Orxata of Xufa: the quintessential summer drink

The horchata (in Català: Orxata of Xufa) is a refreshing drink, prepared with water, sugar and groundnuts. The groundnuts are small underground tubers shaped knots that come from the roots of the sedge countersunk called for the shape of its fruit-like hazelnut.

There is a story which explains the name given to this drink. The story says a villager led the king of the Crown of Aragon some horchata. The king dazzled the taste and asked what it meant. The girl replied that it was groundnut milk (llet of Xufa in Català), the name was known drink. The king said, "Aixó no es llet, Aixó es OR, XATA!" that means: "This is not milk, this is gold, honey!". It caused a pun on "OR" and "XATA" giving the supposed origin to the word "orxata" way to write in that language.

You have to teasted!

Fuente: Wikipedia / Google

Music-loving and sleepless night in Montjuïc

The city will offer tomorrow 2nd of July during the night the festival Montjuic de Nit, in which 40 artists will make the magic mountain on a big stage.

You will can enjoy concerts of rock, blues, hip hop, flamenco and electronic music. With a total of 10 stages spread all over the mountain will offer you free music from 22:00 am to 4:00 pm.

In addition, the museums of the mountain open for free until 1:00 pm: you will can visit the CaixaForum, the Miró Foundation, the Ethnological Museum and the MNAC.

How to arrive?
Metro L1 – L3 Espanya. During all the night.
Metro L2 – L3 Paral·lel + Funicular. During all the night.
De 21 a 5 h. Servei gratuït de bus:
Free shuttle-Bus from Plaça d'Espanya to the Castell de Montjuïc and with many differents stops.

Fuente: ADN

Sonar Festival 2011 / june

Sónar is the festival of advanced music and multimedia art that takes place at various venues in Barcelona (Spain) in the third week of June since 1994.

Each year, the festival also features a series of parallel events in cultural venues in the city such as the Auditori (the Barcelona main music Auditorium) or Cosmocaixa (Barcelona’s Science Museum), and occasional collaborations with other main city events (such as the Summer festival’s GREC in 2010).

This year Sonar announces shows by Underworld, Magnetic Man, Steve Reich + bcn216 + Synergy Vocals, Salem, A-Trak, Atmosphere, Hype Williams, Little Dragon, Tyondai Braxton, Mary Anne Hobbs ... and more...

Sonar Barcelona 2011 will take place on 16, 17 and 18 June.
How to get there: http://2011.sonar.es/en/como-llegar.php

Port Aventura Park and Caribe Aquatic Park

Experience a great day out for all the family at Spain's most popular theme parks, Port Aventura Park and Caribe Aquatic Park. Whether you want to get your heart racing on the exhilarating roller coasters, get drenched on the many water rides or relax on the beach, this is the place to be.
There are very few places in the world where you can have adventures, or where you can experience the sort of emotions that you will remember forever. Port Aventura Park is one of those places. Here, you will embark on the most exciting journey you have ever imagined.

You will discover the mysteries of Imperial China, win the respect of the Far West, explore the jungles of Polynesia, travel through exotic Aztec Mexico and experience the picturesque scenes of the Mediterranean.

How often have you wished for an adventure like this? The park has plenty of spine-tingling rides and other attractions, such as the Temple del Foc (Temple of Fire) and Hurakan Condor (at 100 meters, one of the highest amusement park rides in Europe). The park is spread across themed areas ranging from the Wild West to Polynesia.
Also at Port Aventura Park, you will find Caribe Aquatic Park. Plunge into a typical tropical setting, enjoy the water and experience the excitement of our mind-blowing water rides. Or just grab a deckchair and chill out in the sun, surrounded by palm trees and reggae music playing in the background. Do whatever you feel like, you are in the Caribbean.
Relax on Bahama beach, glide at great speed down the mambo limbo water slides plus many more exhilarating wet rides.

The park is open from 10 am to 8 pm

PortAventura Location
The park is easily accessible and you have numerous options to get to PortAventura.
It's located just over an hour from Barcelona and only ten minutes from Reus Airport, with its own train station and direct access from the AP-7 motorway that will allow you to get to PortAventura without wasting much time.

