Transbordador aeri

Like most of the beautiful, amazing and interesting things in Barcelona, Transbordador Aeri, oftenly called Teleferico del Puerto, was designed in 1929 for World's fair, that took place in Barcelona. By this, it was planned to make it easier to reach Montjuic from the port, or from port Montjuic. Unfortunately, because of lack of fundings, it was finished in 1931, but it's not diminished it's importance and attraction. Trasbordador Aeri is still one of the most entertaining and interesting attractions, so, depends from the time of the journey, near this hoist you can expect many people.

Travel with lift from Barceloneta to Montjuic hill (or backwards) took only 5-7 minutes. During this, you will travel 1.3 kilometers. Journey starts from San Sebastian tower, near Barceloneta beach. In the 78.4 meters high tower, there's a restaurant. You can go all the way up by the lift.

Hoist runs every 10 mins, and cramped cabin holds up to 20 people, including cabins operator. So you need to think if it's worth to go for this adventure if you affraid not only height, but suffer from claustrophobia as well.

So called Jaume I tower is 107 meters high in the Barcelona port, and is interim stop between Barceloneta and Montjuic hill.

San Sebastian, as well as Jaume I towers, are assign as Barcelonas historian monuments, and are under protection. During civil war, both lifts was temporarily dismantle, and both towers served as defensive objects.

Journey with Trasbordador Aeri finishes at Miramar viewpoint, located on Montjuic hill. If you couln't make photos of wonderful Barcelonas panoramic view while flying Trasbordador Aeri, you can do it in this viewpoint. Views are amazing.

Trasbordador Aeri works everyday from about 10 till 18 o'clock, but it would be better to check it in official websites, as it depends on the seasons. Hoist does't work when blowing strong winds or during storms.
Official website: http://www.telefericodebarcelona.com/

The Reasons Behind the Increasing Commercialism of the Olympic Games

The Olympic Games is a world wide event, held once every 4 years. It is the most important event amongst the elite athletes of today. It is viewed on television by billions of people across the world, by satellite transmission (started in Tokyo in 1964). This worldwide viewing attracted sponsors as they realised that by supporting the Olympics their product would be advertised on every product sold, as they would be the 'official sponsor'. The advances in technology has played a fundamental role in the increase in commercialism, as large sums of money are put forwards for television rights over the Games from companies such as Sky, the BBC and ABC.  

Sponsorship plays an essential function in the running of the Olympics. Money from sponsors is used for administration, travel and accommodation for the athletes and officials, communication and equipment. In the Barcelona Olympics of 1992, there were 44 companies included in The Olympic Programme (TOP). The commercialisation or Americanisation of the Games involves many multinational companies like McDonald's, who have been involved with the Olympic Movement since 1976 when it became an official sponsor of the Olympic Games in Montreal. McDonald's joins The Coca-Cola Company, Kodak Company, Sema
Group, TIME/Sports Illustrated, Xerox, and VISA as TOP V sponsors, to name a few. A spokesman for McDonald's, Jack Greenberg, believed that McDonald's were a "unique company, capable of bringing the fun and excitement of the world's premiere sporting event to 43 million customers every day."  

However the real reason behind this sponsor was chosen as it was offering the Olympic Committee millions of dollars in sponsorship. McDonald's, as an example, wanted to exploit the Games, using it as an advertising tool, to imply their company has a clean, reliable and idealistic image like that of the Olympics.

The Salt Lake Organising Committee received approximately US$ 1,390.5 million from Olympic marketing programmes, but a question asked by many is

Commercialism is not only used to promote products, but was initially introduced as a way of publicising the Games, and to increase the aware of the 'greatest show on Earth'.

