Barcelona - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Category: General - The Bad - Drivers

noreply@blogger.com (BonPreu) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:05:00 +0000

In Catalonia a worryingly large number of drivers seem to drive with two demons on each shoulder: Incompetence & Recklessness.
One can make a list of typical driving errors and tick of every box when observing traffic here during longer drives. The most dangerous being overtaking other cars and the most inopportune times and places. Here is a typical example from a narrow mountain road.

Category: Architecture - The Bad: Cubics

noreply@blogger.com (BonPreu) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 12:09:00 +0000

Cubics, Santa Coloma
This hotel/apartment/entertainment centre project really is one of the most misplaced architectural projects in the greater Barcelona. The entrance to the cinema looks like a parking entrance with an inclination steep enough to preventing those with weaker legs from ever leaving the premises. The buildings are completely "dead" with the appearance of lego pieces dropped by some gargantuan child from above. The height naturally adds to the whole "out of placedness" of the buildings, though this height combined with the "cutting" of the nether section of the structure does allow for an efficient use of space. Unfortunately the total impression is hostile and enclosed. Two characteristics that neither the hotel, the movie complex nor the apartment building should "wish" to transmit!

Architect: Eduardo Souto de Moura - The 2011 Pritzker winner

The architect responsible for Cubics, Eduardo Souto de Moura, has, in 2011, won what is arguably the most prestigious architectural price there is: The Pritzker. Cubics is the perfect example of an architect getting lost in conceptualizing and not really considering surroundings and practice. Forms that look great on the (3D) drawing board sometimes fail miserably to communicate with the real life landscape. According to chairman of the Pritzker jury, Lord Palumbo, de Moura's buildings possess a unique ability to transmit apparently incompatible characteristics... (trans. from Spanish). Indeed, in the case of Cubics there is a lot of transmitting of incompatible characteristics, but of characteristics that, in my mind, are irretrievably incompatible! The sheer scale of the buildings impede communication with any form in the area. In any case I feel there is always grounds for caution when someone is referred to as an architect's architect as in the case of Moura. It is akin to that of being a musician's musician, it could be a great thing (Nick Drake) or a not so great thing (Steely Dan)!

The Ugly: Mossos d'Esquadra - Barcelona Police

noreply@blogger.com (BonPreu) — Fri, 27 May 2011 12:11:00 +0000

Mossos - Barcelona Police

Today, May 27th 2011, there was a demonstration at Plaza Catalunya, Barcelona. This is a result of many young people in Spain feeling "robbed of a future" with the unemployment rate being as high as 40% for the young. The politicians failing to deal with the economical crisis the country is experiencing, many take to the streets to show their frustrations. The local police decide to communicate with batons, in classics Spanish style "policing". Somehow authorities here cannot distinguish a "stick" from a "carrot" thus employing the "stick only" strategy to....basically everything. Fortunately the police decided the provocative rather than pro-active strategy of theirs was not having a very positive effect and withdrew to other more distant positions.

Police dealing with peaceful protesters at Plaza Catalunya;

demonstrators Plaza Catalunya, Barcelona

Category: Restaurants - The Bad: Candela

noreply@blogger.com (BonPreu) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:33:00 +0000

La Candela, C/ Sant Pere Mitjà, 93.

A tapas restaurant located on a charming square in Sant Pere. We actually never got to taste the food here as we were turned off my the sourly demeanor of the waitress. Yes, we know that you are overworked (possibly), and yes we know that you are underpaid (surely) but; "you are in my way" is not the textbook response to a polite inquiry about the menu!

Category: General - The Ugly: "Correbous"

noreply@blogger.com (BonPreu) — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 06:47:00 +0000

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In Catalonia, despite being the first region to ban bull-fighting, the practice of Correbous still goes on. The generalitat (parliament) recently decided (114 to 14) that setting bulls on fire and chasing them through the streets is a worthwhile tradition. All though townspeople in the southern region (Tarragona, Valencia area) contain themselves to placing torches and fireworks on the horns one could easily imagine that the bulls find the whole ordeal pretty stressful! In fact, I feel anyone who thinks this is a "tradition" to maintain should be chased around naked in their local town wearing a helmet with blazing fireworks. Only then could you claim thet the correbous is not harmful to the animals!

Category: Stores - The Good: "Hibernian Bookstore"

noreply@blogger.com (BonPreu) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:03:00 +0000

Hibernian Bookstore Barcelona

An English(mainly) language used bookstore in the middle of Grácia (C/Monteseny 17). Nice selection of Hunter Thompson books as befitting the bohemian setting. But, there is a little of everything here for a decent price.

Category: Architecture - The Ugly: Mercat de L'Abaceria

noreply@blogger.com (BonPreu) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:13:00 +0000

The Mercat de L'Abaceria, Barcelona´s ugliest market?
Somehow the city council, in their furor to "upgrade" Barcelona forgot about this market in Grácia - ramshackle and grey it has a rather sad and resigned air about it. It is worth visiting when in Grácia, though, for the quality produce the stalls here genreally do offer despite the dire surroundings.

Category: Architecture - The Bad: Barceloneta Development

noreply@blogger.com (BonPreu) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:27:00 +0000

This prison like structure might not be the ugliest in Barcelona, but the idea of building this tall in the Barceloneta area just opposite the classic Estació França is ludicrous!

Category: Bars - The Bad: Tripode

noreply@blogger.com (BonPreu) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:31:00 +0000

Thre is nothing wrong with this bar located in the chic El Born barrio, but 11€ for a (small) double scotch!? That is five times the sell price in the stores....C'mon guys this is Barcelona, not Tokyo! The choice of music didn't help either, allthough funky the source of the sound being a free Spotify account means blasting inane ads through the speakers...

Category: General - The Ugly: "Okupas"

noreply@blogger.com (BonPreu) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:55:00 +0000

"Okupas" (house occupants, squatters) or "atheists" are a regular fixture in Barcelona, always wearing their uniforms of non-conformity; nose-piercings, dreads, beads etc. The irony of uniformingly signalling your independence to a uniform consumer society is, however, not enough to merit a place among "the ugly" of Barcelona - Hypocricy is. One example is hosting an "anti-racism café" (bar/party) in a residential neighbourhood. An applaudable inititave, one would think, but when they are occupying the backstreet, located under this particular writer's bedroom window, celebrating their tolerance by blasting crap techno way into the night in one can't help but note the hypocricy. How credible is your tolerant, anti-establishment stance when you can't even show respect for your own barrio? Though is it too much to ask that respecting difference includes respecting those in your closest vicinity who do not share your lifestyle?
Hey, the bourgeois are people too!

Category: Accommodation The Good: Acomodis

noreply@blogger.com (BonPreu) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:53:00 +0000

Renting holiday apartments in Barcelona can be a challenge. For the short-term visitor we recommend: Acomodis - Barcelona Vacation Apartments. This is an official agency with an appealing portfolio of centrally located apartments. As a bonus you can expect personal and friendly service from the people at Acomodis!

Category: Food - The Good: Restaurant Embat

noreply@blogger.com (BonPreu) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:32:00 +0000

Friendly service, nice informal setting. Very tasty food, inventive without being showy (or silly). Excellent value for money!

Category: Food - The Bad: Patxoca

noreply@blogger.com (BonPreu) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:29:00 +0000

Tapas restaurant by The Santa Caterina Market. We were three diners and the staff barely acknowledged our arrival. After the food arrived we had to plead for cutlery, one piece at a time - delivered by a barely audible grunt from "the waiter". The food was mediocre and did nothing to change the impression of a place that really doesn't care about their customers.