Really Breathe That In

Why Barcelona? What makes it such an enchanting place; the people, the food, the architecture, the culture… There are many things that can define it and make it special to each person. For me it’s the smell of the city, which lets off the smell of life, freedom and the ability to enjoy the moment. The streets will sting your nostrils with fantasy and illusion because behind every corner there is a rich history that begs to be learned. The beach will overwhelm your olfactory system releasing emotions of euphoria and relaxation. Regardless of where you are some odor penetrates your nose creating a sensation so distinct and so addictive that the only way to cure it, is have more of it.

I haven’t come across a single person who has had a bad experience in Barcelona. Many of these people can recount a book worth of stories even if they had a short stay. I can seriously conclude that it’s not just me but something that is released into the urban ecosystem that creates this connection to bliss. When you visit, and you really listen to the people and the streets, you feel a calling that is hard to ignore. Your ears may swell with sounds of motorbikes and taxis but if you really take note and peel through those distractions you come across a sound of passion and love. These people and this town are built on those fundamentals. Their heart and soul is evident just by gazing out and appreciating where they have come and where they are going.

The nights may be bustling with parties, cocktails and cigarettes but the day screams out life and satisfaction. Pride is a central aspect in any Catalan, and it rubs off on the expats who call it home. The little things become the big things and the big things blend into an idea that today is today; tomorrow will always come, so sit down, soak it up and enjoy it, because life is a pleasure worth every single breath.

The sure true way to experience it is to partake in it. Lunch is no longer the middle child that gets over looked, dinner is a meal best served with friends and a cold beer and dessert is a beautiful stroll that ends only with the idea that tomorrow will bring something similar.

Why is Barcelona so amazing, what makes it rock to all types of music and listen to all those that open their ears. As I said it’s the smell, the smell resonates off the priceless architecture, the creative cuisine and most importantly the strength of the people who truly know what is important in life: LIVING!

El Borne: A Tale of One Barrio

As a tourist when you visit Borne you enter like every other ant that visits Barcelona; by crossing Via Laietana and going down Carrer l’Argenteria until you come upon the imposing Santa Maria del Mar. Besides Sagrada Família, St. Maria del Mar is one of the must sees in Barcelona; its Gothic style surrounded by tiny narrow streets really creates a memorable experience (especially if you come from the US and aren’t use to seeing such grandeur). Other than your visit to this church, the deceptive Picasso Museum lies around the corner. To be brutally honest with you, the average art connoisseur will be disappointed with this museum. All of Picassos’ most famous paintings aren’t even there. On the contrary, if you are an art connoisseur and are a big fan of Picasso’s blue period and cubism than by all means wait in line and pay to enter; however, for the majority of you don’t waste your time, it’s not worth it.

Moving on from the touristy things, Borne is stockpiled with fun and leisure. It has been the up and up neighborhood for the past 5 to 10 years making it the trendy part of Barcelona. When you stroll through Paseo del Borne you become witness to the hippest bars that offer any cocktail you desire. Accompanying these bars are many fantastic, well looked after local eateries serving up tapas and other regional fares. Oh, but wait, there is more, some of the most posh and fashionable boutiques inhabit these tiny streets creating an ambiance of the “super cool”.

Sounds like the bees knees, doesn’t it? But what I have offered you is just a sample of what el Borne really is. It’s not all glamour and glitz that I have made it out to be; it’s conjoined with a dark and sometimes dangerous twin. Once you cross Carrer de la Princesa you begin to notice a gradual change from chic to dilapidated. As the sightseers start to dissipate it becomes easy to see a change in style of the edifices and people. It isn’t uncommon to find some of the buildings’ exteriors bricked up and abandoned allowing squatters to set up their nests, creating an unsavory atmosphere. Unlike the facades, the natives aren’t typically scandalous; they’re a hodgepodge of foreigners, hippies with a couple of sprinkles of Catalans. Granted you might find a few bad eggs strolling the streets, such as the thief or the junkie, but in general the people are kind and go about their business.