Peter Uberroth is now credited to have 'saved the games,' as he attracted 30 sponsors in the Los Angeles Games of 1984 (the Olympics famous for where commercialism first took off.) The Los Angeles games
were a huge success, obviously from the input from Americanisation. This encouraged many following cities, hoping to hold the Olympics, to do the same. However the American's 'bigger is better' view now means
that each Olympics is trying to better than the last. This means more demands are put upon the next host city. More money needs to be found, and if the hosting country is suffering economically, the 'biggest and
best' sponsor offering most money is awarded the title 'official sponsor'. Although this appears to be an advantage for the country, the Montreal Olympics of 1976 are still today paying off their debts after trying to 'put one over' the Munich games of 1972.

The Olympics Games were first launched to encourage world unity and peace, however as recent Games have demonstrated, people are no longer solely interested by the sporting events, but are thriving on being
the best. I believe that commercialism has both saved and destroyed the Games. The whole ethos of 'it's not the winning but the taking part that counts' (Baron Pierre de Coubertin) is no longer around, and that now the Olympics is simply becoming another victim of being used as a market for advertising.

Pablo Picasso

Picasso was born on October 25, 1881, in Malaga, Spain, son of an artist, Jose Ruiz, and Maria Picasso. Rather than adopt the common name Ruiz, the young Picasso took the rarer name of his mother. An artistic prodigy, Picasso, at the age of 14, completed the one-month qualifying examination of the Academy of Fine Arts in Barcelona in one day. From there he went to the Academy of San Fernando in Madrid, returning in 1900 to Barcelona.

The years of 1901 to 1904 were known as the "blue period" because of the blue tonality of Picasso's paintings. During this period, he would spend his days in Paris studying the masterworks at the Louvre and his nights enjoying the company of fellow artists at cabarets. 1905 and 1906 marked a radical change in color and mood for Picasso. He became fascinated with the acrobats, clowns and wandering families of the circus world. He started to paint in subtle pinks and grays, often highlighted with brighter tones. This was known as his "rose period." In 1907, Picasso painted "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon," considered the watershed picture of the twentieth century, and met Georges Braque, the other leading artist of the Cubist movement. Cubism was equally the creation of Picasso and Braque and from 1911 to 1913, the two men were in frequent contact.

In 1917, Picasso did the set and costume design for Serge Diaghilev's ballet "Parade." For Picasso the 1920's were years of rich artistic exploration and great productivity. Picasso continued to design theater sets and painted in Cubist modes. From 1929 to 1931, he pioneered wrought iron sculpture with his old friend Julio Gonzalez. In the early 1930's, Picasso did a large quantity of graphic illustrations. In late April of 1937, the world learned the shocking news of the saturation bombing of the civilian target of Guernica, Spain by the Nazi Luftwaffe. Picasso responded with his great anti-war painting, "Guernica." During World War II, Picasso lived in Paris, where he turned his energy to the art of ceramics. From 1947 to 1950, he pursued new methods of lithography.The l950's saw the beginning of a number of large retrospective exhibits of his works. During this time he began to paint a series of works conceived as free variations on old master paintings. In the 1960's, he produced a monumental 50-foot sculpture for the Chicago Civic Center. In 1970, Picasso donated more than 800 of his works to the Berenguer de Aguilar Palace Museum in Barcelona. Pablo Picasso died on April 8, 1973 in Mougins, France at the age of 91.

Turned to the sea

Olympic games, that occured in Barcelona in 1992, made it to remember, that it's already 4000 years as city settled near Mediterranean sea. Till when, Barcelona, was like turned around from the sea. City from the sea was separated by some industrial facilities. While preparing for olympic games, Barcelona cleared away from these industrial facilities near the port in the city center, and to create open space, which is now called Barcelonas gate to the world. Barcelona port is divided into old one, near Columbus statue, and the new one. Before olympic games old part of the port was unrecognizably modernized and transformed by all the newest technologies. Part of the old port during Barcelona olympic game became as an olympic village.

39 thousand square meters "Maremagnum" shapping mall has water all around it. Wide modern design wooden bridge leads to the shopping mall. "Maremagnum shopping mall, one of the most favourite places in Barcelona. It's not only modern shopping mall with wide range of shops, but with pubs, cafes in open terraces with amazing views to Barcelona port and Mediterranean sea. This kind of centre - not the only one gift from olympic games to Barcelona. In the old part of the port there's aquarium, there's collected about 4000 spiecies of Mediterranean sea plants and animals. The most famous aquarium exhibits - sharks, which ones, while flying around, from all the sides you can see while walking through huge glass tunnel.

