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Showing posts with label 2013. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2013. Show all posts

Thursday 30 January 2014

Mobile World Congress Barcelona - Visits and Trips

If you are coming to the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and have some time to kill, want to visist some tourist attractions, or take part in some activities in the area, then read on. Here is another article which explores a few things that you can do with a limited amount of time. If you have more time, be sure to visit, www.barcelonaeventorganisation.com, to see the full range of tours and activities available.  Remember, that we will be adding a new article every week day, so keep coming back.



SIDE TRIPS

Right Around the Fira
Immediately around the Fira's South Entrance, there's an impressive collection of first-rate modern architecture.

Start your quick tour with the bright-red Hotel Porta Fira, just across the street from the South Entrance. Designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito, the Porta Fira and its accompanying office tower are supposed to echo the two Venetian towers by the entrance to the older Fira Montjuïc.

Just north of the Porta Fira, across Plaça Europa, is the new Renaissance hotel, designed by Jean Nouvel. You'll recognize it by the palm tree-shaped windows. The whole hotel has a garden theme. There are little seating areas with indoor gardens on the 14th floor, and the ride up in a glass elevator facing the outside is fun.

Other notable buildings on the Plaça Europa include a black office building by RCR Architects that looks like a radiator and the award-winning Torre Plaça Europa apartment building, another block up Carrer Herrero at the corner of Carrer Juan de Juanes.

If You Have 1 to 2 Hours

Even with less than two hours away from the show, it's possible to get a glimpse of real Spanish life in the city of L'Hospitalet. A quick walk will take you to a traditional covered market, a gorgeous crumbling ruin and a 12th-century church, with a stop for pastries.

can trinxet

From the Plaça Europa, walk up Carrer Natzaret to Carrer Igualtat. Take a left there and walk up to Carrer Aprestadora. Ahead of you slightly to the right is Panaderia Cabré, a family-owned bakery. The pastries there are spectacular; make sure to get one.

Proceed up Carrer Pi i Margall to Carrer Santa Eulalia. There, take a left and walk two blocks to the Parroquia Santa Eulalia Provenzana (Carrer Santa Eulalia 203, L'Hospitalet 08902; +34 (93) 422-4219; parroquiasantaeulalia.org), a peculiar two-sided church.

From the front, it's a grand 1950s building. But walk around the back to find the 12th-century Romanesque hermitage, with a Latin inscription from 1201 above the door and a beautifully dim, vaulted interior. The sanctuary is open daily, but you have to be lucky.

Double back down Carrer de Santa Eulalia, one of L'Hospitalet's main shopping streets. At Carrer Gasometre you'll pass Can Trinxet, a beautiful, crumbling ruin of a 1910 textile factory destined to become a cultural center.

santa eulalia market

Proceed to Carrer Pareto and take a right. In two blocks you'll reach the 1929 covered Santa Eulalia Market (ppen Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Carrer Josep Anselm Clave 35, L'Hospitalet 08902; +34 (93) 331-4694; www.mercatdesantaeulalia.com/), a traditional market built in 1936. The market has clothing and flowers around the outside, and food vendors within, including meat, fish and fresh fruits. You can stop at Bar L'Antic, at stall #4, for coffee.

Leaving the market, continue down Carrer Pareto until it becomes Carrer Alhambra. You'll pass a plaza with a fun local landmark, giant red metal letters reading "L'HOSPITALET." Turn into the Alhambra Gardens park beyond Carrer Aprestadora to walk through some greenery or sit a while. At the base of the park, you'll be back on the Gran Via.

You can take a left down the Gran Via to return to the South Entrance of the convention center, continue straight ahead across the street and down Carrer Alumini to the North Entrance, or enter the Granvia 2 shopping mall across the street.

The whole walk should take well under two hours.

If You Have 2 to 4 Hours
With two to four hours, you can take a bus into Barcelona and get a glimpse of some of the city's attractions.

The Passeig de Gràcia

My top pick is to wander up the Passeig de Gràcia, the city's most fabulous promenade, and get a glimpse of the Sagrada Família, the city's signature building.

Take the H12 bus to Passeig de Gràcia and take a right. One block down at the far end of the Plaça Catalunya, you'll find the Mobile World Centre, the global mobile industry's showplace for technology. It'll have some major exhibits running during the show, and it'll be fun to see how our industry presents itself to the public.

Turn around and proceed back up the Passeig de Gràcia. You'll pass several major Modernist buildings and a lot of great shopping. Between Carrer de Consell de Cent and Carrer Aragó is the "Block of Discord," with signature modernist buildings by four different architects; Gaudí's Casa Battló is a common site for MWC corporate events. At Carrer Provença you'll see La Pedrera (open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; adult admission €16.50; www.lapedrera.com/en/home), another great Gaudí building, and one you can tour.

sagrada familia 2

At Carrer Roselló, pop down into the Diagonal Metro stop and take the Metro two stops to Sagrada Família (open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; adult admission €13; www.sagradafamilia.cat) The peculiar, spectacular Sagrada Família is the single iconic image of Barcelona, a crazed modernist dream of a church that's still under construction; it only got its roof a few years ago. Make sure to see all sides of the building, as they were designed by different sculptors in different styles.

