Barcelona: San Joan

Annebeth Vis has lived in Barcelona for over five years. She works as a freelance journalist for Dutch online and printed media. For Like-a-Local she takes tourists on the Avantgarde Shopping Tour. Annebeth shares a flat in the centre of the city, just off the famous Ramblas.

It’s getting hotter and Barcelona is preparing for summertime. To me, the night of San Joan marks the beginning of that season. All over the catholic world places can be found where San Joan, San Juan or Saint John is celebrated, but the party can no where be as big as in Barcelona. Its inhabitants have created their own version of the Scandinavian Midsummernight. Location: the beach. Ingredients: fireworks, good music and enough alcoholic drinks!
On the night of the 23rd of june young people, elderly persons and children all gather together to enjoy the seaside of the city. Beach bars play loud music. Families have picnics on the sand. Couples and groups of friends walk by the boulevard enjoying the many little concerts. And although all Spanish cities are carefull about botellónes these days – the famous drinking parties in public areas –, San Joan is an exception. If you’re looking for a real summer fiesta, San Joan is among the biggest beach parties in the world.
I spend my San Joan night with a group of friends from different countries at the first chiringuito on the Barceloneta beach, owned by a Colombian whose nickname is El Turco (The Turkish). We drank, we talked, we danced and enjoyed. It’s a magic feeling to live in a place where the ultimate beach holiday feeling is just a few minutes away from the vibrating city centre!
For those who cannot wait untill next year’s San Joan no worries: during the rest of the summer beach parties can be found from friday till sunday at different bars next by the sea. The sundaynight Marbella beach is highly recommended for those with a big party spirit.

Keywords: barcelona

Amsterdam: Good day!

Today I got totally wet from the millions of raindrops coming out of the sky when I biked back home from my work. June is wet in Amsterdam, with lots of rain and thunderstorms.

During this summerperiod I work in Sales for a canal boat company named Holland International. We have a nice team with a mix of men and women and all types of ages. Students, mid 30 but also nearly pensionados. We never have a dull moment, because a lot is happening in the daily operations at the pier. I really can advise you to make a boat trip through the canals of Amsterdam. From the water Amsterdam is very beautiful, romantic, idyllic and surprising. There are all kinds of cruises with regular big boats, but also small private boats, theme cruises and dinner cruises. Not just Holland International, as there are many canal boat companies in the city. Hopefully it is sunny weather when you choose for your trip through the canals, but otherwise the roof will be closed and you will sit warm and comfortable under the roof.
If you arrive in Amsterdam, just leave the Central Station behind you and you will find at the city centre side numerous of canal boat companies. After the cruise you can stroll around in the city with your Like a Local Guide and ending with tasting a liquor in one of the old cafes in Amsterdam. .
This weekend I went to my favourite dance hobby: belly dance. The dance is very feminine and good for your body. We danced with a club of women for some hours on the sounds of Moroccan, Egyptian and Turkish music. During a pause we drink Turkish tea, eat some sweets and have a chat like only women can do. The dance studio is full of all sorts of belly dance costumes which you can also buy and all the clothes, scarves, jewelries in all sorts of colours makes it look like the fairy tale 1000 and one night. With this type of dance you feel like a world citizen in Amsterdam: colourful and open minded.

Greets from Amsterdam!

Ina (more)

Keywords: amsterdam

Lisbon: Bacalhoeiro & Crew Hassan

After exploring Alfama and Castelo neighbourhoods, try to end at the Sé. Then, descent to the Rua dos Bacalhoeiros. Clube Bacalhoeiro (= cod fisher club) at no. 125-2, is a hidden treassure on the second floor of a typical Pombalino building at the edge of the Baixa with Alfama.

It is a club with an incredibly varied offer of cultural activities. From tango lessons to films with dinner, from live jazz to bicycle repair workshops, from DJs to acrobats, everything is possible. They even have special children’s activities on Sunday afternoon and are closed on Mondays.

As it is a cultural association, for legal reasons you have to become a member paying €1,- at the door. At any given time there are at least 5 different nationalities in the house. The place feels ecclectic and funky at the same time.

While there, try their tosta mixta, a cheese-tomato toasted sandwich topped with olive oil and oregano, € 2,50, or a vegetarian dinner on Tuesdays and Sundays, €3,50.

The club has free wireless internet and is currently one of Lisbon’s hip hotspots.

Another spiffy place for a drink, a talk and a simple vegetarian meal, is Crew Hassan (pronounced ‘croissant’) in the Rua Portas de Santo Antão at no. 159-1. They have a varied cultural programme as well and a counter for fair trade products.

Check out their backroom art exhibitions and enjoy the view to the theatre district from one of the many balconies.

(The photo is taken around the corner from the Roman remains on the way to the Sé.)

Yve

Keywords: lisbon

Amsterdam: Biking in "Waterland"

Dear visitors of Like-a-Local in Amsterdam and surroundings,

As you all know :Amsterdam is THE city which has all you must see when visiting.

But there is something more, especially in the month of June.
If you are tired from the crowded city and you are a little bit sporty, then try to make a special tour by yourself in a wonderfull area just north from Amsterdam.
Join me and lots of locals who are making this tour almost every year in June.
I will tell you all about.

It is a wonderfull trip bij bike between the most pittoresks villages in Waterland.
These villages are: Zunderdorp, Durgerdam, Ransdorp, Holysloot, Zuiderwoude, Uitdam, Broek in Waterland and Monnickendam.
The distances between the villages are very short, around 5 km.

In every village there is a beautifull little church which is offering a short program of different kind of music.

Maybe Popmusic, Shanty, Belcanto, Folk, JIddisch and Sing-a-long.
Every performance is starting at 13.00, 14.00, 15.00, and the last one at 16.00.
You can start where you like and make your own route.

We, the locals of Waterland, we love this event which is called "waterland kerkenland"
If you decide to join the locals I am sure you will see the best of Hollands “Wetlands” and a wonderful area so near to Amsterdam you could not imagine it would exist!!

All of this will take place in two weekends : Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 June and the next weekend Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 June.

I assure you that you will have a great experience.
So choose your day and bike-a-long with us!!

For more information, email your questions to kerkencultuurwaterland@orange.nl or call the following numbers, 0031-20-6340727 or 0031-20-4033013.

You are also warmly invited to join us and we will start from our house here in Landsmeer or meet at any point you like .

Come on and see Amsterdam and More.
We are proud of our area and we like to let you enjoy it also.

Your Local Adelheid Brugge