Though it might sound worthless to venture to upper Borne, I would like to point out that there are still things worth seeing. Amongst the negligence exists the Palau de la Música and Mercat Santa Caterina, both are architectural marvels that are well worth a view from the outside as well as the inside. Besides these buildings a slow stroll through the streets during the day can inspire and entertain anyone looking to escape the madness that can be found in other parts of Borne.

The contrast of charming to offensive, sleek to shabby, refined to crass is what makes the old maritime district of Barcelona so appealing. It’s truly a place where you can experience everything and anything, including the positive as well as the negative. All you have to do is ask my sister about the drunken French accordion player who put on a great show!

The Oscars are Outdated

February 27th is an important day in the world of pop culture; the Academy Awards will return for the 83rd time. Like every year the stars will be out in full force, showing the world why they are famous and why we are not. Strutting their stuff down the red carpet and listening to the smoker’s voice of Joan Rivers, millions of Americans and people around the world will be mesmerized. The most intriguing part of the night will be waiting for the announcement of what movie will be anointed the “best”. I ask you this question not as a fan of the fame and glory nor of independent cinema, but as a person who enjoys being entertained: Is this really the best way to judge a great movie? Isn’t the best way to rate or judge a movie by how much it grosses in a given year? Shouldn’t you as a viewer of these movies have a say? As past years have shown us, “The Academy” doesn’t always choose what we the people feel is the most worthy movie, actor or actress.

In 2008, The Dark Knight stole the summer audiences’ hearts and raked up $533,345,358. On the contrary, the Oscar winner was Slumdog Millionaire, which grossed $141,319,928. Both movies are great in their own aspect, although the public thought The Dark Knight was more entertaining. It was very possible the best movie of the year was Slumdog Millionaire; however, the batman movie should not have been left off the list of the top 5 films of the year. It is a bit egocentric and a slap to our face that producers and directors ignored that stat.

How many times, especially in the last 3 years, have we heard that the times are changing? Probably everyday, and many people have heeded this advice and have adapted to the new playing field, the Internet. If you haven’t noticed or are too ignorant to change than you will be left behind eating our dust. Sports, television and music have all adapted to this change, whether it is fan polling for the NBA All Star game, choosing who is the next American idol or following the daily lives of your favorite celebrity; the public, not the experts, are choosing what they want. With all this being said, the viewer is still without a say on one of the most influential nights of the year, even with the abundance of social media platforms designed for discussion, comment and review.

Life as we know it is different, you, me and I have a voice in this world and that voice can sound like an expert or like a moron, but in either case we can speak our mind. Ten years ago the public’s voice was available but a lot more difficult to be heard. Opinions couldn’t be spread as quickly as they are today nor was everybody able to make an educated decision. The Oscar’s format was an appropriate format for that time. As far as I was concerned there were only 3 experts who would rate movies, Roger, Ebert and the Academy Awards. With such a small selection you would take their word for it. Now is different, film rhetoric is everywhere, and you the viewer can influence not just me but the entire world of cinema by voicing your opinion. How many of you have decided to watch a movie because of Rotten Tomatoes or IMDB? Instead of only following the experts’ opinions, these websites have incorporated reviews given by us the viewer. If these elements are already used and respected, why doesn’t the Academy Awards take advantage of this public forum? We obviously can’t do any worse than the producers and directors if they voted for Sandra Bullock in 2009 (the year she also won the Razzie for the worst female performance).

As we turn on the TV, make the popcorn and watch these idiots smile and talk in front of the camera, remember to take these awards with a grain of salt. The Times be changing and we the people have a voice stronger than we have ever had in the history of the human race. Social media rules the world and for this reason alone the Oscars are outdated, because they ignore that voice. With my voice I will cast my ballot in favor of Toy Story 3 because I feel it was the only movie that redefined a category, was entertaining for children and adults and it made most people tear up at the end (including me).