ABOUT·US

 

CURRICULUM

With +40 years in the mass-media, +30 in universities & education, +15 in business and sales, + 10 in coaching, all of a life in search of growth and full happiness, we feel well prepared to partner you in fruitful way, even if… OUR BEST IS ALWAYS STILL  TO COME!

‘ALL FOR ONE…’ …YOU!

Different backgrounds, visions, experiences …combined to give the best for our partners’ success.

BERNARDO SR. :  Works normally for international firms, universities, and media, having studied physics, communication, design, coaching, and relative areas until now (always ‘in progress’).  Loves audiovisual art, rugby, and astronomy.

BERNARDO JR. :  Works normally for newspapers, radio, and other media, having studied journalism, and political sciences.  Loves classical music, basketball, good cinema and comics.

AGOSTINA:  Works normally in communication and education, having studied bachelor in arts, nursing, and dental care.  Loves animals (being so talented to interact with them), odontology, and new technologies.

XTINA:  Works now full time to cover every aspect of our project (and involved persons) in order to go on in healthy way, having studied bachelor in sciences, philosophy, and cooking.  Loves the art of cooking, good cinema, and animals.

 

COLLABORATORS

We grew up until now thanks to the positive collaboration with several institutions and firms from everywhere, like i.e. European University, Sellbytel Group, Universidad Nac. del Litoral, Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Human Touch, Solo Advertising, WittyWorld Publications, and many more that  YOU COULD JOIN!

MORE SOCIAL, LESS GENETIC…

Neurosciences have demonstrated how dependent on productive social linking is our overall success in life, and at work.   Hereby, some comments from people having said theirs about us:

 

CURRENT…

We’re pleased to share our activity with all of you.  Our successes, our deceptions, our human and professional daily reality in this fantastic thing that life is.  Whatever we do, be sure that is always aiming towards a constructive way of existence.  WE ARE THIS: WELCOME!

 

 

 

DISCOVERING ‘GATZARA’ 😃

A ‘TOP’ PLACE IN CANET-DE-MAR WHERE TO ENJOY VARIED GASTRONOMY

Ranked by The Fork as a ‘Top’ Restaurant in this beautiful Mediterranean town, we decided to discover ‘why’ 😊

First of all, their staff!  The Chef came personally to our table, to comment about their current best offer and some suggestions that we quickly profited.  Then, the quality of all of their gastronomic offer completed the thing.

In other words: Highly Recommended 🍽🥂

Hasta la Próxima…

B (Sr)

 

 

FROZEN VALL DE NÚRIA 😃

A GREAT CHOICE FOR XMAS & HOLIDAY TIMES …AGAIN ⛄🌨❄

The ‘Vall de Núria’ Hotel, the frozen lake, the ski slopes, an exquisite chocolate…good fun in an idyllic setting that increases its beauty even more in the festive ‘white’ season…we can’t wait for the next one to arrive! ☺

‘Til then, dear Friends 🎿

B (Sr)

 

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS & FANTASTIC ’24!

A DEEP WISH FROM OUR bf© FAMILY & TEAM …TCHIN-TCHIN! 🎄🎅🌟

Bernardo Sr., Xtina, Bernardo Jr. & Agostina are so happy to toast on tones of health + joy together with good success in whatever you do this coming year (well, good intentions sometimes work 🤣).

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

A LOUD ‘- BRAVO!’ TO ‘BRAVO’ 😃

ENJOYING SO-TASTY DISHES FROM THE NEWEST RESTAURANT IN ‘DIAGONAL-MAR’/ BARCELONA

The newest design-restaurant in this so-gastronomic area surprised us with their fantastic dishes and a great red wine that we’ll surely adopt for new visits 🍷

Varied gastronomic offer + original, elegant inner decoration + inspiring surround music make a set difficult to reject …in our surely-many future occasions there 😋

What to choose from such a variety?  Xtina opted for a good Rioja (‘Muriel’ triple-numbered bottle) to drink and a mix of surf and turf (Squid + Sirloin/Roasted Chicken with potatoes) to taste …accompanying the wine 😁

In the ‘attention’ section, at the height of the establishment and its offer, a ’10’ for Nahuel (waiter with brilliant communication skills + professionalism) and his colleagues.

As a ‘secret among friends’, they have advanced us updates on the Menu for the near future …curiosity eats us!

‘Til the Next one…

B (Sr)

 

 

A WALK IN THE PARK 😃🌲

ENJOYING THE VARIETY OF PLEASANT SENSATIONS THAT FAMOUS ‘PARC DE LA CIUTADELLA’ + BORN NEIGHBORHOOD OFFER IN A SUNNY DAY…

The ‘Parc de la Ciutadella’ offers plenty of varied ways of outdoor pleasures, such as rowing, enjoying the fantastic inner landscapes of lakes, vegetation and monuments, etc.  If in a sunny day, better 😊

We completed the journey with a quick visit to gothic side of the Born neighborhood, where to find Flamenco, visual art (‘Moco Museum’ for example) and nice corners where to evoke past centuries + their misteries.

A nice free day spent among pleasant sensations everywhere.  Looking for more now that winter time is coming and Barcelona corners open their doors for such type of urban enjoyment…

‘Til the next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

A NICE ‘COMBO’ AT VILA OLÍMPICA & CIUTADELLA 😊

DELICIOUS VISIT TO ‘ELS POLLOS DE LLULL’ AND ‘MOTEL ONE’ IN A SUNNY JOURNEY

For lunch: ‘Els Pollos de Llull’, a tratitional Restaurant at the Vila Olímpica area, where to feel in the 50’s and enjoy fantastic chicken + evoking comic-strips (based on chicken too 😊) from famous ‘TBO’ magazine, main decoration on the walls.

For the afternoon coffee, ‘Motel One’ Hotel, one of our favorite choices in Barcelona/ Ciutadella, which chill areas offer the opportunity to taste so good snack + infusions accompanied by soft melodic music …relaxing!

Winter times come to offer the best touristic corners of Barcelona in such a variety that many sunny (or even cloudy) days at necessary to cover the whole ‘menu’ 😊

‘Til the next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

HAPPY ENDING AT SANTA SUSANNA (II)

LIGHTY NIGHTS’ FAREWELL TO CLOSE SEASON THE PLEASANT WAY  😊

Like breath or zig-zag, the intermittency of Santa Susanna is fascinating: full of life and fun in the summer, stiff and dormant during the winter…which is arriving just now.

Before the calm + silent part of the year (winter, in other words) it’s been good to enjoy the best hotels’ night offer together with variety of restaurant menus, from Mexican to Italian (and others) for letting pleasure go for a while with a nice spirit (and a fairly plump belly 😋

We said goodbye with a ‘see you next time’ to some of its most pleasant corners, enjoying hospitality and gastronomy with that feeling of ‘take advantage of the latter’.

After all, not everything is Santa Susanna in life! 😊

B (Sr)

 

 

HAPPY ENDING AT SANTA SUSANNA (I)

SAYING ‘TIL THE NEXT ONE’ TO A HAPPINESS PARADISE  😊

This touristic paradise closes its doors after a marvelous summer season full of fun & varied offer on leisure, gastronomy and pleasure in many of its forms.

As unconditional ‘fans’ of its always festive atmosphere, we said goodbye enjoying many of its most endearing corners.

Luxury hotels full of leisure offer, great restaurants where to taste varied types of delicatessen, a ‘fun spirit’ floating in the air all of the time and frequent opportunities to ‘make business’ buying things at a more than reasonable price is too much, so …we begin to miss it already now!

A few months of patience await until the reopening, and we will take advantage of them to renew desire for more Santa Susanna 😊

‘Til the Next one…

B (Sr)

 

 

‘538’ STEAKHOUSE

ARGENTINEAN PLEASURE + TANGO  🍷🍽🎶

The true expert among us is Xtina, of course, so for me is usually a matter of following her advice on both food & wine 😊

At ‘Asador 538’ (previously well known as ‘Malambo’) we confirmed once more her preferences as ‘so proper + wise’ as their ‘parrillada’ (variety of typical Argentinian types of meat and sausages, accompanied by potatoes, onion and other side dishes) keeps being the tastiest one we’ve ever tried + their wines (now a fantastic ‘Tanguero’ -red- chosen) a true marvel.

Well, far from being a ‘discovery’, we’ve been frequenting this Restaurant for many years (since their ‘Malambo’ times), and fortunately everything keeps the same outstanding level despite the necessary evolution of their usual offer.

Creative suggestions in the Menu, frequent changes in their warm + pleasant inner design and a permanent nostalgic atmosphere coming from the profuse Tango selection that paints melodies in the air make each visit a true pleasure.

Yes, we plan to repeat such a fantastic experience many times more!

‘Til the Next one…

B (Sr)

 

 

HOTEL ‘ATENEA PORT’ ****  

MULTIPLE CHOICE FOR RELAXED PLEASURE ON THE SEASIDE…

Old friends of the ‘Atenea way of pleasure’, both Xtina & I turned to live some good moments by enjoying fantastic food, comforting pool moments, warm atmosphere with soft music in the chill areas or pleasant moments (even funny ones) by re-reading the first volume of ‘Don Quixote’ in the fantastic library recently opened to the delight of hotel passengers.

A nice combination of warm pleasure & gastronomic delight with humorous pieces of culture is priceless, and invites to repeat soon 😊

For Business people, there’s also a great offer of well-equipped rooms able to organize presentations, conferences, forums, etc., always counting on the catering possibilities + permanent availability of higher gastronomic exigences (their Restaurant and Bars have plenty of solutions up their sleeves).

Great 50’s decoration + a permanent atmosphere of calm pleasure invites to explore the many possibilities, including spa + thermal pools and wellbeing, at the hotel’s passengers reach.

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

‘NUUS’ RESTAURANT: A JEWEL AT ‘ATENEA PORT’ HOTEL  😋

ENJOYING CREATIVE + TASTY DELICATESSEN TOGETHER WITH THE BEST WINES…

There’s always a new Menu there, full of original + so tasty creations that make every new visit a whole pleasure for foodies’ palate 😋

Their wines are also good enough to create some doubt whenever having to choose, even if the ‘sommelier’ side of Xtina’s Chef talents matches always the most convenient one for each combination of flavors.