Barcelona olympic games was recognized as one of the most modern. Objects, built for the games in the old part of the port, was transformed into shopping malls, insurance companies offices, Sea houses, modern stereo cinema halls, for yachts, cruise ships accept designed quays. Olympic games not only made to remember, that city center near sea must belong for city residents and tourists, but change Barcelonians approach to leisure time and rest near the sea. It's hard to believe, that 3 million people city achievement is considered to be the fact, that after olympic games it's beaches widened till 5 kilometers.

Barcelona: a city to visit

Barcelona is a large town on the north-east coast of Spain. Its unbeatable location means you can fly to Barcelona from most capital cities in less than two hours. If there were only three words to describe Barcelona City they would be Culture, Style and Harmony, and only for that, is an ideal place to visit.

With a population of about two million, Barcelona is full of interesting, artistic and fashionable people. The blending of cultures defines to Barcelona as one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world.
Barcelona has many tourist attractions which are worth visiting. The most famous attraction is La Sagrada Familia, a fantastic temple designed by Antonio Gaudi under construction since 1882. Other attractions are La Pedrera, a beautiful modernist building of Gaudi too, the magic fountain of Montjuic, a light, music and water spectacle, and Miró, Picasso and FC Barcelona museums.
There are many activities to do in Barcelona. Walking through the streets of Barcelona let you feel how the new buildings have evolved and integrated with the historic architecture. The Gothic Quarter, Eixample or The Ramblas are good examples.

Barcelona City is plenty of places to go shopping. Most of the main shopping areas are in pedestrianized zones with wide open boulevards.
The nightlife in Barcelona is exciting. There are a lot of music and dance clubs and bars opened in the small hours. On Saturday nights it is quite normal to see hundreds of people strolling up and down the Ramblas till 03:00.

Barcelona is a city that has something to offer everyone. This makes it a truly fascinating place to visit and it is said that once you travel to Barcelona it is hard to turn back.

Amazing architecture and Antoni Gaudi

When you are looking at Barcelona scheme, it gives you strange impression - most of the city divided into equal blocks. This like equal blocks Barcelona in 19th century imagined engineer Ildefons Cerda. But his concept has received categorical other cities architectres resistance. Some of the buildings specially built for them to stand out from the others, or turned for the buildings to stand opposite with strictly structured streets.

The most famous architecture, who was breaking in 19th century ending and 20th century beginning in Barcelona created stereotypes was Antoni Gaudi. His created architectural works in Barcelona is more admired than much older ghotic style buidings or 12-13th centuries heritage. Casa Batllo house with special decorative balconies, which facade decorated with mosaic from colourful ceramics and glass, and the roof looks like scaly dragon back - was one of first Gaudi's work. Other masterpiece, Casa Mila building, built in 1905-1910. House is UNESCO heritage site, as a humans achievement famous because it was built from stone blocks, which were connected into wavy forms. Balconies original as well, minted from metal. One more Gaudi's work - by Barcelona Count Guell ordered and started to built city in the park. Following english parks and redences example, there was a wish to built 60 private summerhouses. They were succeded with only two of them, where lived Count Guell ant architect Gaudi. In the park most valuable is summerhouses, and main entrance of the park stairs, has one hundred colonies, which holding huge viewpoint, hall - with surroundings near mountain and it's beautifully converged stone objects.

The most important architects Gaudi purpose of life was Sagrada Familia church construction, which was started to built in 1883, from sacrificial money, and it's still not finished, although sacrificial money was not enough and Barcelona's government gave money. At the moment, by Gaudi's sketches, church is still being built, and in some places, it's being restored. Sagrada Familia church, is an object, most attractive for the tourists in Barcelona. There's 18 towers more than 100 meters high, dedicated for Jesus Christ, Virgin Mary, 12 apostles and 4 evangelist glory. In the facade of Sagrada Familia church sorted many sculptures, which ones very precisely and in deeply complex symbols shows Jesus Christ life from birth till crucifixion, good and evil battle.