When you're done at Sagrada Família, take metro line 2 back to Passeig de Gràcia, where you can catch the H12 bus back to the Fira.

Montjuïc and Museums
If you're just feeling overwhelmed by a crazy week, a trip into the Montjuïc park may be what the doctor ordered. In Montjuïc, you can enjoy some top museums or just wander through the greenery.
To get to Montjuïc, take a taxi (€10) or catch the TMB 125 bus from the corner of Metallurgia and Foc, just by the North Entrance of the convention center.

parc montjuic

Montjuïc is one of those parks where everything's windy and it's very, very easy to get lost, but that's fine. If you need a goal, three great ones are the Miró Foundation Museum (open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; adult admission €10; +34 (93) 443-9470), with hundreds of paintings and sculptures by native son Joan Miró; the tram up to the 17th-century Montjuïc Castle (Carretera de Montjuïc 66, Barcelona 08038; open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; free admission; +34 (93) 256-4445), which offers you a terrific view of downtown and the sea; and MNAC (open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; adult admission €10; +34 (93) 622-0376), the city's main art museum.

If you find your way down to MNAC then you've made it into the old Fira area, which means you can walk straight through the old convention center to Plaça Espanya to grab the trains back to MWC. Otherwise, bus stops around the Montjuïc area let you hop on the TMB 150 bus, which will take you to Plaça Espanya for the train.

If You Have a Half-Day Or More (click this link)
With a half-day or more, it's time to head into Barcelona and enjoy all it has to offer.

Source: http://www.pcmag.com by Sascha Segan

If you are visiting Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress, MWC or GSMA in 2014 or just want to make a Tour, Day trip, Attractions or Excursion or are interested in any other tour services, then check out the picture above at the top and if you can't find what you are looking for, call us on +34 647 044 889, because you can be sure we can do it.         

Wednesday 29 January 2014

Mobile World Congress Barcelona - Essential Information


     


HEALTH AND SAFETY
Every year, I hear about somebody who lost their wallet in Barcelona. Sometimes it's pickpockets, sometimes it's just the discombobulation of jet lag and convention exhaustion. In any case, it's good to take some simple precautions against theft to best enjoy your Barcelona experience. I've been to Barcelona eight times now, and I've never had a problem.


  • Remove your convention badge when leaving the Fira.
  •  Keep your wallet in your front pocket if possible.
  •  Bring one credit card, a photo ID, and a photocopy of your passport ID page with you; leave the rest in your hotel room, along with your passport and some cash.

  • Do not hang a bag or coat containing any valuables on a chair behind you.
  •  Use inside jacket pockets, if possible, for cameras and smartphones. Do not carry your camera around your neck.
  •  On the Metro, shift any backpacks or bags to be in front of you.
  •  Beware of people "distracting" you by asking for directions or squirting a substance on your clothing. Do not let them touch your person.

If you're the victim of a crime, during the show call 900 772 013, a special security service phone number set up for show attendees. An assistance team will come to you to help you complete paperwork and offer personal help.

On other days call 902 102 112, an English-speaking police hotline open from 8 a.m. to midnight daily. There will be a police station located on the grounds of the Fira so you can report incidents.

Feeling under the weather? The nearest pharmacy with long hours is at Carretera del Prat 30, and it's open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The Carrefour superstore in the Granvia 2 mall (open Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.). also has a wide range of personal health and beauty products, although it stops short of selling drugs.

There are ten 24-hour pharmacies in Barcelona, although none of them are near the convention center. Here's a full list.

Need a doctor? The U.S. Embassy has an official list of English-speaking doctors and hospitals in Barcelona.

Source: http://www.pcmag.com by Sascha Segan

If you are visiting Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress, MWC or GSMA in 2014 or just want to make a Tour, Day trip, Attractions or Excursion or are interested in any other tour services, then check out the picture above at the top and if you can't find what you are looking for, call us on +34 647 044 889, because you can be sure we can do it.         

Tuesday 28 January 2014

Mobile World Congress - Barcelona Private Tours

If you are at the MWC - Make A FC Barcelona Stadium and Museum Tour.




 


Barcelona is an amazing city with so much to see, but it can be difficult to see everything on your own. A private tour is the best way to get the most out of your visit to Barcelona. With a private tour of Barcelona, you will get to see everything you want to see and it can be customized for your interests. 



A private tour of Barcelona will offer more flexibility to see things that you are specifically interested in, whether it is art, history or architecture, among other things. The Gothic District is a great area of the city and is an excellent option for a tour. 