All in all, this is one of our favorite Restaurants in Mataro (and we could extend the scope towards bigger geographies) so: highly recommended!

Well, let’s end here the thing, as we’re already preparing the next ‘Nuus’ night (so soon) 😊

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

‘ITALIANITIES’: ENJOYING THE ‘DOLCE VITA’  😋

A GREAT ITALIAN RESTAURANT FOR BEST ‘PASTA’ & ‘PIZZA’ AT MATARO’s SEASIDE…

The beaches and Port area of Mataró are full of gastronomic offer from which variety we chose the Italian one, specifically for ‘pasta’ this time 😊

‘Dolce Vita’ is a place to be back soon, thing that we promised to ourselves after good ‘ravioli’ and ‘spaghetti’ accompanied by fantastic red wine (well, a giant bowl of ‘Cæsar Salad’ preceded the menu and almost beats us from its quantity + flavor 😋).

Judith (owner’s wife) attended us like very VIPS and the myriad of Chefs splitted into two kitchens did marvels to leave us more than satisfied 👍

‘Cin-Cin’ then to toast on a great ‘Italian night’ to simply celebrate life and its many pleasures!

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

‘LA MAR DE TAPES’: SEARCHING THE BEST ‘PAELLA’ EVER  😋🥘

AN OUTSTANDING VERSION OF THIS FAMOUS ‘DELICATESSEN’ IS MADE AT ARENYS DE MAR BY A VALENCIAN (OF COURSE!) CHEF 

Sometimes the treasure is hidden in your house’s yard …is what we thought with Xtina while tasting by umpteenth time the marvelous ‘Paella’ that a so-talented Valencian Chef cooks like no one else at Arenys de Mar (Barcelona), or anywhere at all 😊

From Silvia‘s (owner) initial reception to Paola‘s (tables service) permanent kindness and attentions, the experience there can only be a fantastic one.  And did I speak about their ‘Paella’? 😂

We seriously rank this gastronomic masterpiece among the best ones ever!  …and please believe we have tasted already a lot of them in many good restaurants.  So: recommended + a nice excuse to visit ‘La Mar de Tapes’ (few streets away from home) again ..and again …and…

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

‘ATZAVARA’ HOTEL & SPA: 5 STARS PLEASURE AT SANTA SUSANNA  😋

TASTING GOOD BEER WHILE ENJOYING THE FRESH AMBIENCE + CHILL MUSIC …WHAT ELSE?

Yes, Xtina & I like the ‘Atzavara’ Hotel and its main pleasure areas so much to ignore (for example) the high-quality Beer you can taste in many of them 🍺

Renewed funny + relaxed moments then to repeat (once more) an experience to choose more frequently, now that the whole complex aims to remain active permanently instead of just by summer time 👍

The swimming-pools, yes, will close soon so, in case of wanting to enjoy them, better to hurry up!

Besides the lot of beautiful corners to enjoy inside the different areas, nice Restaurants included, so good just to take a bit of time to sit down on a comfortable outdoor sofa among pergolas and vegetation, to enjoy the soft surround music that runs through the entire complex.

Highly recommended, dear friends  🙂

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

‘NOTRIS’: FOODIES’ BEACH-PLEASURE  😋

ENJOYING BADALONA NIGHT WHILE TASTING MEDITERRANEAN DELICATESSEN

After walking the whole ‘Passeig Marítim’ together with Xtina, we finally chose this place where to taste marvelous Mediterranean food and first-quality beer while watching the raising moon in the sea horizon.

Sounds good? Was even better!  Highly recommended for foodies and seaside lovers 🍤🥘🍺

An emblematic place near the beach every time more crowded by the ones who like pleasant walks + other typical touristic-time pleasures (the ones that are getting expanded in the Mediterranean area each year, thanks to the advancement of the global warmth effects).

Full of varied types of gastronomic offer, the seaside front is the right option in a warm night with a giant bright moon whose light reflections flicker on the surface of the sea, inviting you to relax and enjoy the moment.

Inspiring? 😊      ‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

‘ARGENTINITIES’  😋

SOUTHERN DELICIOUS TASTES AT SANT VICENÇ DE MONTALT

‘La TERRAZA de Don JULIO’ has delighted us with the best Argentine malbec (delicious red wine) and meats with ‘chimichurri’ for the most demanding diners (us, haha).

Its fabulous outdoor terrace invites you to enjoy a great diversity of ‘gaucho’ creations always accompanied by a variety of top quality wines.

Open kitchen, impeccable attention from the waitresses, soft melodic background music and the best company (Xtina, of course 😊) complete a program to repeat again and again, which is precisely the idea.

Highly recommended all their Menu, including different types of ‘Parrillada’, its star dish in its own right 🍽🍷

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

A LATE-SUMMER ‘COMBO’  😋

‘OSTRES’ (CALDES) + ‘AMBIENTE’ (St. VICENÇ) TO PROFIT PLEASURE LAST CHANCES…

Will summer last much more?  Just in case, Xtina & I take profit from each opportunity to enjoy the best remaining foodies’ offers 😋

This time it’s been ‘Ostres’, a beach chiringuito in Caldes d’Estrac + ‘Ambiente’, the main restaurant at ‘AB Boutique Hotel’ in Sant Vicenç de Montalt, a luxury way of conceiving both hostelry and gastronomy.  Already said: a ‘2×1’ to abuse from summer pleasure chances ‘til the end 😊

At ‘Ambiente’, for example, we verified the talent of the renowned Chef Didac Molto and his partner Nicolás Rodríguez, a combination of gastronomic pleasure with touches of design. Highly recommended!

In ‘Ostres’ the permanent offer of the best ones (oysters, of course 😊) with champagne/cava of your choice continues ‘on’.  Pleasure for foodies where there are…

Anyway, crossing fingers so that this year the summer exteeeeeends, and cookers + sommeliers continue to be inspired until the end  🍽🍸

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

‘MARINA BADALONA’ HOTEL & SPA 

HOTPITALITY + FOODIES’ PLEASURE AT THEIR PEAK 😋

Following in the wake of our love for hospitality pleasures 😊 we enjoyed together with Xtina the wonderful facilities of the ‘Marina Badalona’****, whose multicolored rooftop terrace offers formidable views of the Maresme and Barcelona (although, exclusively for Hotel guests for now), and whose gastronomy deserves a separate paragraph…

…to which we go here with words of appreciation to ‘Tela Marinera’, one of its top restaurants, where a ‘Romantic Menu’ delighted us from start to finish, with creations that combine visual art and good taste for the palate 👍

Impeccable attention from the whole Hotel + Restaurant’s crew and a well cared attention to every detail make of this new pleasure-option a worthy one for sea-side lovers.  The proximity of the nautic + sportive ports add even more ‘pep’ to the whole offer so: highly recommended!

Good feelings in general, which invite us to return (so) soon 😋🍽🍸

‘Til the Next one…

B (Sr)

 

 

A RARE GAUDÍ 🏰

‘PALACIO GAUDÍ’ AT ASTORGA, CASTILLE-LEON

As admirers of Antoni Gaudí, the great architect, Xtina & I enjoyed one of his creations furthest from Catalonia: the ‘Palacio Gaudí’, an episcopal palace that he designed in Astorga (Castille-Leon) as ‘diocesan architect’ of that district and whose beautiful forms come together to those of the nearby Cathedral in a set of true urban art that leaves you breathless.

As history states, the original destinee for the building (a former Bishop) died short before the ‘Palacio’ being finished by Gaudí.

Located so near the famous Cathedral of Santa María de Astorga, renovated in the German Gothic style on a previous Romanesque structure, they form a curious ensemble, symbiotic despite the difference in age between buildings.

Anything more than Gaudí in these lands? The best chocolate in all its forms, ‘maragatos’ cooked dishes that elevate the palate to the altars of sybaritic paradise (if this exists 😊) and corners of incomparable medieval beauty, such as its ‘Plaza Mayor’, with centuries of mystery on its back.  Much to see, admire and taste!

‘Til the Next one…

B (Sr)

 

 

‘BAMBOO’ II ✨

SANTA SUSANNA’S TOP RESTAURANT AT ‘ATZAVARA’ 5* HOTEL 🍽🍸

Xtina & I fell into the magnetic need of repeating 😊.  ‘BambOO’, Atzavara 5* Hotel’s top Restaurant, wants to be the top in the whole of Santa Susanna gastronomic offer, and it certainly achieves the goal.

True: wellknown Chef Romain Fornell has ‘something to do’ with this, having designed a fantastic Menu full of highest quality, tasty delicatessen.

Elegant and groundbreaking interior decoration, superior quality haute cuisine from a varied Menu, wines that delight the most demanding palate, attention worthy of special mention: unlimited professionalism and friendliness!

Will we be back again?  Well ‘good things come in threes’ 😋🍽🍸

‘Til the Next one…

B (Sr)

 

 

‘SUMMER NIGHTS’ AT SANGIOVESE ✨

ENJOYING AGAIN A TOP RESTAURANT DELICATESSEN 🍽🍸

As the true ‘bon-vivants’ we usually are, Xtina & I thought it was a good idea to visit again marvelous ‘Sangiovese’, a top Restaurant in Mataró, the Mediterranean Maresme capital city.

Their ‘Summer Nights’ classical Menu, artistically renewed each season, was again an unforgettable pleasure for foodies that also like good wine, in this case, a so-Catalan ‘Tina 20’ that filled our demanding palates with delights 😋

Another special night of summer ideal for the Menu’s name, and the obvious will to repeat soon!

‘Til the Next one…

B (Sr)

 

 

BERNARDO Jr’s WEDDING ✨

UNFORGETTABLE FAMILY MOMENTS FULL OF EMOTIONS 🎉🎉🎉

‘Life is Beautiful’ as Roberto Benigni told by a marvelous film made of love and other great human things.  Same as in our celebration recently ago: our Berna Jr. decided to jump towards the next phase of his beautiful life (married to Henar 😊).

As images tell more than words, we will only summarize the ‘before’ (preparation), the ‘during’ (religious celebration) and the ‘after’ (party) of an unforgettable day for everyone.