While Sagrada Familia church was built, Gaudi was visiting construction site everyday for 30 years. He hasn't found time to create a family, and because of closed and little bit rigorously manner he has not many friends, in the world famous architecture death was surprise and symbolic. When walking from Guell park to construction site of Sagrada Familia, he was hit by tram. Architect, who gave for the city world famous masterpieces, was not recognised by the doctors, and was taken to part of the hospital for poor people. When it was founded, who is this tram hitted old man, when it was too late. Architect, who was not wealthy after his career, what he has, by will, left for Sagrada Familia church construction.

Foreign languages

Nowadays it is truly important to learn languages. To begin with, knowing foreign languages broadens one‘s outlook and develops mentality. The more languages we know the more intelligent we are. Moreover, knowing foreign languages gives us an oppurtunity to socialize and correspond with people from other countries. For intance, we can travel abroad and communicate with other people easily which gives us great satisfaction. It also helps to understand traditions and customs of the country better.

 However, when working on a computer and using the internet, you must to know English perfectly. While speaking about our gymnasium, English and Russian are taught here. We have all the possibilities to improve these languages. There are classrooms which have a TV, dictionaries, cassette recorders, wall charts, maps or pictures, besides there are various language courses both for children and adults, either state or private.

Furthermore, you can study or work abroad not facing the language barrier. As a result, you better employment opportunities abroad and in your own country as most positions take people with a good command of two or three foreign languages. To sum up, there are a lot of reasons why people should learn foreign languages.

Impressions about La Rambla

 Barcelona, capital of Catalonia, is more than 3000 kilometers away from Lithuania. And before decision to come here for erasmus i didn't knew much about the city, maybe that in 1992 there was olympic games and that it has famous football club. With a population of 3.2 million people, it has basically same number of people like my whole country. But Spain is far more religous, and has 97% of Roman Catholics. And what i noticed in newsstands around La Rambla, that maybe one third of the press is related with erotics. Maybe it's because of catalonian temperament, that tells not to save money for literature like this, or maybe it's tradition like this, because Barcelona is famous for one more reason, in this square there's famous in the world erotic museum. The reason, why the streets are so full of erotic literature - varous magazines for all kinds of fantasy, posters, videocassettes, CD's for about 10-15 euros, may be popularity of the street between tourists too. The street, like pedestrian walkway, starts in the center of the city - Catalunya square, and lasts till magnificent monument for Columbus near Barcelona port. Monument for famous traveler Christopher Columbus was built because, after discovering America, he came to Barcelona, and told about this for king Ferdinand and queen Izabela.

Rambla street surprises not only with exclusive free behavior representing literature, but with central avenue with lots of flowers and various animals shops, street vendors, artists, painters, shows of cards masters in it. I was warned before, that pickpocketers in Barcelona working very professionally, and they are not stealing stuff by passing by, but very delicately can even open inner pockets, to take what they need, and when close them.
Barcelonas La Rambla street is open for traffic. Cars rides at the edges at the street, so central avenue is open for pedestrians. In a narrow streets, like in rest of Barcelona, there's parked many motorcycles, driven by young people. This kind of transport thieves likes as well, so many of the motorcycles is chained near sidewalkes.

Ramblas in spanish language means dry river. It's historically related with protection canal, which was around the fortress. In this place, 300 years ago, when city was expanding, appeared pedestrians avenue. Dry river associates with some kinda mess. Even in this famous street you can see some leftover trashes. But fun and parties is taking place in the street, so there's not much concern about this.

After midnight you can meet some youngsters with eccentric hats or clothes. From La Rambla street usually they are heading to Barcelona port. It's a surprise, but in port near big yacht dock there's famous “Maremagnum” shopping mall, where every night you can visit discos here. It's kinda strange to see flower sellers between youngsters. In Lithuania it's more normal to have a drink before disco. But it's nothing strange, when you know spanish temperament and they attitude to womens.