Aspects of a private tour of Barcelona can be altered as well depending on the group of people involved and their preferences. Walking tours, using public transport, and having a private vehicle are all options for transportation during the tour.  



Private tours of Barcelona are a great way to discover Barcelona from the point of view of a local. This allows you to not only see the sites of Barcelona, but also learn a little about the culture and tradition of Spain. Private tour guides can also make suggestions on things to do in the city that are not a part of the tour, such as where to get the best authentic Spanish meal, such as Tapas, so you may want to consider a Wine and Tapas Tour.



A private tour is also good because it will not be rushed. Everything can be scheduled to your preferences, and there is room for flexibility to take pictures, go through the gift shop, or grab a snack. 

Finally, if you want to check out the vibrant and exciting night life in Barcelona, you may want to consider a Barcelona Nightlife Tour

If you are at the MWC - Make A FC Barcelona Stadium and Museum Tour.

If you are visiting Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress, MWC or GSMA in 2014 or just want to make a Tour, Day trip, Attractions or Excursion or are interested in any other tour services, then check out the picture above at the top and if you can't find what you are looking for, call us on +34 647 044 889, because you can be sure we can do it.    

Monday 27 January 2014

Mobile World Congress - Do Not Miss the FC Barcelona Camp Nou Tour

As the Mobile World Congress Barcelona, draws ever closer, this article and the following articles show you some great "not to be missed" things to do whilst you are in Barcelona for the MWC 2014.

If you are at the MWC - Make A FC Barcelona Stadium and Museum Tour.




Experience the thrill of walking around one of the most successful club stadiums in the world FC Barcelona. See where Messi and all the superstar team players play. A tour that is "not to be missed" while you are here for the MWC.

Things you will see on the tour:

  • FCB Museum
  • Players tunnel
  • Visitors changing rooms
  • The Playing field
  • Press Zones
  • Multimedia Zone
  • The Chapel

The Camp Nou Experience has become an obligatory stop for visitors to Barcelona. The Experience gives you the chance to walk through the most emblematic areas of the stadium: the away team changing room and the players’ tunnel, the dugouts, the press room, commentators box and of course the Museum. The Museum is the most modern football museum thanks to its interactive wall spaces, large scale audiovisual displays and an extensive display of objects to explain the history of FC Barcelona and understand the values that make Barça “més que un club” – “ more than a club”



History of the Stadium

It was still not big enough to cope with the surging interest in the team though, especially after the arrival of Hungarian superstar Ladislau Kubala and the new Barça stadium was built to replace it.

The stadium was designed by architects Francesc Mitjans Miró and Josep Soteras Mauri, with the collaboration of Lorenzo García Barbón, and it was constructed between 1955 and 1957, using mainly concrete and iron. The whole project cost a staggering 288 million pesetas, which meant the club would spend the following years in heavy debt.




Although it was originally going to go under the official name of ‘Estadi del FC Barcelona’, it soon came to be popularly known as the 'Camp Nou' (the ‘new ground’), as opposed to the club’s old home at Les Corts. It was not until the 2000/2001 season that, following a mail vote made by the club membership, that the decision was made to make ‘Camp Nou’ the official name of the stadium. Of the 29,102 votes the club received, a total of 19,861 (68.25%) preferred Camp Nou to Estadi del FC Barcelona.

The stadium’s maximum height is 48 metres, and it covers a surface area of 55,000 square metres (250 metres long and 220 metres wide). In accordance with UEFA stipulations, the playing area has been downsized to 105 metres x 68 metres.

With a capacity of 99,354, it is now the biggest stadium in Europe. However, the total capacity has varied over the years owing to different modifications. When it was first opened in 1957, it held 93,053 spectators, which would be increased to 120,000 in 1982 on occasion of the FIFA World Cup. However, the introduction of new regulations outlawing standing areas reduced the stadium’s capacity in the late 1990s to just under 99,000.

In the 1998-99 season, UEFA recognised the services and functionalities of the Camp Nou by awarding it five star status. In the whole of Spain there are only four other stadiums that can claim that, the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, also in Barcelona, the new Cartuja Olympic Stadium in Seville, the Vicente Calderón, home of Atlético Madrid, and the Santiago Bernabeu, also in Madrid.

If you are at the MWC - Make A FC Barcelona Stadium and Museum Tour.


If you are visiting Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress, MWC or GSMA in 2014 or just want to make a Tour, Day trip, Attractions or Excursion or are interested in any other tour services, then check out the picture above at the top and if you can't find what you are looking for, call us on +34 647 044 889, because you can be sure we can do it.    

Saturday 25 January 2014

Mobile World Congress Barcelona - Get Connected

Here is another article to help you with your Business needs, while you are staying visiting the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Where can you go for connectivity e.g. wifi, hotspots etc. Here is an article covering just that and we will be adding something new every day, so keep coming back.