EUROSTARS ‘VIA DE LA PLATA’ HOTEL (The ‘Before’)…

The ritual included previous night of the Groom alone there, for receiving his family the Wedding’s day to interchange feelings and memories, dress up and get prepared for the short way towards the Astorga Cathedral church.  The photographer (Juan Gestal) did an outstanding work by capturing some images to remember for ever.

THE CATHEDRAL (‘The ‘During’)…

Key moment of the mutual ‘Yes’ among many other exciting ceremonial phases that included the Bride’s entrance (accompanied by Curro, brother and Best Man) to join her future husband (accompanied by Xtina, mom and Bridesmaid) at the altar.

Lot of guests to the wedding were there sharing such a special moment in Berna Jr & Henar’s lives, and some other family members were playing also different roles, as e.g. Henar-mother or Bernardo Sr reading the ceremonial texts that corresponded to the date.  Agostina (Berna Jr’s sister) was, for her part, wedding’s witness.

‘LA POSADA DEL MARQUÉS’ (The ‘After’)…

A paradisiacal place with serene beauty and charm saw the bride and groom arrive in their ceremonial car (a vintage Rolls) giving way to various starters served outdoors with live music and, later, to a dinner followed by dancing and all the ingredients of a unique evening.

Both Bernardos shared a nice smoke of cigars (something reserved only for very special occasions!) and Xtina + Agos enjoyed every moment until the end.

JAPAN FOR HONEYMOON (The ‘After-After’ 🙂

An old desire of both (Henar & Berni) led them on a long journey of + than a month through various cities and regions of Japan.  Good seed for the future life of a couple to grow strong and lively!

‘And they all lived happily ever after’ 😊

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

ATZAVARA HOTEL*****/ SANTA SUSANNA 2023

ENJOYING THE NEW RESTORATION JEWELS ‘GINGER’ & ‘BAMBOO’  …GOURMET PLEASURE  🍽 🍷

Back in one of our summer new ‘sanctuaries’: Santa Susanna’s Atzavara Hotel***** and its marvelous restoration, renewed once more in search of gastronomic excellence 🙂  ‘GINGER’ Restaurant is fresh, young, elegant, full of surprises to discover in its varied Menu.  To taste: their surprising variety of good wines that made the experience even greater and left us with true will of repeating.  It’ll be soon.

Same impression from their new ‘jewel of the crown’, the original ‘BAMBOO’ in a large chill-out terrace with a swimming-pool, a permanent DJ, lounge chairs and various invitations to enjoy life 🙂  The views from there are worth it and the quality of its gastronomy and drink is at the level of the best.  OK, yes, we’ll be back there soon, too.

Long life to this new monster of pleasure and leisure (the giant Atzavara***** complex) in a seaside village specialized in offering good moments to remember for long …until next summer 🙂

‘Til the next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

BYE-BYE WINTER…

ALREADY WAITING FOR THE NEXT SNOW THAT GLOBAL WARMTH ALLOWS!  🤞⛄

Everything in life seems to be cyclical, including time and the weather (different concepts that sometimes interact anyway).

This is the time of little snowfall, for example, so better to treasure the privileged moments in which you can enjoy the white mantle over the Pyrenees for example, taking advantage of the proximity of sites such as Vall de Núria or Queralbs (among many others), accessible by rack railway and capable of offering much to lovers of the cold.

Xtina and I play in that team 😊, and we frequent the increasingly scarce places that still receive (every so often) a little snow, to make the most of its beauty, always hoping that next year the white miracle will happen again, at least for a couple of days!

Of course it is wise to adapt, and so we are already measuring the beachwear that will accompany us during the Mediterranean summer, which grows at the exact same rate that winter is seen to decrease.

In the end, everything happens and everything arrives… I’m sure that at some point skiing times will return, as well as taking the risk of walking on frozen lakes, or simply savoring a magnificent steaming chocolate while observing the white beauty.

Everything in its time … and its weather! 😀

‘Til the Next one,

B (Sr)

 

 

BARCELONIGHTS

A HISTORIC WALK BY THE GOTHIC NEIGHBORHOOD 😀

Besides fantastic gastronomic offer, the most ancient side of this great city is full of enjoyment for history lovers.

Plaça del Rei is, for instance, one among many corners where to stop and visualize medieval life, centuries ago, which traces are still telling endless stories to our imagination and pleasant evocation.

Keeping track!  ‘Til the Next one…

B (Sr)

 

 

MONTJUÏC, THE MAGIC MOUNTAIN

THE ICONIC LOOKOUT OF BARCELONA AND ITS INEXHAUSTIBLE DIVERSITY  🌄

Great museums, hidden theatres, colorful gardens, mysterious castles, wonderful fountains, evoking stadiums, art, nature, culture, restoration, unforgettable landscapes.  Magics.

Montjuïc is a place where to get lost in search of peace and pleasure, for as long time as we want.  To cover all of its kaleidoscopic corners would take a lot, even if we can enjoy it ‘in rates’ as we did together with Xtina.

Difficult to choose only a part of it, only a spot among such an impressive diversity.  A masterpiece of well cared urbanistic design, inspiring architecture, afforestation and landscaping verging on incomparable art, better to let ourselves be carried away by our instinct and its infinite trails and inner paths.

Even though, many specific mentions could ‘paint’ our preferences as e.g. the MNAC (reported in this section some time ago), the Teatre Grec, the Telefèric area, the Laribal parc, or the Fundació Joan Miró, together with the Botànic, the Montjuïc Castle, or the myriad of fountains and architectural richness that can be found practically everywhere inside the ‘magical mountain’.

Jean-Claude  Forestier and Nicolau Rubió i Tudurí are the ‘authors’ of good part of the current beauty in Montjuïc, through varied examples of urbanistic + architectonic design originally conceived for the Exposició Universal Barcelona 1929.

Added more recently, other wonderful examples are e.g. the Jardí Botànic, from Carles Ferrater, a tribute to the Mediterranean vegetation.

Additional gift for enjoyment: the magic mountain can be accessed from the famous ‘Magic Fountain’, which brilliantly finishes off an unforgettable tour of Av. Maria Cristina from the Venetian Towers of Plaça Espanya.

In summary, the unforgivable thing would be to choose any other mountain 😁

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

GIRONA CMC**** EXPERIENCE

A COMFORTABLE HOTEL, AN ELEGANT RESTAURANT ✨

…all of this integrated into an urbanistic complex that includes commercial area, where to find fashion (Xtina’s interest) or children toys (mine 😊).

Delicious breakfast, impeccable rooms, what else?  A place to come back next time.

So: ’til the next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

GIRONA MEDIEVAL TOUR

HOW TO ENJOY A JEWEL OF CITY AS IF IT WAS CENTURIES AGO 🕍

Many corners inside the ‘ancient city’ of Girona deserve a pleasant visit to this town full of history and mystery, all of this wrapped in serene beauty.

And words aside for the watercourses that cross it (the Onyar and Ter rivers, followed in importance by the Güell and the Galligants), making necessary the beautiful bridges that largely define the character of Girona.

Art + Cinema museums add pep to the reasons for enjoying the city, as well as an impressive gastronomic offer that will satisfy the most demanding palates.

Religious architecture alone would be enough to delve into the evocation of so many centuries that have indelibly marked this population: the famous Cathedral, the Basilica of Sant Feliu, the Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants or the Convent of Sant Domènec are clear examples of this.

The Arab Baths or the Jew neighborhood show, in addition, the myriad of influences that have forged the town’s culture alongside its large history.

Xtina and I enjoyed the sensation of being observed by atavistic spirits from the walls and small windows in each fortress, in each passageway with endless stairs, in each corner surely full of stories that time will keep for eternity.

Granite medieval beauty forged in stone and time. Arches through which to peek into past centuries, which can still be ‘touched’ in each monumental memory of its architecture and urban art.

Green on grey, moss and perennial vegetation on solid walls that protect so much hidden treasure…

More mundanely, the Plaça de la Independència is as emblematic as it is rich in variety of tastes from its Restaurants such as eg. the ‘Casa Marieta’, the oldest in Girona, or ‘la Dolce Vita’, a Neapolitan pizzeria that lives up to its name 😊

As such a rich place keeps always ‘something for the next time’, well, we’ll be back!

‘Til the Next one,

B (Sr)

 

 

VALL DE NÚRIA (WHITE VERSION)

A PARADISE TO SKI OR JUST GET AMAZED BY THE PYRENNEES SNOWY BEAUTY ❄

The Vall de Núria could be considered the epicenter of the Pyrenean snowy beauty, and thus it was an easy choice for Xtina and me 😊

The Hotel and surrounding urbanized area are everything there, and have what it takes to enjoy a great time.

Skiers and ‘snow lovers’ can be sure that it is worth it in every way.  Among our preferences, the hot chocolate, the air-conditioned rooms with impeccable equipment, the ease of access to the frozen lake (a great attraction, at least for us) and other nearby areas of great beauty under the snow…

Yes, the idea is to come back every time it snows  🎿🗻

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

SNOWY QUERALBS

CATALAN PYRENEES DRESSED IN WHITE ⛄

The rack railway (ideal train for snow) transported us from Ribes de Freser to the magical Queralbs, where to become breathless by admiring the white mountains and the picturesque architecture of the Pyrenees with its smoking chimneys that denote ‘home’.

On the gastronomic side, the delights of the place like the wild boar or the deer offered by the Hotel Les Roquetes’ Restaurant, or the homemade bread that we got while walking through the charming streets of this unique town, have been unforgettable too.  Delicious!

Side note for the ‘natural fridge’ that meant leaving perishable food overnight on the balcony… only to find it frozen the next morning 😊

Of course we will be back!

‘Til the Next one,

B (Sr)

 

 

XMAS·TIME (VI)

‘EL NACIONAL’/ BARCELONA 2022-2023

A ‘classic’ to close the festivities 22-23  😊

Very original multi-restaurant with a great diversity of specialties in a traditional space decorated with all pomp for these Holidays.

Together with Xtina we enjoyed lot of light, color and original decoration thought to please the frequent visitor crowds that each year remember ‘El Nacional’ by Christmas.