Facts you may not knew about Barcelona

As i'm doing erasmus in Barcelona, i found some interesting facts about the city, which i would like to write here.
Establishment of Barcelona
Even now nobody exactly knows, when and who founded city of Barcelona. One side says, that legendary Hercules created Barcelona even 400 years earlier, than Rome was built. Other side says, that capital of Catalonia was founded by Halmilcar Barca, who was the father of the Hannibal. Cities origin of name is derived from Barca family, that ruled this region  in 3rd century BC.

Drivers
Did you knew, that in Barcelona car accidents or other transport related accidents happens every 19 seconds. On weekends this number is even bigger, up to ten traffic accidents every second, included violations of road traffic regulations.So not without reason drivers of this city is considered as one of the worst in all the world.
It's not a big surprise, that many Barcelonians prefer being pedestrians, so in many places in the city, even in the streets, you  can see a lot of people walking. Maybe this is the reason why 130 hectare of the city is dedicated specially for pedestrians. So if you like to walk, this city is especially for you.

Beaches in Barcelona
There's seven beaches in Barcelona, and some of them is considered as one of the most beautiful in Europe. It appears, that until 1992 olympic games all of the city beaches belonged to various companies, and some kind of activities was taking place in them. For better image of the city government of the city moved absolutely all industry to suburbs and created new, not seen before leisure zone, in which appeared many hotels, restaurants, bars, and, of course, new beaches.

The most walked on street in Spain
Near one of the most popular tourist place in Barcelona - Catalunya square - is a street for pedestrians, called Portal de l’Àngel. This place would not be special at all, if not the fact, that through this street passes about 3500 people every hour. Just curious, if anybody have felt this, who had a walked in this street.
The longest built church
One of the most famous of all times architecture Antoni Gaudi created more than one masterpiece for his city of heart - Barcelona. Perhaps the most famous of his works - La Sagrada Familia - Roman Catholic church, was started to be built in 1882, and is still being built. It is said, that he chosen sand selling womans donkey as a model while creating the main entrance of the church.

About underestimated city of Girona

While doing my erasmus, i had a luck to visit city of Girona. It's a very nice city, not far away from Barcelona, and in my eyes, it's underestimated and not known enough. So i will tell at least something what i know now.
Why it's worth to visit Girona?
Between Barcelona and Girona there's about 100 km distance, and it's not hard to reach with a bus or a train, within one and a half hour.
The city itself has a population of 100 000 people. City by local people is called a treasure of medieval spain, because of it's architecture and saved real spanish spirit. There's nobody in a hurry, everyone is enjoying the life. So it's a good chance to see at least one more city, without barcelona, while doing your erasmus.

What is worth to see?
For spain this city - port, was very important because of logistics. Just 48 kilometers away is France, and all the rest of spain is very well reached. So it's not a big surprise, that a city was besieged 25 times, and even 7 times captured. Many of the thourists like to walk around Girona defensive walls, which standed here until the end of 19th century. Nowadays part of city walls is restored, and from defensive city towers that has left you can see a very beautiful view to landscape.
La Rambla
Not only Barcelona has it's famous La Rambla square, but here it's called Rambla de la Libertat. Probably a lot of who knows, that in south Europe, especially in Spain or Italy, central square of the city was a real heart of the city with a lot of action taking place. People traded here, searched for love of life, celebrated most important celebrations. So it's not a big surprise, that Rambla de la Libertat nowadays is like this: you can find most popular shops, cafes, clubs, so the life is just boiling from morning till darkness.
Differently than in Barcelona, in here, Girona Rambla de la Libertat square, in the afternoon you will see families,  those have met for cup of coffee, and for the weekend, they are going for lunch. Who have visited all this, saying, that the best thing is, all this action creating not tourists, but locals, so everything seems to be authentic and spanish.