CONNECTIVITY: SIM CARDS, HOTSPOTS, AND WI-FI
Check your wireless carrier's roaming plan before committing to a local solution. Most European operators, as well as AT&T and Verizon in the U.S., now have reasonably priced smartphone roaming plans including data, and it's always easiest to be able to keep your "regular" phone number to give to contacts at the show.
SIM Cards

The Granvia 2 mall, just across Plaça Europa from the convention center (open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday), has more than a half-dozen mobile phone shops. I went to the Carrefour Mobile desk on the ground floor, which sells all the major Spanish brands.

The simplest tariff for data-hungry business travelers is Vodafone Yu, which comes in three varieties. "Yu 8" (€12 for the SIM plus one month service) gives you 200MB of data, 20 minutes of calling, and 20 local SMS messages. "Yu 12" (€15 for SIM plus service) gives you 600MB, 60 minutes, and 60 SMS. "Yu 16" (€20 for SIM plus service) gives you 1GB, 100 minutes, and unlimited SMS. When you pop the SIM in your phone, have the salesperson type in the activation code to put it on the appropriate plan.

On Sundays, the best place to buy a SIM card is the Movistar kiosk on the ground floor of the Maremagnum mall (Moll d'Espanya 5, Barcelona 08039; Tel. +34 (93) 225-8100; open daily 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.). To get to the mall, take Metro line 3 to Drassanes, then walk down to the end of the Ramblas, across the traffic circle and along the pedestrian bridge.

A basic prepaid Movistar SIM costs €13, including €10 credit. For prepaid data, choose €4/week for 100MB, or €2.39/day for 250MB/day.

In any case, make sure to bring your original passport to buy your SIM card; they'll need to make a copy for ID purposes.

Hotspots
For more intensive, multi-device Internet use, you may want to rent a hotspot. Typically, hotspots support up to five devices and offer you about 300MB/day, up to 7GB/month.

Before you travel, you can rent hotspots from XCom Global, Tep Wireless or Cellular Abroad for your trip.
In Barcelona, the tourist board officially recommends TripNeter (+34 (668) 893-310), which provides 250MB/day of 3G service for €5.99/day. The company will deliver a hotspot to your hotel or let you pick it up at a tourist office downtown.

cafe glace

Local Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is not widespread in Barcelona, although it's available at major hotels. Fortunately, the GSMA is running Wi-Fi at hotspots all over the convention center, so you should be covered during the show itself.
Outside the venue, Wi-Fi is available in the lobby of the Porta Fira and Fira Congress hotels (buy a coffee and ask for the password), as well as in many local restaurants. I'll note which restaurants have Wi-Fi in the "Eating and Drinking" section.

If you don't want to go to a restaurant, head to the Granvia 2 mall across the street, where free Wi-Fi is available anywhere near one of the two Jamaica coffee shops or the Carrefour superstore. The McDonald's on Plaça Europa also has free Wi-Fi.

Source: http://www.pcmag.com by Sascha Segan

If you are visiting Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress, MWC or GSMA in 2014 or just want to make a Tour, Day trip, Attractions or Excursion or are interested in any other tour services, then check out the picture above at the top and if you can't find what you are looking for, call us on +34 647 044 889, because you can be sure we can do it.      

Friday 24 January 2014

Mobile World Congress Barcelona - What You Should Know for Your Stay

Ok, so you are coming to the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. What do you need to know to make your stay comfortable. Things like the currency, the international dialing code, shopping hours etc. Here is an article covering just that and we will be adding something new every day, so keep coming back.


bcn city hall

Country Code: +34

Time Zone: GMT+1

Currency: Euro (Here's a helpful currency converter.)

Electrical Plugs: 220V, two round pins (continental European). If you need a plug adapter, they're available at hardware stores (ferreterías), but I advise buying them before you leave home. I recommend the Wonpro series of universal adapters and power strips, which you can buy at Europlugs.

Business Hours: Most businesses are open from roughly 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Major shops are open Monday through Saturday, usually from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Dining Hours: Breakfast generally runs from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., lunch, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and dinner from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. No one goes out clubbing until midnight.

Language: Barcelonans speak both Spanish (Castellano) and Catalan. Most signs will be in both languages.

Hotlines: For emergency services call 112.

Tax: Sales tax is 10 percent on food and 21 percent on most other goods; it's included in prices shown.

Tipping: Round up to the nearest euro.

Source: http://www.pcmag.com by Sascha Segan

If you are visiting Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress, MWC or GSMA in 2014 or just want to make a Tour, Day trip, Attractions or Excursion or are interested in any other tour services, then check out the picture above at the top and if you can't find what you are looking for, call us on +34 647 044 889, because you can be sure we can do it.     

Thursday 23 January 2014

Mobile World Congress Barcelona - Where to Shop

Here is another article to help you with your shopping (you know you want to buy things ladies!!), while you are staying visiting the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.  Remember, that we will be adding something new every day, so keep coming back.