They’ll still wear their finery for a few more days, in case anyone is interested  …we all know, some of us feel nostalgic even before the Festivities ending  🎅🎄🌟

Going for more 🙂   ‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

WEEKENDING

BACK HOME FOR A (SHORT) WHILE  🙂

A nice walk by the neighborhood to greet our friends the seagulls and take a bit of healthy + energetic sun 🌞

Just to re-charge batteries for next little adventures!

‘Til the Next one…

B (Sr)

 

 

EUROSTARS (NEW) EXPERIENCE…

‘REY DON JAIME’**** HOTEL, AT THE USUAL HIGHTS  🙂

As ‘fans’ of this hotel chain, we made a mandatory visit to one of its establishments in Valencia that was still missing from the list 😊

Wonderful attention from all the staff, fantastic continental breakfast, impeccable rooms and facilities and, above all, the convenience of its proximity to the ‘Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències’, our usual ‘totem’ in this city with so much to offer.

We will be back soon, with all certainty, to enjoy the added courtesies that they have so kindly offered us due to our status as ‘heavy-ones’ 😆, that is to say: very regular customers of ‘Eurostars’.

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

MEDIEVAL PLEASURE

THE ‘OLD’ VALENCIA AND ITS EVOKING MYSTERIES  🙂

Medieval Valencia can be sensed from emblematic places such as the Torres de Serranos (14th century) which, together with those of Quart (also intact today) were gateways to the walled city in that past full of stories.

From the ‘Plaça dels Furs’, for example, you can still see the interior of a construction within the same towers (of Serranos, in this case) that protected the great entrance gate to the city and at the same time served in its internal dependencies for other functions, such as housing to nobles punished in cells whose safety is obvious.

For Xtina and I, this is a perfect balance with respect to the hyper-contemporary ‘Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències’, and we complement the pleasure of the old times with other wonders of the so-called ‘Ciutat Vella’, such as the Cathedral or the ‘ Miguelete’ …a past evocation that we are fortunate to still be able to enjoy.

May it be for many more centuries! 😊

‘Til the Next one,

B (Sr)

 

 

A CITY INSIDE A CITY…

CIUTAT DE LES ARTS I LES CIÈNCIES, A PLACE TO LEARN & ENJOY  🙂

New pleasant visit to the ‘city inside the city’ that the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències is in Valencia, a place we feel like ‘home’, full of stunning corners to discover each time.

This one we were focused more in the ‘Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia’ e.g., an architectonic marvel from Santiago Calatrava that offers concerts and other artistic shows alongside the whole year.

The ‘Hemisfèric’ building is the first one opened to the public (1998) in the ‘Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències’, and with its + 100 m in length hosts mainly 3D and IMAX projections on varied scientific subjects like nature, space, etc.

Its oval shape is full of reminiscences of animal and plant forms, just as Calatrava likes it and in elliptical homage to the great Gaudí, a distinguished pioneer architect in the use of natural morphologies.

The structural morphologies that connect the interior space of the ‘Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències’, such as bridges, passageways and lakes, play a fundamental role in the integration of the landscape and are both practical and aesthetic.

Calatrava and Félix Candela achieved a homogeneous and impressive design at the same time.

The ‘Umbracle’, at its turn, hosts native Valencian species from the plant kingdom, and contemporary art sculptures, all in a promenade with floating arches from which to observe the rest of the ‘Ciutat…’.

Words apart for the ‘Museu de les Ciències’, commented with more detail afterwards…

At night, the entire ‘Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències’ glows with lighting designed to enhance each building.

The ‘night version’ of this great creation by Calatrava and Candela seduces and inspires, being another way to enjoy its urban beauty.

The ‘Museu de les Ciències’, with its + 40.000 m², carries out work of great scientific rigor through entertainment for the visiting public, which explains its great audience success each year.

Permanent and temporary exhibitions delight audiences of all ages.

The ‘Volar’ (‘Fly’) area, e.g., on the 3rd floor, made us feel a ‘Top Gun’ sensation and another one closer to the first Wright brothers’ airplanes, all at the same time 😊

Excellent visit to stimulate the senses and scientific interest in an interactive + funny way. Recommended!

…& Snip, snap, snout, this tale’s told out.  ‘Til the Next one!

Xtina & B (Sr)

 

 

XMAS·TIME (V)

MAGIC ‘BARRI GÒTIC’ (BARCELONA)

Barcelona’s Gothic quarter is a masterpiece of medieval architecture, and becomes more ‘alive’ than ever during Christmas!

Xtina & I have enjoyed this place full of ancient energy that vibrates in every corner, which beauty gets highlighted by the Christmas luminous colours  🎅⛄🎄

Going for more 🙂   ‘Til the (surely soon) Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

XMAS·TIME (IV)

MEDIEVAL VALENCIA (CATHEDRAL & PLAÇA DE LA REINA)

Now past centuries are witnessing our visit to the historic centre of Valencia, a fantastic balance after the ‘Ciutat de les Arts…’ modernity 😊   Nice time around a giant Christmas manger and multicolor light in the square around a typical ‘Nadal’ Fair.

The Cathedral/ Basílica de la Assunció, the always populated Plaça de la Reina or the emblematic ‘Miguelete’ tower are only part of the beautiful places to visit whenever enjoying free time in this marvelous city.  Bit more luminous even by Christmas!  🎅⛄🎄

Going for more 🙂   ‘Til the (surely soon) Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

XMAS·TIME (III)

FUTURISTIC VALENCIA (‘CIUTAT DE LES ARTS I DE LES CIÈNCIES’)

‘A city inside a city’, the ‘Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències’ is the most emblematic masterpiece of famous architect Santiago Calatrava, and a true inspiring space for who can walk through its varied corners in search for ideas to improve life 🙂

To Xtina and I, it’s been a touch of ‘Sci-Fi’ to keep track on our Christmas-tour 2022, now in a place that we LOVE and visit every time we can.  Of course more special even in this festive times! 🎅⛄🎄

Going for more 🙂   ‘Til the (surely soon) Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

XMAS·TIME (II)

RAINY MARIA CRISTINA

Following our Christmas city-tour through Barcelona festive corners, it’s been now the time for Mª Cristina, former ‘home’ to us and place where to always enjoy light and colors in this special part of the year. 🎅⛄🎄

Going for more 🙂   ‘Til the (surely soon) Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

XMAS·TIME (I)

HERON CITY IN BLUE

As happy as Xmas time usually looks from urban decoration, it’s also short for who likes this part of the year calendar (like Xtina & me), so: better to enjoy the different festive corners before it’s too late! 🎅⛄🎄

Going for more 🙂   ‘Til the (surely soon) Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

ALL ABOARD!

GALLEIONS, NAOS & STEAMBOATS ARRIVE FROM THE PAST 🙂

Together with Xtina and Agostina, we enjoyed a day of sun and evocation of great sea voyages with a visit to the port of the galleon ‘Andalucía’ (51 meters in length), the ship ‘Victoria’ (28 meters) and the steamboat ‘Pascual Flores’ (34 meters), whose mere presence invited to become a pirate, at least 😊

From times when the Spanish, English, Portuguese or Dutch navies competed for supremacy in the oceans, these ships’ arrival inspires to reconstruct with the imagination a time of discoveries and battles, of voyages through the seven seas that are today sailed by very  ‘floating cities’ with every imaginable comfort.

Menacing cannons, rigging, masts and crests + endless angles and evocative corners make these ships of yesteryear a must-see for those who want to enjoy medieval sailing and a well-drafted beer at the bar that the organizers have set up with such good judgment inside the hull of the ships 😉

A day to remember, evoke and enjoy, safe from piracy and terrifying typhoons, although with a certain inner tingling of those who push to weigh anchor 🛳

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

AN ‘INTER-VILLAGE’ WALK 👣

VISITING OUR FRIENDS THE CORMORANTS BETWEEN ARENYS & CALDETES

Indeed, between Arenys de Mar and Caldes d’Estrac plenty of nature + landscapes can be found.

We usually appreciate such splendid things together with Xtina during our frequent walks to visit dear friends cormorants in their favorite corner, so near in our ‘neighborhood’ in the Punta de la Pietat wild beach.

Good to relax and enjoy while talking to them about fish and sea marvels 😊

‘Til the Next one,

B (Sr)

 

 

B🙂N·VIVANTS AT ‘CASA CARMEN’

…OUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN ‘DIAGONAL MAR’/ BARCELONA

A ‘classic’ choice for both Xtina & I since many years ago, ‘Casa Carmen’ is a place to enjoy dinner, fantastic wine, and life 😊

The Diagonal Mar restaurant is, in addition, our favorite franchise from the group of them that make part of the whole chain in Barcelona.

Unforgettable moments throughout all of this pleasant time.  And of course we’ll repeat soon!

‘Til the Next one,

B (Sr)

 

 

SIMPLY ‘WEEKENDING’ 

SOMETIMES IS GOOD JUST TO RELAX AND ENJOY A BIT…

How to spend this weekend? …we thought together with Xtina.    & Santa Susanna (again) was the chosen place to enjoy ‘Aqua Aquamarina Hotel & Spa’ fantastic atmosphere and appealling gastronomic offer, as well as Arenys de Mar completed the thing from its medieval beauty full of little inner streets that evoke a lot.  Simply ‘weekending’ 🙂    ‘Til the Next one!  B (Sr)

 

 

B🙂N·VIVANTS AT SANTA SUSANNA

ATZAVARA***** HOTEL & BOTÀNIC MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT…

A true ‘five-star’ experience in all senses, Xtina & I have enjoyed a so pleasant time in this new, marvelous hotel with the best gastronomic offer to find at Santa Susanna.

Perfect attention from the whole crew, exquisite Mediterranean menu and wine (and Catalan cava, and… 😊).

Back soon!!!

B (Sr)

 

 

NAUTIC LIFE

ENJOYING EACH DAY BESIDES THE SEA

It’s been always a first-choice to us, and we’re so happy to have accomplished our wish.

Seagulls, waves, beach, wild wind sometimes …and the permanent feeling of this green·blue power letting ourselves navigate through it at its will (never ours!), as the sea always decides in the end.

Learning to enjoy such an ‘overdose’ of nature each day has been blessing to us, and knowing people which life is devoted to its infinite water (sailors, fishermen, divers…) educated even more our happy insertion into this marine environment full of marvels.