Jewish quarter
Jews in Spain, especially in Catalonia, are living here for a very long time, although ones was taking care of them, and the others was oppressing them. In 12th century to Girona came Jewish community, and from the very first days, they made this city as one of the strongest center of their culture. It's not a suprise, that this quarter was founded in almost center of the city, near cathedral of the city, like closed, mysterious city in the city.
Today the greatness of this block you can see only from architecture and small shops, cafes and bars. You can not only to eat something in here for not a big price, but to drink glass of sangria or great strong coffee with Catalonians deserts.

Museum of films
Placed in the other side of the city, than all other visited places, it's still gets a lot of attention. Museum offers to have a look to cinema industry history from technical side: how was filmed first movies, how functioned first cameras and so on. But the most interesting is temporar expositions, for example, actress Marilyn Monroe costumes, so it's worth to take a look, what's exhibited at that moment.
If you are interested in museums, near box offices ask for Girona card, which allows you to visit museums for half of the price.
Art Nouveau movement heritage
In the beginning of 20th century in all western europe popular architecture movement left it's mark in the face of the city. Delicate style, elegantly selected details of the buidings - this is why it's worth to see this city, if in Barcelona you are interested to see Gaudi architecture.

For rest
You will not feel uproar in Girona, permanent hurry, there's like to hide barcelonians, as well as other cities people.Although for many of the foreigners this city looks very usual, for spanish - it's small oasis, there you can remember old nation traditions, and to enjoy tranquillity.
LaVinyeta
If you have time and desire, you can visit LaVinyeta vineyards. There you could not only enjoy valuable vine from Empordà region, to see how grapes grown, vine prepared, but to stay too. You will feel like at home, or like visiting relatives, because it's believed, that family like view even to bussiness gonna bring you all the best benefits not only for customers, but for owners as well.

First days in Barcelona

Hello,
this is my first blog, and i want to introduce myself a little bit. I'm sociology student from Lithuania, this is my final year, and i decided to go for my internship to Barcelona. Why Barcelona you would ask. Well, i have done my erasmus studies in Istanbul, it is one of the biggest cities in the world, and it was incredible experience, with all it's muslim culture, chaos, friendly people. It was totally different compared with what i had in my country. So i wanted to find another charming city in Europe. And i choose Bacelona. It's one of the biggest, and one of the most beautiful city in all Europe. It's famous for football, good weather, beaches, amazing architecture, cultural life.

Luckily, before coming to Barcelona, i had a place to live. Nice apartment in a nice neighbourhood. But i found it quite expensive. You can get a decent single room for 300-350 euros per month. As i said, i was lucky i already had a place to stay, as a lot of people searching for the apartments when they are already in Barcelona. Personally, erasmus Barcelona facebook groups helped me to find accomodation, as i was posting in them. But there was some options from http://rentroombarcelona.com/ or loquo.

I was lucky i found direct flight to Barcelona too. So was no need to change flights, wait long hours between them. Just was some worries about reaching apartment, because usually all the airports is in distance with city center, and Barcelona was no exception. I knew the exact address of the apartment, and that it's somewhere in a distance within 3 kilometers from Plaza Catalunya. And that was it. Was some thoughts about taxi, as i hear they would not cheat, but as a best way to reach Plaza Catalunya i choose Aerobus. It went direct there. There was option to go with city bus, but it's destination was Plaza Espanya, so it was necessary to change buses, and this could cause so discomfort.
After arriving at Placa Catalunya, it seems to be the hardest part to reach apartment, as i knew only the address and that it's quite far away. But i choose to save money, and instead of taxi, decided to walk. I ask few people for destinations, but it i was surprised how easy it was to found everything, and not to get lost in this big city. The reason is, that all the streets is going straight, and everything is divided into blocks, so you just can't turn into wrong street, and you can walk straight all the time.

And the apartment was very nice, quite and old, but tiny, with a very nice architecture, that creates very nice atmosphere, and the balcony. I like this city.

This is photo of my staircase.