If you need to buy gifts and can't get into the city center, the obvious choice is the Granvia 2 mall opposite the Fira. Granvia 2 (shown below) has dozens of shops, including three toy stores and the holy trinity of Spanish mainstream fashion brands: Zara, Desigual, and Mango. The Carrefour superstore also sells pretty much everything.

granvia 2 mall

But if you have the time, I'd strongly recommend heading into Barcelona to shop. Specifically, head to the Passeig de Gràcia, in the Eixample neighborhood just north of the old city, or to the neighborhoods of Gràcia and El Born.

To get to the Passeig de Gràcia, take the H12 bus from the Fira to the Passeig de Gràcia and Gran Via, and walk north.

On the Passeig de Gràcia you'll find a mix of global flagship brands and upscale boutiques. For techie gifts, my favorite is the Vinçon design shop (Passeig de Gràcia 96, Barcelona 08008; +34 (93) 215-6050, Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; www.vincon.com), with dozens of laptop and smartphone cases and tech-themed lamps. (You can get a giant, lighted "ctrl" key for €14.)

Across the street, the Bulevard Rosa mall (Passeig de Gràcia 53, 08007 Barcelona; +34 (93) 215-8331; open Monday through Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; www.bulevardrosa.com) is a maze of little boutiques, each one unique, with antiques galleries on the second floor.

The Passeig de Gràcia is also one of the world's most beautiful streets, so you're a winner even if you don't buy anything.

gracia

Where the Passeig de Gràcia gives you an elegant shopping experience along a grand boulevard, the neighborhoods of Gràcia (shown above) and Born let you discover tiny shops along narrow pedestrianized streets, with beautiful plazas erupting around every corner.

For Gràcia, take metro line 3 to Fontana and walk along Carrer Asturies to Carrer Verdi, then turn right. On Verdi and its neighboring streets, between Asturies and Terol streets, it's a nonstop riot of boutiques, cafes, bars, and Lebanese restaurants with pretty good shawarma. The Barcelona tourism board has a catalog of shops run by young designers in Gràcia.

The Born is the hippest part of Barcelona's old city, where gorgeous medieval buildings meet designed boutqiues and the Picasso Museum. To get to the Born, take metro line 4 to the Jaume I station and walk down Carrer L'Argenteria, then take a left on Passeig del Born and a right on Carrer Rec to pass the hottest shopping streets. Make sure to check out the Church of Santa Maria del Mar, too. Barcelona Tourism has an official guide to shops in the Born.

Be aware that most of Barcelona is closed on Sundays. Limited shops remain open, including the entire Maremagnum mall at the base of the Rambla (Moll d'Espanya 5, Barcelona 08039; Tel. +34 (93) 225-8100; open daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.), the Opencor chain of convenience stores, various random-object shops generally run by Chinese people, and ten pharmacies (see "Health and Safety," below).

Tax Free Shopping: If you buy more than €90.15 of products from stores displaying the "Tax Free Shopping" logo, ask for a Tax Free Form when you're buying your items and have the shop fill it out on the spot. You can claim the tax back at the airport. Find out more at www.global-blue.com.

Source: http://www.pcmag.com by Sascha Segan

If you are visiting Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress, MWC or GSMA in 2014 or just want to make a Tour, Day trip, Attractions or Excursion or are interested in any other tour services, then check out the picture above at the top and if you can't find what you are looking for, call us on +34 647 044 889, because you can be sure we can do it.        

Wednesday 22 January 2014

Mobile World Congress- Part 2 of 30 Must Do and See Things While You Are Here!

If you are here at the Mobile World Congress Barcelona, then now is the time to check out some of the great things Barcelona has to offer. Here is a 3 part series of articles from an American visitor Delaney Drew, who wrote down a wish list of places and things she wanted to do. It's a great list, so take a look and maybe you should visit some when you get some spare time, or maybe next time you visit Barcelona.

If you are at the MWC - Make A FC Barcelona Stadium and Museum Tour.

Before coming to Barcelona I put together a list of thing I thought were a “must” in order to get the most out of my time here. I want to share it with you because it gives a great jumping off point for anyone interested in visiting Barcelona.

 
 1.    Visit the Picasso Museum.





2.    Spend an afternoon wandering Gaudi's outdoor masterpiece, Park Guell.





3.    Tour La Segrada Familia, the most famous landmark of Barcelona, a huge church started in 1882 and isnt supposed to be finished until 2040. It was designed by the modernist architect Antoni Gaudi.






4.     See the magic fountain at Montjuic light up at night. 



 


5.    Get lost in Parc del Laberint d'Horta.



 

6.    See Fundacio Joan Miro, a museum dedicated to Joan Miro who was a Spanish Catalan painter, sculptor, and ceramicist born in Barcelona. His work has been interpreted as Surrealism. He expressed contempt for conventional painting methods as a way of supporting bourgeois society, and famously declared an "assassination of painting" in favor of upsetting the visual elements of established painting. (wiki).