By train
Renfe
PortAventura has its own train station which can be reached from other mainline stations. For further information please visit:

www.renfe.es or call 00 34 902 320 320.
AVE
AVE connects all Spanish high-speed rail cities with Camp de Tarragona station, the nearest train station to PortAventura.
For further information please visit: www.renfe.es/ave or call the customer service telephone 00 34 902 320 320.
Besides, there's a bus service operated by Autocares Plana connecting the train station and PortAventura. For further information please visit: www.autocarsplana.com or call: 00 34 977 35 44 45.i

By car
The park has its own motorway exit, exit 35 of the AP-7 or Autopista del Mediterráneo (E-15 European Route), therefore it is very easy to go by car to PortAventura.
There are several driving routes to PortAventura to be followed:
• From La Jonquera or the south of Spain, you can take AP-7 up to PortAventura.
• If you come from Barcelona or el Vendrell through C-32, you will connect directly with AP-7.
• If you are driving to PortAventura from the Basque Country or Zaragoza, you can pick up the AP-7 from the AP-2.
Coordinates:
Latitude: 41º05'53''N Length 001º09'14''E
Decimal: 41.0980667; 1.153956055

Individual Tickets
PortAventura Park
Adult Junior/Senior Disabled
1 day 44 € 36 € 22 €
2 days(1) 69 € 56 € 37 €
2 days(2) 49 € 39 € 25 €
Evening 22 € 18 € 14 €

International Women's Film Festival of Barcelona

The International Women's Film Festival of Barcelona, ​​started in June 1993, aims to promote films directed by women, women's audiovisual culture visible, projecting filmographies of filmmakers from around the world, thus the importance of the contribution women in the development of audiovisual creation.

After more than a decade of history, the International Women's Film Festival of Barcelona has become a cultural space and a stable platform for alternative showings increasingly committed to the debate on creative processes.

This event, will be placed from 26th of May until 5th of Juny in differents location of the city (please viist their webiste to know more about this).

Primavera Sound Festival / may

Primavera Sound is fast becoming one of Barcelona's most popular music festivals. It has a growing reputation for offering one of the most innovative and forward-thinking line-ups in Europe. This is a festival for true music aficionados.

For the edition of this year already confirmed artists like: Animal Collective, Belle & Sebastian, Caribou, Echo & the Bunnymen, Fleet Foxes, Mercury Rev (performing the amazing album "Desert's Songs"), Pulp, Mogwai, Salem, The Flaming Lips, and The National (one of the best new indie bands of the moment)

For the full festival line-up, check the Official Primavera Sound Website.

Dates For the 2011 Primavera Event: Wednesday 25th May – Saturday 28th May 2011.
How to get to the Sound Festival Venue: Parc del Fòrum
http://www.primaverasound.com/ps/?page=ubicacion&tipo=forum&id=metro&lang=en

The Barcelona Contemporary Culture Centre

CCCB The Barcelona Contemporary Culture Centre is a multidisciplinary institution which organizes exhibitions in particular on urbanism, music, dance, debates and readings. This place is commonly frequented by people from Barcelona. Astonishing architecture.

The Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB) organizes and produces exhibitions, debates, festivals and concerts, programmes film cycles, courses and lectures, and encourages creation using new technologies and languages.

It promotes artistic research in fields such as multimedia, backs research into exhibition formats, exports its in-house productions to other national and international arts centres, museums and institutions, and generates debate, thought and reflection on the theme of the city and the public domain, as well as other issues of current affairs. The CCCB also compiles materials that are available for public consultation, comprising its inheritance, its holdings and archives of exhibition formats, publications, digital archives, audiovisuals, and so on.

It is a space open to groups of independent artists, creators and programmers...

See the website for upcoming programme.

Address : Montalegre, 5
Zip code : 08001
City : Barcelona - Spain
Area : El Raval
Website : CCCB
Opening hours : Tuesday to Saturday: 11am - 8pm; Sundays & holidays: 11am - 7pm;
Prices : 4,50 €
Phone : 00 34 93 306 4100
Metro/Bus : Metro: 1, 2, 3 (Catalunya i Universitat) - Bus: 7, 9, 14, 16, 17, 24, 38, 41, 50,
54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 64, 66, 67, 68, 91, 120, 141, L94, L95, Tombús, Aerobús.