True, humankind seems to be ‘designed’ to spoil everything or good part of it.  So, nice to remember that the magic of the sea would shine much more without garbage produced by humans and irresponsibly thrown into the water.

Well, after the ecological message we’ll just keep on doing our best to deserve the sea’s care and daily acceptance in its ‘neighborhood’, while enjoying always to the peak.

Of course there are plenty of ‘favorite places’ to Xtina and I in this thalasso-world (hehe, etymology for connoisseurs only), including some so-far-away ones, even if we preferred to illustrate this post with ‘near’ images…

…Arenys de Mar, Sant Pol de Mar, Canet de Mar, St. Andreu de Llavaneres, St. Vicenç de Calders, Barcelona!  All of a fantastic micro-planet for sea/ocean lovers 😊

Letting our eyes get lost in the horizon over the infinite waves is a price-less sensation that, fortunately, we take as a gift to preserve for ever.

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

NAUTIC PARTY

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP CELEBRATION AT CNAM (CLUB NÀUTIC ARENYS DE MAR)

As part of the white crew that celebrated one year more besides the sea, Xtina & I were enjoying a shiny night together with fellows and friends (except for our dentist, an old member of the club 😊).

A selected menu accompanied by best wine, cava and cocktails (thank God we didn’t have to navigate that night) was a perfect excuse to renew our wishes of being that fortunate one more year …wind in the stern at full sail, heading for our best goals.

Tchin-tchin!

B (Sr)

 

 

PUIGCERDÀ: PYRENEAN JEWEL

ABOUT LAKES, MOUNTAINS AND OTHER PLEASURES FROM CERDANYA

Capital of Cerdanya and an essential point of visit for nature and mountain lovers, Puigcerdà surprised us so much that by the time we left we were already planning our return soon 😊

Beyond its famous lake, this town pleasantly surprises with its original and elegant architecture, with a very particular urban design and, of course, with a hotel + gastronomic offer to match the demanding ones.

Together with Xtina we spent a few-but-intense days of disconnection to explore every corner and enjoy most of them. Yes, the lake deserves its fame for its original design and particular beauty, also for the richness of its flora and fauna (swans, various species of ducks and other birds) as well as the variety of places where to enjoy by watching its pleasant and reassuring evolution …as if it made time stop.

Lovers of Ruiz Zafón‘s literature (the one from ‘The Shadow of the Wind’ saga) including my wife precisely, have the added value of a tour of the sites of this town that appear in the second book : ‘The Game of the Angel’.

The viewpoints from which to marvel at the mountainous landscape and lush vegetation are unique, and each one offers a particular angle of the beautiful landscape of this region that in winter offers its ‘other face’: snowy and gray, ideal for savoring the famous chocolate offered by so many bars and restaurants in the area.

In our case, the ‘summer’ Puigcerdà, let’s say, has left us ‘wanting for more’, so we will repeat.

About hotels, spas and restaurants, those seen in the images and some others. About the clear mountain air so full of oxygen and peace of mind, we carry it in our lungs and in our desire to enjoy the ‘winter’ Puigcerdà next time.

See you soon!

B (Sr)

 

 

BEACH WALK

TWO ‘VILAS’ AND THEIR CHARM…

Weekend, good weather and desire to enjoy it are ingredients that get along very well 😊

This time it’s been a double choice: St. Vicenç de Montalt & St. Andreu de Llavaneres (Port Balís) by sea-side walking while enjoying the fantastic sunset/twilight time.

At the ‘Balís ‘Gas Social Club’ cocktail bar we made the necessary stop to refuel (excellent quality beer!) and continue on our way.

Let’s see what comes next!

We keep you up to date…

‘Til the Next one!

Xtina & B (Sr)

 

 

SUMMER CAMP/ SANTA SUSANNA 2022

EVOKING HARVARD IN THE UNIVERSITY OF HAPPY VACATIONS 🙂

Perhaps our past Communication studies at Harvard have been more serious, even if the current ones (‘Sun I’ and ‘Pleasure II’) in the ‘university of happiness’ from Aqua-Aquamarina Hotel in Santa Susanna, well deserve a huge dose of respect, together with proper preparation for the mandatory exams: paella tasting & delectation with good beer among other mandatory subjects 🙂

The ‘summer-camp’ to start our frequent visits to this touristic paradise has been fantastic, relaxation, entertaining walks, some unexpected friendship with some local characters like the cat in the photo, well attended by the Hotel’s crew at every moment.

Next time we’ll ‘taste’ the swimming-pool too, as we guess temperature will only raise from now on…

Keepin’ you posted!

B (Sr)

 

 

‘MONA’- NIGHT

THE CATALAN AFTER-EASTER PLEASURES 🙂

After Pasqua celebrations, everybody in Catalonia follows the sacred ritual of tasting a fantastic ‘Mona’ (pastry product for children and adults, usually made with cake, chocolate and creative freedom).

Well, being Xtina a cuisine-lover, her ‘menu’ included a so simple and tasty ‘mona’, completely handmade with base of orange sponge cake, walnuts, glaze, dulce de leche and micro-eggs of candied chocolate of multiple colors.

Of course we enjoyed first some other plates of her, like bland cookies with caviar and baked chicken with bolets and potatoes.  Yes, delicious, hehe.

White wines, chardonnay and frizzante, were also part of the plan, and we toasted on a nice coming summer full of joy, sun and beach moments.

Previously, the echos of an intense Pasqua celebration accompanied us by Arenys de Mar, which nights are as pleasant and magical as they usually are in this Mediterranean area.

Tchin-tchin and ‘til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

XIRINGUITO LIFE 🙂

OPENING THE 2022 SUMMER SEASON

The full moon has been the ideal excuse to visit for the first time ‘Oh-Nades’ xiringuito (beach bar & restaurant) at St. Vicenç de Montalt, where a fantastic table besides the sea let us admire the whole moon rising and its magical reflections on the Mediterranean energized by the Levante wind.

‘Patatas bravas’ (spicy fried potatoes) for the occasion, washed down with excellent beer (we congratulated the staff for its quality) and friendly weather to enjoy the moment.

Now that we’ve started …who can stop us?  😊

‘Til the Next one!

Xtina & B (Sr)

 

 

ARGENTINIAN PLEASURE

‘MAS TAXONERA’ ARENYS DE MAR: GAUCHO-FLAVORS 🙂

A top-level ‘Malbec’, a complete ‘Parrillada’ …what else?  Nice low background music, impeccable attention from everybody, calm rhythm (ideal for tasting each piece of the barbecue with enough time to enjoy), country decor, quality and charm in every corner.

Together with Xtina we liked that much as to confess this is the second time in a week, and of course we’ll be back soon.

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

OVAL PLEASURE

ATENEA PORT HOTEL + NUUS RESTAURANT LUXURY ‘COMBO’

We’re already habitués in here, to the point almost everybody knows us and, fortunately, our preferences too, including main plates at dinner or favorite types of wine.

We also use to enjoy every detail of the inner design (always surprising with something new), based on oval shapes and warm colors.

Then it’s been another good opportunity to close relationship with the marvelous people working at Atenea Port Hotel (Mataró) and its Restaurant Nuus, of course being already warming up for the next one!

Keeping in touch…

Xtina & B (Sr)

 

 

STORMY FAREWELL

SAYING BYE-BYE TO + THAN A MONTH OF CLOUDS, WIND & RAIN

Already said in previous posts: I love this weather, as much as the sunny one typical for summer time.

So the idea was to walk along some coastal villages (mainly Canet de Mar and Sant-Pol de Mar), by the beaches line in the middle of the last storm of these past grey days.

To make it simple: I breathed lot of oxygen, iodine and nature power all in one, enjoying the privilege of being there for other reasons than lying on the sand, taking the sun and looking for fishes in the transparent summer waters.

Now yes, the holidays pack is there (snorkel, beach-ball, towels, sun glasses, suntan ointment, will of doing nothing 😊).  We’re warming up!

‘Til the Next one,

B (Sr)

 

 

‘LA CITY’

A PLACE TO ENJOY, A PLACE TO WORK   🙂

Barcelona is ‘one of a kind’ as it can be the ideal place where to grow professionally (my case) and to rest from work or even to enjoy pleasant vacations.

Together with Xtina we walked some of its less-officially-touristic places that deserve still a visit, or more than one.  Places that for whatever reason mean a lot to us in our deep relationship with this city since long ago.

Keeping in track, we’ll surely go for more …always knowing that not even a life will be enough to enjoy all of what this great town offers to ‘live’ it to the fullest.

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

PEACEFUL DELICATENESS 

SA VOGA HOTEL-BOUTIQUE & RESTAURANT …JUST PLEASURE   🙂

Following the line of ‘boutique-hotels’ like Mirlo recently ago, we visited now both the Hotel & Restaurant Sa Voga (Arenys de Mar), where the beauty emerging from every detail is delicious …like their food!

A cuisine d’auteur offers different flavors to taste, presented with art and care.

So-exigent Xtina was enchanted by the dining experience, as well as by the pleasant silence of the hotel and its delicate beauty.

Yesss, we’ll be back.

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

ICONIC RIDE 

THE ‘SAGRADA FAMÍLIA’ AND ITS EMBLEMATIC BEAUTY

True, every time we want to visit it, the usual ‘tourist horde’ comes to mind, and we must choose to go anyway, or picking a less iconic alternative.

This time it was the first option, and we enjoyed the ongoing metamorphosis of such an architectural giant, in addition to the surroundings that include the Av. Gaudí promenade, uniting one beauty with another (the also incredible design of Hospital de Sant Pau).

Good to enjoy the sun, the architecture and the freedom to enjoy them … like the thousands of tourists who populated the experience from start to finish 😊

‘Til the Next one!

Xtina & B (Sr)

 

 

STORMY RIDE 

‘RAIN DROPS ARE FALLING ON THE BEACH’ ♫

Together with Xtina we decided to enjoy (instead of suffering) the continuous rainy weather that visited this Mediterranean side for weeks, by breathing the hyper-oxigenated air in the sea-side and observing giant waves producing their rhythmic song of nature-power.

