Port Aventura Theme Park

It’s Sunday morning, 8 o’clock, and the alarm goes off: today the kids are coming back!

We have a look at the times, our destination being Port Aventura , Barcelona’s theme park and comparable to Thorpe Park or Chessington World of Adventures in Britain.

Port Aventura Theme Park

At the entrance (which also acts as an access point for the adjacent water park, the “Caribe Acquatic Park”) there is quite a significant queue. However, after about half an hour we manage even to overcome this particular obstacle and finally we reach the entrance.

Port Aventura Theme Park

Upon entering, the sight that greets our eyes is a vision straight from a fairy-tale: a huge river, bordered by rocks and thick, luxuriant vegetation which frames the whole Park, which then evolves into different themes the further you delve in to the park. There are Mediterranean, Polynesian, Chinese, SesamoAventura and Mexican themes all the way to the Wild West.

Port Aventura Theme Park

We decide to go straight in to the first ride: ‘Furious Baco’, a capsule which promises to simulate acceleration equivalent to that of a jet taking off. However, thanks to the information panels, placed at the entrance to each ride letting you know the waiting times, we realise that we would have to wait approximately one hour and 30 minutes, which causes us instead to head over to the following attraction, ‘Gran Canyon Rapids’. As you can easily guess from the name, this ride is an adventure through water rapids imitating those of the Grand Canyon, considered as ‘moderate’ on the signs next to each of the rides. We wait roughly 30 minutes, get on board and enjoy the ride. We were refreshed by the sprays of water which are sprayed from the obstacles throughout the duration of the ride.

Port Aventura Theme Park

Getting off the ride, we see an extremely tall tower, which is the symbol of ‘Hurakan Condor’. This time, the queue is practically non-existent, so we get straight on board and are lifted upwards to the top of the tower, to an altitude of 100 metres, hearts suddenly beating fast, and then…down! In 2 seconds flat we are already back to the ground. We make our way around the park and end up trying loads of the other rides, some of them really fun, others less so, but all of them giving the impression that, at least for the day, we had once again become kids.

Port Aventura Theme Park

The park is really crowded…everybody from families with kids; groups of elderly people, to groups of children all of which are in a general spirit of happiness. At times, the queues are rather long, but if you arm yourself with a good dose of patience (as well as the right kind of company), time flies by quickly, with comments exchanged between those in front of and behind you and by the time you get on the ride, they will have become your best friends!

Port Aventura Theme Park

The lunch break is a needed rest from the frenetic adventure, and this you can spend in one of the very numerous themed bars which are located inside the park, or in the shade of the palm trees which line the bank of the river.

Port Aventura Theme Park

It’s 6.30 p.m and we are tired, hungry but also very satisfied, and well in advance of the park’s closing time (from the 25th of May to the 26th of September the park closes at 8 p.m.). 

Dress for Less! – Low budget shopping in Barcelona

Of course, when you come to Barcelona, you will spend the first days with visiting museums, sightseeing and hanging out at the beach or in a nice tapas bar. However, let’s face it. 

Every woman knows that desire that starts to take control of your body and mind at the latest on the 4th day of your stay in any foreign city: This irrepressible need to go shopping!

(Unfortunately), not all of us have an infinite budget or a limitless credit card, so we thought we could provide our readers with some information about how to save money whilst leaving Barcelona with a new wardrobe!

Check out the numerous outlets!

Many Spanish brands have outlet stores in Barcelona. You will find the most famous brands, selling their stuff for less than 50% of the original price!

Some addresses you should definitely check out are the following:

Mango

One of the most popular Spanish brands worldwide! Check out on of their three outlets

Cc. Heron City, Avinguda Rio de Janeiro

Carrer Girona, 37, Barcelona

Carrer de Viladomat, 169, Barcelona

Lefties

Lefties (as they sell Leftovers) is an outlet of the “Inditex” group, including famous brands like Zara, Massimo Dutti, Pull&Bear, Bershka and many others. However, when you walk into the store you’d probably think this is a shop on its own. You can find several boutiques in the city.

Cc. Heron City, Avinguda Rio de Janeiro

Carrer Pelayo 2-4

Cc.. Maremangum

El Corte Inglés

The famous department store is the Spanish counterpart to the French Galeries Lafayettes or Printemps. They actually have an outlet store close to the beach in Poblenou.

Rambla del Poblenou, 124

Other outlets

You will actually find some more outlet stores in the Heron shopping center, just check out the website. If you are looking for an exclusive outlet, you should definitely plan half a day to spend in Roca Village. 

Summer nights in La Pedrera, experience the architecture and music of Barcelona

We have the Summer Nights’ jazz concerts again, on the roof of La Pedrera, the Gaudí most emblematic house in Barcelona. This nocturnal event is one of the magical moments Barcelona offers to visitors, adding to the many cultural summer offerings of the city, one you can actually enjoy by night. Apart from visiting one of the finest examples of Modernist architecture in the world, visitors can now see a night time view of the most magnificent city of Barcelona and enjoy some exquisite jazz music.

Summer nights in La Pedrera

In summary, the Summer nights in La Pedrera include a free visit to the Espai Gaudí, a visual tour of the work of the architect followed by a concert with a glass of cava on the terrace, an emblematic and evocative setting inviting you to experience the night, the city, architecture and music.

Summer nights in La Pedrera

The Espai Gaudí is located in the same attic of La Pedrera, and presents the fundamental aspects of his particular understanding of architecture and designs, always trying to explain his particular point of view and how revolutionary it was on that time. The Espai Gaudí introduces the visitor to the life and work of Gaudí through scale models and plans, objects and designs, photographs and videos. The exhibition is divided into seven areas, one of which is entirely given over the La Pedrera, so there’s a lot to be seen.

Music in the Summer nights 2014

The music is focused on the Catalan jazz scene, demonstrating the popularity and accomplishments of jazz musicians in the country. In the agenda for 2014 there are names like Raynald Colom, Davild Mengual, Marcel•lí Bayer and many more.

Summer nights in La Pedrera

When do the Summer nights in La Pedrera start

The summer nights in La Pedrera will be open every Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 20 June to 7 September. Here you have the general info of the event:

Summer nights in La Pedrera

• Access: Passeig de Gràcia, 92

• Price: €27

• Timetable: Doors open at 9.45pm (Ends at: 11.45pm)

• More info in: http://www.lapedrera.com/en/summer-nights-jazz-la-pedrera

So for the lucky ones of you who are in Barcelona, don’t miss to attend one of these summer concerts on the Pedrera rooftop for a magic night!