7.    Visit Monserrat Mountain.






8.    Check out the Olympic Stadium from when Barcelona held the Olympics in 1992.






9.    Hike the Tibidabo Mountain.



 
10. Visit Figueres and the Dali Museum. Figueres is a city in the Catalonian region of Spain and is the home of Salvador Dali.





If you are at the MWC - Make A FC Barcelona Stadium and Museum Tour.


If you are visiting Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress, MWC or GSMA in 2014 or just want to make a Tour, Day trip, Attractions or Excursion or are interested in any other tour services, then check out the picture above at the top and if you can't find what you are looking for, call us on +34 647 044 889, because you can be sure we can do it.   

Mobile World Congress Barcelona - Where to Eat Nearby


Here is another article to help you with your Eating requirements, while you are staying visiting the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. We will be adding something new every day, so keep coming back.




Eating and Drinking Tips
Coffee and a pastry make for a typical breakfast in Catalonia. Ordering coffee can be a complex art, but the most common varieties are "café solo" (espresso), "café con leche" (plenty of milk) and "café cortado" (just a bit of milk). Expect to pay around €2 for a coffee and croissant; it'll cost more in a hotel, of course. Breakfast hours run from around 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Most restaurants have a set three-course lunch menu that's good value, but you can always order à la carte or just nosh on "bocadillos," the sandwiches that are a Catalan national treat. Lunch runs from about 1 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. until 4 p.m.

Catalans, like all Spaniards, eat dinner late; 8 p.m. is considered early.

Almost all the restaurants below feature full bars. Expect to pay €2 to €3 for a beer and around €5 for harder stuff. The local beer most commonly on tap is Estrella Damm; ordering a "caña d'Estrella" gets you a glass of the good local stuff.

Where to Eat and Drink
The new convention center has 49 restaurants, including fast food and sit-down options, different international cuisines, vegetarian, Kosher, and Halal food. You still might want to leave the convention center, though—whether you arrive before the venue opens in the morning, you want to take a break, or just want to try out a local business.

Fortunately, the Fira is surrounded by restaurants, mostly north and east of the venue. We got local recommendations and tried the best.

The city of Barcelona has world-class dining, of course. The city tourism board offers a free restaurant booking service at a kiosk just inside the Fira's North Entrance and the South Entrance, letting you book tables at 170 restaurants. Once your reservation has been confirmed, the restaurant will welcome you with a free glass of cava when you display your Mobile World Congress pass.

Restaurants Near the South Entrance

nuclo

Nuclo
Avenida Joan Carles I 58, L'Hospitalet 08908
+34 (93) 233-4989;

Hours (Monday to Friday): 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Lunch menu: €26.50, Tasting menu: €49.20

Right by the entrance to the convention center, the award-winning Nuclo offers world-class, international cuisine using local, seasonal ingredients. Chef Jordi Narro worked with the legendary Ferran Adrià . Expect creatively reinvented Spanish cuisine, with dishes like crayfish tartare with corn foam being followed by a fish of the chef's choice in a crayfish jus. See what he did there? There's even narrative. Reservations are absolutely essential, as far in advance as possible.

Spiral
In the Porta Fira Hotel, Plaça Europa 45, L'Hospitalet 08908
+34 (93) 297-3500;

Hours: Lunch 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Dinner 8 p.m. to 11:15 p.m.
Entrees: €10 to €21

If you can't get into Nuclo, Spiral, on the ground floor of the Porta Fira hotel across the street, is your next best bet. Like Nuclo, Spiral offers wittily reinvented traditional Spanish food: a forest of asparagus dusted with Parmesan "dirt," for instance, or little pasta pockets stuffed with a mildly sweet pear jam. When I went, service was attentive and occasionally delivered surprises, like an unexpected amuse-bouche of strawberry sangria. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Palmer
In the Renaissance Hotel, Plaça Europa 50-52, L'Hospitalet 08902
+34 (93) 261-8000;

Hours: Lunch 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., Dinner 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Lunch menu: €24, Entrees: €13 to €28

The most dramatic setting in the area, Palmer perched up on the 14th floor of the Renaissance Hotel and promises truly business-class service. When I ate there, though, both service and food were off; there was no host to greet me, and my monkfish "all cremat" (a popular local sauce with garlic and white wine) was unpleasantly chewy. Things are sure to improve with time, though, as the hotel is brand-new and just getting on its feet. Reservations strongly are recommended.