A healthy walk through Arenys de Mar, Caldes d’Estrac and St Andreu de Llavaneres let us disconnect + keep our athletic shapes (😊) for bit longer, with less effort than the brave birds (mainly seagulls) fighting against a mighty wind.

The XXL waves breaking against the stones and the desolation of beaches that are full of bathers in summer completed a fantastic walk in a happily-grey day.

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

PEDRALBES – SARRIÀ 

BACK HOME FOR A (WONDERFUL) DAY…

The gothic monastery of Pedralbes is the nuclear point around which we did our evoking journey, remembering some years ago when we lived so near, in front of the Sta. Gemma sanctuary.

Xtina‘s admiration for medieval architecture and my own for architecture from all eras did the rest: we really enjoyed it!

A ‘touch’ of Gaudí always helps, and thus the Güell Pavilions were an obligatory point of the tour, together with some pleasant time to rest and breathe at Vila Amèlia parc, where we frequently used to go while living in the neighborhood.

After such a marvelous day, of course we’re seriously thinking of being back, now definitely.  Let’s see!

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

‘THE SHADOW OF THE WIND’ …AND THE PLEASURE 🙂 

ENJOYING THE MAGICS OF RUIZ-ZAFON’S SAGA FROM INSIDE THE PLACE THAT INSPIRED IT…

Xtina is one of the few ‘fans’ capable of mentally reconstructing the entire saga (‘The Shadow of the Wind’ and subsequent books) and interconnecting episodes from the different volumes. Let’s imagine how much she must have enjoyed the ‘Mirlo’ Boutique Hotel, in whose current room 402 Carlos Ruíz Zafón wrote a good part of that work.

In fiction, the building was ‘the Aldaya mansion’, and currently houses five-star charming suites and a restaurant whose elegance and glamor are up to par: ‘El Nido del Mirlo’.

We could ‘see’ the books’ characters living their exciting adventures there, of course thanks to our imagination and the hotel’s architecture, described with huge detail by the writer, and preserved in good part after the necessary restoration and adaptation of the building to its new functions.

Time flew and the experience has left us …wanting more 😊

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

BARCELONA PORTS & PONTS 

BRIDGES TO ENJOY THE SEA-SIDE IN A MARVELOUS CITY 

PORT FORUM counts among our favorite places in Barcelona, and we came back after long time to find it renewed and full of beautiful corners where to enjoy the pleasant sensation of relax and marine spirit.

Special mention for the original bridges that we crossed in search of the next fun every time, always finding more to enjoy, from Besòs to Diagonal Mar, a walk that well deserves to be traversed with joy, as we did together with Xtina.

Of course each walk needs replenishment of energy, so Casa Carmen DM offered us a delicious menu to continue our journey.

Next time will be soon, for sure!  …and we’ll share again the little story 😊

B (Sr)

 

 

WALKING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD  🙂 

BEACH, SUN AND MARCH AT A GOOD PACE, FROM CALELLA TO SANT POL DE MAR

The weekend goes a long way, and having a good time counts among the first activities on the list 😊

Together with Xtina, we renewed the pleasure of walking along the coastline between these two beautiful towns, accompanied by a calm Mediterranean, curious birds and spring weather, despite still being “technically” in winter.

The influx of people all along the road and, above all, in both towns, is more typical of the holiday season, so: either the holidays have become popular throughout the calendar, or the unusual pleasant climate invites local people to adventure.

By the way, as long walks require replenishing energy, we tasted Sicilian delicatessen at ‘La Casa Nostra’ (Sant Pol), although that is another story…

‘Til the Next one!

Xtina & B (Sr)

 

 

GAUDI x 2 

‘MAKING FRIENDSHIP’ WITH A BIG ONE  🙂

So given to humor as we are, both Bernardos (Jr & Sr) have had the pleasure of interacting with Antoni Gaudi’s statues in Leon (Castile and Leon) and Barcelona (Catalonia).

The ‘Plaza de las Palomas’ one is a tribute to the famous architect, and we find him sitting on a bench, making a sketch of his next work.  The ‘Pg. de Manuel Girona’ one (in Sarrià neighborhood) shows an elocuent Gaudi, surely persuading a devoted public about the desirability of the previous sketch’s work 😊

A universal artist as this one is, we’re thinking of playing with all the rest of tributed statues!  Well, perhaps is better to keep on enjoying his unprecedented legacy.

‘Til the Next one!

B (both)

 

 

WISHING YOU A GREAT ’22!

LET’S HOPE WE’RE LAUNCHING A FANTASTIC 12-MONTH TRIP TOWARDS FULL SUCCESS

(Images: bf© & the Science Photo Library/ Sounds: Zapsplat & NASA – Original Apollo 11 Launch countdown)

 

 

OUR ‘SECRET’ WISHES 🙂  

HEALTH, HOPE & HAPPINESS TO ALL BRAVE PEOPLE WANTING A BETTER LIFE IN 2022!

Truly THANKFUL after a difficult year for humankind, we go for a fantastic one in coming ’22, wishing the Best to all of  our friends, clients and followers!

Tchin-tchin  🥂🍾

 

 

A FIVE-STAR BIRTHDAY!  

‘ONE YEAR WISER’, AS A GOOD FRIEND SAID  🙂

It’s been main Xtina’s gift for my recent celebration (‘one year wiser’, as a friend said recently to console me for this about the passage of time) …and it’s been superb!

Our favorite hotel (Eurostars Grand Marina 5*) received us once more and they honored us with their Deluxe room, 40 m² of pleasure in every detail, with a window of more than 12 meters with views of all of Barcelona, ​​from the sea. So it’s nice to get older!

Honest opinion, with such an impressive room anything else can wait while we feel the ‘levitational’ sensation of moments without time, enjoying to-enjoy …and the bathroom with hydromassage and various etceteras, or the assortment of the best teas and coffees in the world, at hand every time we were amazed by some magnificent view from the endless window (impressive super-yachts, boats of the line to the islands, regattas, all the maritime and commercial movement that surrounds the Maremagnum, etc.).

My wife’s present included romantic dinner in the elegant ‘Aire de Mar’ restaurant, one of the five managed by the hotel, and buffet breakfast, as well as access to the sauna and gym. Unlimited generosity …that I will surely have to make up for when it’s HER birthday!!! 😅

Cool, for the rest of pleasant moments I’d do an endless list, beginning by dozens of friends wishing me the best and making me feel a privileged guy, with the firm intention to repete experience as much as possible (hehe).

THANKS to all people sending warm messages.  I valued a lot every single one of them 🙏

‘Til the Next one!

B (+ Sr yet 🙂)

 

 

BEACH MOOD x 2   🙂

RESISTING THE WORK-AHOLIC TEMPTATION TO FORGET BLESSING SUMMER

Yeap, August says bye-bye ‘til the next one …Summer remains instead & we’re decided to squeeze it to the last drop (of sea water).

To take an evening walk, to enjoy the waves crashing on the warm sand, the Beach is our permanent friend and provider of happy moments.

While preparing new sections and + surprises to come soon, we still feel in Beach-mood …’til the last drop 😊

…’til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

CALDES D’ESTRAC

AMAZING COASTAL VILLAGE FULL OF ENJOYABLE LANDSCAPES & GASTRONOMY

Some decades ago, there was the place where the Catalan bourgeoisie decided the political + economical strategy for the whole region …while playing roulette in a no-longer existent casino or enjoying delicious delicatessen in fantastic restaurants like the current ‘Can Suñé’.

Xtina & I did this last thing (enjoying gastronomic pleasures there, as the decision-power on the future of Catalonia is a bit out of our reach by now 😊).

For sure, in case of being asked we’d vote to keep Caldes d’Estrac (‘Caldetes’) exactly as it is now, to continue visiting the town, always looking for relaxation and a bit of healthy pleasure.

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

SANTA SUSANNA

A VACATIONAL PLANET FULL OF PLEASURE-OFFER

Big, luxurious Hotels, varied and affordable gastronomic offer, a beautiful + peaceful beach line and much more is what can be found in this particular place that seems to exist only for tourists.

Well, we felt this way with Xtina during our umpteenth visit to this leisure paradise, and renewed our permanent will of coming back again.  Hope to see you there next time!

Happy Summer!

B (Sr)

 

 

MOONSEEKERS

LOOKING FOR THE FULL MOON OF THE MONTH

Definitely, one of our favorite leisure-sports 😊   Together with Xtina, we’ve patiently waited for the full Moon raise from the sea horizon, as we usually do every month, in order to witness a fantastic nature spectacle.

Colored in ‘Mars-red’, it was a renewed pleasure this time from the Maritime premises of Arenys de Mar Port, Shipyards and Nautic Club to admire our satellite, curiously present in good part of our long time together.

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

BLACK MARINA

RENEWED ‘EUROSTARS*****’ EXPERIENCE

Once more, again & again, our favorite Hotel (Eurostars ‘Grand Marina’) has hosted + delighted us as always with an impeccable service and a fantastic menu in a terrace from where to get ecstatic while observing 360º of a jewel of city (Barcelona) that shines at night like the most beautiful diamond.

Delicious ‘entrecot’ paired with ‘Vionta’ white wine (recommended!) has been just the beginning of a menu that ended by good cava and strawberry dessert …mmmh epicurean pleasure!

Our usual flying friends (the seagulls) were livening up the evening while the departure of the Balearic lines vessels made us remember how much we love these islands and how quickly we wanna’ be back there.

By now, for sure we’ll be back to ‘Grand Marina’ and its inner gastronomic paradises (‘Black Marina’ terrace, ‘Aire de Mar’ restaurant, etc.) that have became a ‘classic’ in our pleasure choices.  The hotel rooms are at the hight, offering the best to their most exigent guests.

Recommended!   …’til the Next one 😊

Xtina & B (Sr)

 

 

NAUTIC LIFE

NAVIGATING PLEASURE  🙂

Yeap, together with Xtina we’re still adding milestones to our dinner-trip all over the Mediterranean Maresme, this time we enjoyed delicious gastronomy from the Club Nàutic Arenys de Mar Restaurante (that we frequent, in fact, since many years ago).

Sail-boats adorning a walk by the docks, beautiful landscapes, peaceful atmosphere with chill-out music …what else?

