from: ‘El Gato Negro’ (The black cat). On Saturday I passed nearby and the queue was up to Pl. Catalunya!!!

And there is a very popular village in Lérida, near Barcelona, called ‘Sort’ (Luck), where lots of people from all over Spain go every year to get their lucky lottery number in ‘La Bruja de Oro’ (The Golden Witch)! It is said that this ticket office is the luckiest one in Spain…

Why not try el gordo this year???

Suerte!!!!
Genta

Hi folks,

Today I would like to write a blog about a special Catalan tradition: Caganer

Caganer is a particular Catalan figurine commonly seen in the nativity scenes. This figurine is not wearing pants and appears to be defecating ..

“Cagar” means to poop in Catalan, so “el caganer” is the pooper or the pooping man, also known as the man doing his duty!

The caganer is usually placed under a bridge or behind a haystack, hidden, somewhere on the nativity scene since it is a lack of respect if this figure were situated in the landscape visible for everyone. It has a playful purpose, which is for the children to find him amongst the other more traditional figurines that compose the Nativity scene.

It is said that the caganer brings luck because his stools fertilize the earth; therefore he is a symbol of a good harvest for the following year. Putting this figurine in the nativity scene brings luck and happiness. Not doing it brings misfortune.

Traditionally, the caganer was a peasant in Catalan dress which the latest years is often the image of famous people such as politicians as Batack Obama, Silvio Berlusconi, Angela Merkel, Vladimir Putin, Nikolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni, Queen Elizabeth, Prince William and Kate Middleton, José Luís Rodriguez Zapatero etc:

Or sportspeople as Messi, Pep Guardiola or Cristiano Ronaldo, Jose Mourinho:

The caganer of the year is chosen every year. Last year was Nikolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni. This year seems to be Piqué from FC Barcelona and Shakira.

Caganers are easily found in Christmas markets markets such as Fira de Santa Lucia in front of the Cathedral in Barcelona. Join our Christmas course starting on 19th and 26th December which includes a special Christmas activities program where one of them is a visit to Santa Lucia market.

Come to Barcelona and meet this typical figurine! You’ll love it! Take your favorite politician “pooping”!

Cheers,

Genta

Hi folks,

Don’t you know what to do this weekend in Barcelona?

Hi again!

If you were wondering what to do this weekend or looking for something different besides the usual tourist attractions to discover, this week Barcelona has another special event lined up for you!

This weekend Barcelona is putting on an ‘Open House’ event which for all you architecture lovers or simply those interested in discovering some hidden treasures of this cities history, is an exciting opportunity to gain entry to buildings throughout Barcelona that would not usually be open to the public.

On the 22nd and 23rd of this month, for the second year running, Barcelona invites you to come and visit more than 130 historical and architecturally innovative buildings that will be opened up to the public for this weekend only and what’s more is that it is completely free!!

Many buildings will have their creators there ready to talk you through the inspiration for the buildings construction and any other interesting anecdotes or information relating to each building. The types of buildings on offer to visit vary from old libraries, private houses, hotels and much more, all dotted around the ten ‘barrios’ of the city.

Last year more than 25,000 visitors partook in this event along with over 100 architects at the ready to tell the story of each of their creations.

This is an unusual but worthwhile activity that should not missed, even if you are not normally an architecture fanatic, this is an event of interest to all who love Barcelona and want to discover more of what it has to offer! For more information on this event you can visit the following website: Open House Barcelona

Enjoy the rest of the week and keep checking this space for more events and information to come!

Vahri