Narandam
In the Fira Congress Hotel, Carrer de José Agustín Goytisolo 9-11, L'Hospitalet 08908
+34 (93) 267-1800;

Hours: Lunch 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., Dinner 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Lunch menu: €24

The hotel restaurant in the Fira Congress Hotel, Narandam has a long wall of bright windows, letting light in. The menu combines Portuguese, Spanish, French and Italian influences, so you can get Galician octopus, steak with Port wine sauce, or pasta puttanesca. The approach to the hotel is a little less classy than with the Porta Fira or Renaissance, though, and the Fira Congress looks like it could do with a bit of a sprucing-up. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Atlantida
In the Hotel Solvasa Barcelona, Carrer Ciencies 98-100, L'Hospitalet 08908
+34 (93) 503-5090;

Hours (daily): Breakfast 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Lunch 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., Dinner 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Entrees: €9.95 to €21

The least imposing of the local hotel restaurants, Atlantida is in the basement of the Solvasa hotel a few minutes' walk southeast of the Fira. The menu is basic, hearty and simple: steak, sausage, grilled fish, and squid, for instance. Free Wi-Fi is available.

casa varela

Casa Varela
Carrer Blas Fernandez Lirola 82, 08908 L'Hospitalet
+34 (93) 431-9205

Hours (Monday through Friday): 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; (Saturday): 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lunch menu: €9.95

A very traditional, family-run restaurant right near the South Entrance, Casa Varela gets very good reviews from locals. The menu is a mix of local specialties and European favorites; you can get pasta, roast chicken, fish stew or even Wiener schnitzel. While the owners don't speak much English, they're used to doing corporate events for the companies in the area; make a reservation if you want to make sure there's room.

Piripipao
Carrer Arquitectura 20, L'Hospitalet 08908
+34 (93) 421-1203

Hours (Monday through Saturday): 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Entrees: €7 to €20

Highly recommended by the staff at the nearby Marriott AC Hotel Som, Piripipao is an upscale neighborhood restaurant with a classy Spanish menu. Expect the usual tapas and entrees like sesame-crusted tuna and beef tenderloin in a port wine sauce.

Panaderia Bolleria Cabré
Carrer Aprestadora 106, L'Hospitalet 08902
+34 (93) 422-6610

Hours (Monday through Saturday): 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Most pastries: €2 and under

This family-run establishment offers pastries so fresh and light, they practically float into your mouth. While it's a bit of a walk from the convention center, it's worth it for specialties like an apple tart cuddled in a buttery cloud of phyllo dough. The owners also run a small sit-down cafe down the block.

Glub
Plaça Europa 41, L'Hospitalet 08908
Hours (Monday through Saturday): 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Breakfast: €2.20-€5, Lunch: €11

The pleasures at Glub aren't necessarily the food: this relatively nondescript neighborhood restaurant is right across the street from the Fira and has both plenty of seating and Wi-Fi. Breakfast there wasn't much to report about, but as I said: plenty of seating, and Wi-Fi. It's a good place to base yourself if you're too early to get into the show. Bar Mediterraneo, next door, is very similar, keeping the same hours and also featuring Wi-Fi.

bar restaurant maxi

Bar Restaurant Maxi
Carretera del Prat 30bis, Barcelona 08038
+34 (93) 296-8410

Hours (daily): 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Entrees: generally €9.75 to €18; tapas: €4 and up

Want to eat and drink like a real local? Stop by this better-than-usual tapas joint (shown above) right down the street from the convention center. It's full of locals, but has an English-speaking waiter and menu, and the patatas bravas and piquillo peppers are a significant notch above the quality you can get at the tapas places at the mall. Entrees focus on shellfish, with a massive mixed-seafood "marisco" platter feeding four for €42. Reservations are recommended if you don't want to end up eating at the bar.

Mangia e Bevi
Gran Via 16, L'Hospitalet 08908
+34 (93) 259-0972;

Hours (Monday): 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., (Tuesday through Thursday): 8 a.m. to midnight, (Friday and Saturday): noon to midnight

Pizzas: €11 to €14; meter-wide pizza: €48

Pizza is the specialty at this clean, brightly-lit neighborhood restaurant on the other side of the mall from the convention center. And if you're bringing a party, the pizzas get big: they showed me the wooden board on which they cook pizzas 36 inches in diameter. Like any good pizza joint, this one delivers, if you can't manage to leave your booth. A full bar and coffee are also available.

Niza Xurreria
Carretera del Prat, off Carrer Energia
+34 (647) 809-580

Need a snack? This food truck has been serving churros since 1952. Churros start at €2, waffles at €3 and you can get french fries, too. The truck is out during daylight.

Cafe Glacé and Muxia
Amadeu Torner 40 and Aprestadora 113, L'Hospitalet 08902
Cafe Glacé +34 (93) 263-5364, Muxia +34 (93) 263-0594

Cafe Glacé Hours (daily): 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Muxia Hours (daily): 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Sandwich and beer: €5.10; Muxia lunch menu: €13.80

Up Amadeu Torner street across Plaça Europa you'll find these two neighborhood cafés with an important specialty: they both have Wi-Fi. As you'd expect from the name, Cafe Glacé is mostly ice cream and crepes, with a small indoor area and many tables out on the street. Muxia is a more traditional Galician tapas restaurant with a full bar, lunch and dinner menus, including a menu translated into English.