Just breathing in the gentle sea breeze, admiring the fishing port and the history that surrounds this little paradise for the senses.

Looking for the next gastro-challenge!

‘Til the Next one…

B (Sr)

 

 

BARCELONA AGAIN

DIAGONAL MAR & SURROUNDINGS: NICE PLACE TO DINE + ENJOY!

Xtina & I decided to come back to this area full of gastronomy and entertainment offer, mainly to greet our friends at ‘Casa Carmen’ Diagonal Mar, a restaurant where we’ve been plenty of times, always having fantastic experiences.

We tried also the exclusive ‘Aürt’ restaurant at the Hilton Diagonal Mar hotel, as it was awarded ‘the most beautiful restaurant in Europe’ on 2020.  Well, honestly, it’s elegant and even vibrant, with a solid Chef (Artur Martínez).  The point is we’ve seen many other places deserving this esthetic prize in comparison.

The characteristic smell of the Mediterranean sea (iodine + oxygen + aroma of fried fish in the soft sea breeze) accompanyed the experience.

Looking for more 😊

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

XIRINGUITO LIFE  🙂

ENJOYING SUMMER GASTRONOMY BY THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA-SIDE

Love July.  Definitely.  It’s the ‘official’ beginning of the most enjoyable time at this corner of the planet:  beach, touristic walks …fantastic gastronomy!

Together with Xtina (the photographer in this post) we begun to ‘taste’ the varied offer from xiringuitos (beach bars/restaurants) and chill outs alongside a nice beach line that runs through numerous coastal towns.

Of course we’re planning to go on with the experience, mainly during our short vacations this year, and while preparing our beloved bf© for a stunning end of the year.

Toasting on a lot of happy success to all!

‘Til the Next one,

B (Sr)

 

 

RE-GAINING PATH…

DEFINITELY, SUMMER’S BACK AGAIN

Together with Xtina, we’re happily preparing for the new, post-pandemic summer time 😊

As beach-lovers we are, reasonable to begin by a walk alongside the shore and some near, pleasant places like the nautic clubs we frequent, the picturesque ports and so on…

It seems, definitely, that summer’s back again, and while wishing a better future than the near past, we’re decided to enjoy it a lot.  Hope you too!!!

‘Til the Next one,

B (Sr)

 

 

DINNER-TIME GOES  🙂N

FOLLOWING OUR POST-PANDEMICS DINNER MARATHON

So happy to regain automatisms on our favorite meal-time (Dinner), now’s been the time for Caldes d’Estrac, a beautiful little town full of charm and good gastronomy.

Our beloved ‘el Taller’ Restaurant there was the chosen point, and we could greet our old friends + get delighted by best wine and menu.  Recommended!

‘Til the Next one,

Xtina & B (Sr)

 

 

BACK ‘HOME’, BACK TO DINNER 🙂

ABOUT RECOVERING ‘OLD’ SENSATIONS AFTER LOCKDOWNS & RESTRICTIONS…

The ‘Mussol Pedralbes’ Restaurant has been one of our favorite places to enjoy fantastic dinners during years.  In fact, we know and keep some relationship with all of their Managers in the last decade + some of the waiters too.

So, it’s been a huge pleasure to be back ‘at home’ (as we feel there) after the recent, so hard restrictions regarding Restaurant dinners.  We did our best during the hardest time to take advantage of Hotel offer packs that invariably included dinner, anyway.  Now, we revisit our usual places and are keen to know new ones, of course.

Hope to keep recovering normality at every level, even if a ‘new’ one after the global nightmare (crossing fingers!) while adapting to renewed patterns by evoking the old ones as much as we can.  Toasting on several more dinner nights to come!

‘Til the Next one,

Xtina & B (Sr)

 

 

BARCELONA FROM THE SEA

MAREMAGNUM, BARCELONETA BEACH, WORLD TRADE CENTER …MARITIME PLEASURE

Following previous ‘BARCELONA FROM THE MOUNTAIN’ report, and preceding the Part II with more to tell about the sea-side of the thing, well, what to say?  First of all, that is much better to ‘live’ this than to listen/read about!  Umpteenth time we visit these spots …and the pleasure sensation remains intact.

FIVE-STAR EXPERIENCE: the magnificent ‘Eurostars Grand Marina’ 5* Hotel was our ‘home’ during this renewed experience, and we congratulate ourselves on the choice. Spacious room equipped with unbeatable luxury, signature dinner, varied breakfast to energize the incipient day … what else could we wish for? Surely the impeccable permanent attention of all their staff. We will be back.

The World Trade Center (WTC) as a whole was also allowing us to several different walks where to make friendship with giant, so hungry and nice seagulls + enjoying marvelous views of the city from a particular angle rich of details.  The Columbus monument, the Maremagnum complex, the famous nautical and maritime clubs, the Museu Maritim, the ‘Porta de Europa’ enormous drawbridge, the Montjuïc mountain …etceteras to the exhaustion.

Together with Xtina we walked a lot from Barceloneta beach to the ‘W’ Hotel where a nice afternoon snack gave renewed energy for more: recently inaugurated ‘Mirador del Mediterrani’ (fantastic viewpoint) and ‘Passeig del Trencaones’ (a long promenade entering the sea a good distance).

At the ‘Maremagnum’, a must-see if you come to this area, we turned to get entertained by its inner variety (architecture, urbanistic areas, access to luxury vessels port, Aquàrium, quiet places where to just sit and observe the overall beauty.

And everything arrives to an end, like the historic cable-car which constant air travel (Montjüic-WTC-Port and back) accompanied us from the beginning.  Actually, there’s much more …we just leave it for the Next one 😊

B (Sr)

 

 

LA ‘NAU GAUDÍ’: CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM IN MATARÓ

FIRST BUILDING FROM THE GREAT ARCHITECT/ TRIBUTE TO CATALAN 20^TH CENTURY ART

With frequent exhibition of works from great contemporary artists like Barceló, Chillida, Guinovart, Girona or Saura, this institution (Museu d’Art Contemporani de Mataró) usually shows the collection of famous advertiser Lluis Bassat.

Together with Xtina we turned once more to visit the ‘Nau’ and its ever-changing offer (usually based on Catalan contemporary art dated from 1947 to 1999), and enjoyed again the particular architecture and the fantastic paintings.

Antoni Gaudí built this ‘nau’ (a former warehouse) by 1878, short after having graduated, and is today an ideal place for the role it takes, with flexible space and magnificent natural light inside (yes, we have to highlight the wood work on arches and coffered ceiling produced by the set of structural beams) what counts on the complementary high quality from the exhibited pieces of art.  Guinovart, Piedra or Rubert have been our favorites this time.

Recommended visit whenever in this city, of course, and nice excuse to taste also some good gastronomy in the near locals around the square (Plaça d’Antoni Gaudí i Cornet) where the building is placed.

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

MARIMURTRA

A JEWEL IN THE ‘COSTA BRAVA’

Blanes is a sea-side city as many others in the Mediterranean coast.  Anyway, it is the only one to begin the Costa Brava (that ends touching France, at Portbou), and the only one to hold a vegetable marvel: the ‘Marimurtra Botanical Garden’.

There we went together with Xtina, in order to discover what is considered the most beautiful Garden in the Mediterranean area, and to enjoy from its many viewpoints (Margalef, Pou, Guards) the geological and scenic wonders of the Costa Brava, a true paradise.

The ‘Templet de Linné’, colonnaded gazebo which architectural beauty deserves attention by itself, is the most famous spot from where to observe cliffs, coves and birds that endow this coast with its ‘unrivaled’ fame.

Organized in 3 inner gardens that cover plant species from areas as distant as South America, South Africa or Oceania, the experience seems to immerse the visitor in another time and in a place very similar to the original paradise in which beauty, they say, reigned everywhere.

The first garden shows native flora of Macronesia, arid areas from America, Africa and Mexico.  The second one offers examples of cacti, palms, bamboos, and ethnobotany.  Finally, the third one is about cicadas, Mediterranean flora, and the series of viewpoints that many visitors look for in order to have pleasant memories long after.

Once down in the Port, we enjoyed the beach area of ​​the city, with its walks and restaurants, which completed an unforgettable getaway.

Always loved the Costa Brava.  Now, a bit more 😊

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

BARCELONA FROM THE MOUNTAIN

PLAÇA ESPANYA, MONTJUÏC, MNAC …A ‘HIGH LEVEL’ WALK

Beginning by the end (of our getaway to Barcelona), the MNAC (Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya) on the slope of Montjüic, was a worthy ‘finishing touch’ to a marvelous re-descovery of this side of the city, after many years.

The whole Museum is a jewel, and together with Xtina (‘connaisserur des arts’ and the most motivated for the visit) we prefered this time to spend more time with Modernist and Romanesque art from the MNAC vast offer.  As she wisely said: this is more than Art, it’s art-exaltation.  Unforgetable.

We got impacted by many masterpieces from both times, and would like to highlight the work of Rusiñol, Casas or Puig i Cadafalch on one hand + the religious many pieces aged about a thousand years on the other one.  To highlight too, luxury ‘extras’ such as an original animation by the great Georges Mèliés, or a mural by Joan Miró.

Now coming to the beginning, well, what to say about Plaça Espanya, the Fira premises or the fantastic way towards the MNAC itself full of fantastic views that brighten up the existence?  The Plaza Hotel, the Arenas centre (former temple of bullfighting), the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, and many etceteras will surely leave you as breathless as it happened to us, even if already knowing these marvels.

(From the mundane side, delighted with the Villa Emilia boutique hotel and its Bistrot restaurant, whose wine list is small but of high quality.)

For sure we’ll be back soon!  Hope to see you there 😊

‘Til the Next one,

B (Sr)

 

 

FIGUERES

WHERE ELASTIC CLOCKS & LONG-LEGGED ELEPHANTS LIVE

Figueres, almost touching France, is home of Salvador Dalí’s artistic heritage and a quiet, pleasant so-Catalan population with original beauty and some mystery in many corners.

Xtina’s choice on this place mixed her appreciation of Dalí’s art + will of discovering a town we frequently crossed while going to farther places (Villefranche de Conflent, Perpignan, Paris, etc.).

