Camino Barcelona Blog

 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 everyone,

As you probably know, tomorrow is a bank holiday in Spain. Our school is closed and Cara is here to explain the reason why…

Hello again everybody!

It may come as no surprise that we are celebrating once again in Spain, this time on October the 12th with the “Día de Hispanidad”!

Known in Latin America as “Día de la raza” and as “Columbus day” in the states, this fiesta celebrates the day in 1492 when Christopher Columbus first landed in the Americas and it has been celebrated for many years, becoming an official holiday in the 20th century. The main event is a military march in Madrid, attended by the Spain’s royal family, important political figures and many of the governors from Spain’s different autonomies. The Patron Saint of this event is the “Santísima Virgen de Pilar”, being the patron saint of “Hispanidad”, a term referring to all people, cultures and communities which share the Spanish language.

The effect of this historical event on Spain and of course on Latin America too was monumental, with huge cultural, linguistic and economic consequences.

This part of history has had a profound effect on the Hispanic culture and language that we all know and love today, so what are you waiting for? Make the most of the bank holiday, get out there and celebrate with the Spaniards!

Cheers,

Cara

Hi folks,

Becky has some great news for all of you who would like to visit Barcelona this summer!!!

Hello

How are you all?

I thought I’d write again to tell you about our new offer we have at our school.

We have an amazing 20 percent discount for those of you who book a course with us with a friend or family member! You will each get a 20 percent discount on your tuition fees and not only that it isn’t dependent on which date you want to start.

This means you can start any time and take advantage of this discount. Normally the intensive course would cost 135 euros for one week, but with the discount it is only €108. That is a saving of 27 euros, just for bringing your friend or family member along to make the experience at our school and in Barcelona even more enjoyable.

How do you go about getting this brilliant discount, I hear you say…

It couldn’t be easier, just reserve your courses at the same time and quote code CAMBWF20.

Coming at this time of year or even in the summer is a perfect time to come, as the weather is sunny, so you can walk along our lovely beaches in Barceloneta or enjoy the sights on las Ramblas.

There are also lots of restaurants to choose from and museums to visit. So, not only will you never get bored in this wonderful and sunny city, but you and your friend or family member will also be able to have double the amount of fun together.

This is an offer not to be missed. So book now with your friend or family member and learn Spanish together and then enjoy the tourist side of Barcelona as well!

I look forward to seeing you in Barcelona

Becky

Hi again everyone,

I am back again, but this time it is definitely the last one! Hope the beginning of the winter weather isn’t getting in your way of exploring this amazing city!! Why not wrap up warm and enjoy the indoor delights that the city has to offer?

I’m sure you have all heard of the amazing Sagrada Familia, it’s quite hard not to know about in the city, with pictures adorning the walls of many cafés, restaurants and shops. I have no doubt you all know the stories of its creation and how the amazing work still has many years to go before it is finally finished. Well that may be the case for the entire building but the inside is now finished! After (more…)

We are the champions!!! Incredible but true!!! Champions of Europe and World!!!

Andres Iniesta struck a dramatic winner GOAL to give Spain World Cup glory for the first time but condemned the Netherlands to their third defeat in a final. Justice was done when the Spanish hero struck four minutes from the end of extra time.

The Dutch intended to take Spain away from its graceful passing game. And they frequently did, sometimes with brutal intent.

Enhorabuena!!! Felicidades al mejor equipo del mundo!!!

Thanks to the Paul the ‘Psychic’ Octopus!!! We love you!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Hi everyone!

I hope you are fine and you are enjoying these sunny days in Barcelona! It seems that spring has begun!
When the sun arrives, Barcelona becomes the town of music festival! You might have already heard about “El Sonar”, but today I will tell you more about the first festival of the sunny season: “El Primavera Sound Festival”.

The 10th Edition of The Primavera Sound Festival runs from Thursday 27th May to Saturday 29th May 2010, Parc del Forum, Barcelona. The closest metro station of the Parc is “El Maresme Forum”, on the Yellow Line 4, but there are also a lot of buses and night buses!

The festival is the first of a long series, and it’s said that it celebrates the beginning of Sunny days (But we all know that it’s only an excuse for Spanish people to have fun…and they are right!)
This festival is a great compromise between well-know bands and emergent artists that want to get know.
(more…)

Hey everybody!

Back again and this time not with our school activities…

Today I am going to introduce one of our new team members. Her name is Marine and she is from France.

She has been working with us for about two months (time goes fast!) and she will stay with us until the end of June. As everyone who comes to Barcelona, Marine also fell in love with this city and she will keep you up to date with the latest event in Barcelona. We are having lots of festivals this summer…

Hi everyone! My name is Marine and I’m doing my internship at Camino Barcelona. As you might know, there are always things to do here in Barcelona! Today I will tell you more about a music festival I really want to discover: “El Sonar”. (more…)

Hi everyone!

How are you doing? Enjoying these rainy days of spring ? We are having a crazy weather this year… Yesterday I heard on the news that it had even snowed in some parts of Spain and we are in May!!!

At least, today is the last day of rain . Starting from tomorrow, spring will take over, no more rain and hot sunny days will come , prepare yourself to go to the beach .

Let’s start the week with some great school activities that we have prepared for you for the next two weeks:

Monday 3rd May: Tour through the Gothic quarter
Take a walk through the old city of Barcelona and discover in the labyrinthine street buildings that date from the Medieval times from as far back as the Roman settlement!

Tuesday 4th: Workshop on Catalonia’s History
Increase your knowledge about the history of the Catalonia region!

Wenesday 5th: Visit to La Pedrera
The “Casa Milà” , also known as “La Pedrera”, is a fantastic experience of the architecture of Gaudí in the neighbourhood “Eixample”. Join us! (more…)

Hi everyone!

I’m here to tell those of you how don’t know about the D.E.L.E. exam!

This exam is an internationally recognised qualification which will prove to everyone just how good your Spanish really is!

Although choosing to do an exam may not sound like a lot of fun this one is guaranteed to look good on your C.V. AND impress your mum!!
Here at Camino we offer different D.E.L.E preparation courses throughout the year and our next one is starting VERY SOON on the 20th of April! The courses last for 4 weeks before you take the actual exam and we have a 95% pass rate!!!

Our D.E.L.E. preparation course is MUCH more intensive than our normal intensive course and if you’re really looking to improve all aspects of your Spanish in a short space of time then this is the course for you.

And don’t worry because you can take this exam no matter whether you have just begun learning Spanish or are practically a native speaker as there are FOUR different levels that you can sign up for!

If you’re interested in this course and would like to know some more details then you’re in luck because next week we are having an open meeting about the D.E.L.E! So if you are in Barcelona on April 7th at 12.40 then come along to our school to find out everything you need to know!! You just need to send us a mail to info@caminobarcelona.com to inform us and we will keep you a place

Or if you want to talk to one of our friendly team directly about this course feel free to e-mail us at the above address! However don’t take too long to decide as places are filling up fast!!

I look forward to seeing you at the meeting!

Alex