Granvia 2
Carrer de la Literatura 1, L'Hospitalet 08908
+34 (93) 259-0050;

Hours (Monday through Saturday): 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Entrees: Prices vary, but usually €10 to €20

The gigantic mall opposite the convention center has an unusually pleasant food court. Unlike most mall food courts, it's outside, with a series of heated tents protecting diners. Food options include an udon bar, two Italian pasta restaurants, a decent Basque restaurant called Baskonia, and an entirely industrial tapas place, Barnatapa. It's not exactly a meaningful cultural experience, but it's food, and it's easy.

Within the mall, the main highlight is Wi-Fi. The mall's two Jamaica coffee shops and giant Carrefour supermarket radiate free Wi-Fi to everything nearby, including the tasty Andreu jamón bar on the basement level directly across from Carrefour. I'd go back to Andreu.

Restaurants Near the North Entrance

granja elena outside

Granja Elena
Paseo Zona Franca 228, Barcelona 08038
+34 (93) 332-0241

Hours (Monday through Saturday): 7 a.m. to noon, (Monday through Friday): 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Entrees: approximately €20

The best restaurant in the area, Granja Elena (shown above) has the atmosphere of a small local bar but offers world-class food. Expect traditional Catalan dishes like fish croquettes and roasted artichokes, but raised to the next level. My croquettes were cloud-light, and my artichokes were fork-tender and fell apart into a black sausage soup, giving a bit of a feeling of noodles in gravy. The restaurant sources ingredients locally whenever possible. With only 28 seats and a faithful clientele, reservations are essential, at least a week in advance.

 La Vid
Carrer Foc 44, Barcelona 08038
+34 (93) 289-6347;

Hours (daily): 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lunch menu: €15.30

The huge, practically brand-new La Vid restaurant sits right across from the North Entrance of the convention center, making it a prime target for corporate events. You'll pay a little more for the atmosphere and location than you would at other similar restaurants in Barcelona, but I was happy for the business-friendly ambiance and multilingual menus. The traditional Galician menu is seafood-heavy, and I had a melt-in-my-mouth whole sea bass with a very citrusy vegetable ragout on the side, and chocolate crepes for dessert. A full bar, tapas and sandwich menus are also available.

Acquit Ibèrics i Café
Avenida Granvia de L'Hospitalet 1, L'Hospitalet 08908
+34 (93) 432-8483;

Hours (Monday through Friday): 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Lunch menu: €9.35 to €12.20

Right by the City of Justice complex, the brand-new Acquit bistro clearly caters to health-conscious lawyers. (Also, with the name.) Expect traditional tapas but also a lot of fresh salads and fish.

La Sal Del Port
Carrer Foc 84, Barcelona 08038
+34 (93) 007-5988

Hours (daily): 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Lunch menu: €10.50

A new breakfast and tapas bar just off the Passeig de Zona Franca on the way to or from the North Entrance, La Sal Del Port is friendly and clean, although nobody there speaks English. Breakfast is run-of-the-mill pastries, lunch a range of traditional specialties like roast chicken or monkfish in romesco sauce. The usual tapas are also available, along with a full bar. It's a good place to meet people on the way to App Planet or the Theatre District.

Forn de Pa Praga
Corner of Energia and Foneria, Barcelona 08038

Hours (Monday through Friday): 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., (Saturday and Sunday): 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Pastries: €1 to €2; sandwich and juice: €3.40

Looking for coffee and a croissant on the way to the North Entrance? This bright, sunny cafe on a nearby corner is a good bet. The pastries are of decent quality, and they'll slap together a range of sandwiches, too.

Dietary Restrictions

Vegetarians: The main tourist office on Plaça Catalunya has a free booklet called "Guide to Vegetarian Restaurants in Barcelona," with 63 vegetarian-friendly restaurants listed throughout the city. Restaurants are tagged as vegetarian or vegan. In general, it's not hard to get tasty meatless food in Barcelona, as items like potatoes, piquillo peppers, sautéed mushrooms, asparagus, and artichokes are mainstays of any tapas menu. However, ask a waiter to make sure animal oils aren't used in preparation.

Kosher: There's one Kosher restaurant and one Kosher grocery store in Barcelona. They're both in the Sarrià neighborhood. The restaurant is Delicias (Santaló 125, 08021 Barcelona; (93) 201-0904;) and it will deliver to hotels. The supermarket is Isamar Kosher (Avenir 29, 08021 Barcelona; (93) 200-3375;)

Halal: Halal diners shouldn't have a problem in a city where fish rules many menus. For halal meat, Gràcia is honeycombed with Turkish and Lebanese restaurants, and there's a large Pakistani presence in the Raval neighborhood.

Gluten-Free: The Carrefour supermarket in the Granvia 2 mall directly across from the convention center has a gluten-free section. You can also get a list of gluten-free restaurants from SMAP Celiacs de Catalunya.

Source: http://www.pcmag.com by Sascha Segan

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