We guessed it had to offer good experiences, and …indeed!  History, art, architecture, gastronomy and lot of culture was the generous compensation for our visit.

The artistic epicenter had to be the Teatre-Museu Dalí for obvious reasons: an original architectonic conception spiced with surreal art, decor and originality throughout.

The corner side of this building seems literally a big toy from its striking colors and shapes impossible to find in an everyday context.  Special mention for the detail of the artist’s typical triangular bread, filling the entire exterior facade painted in burgundy.

In close contact with its Plaça Gala-Salvador Dalí (urban space decorated in a similar style, forming the same architectural complex next to the museum-building) we find the Esglèsia de Sant Pere, Romanesque church included in the Inventory of the Architectural Heritage of Catalonia and protected as a Cultural Asset of Local Interest.  Beautiful construction that together with its wooded square deserves a visit in itself.

In the center (old town) we found charming places such as Plaça de l’Ajuntament with its arcaded galleries and multiplicity of high-quality gastronomic offers, in the open air.

And speaking about gastronomy, fantastic La Cuïna de la Pietat Restaurant, inside the charming Travé hotel (near Dalí’s museum), was the chosen place to celebrate these days of joy and art with author-delicatessen and good white wine.  What else?  To come back soon!

Recommended to whoever wanting to relax and enjoy surrealism + tourist surprises.

‘Til the Next one!

Xtina & B (Sr)

 

 

 

THE ‘EUREKA’ MOMENT

HOW INSPIRATION HAPPENS AND ITS LINK TO CREATIVITY + INNOVATION

Well yes, CREATIVITY is the capacity to propose several alternative solutions to a detected need in a short space of time.  True.

INSPIRATION seems to be ‘this’ moment in which, apparently, muses tell us a good idea (alternative solution) for something we were wanting to achieve: an improvement, a new creation, etc.

‘EUREKA’ moment is, according to specialists, this ‘flash’ of sudden inspiration that really means us (so probably) achieving what we wanted in outstanding (creative = original) way.

Well yes, beyond all the theoretical parafernalia around the topic, that we live for other articles, this informal one is about some ‘inspiring factors’ to people, that usually vary from person to person, and in Bernardo Sr‘s case can perfectly be a pleasant gastronomic moment 🙂

In fact, during a recent lunch at ‘La Caleta’ Restaurant (Mediterranean food, especially fish) lot of constructive ideas ‘appeared’ to move forward the whole bf© project the way we like: always improving + advancing.

Soon, great news on the prosecution of our path…

‘Til the Next one!

 

 

EDITORIAL SUCCESS

TWO YEARS OF ‘COMUNICACIÓN QUE FUNCIONA’ / KEYS TO SUCCEED IN LIFE & JOB THROUGH COMMUNICATION  (BERNARDO R. FACTA/ ESIC BUSINESS)

…& the happy hope of seeing our book become a ‘classic’ 😊

Marvelous analytical comments from the specialized press + high sales rates make us feel satisfied→ every useful book is a tribute in thankfulness to what we’ve received from life and our society.

Many libraries and universities (in Spain and abroad) have available issues for interested people.

Wanting to concrete your potential into high Success throughout your daily Communication?

Here’s your book!

Easier way to get it personally: physical shops of fnac, La Casa del Libro, El Corte Inglés and many others.   Easier way by Internet: same shops (online) + ESIC Editorial itself:

BUY NOW & HERE!

493 pages, 20 chapters on Communication at its highest extend, including strategic, or subliminal ways of taking advantage of its huge potential.

Non-verbality. Strategic Persuasion. Training, Coaching, Leadership, Sales… and Much More!

Printed Edition (+23€) & Ebook Edition (+14€) are on stock and waiting for new enthusiastic ones searching happy success.

THANKS to the many readers having already chosen this book!!!

Let the wave keep going 😊

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

3D PRINTING

RECREATING REALITY

It’s been a pleasure to visit the 3D Laboratory in the ‘Cibernàrium’ Techno-Park at Nou Barris (Barcelona), where to discover the marvels this revolutionary technology can offer.

A key strategic side of Barcelon@ctiva governmental business-development program, the Cibernàrium moves forward science + technology research at the same time that brings support to many private (associated) projects on research for business.

Andreu B & Susana R were so kind and supportive while explaining about the 3D technology (my main interest in the day) as well as its recent history, seasoned with the practical demonstration of the operation of ‘prehistoric’ printing machines and their different operating systems.

A didactic, insightful visit that we’ll repeat soon in order to learn from more covered areas in this giant, innovative organization.

Many THANKS for everything!

‘Til the Next one,

B (Sr)

 

 

H🙂ME-TOURISM/ 05

PRACTICING ‘WINTER-BEACHING’ ALONGSIDE 4 COASTAL VILLAGES

What’s the merit in summer-beaching? 😊  We faced the ‘challenge’ of walking alongside 4 villages by their fantastic beaches …in winter.

El Cavaió links Canet de Mar & Arenys de Mar, and is certainly one of the longest beaches in this Mediterranean area, home of many ‘chiringuitos’ (beach-lounge-bars) during the summer season, with white sand of considerable grain-size.  Is also one of the widest (more than 100 meters).

La Musclera is located between a paradisiacal spot of rock and sea (typical of the Costa Brava, which begins further north) in Arenys, and the urban beginning of Caldes d’Estrac. It is a nudist beach, with golden sand and variable width depending on the whims of the tides.

Finally, Els 3 Micos is a so elegant, fancy ride between Caldes and St. Vicenç de Montalt, with balustrades reminiscent of Nice (saving the distance) and some of the most elegant beach bars with the best gastronomic offer in the area.

Well deserved experience, also in winter!

‘Til the Next one,

Xtina & B (Sr)

 

 

H🙂ME-TOURISM/ 04

DISCOVERING SANT ANDREU DE LLAVANERES…

Following the healthy habit of enjoying our surroundings during the ‘restriction’ times we’re living, Xtina & I decided to get to the ‘unknown’ side of Llavaneres (Maresme region, Barcelona province), what is the same to say: the true village in the mountain 😊

Until now our visits were mainly to the sea-side part of this particular town, the easier to reach by train or any other vehicle just following the Nacional-II road (which report we’ll share in the future too).

‘Hidden’ some kilometers up respect to her marine ‘sister’, the mountain side of Sant Andreu de Llavaneres is so green and elegant, with an original ‘taste’ of ancient Catalan town proud of itself and plenty of calm, appealling corners (and restaurants) that well deserve a nice time to enjoy.

Keeping in home-touristic touch …’til the Next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

H🙂ME-TOURISM/ 03

ENJOYING THE HIDDEN MARVELS OF BADALONA…

Lot of things to do in a short amount of (pleasant) time at Badalona city, so near Barcelona-the-great 😊

From taking a long, entertaining walk alongside the seaside, where plenty of restaurants offer their delicatessen at average good price, in addition…

…to the famous ‘lovers breakwater’ where the even more famous statue of the monkey (‘Anis del Mono’ well known drink logo) receives happy tourists while admiring a typical bottle of such an elixir in inviting way.

The elegant port adds fantastic views and many possible paths among their marine premises where every type of nautic activities take part.

So, a more than recommended tour by a hidden jewel that gets usually diffused by giant Barcelona’s appeal.

‘Til the Next one!

Xtina & B (Sr)

 

 

GREAT ’21!

OUR TEAM’S BEST WISHES FOR ALL IN THE NEWBORN YEAR 🙂

bf©  TOAST:  …on a Great ’21 where to Reach Success in a Happy Way (we want it All 😊).

Purposes: to deepen our Research on applied Psychology & Creativity as well as Developing advanced levels of Communication & Coaching, as well as growing in Innovative Learning, as well as …the list is really Long!

So let’s Toast on Concretion for everybody’s profit, while keeping Healthy and Happy enough to toast again on 2022 😊

B (Sr)

 

 

H🙂ME-CHRISTMAS

ENJOYING THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAYS & SAYING BYE-BYE TO 2020…

Yes, together with Xtina we prepared for saying a so-happy bye-bye to 2020 😊

…enjoying in the meanwhile the typical christmas spirit in places where to trust a better future and remember how much we love our beloved ones.

Barcelona, Mataró, Arenys de Mar and other marvelous villages were the choice this year to live such a special occasion.

Wishing the Best to All!

‘Til 2021!

B (Sr)

 

 

MERRY XMAS & HAPPY ’21!

OUR BEST WISHES TO ALL OF OUR FRIENDS + CLIENTS 🙂

2020 has been anything except of a ‘normal’ year, & if it’s true that every experience builds, so this one has to leave a mark for long or the rest of our lives.  Some lives, b.t.w., have been taken off by the pandemics that (still) hits hard everywhere…

Even though, Hope is one of humans’ highest engines towards goal-achievement, & at  we’re looking forward to achieve Health + Success in the coming year, Wishing the Best to our people (Science Centers, Universities, Companies, Friends, Colleagues).

Toast on a Happy Life to Everyone and soon defeat to the virus that changed the planet and shook its certainties like an earthquake.

Let’s Win All of Us Together!

–Team

 

 

H🙂ME-TOURISM/ 02

A JEWEL OF A CITY THAT SHINES WITH INEXHAUSTIBLE CHARM…

Barcelona, our home since decades, is still stunning us from its plenty of seductive corners from which she grants our lifelong devotion.  Yeap, we love her!

Together with Xtina we took advantage of some new vision of our domestic paradise, with much less people than usual due to pandemic restrictions.  Could we call this a ‘positive’ side?  Seriously doubt, even if the ‘different’ sensation was there, making us feel that we ‘owned’ her a bit more with less competitors to enjoy its marvel.

By the seaside, the city’s beauty makes eclosion, and Barceloneta, Maremagnum, and many attractive spots inbetween well deserve a relaxed walk to celebrate ‘home-vacations’ 🙂

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

(Photos: Barceloneta, Port Olimpic, Port Vell/ Barcelona)

 

 

H🙂ME-TOURISM

A COMFORTABLE HABIT FROM PANDEMIC TIMES…

Like tele-conferences for everything and others, the possibility of rounding the corner with new, touristic eyes, will remain for a while (I’m sure) as a pleasant consequence of lock-downs + similar restrictions.

Good for the local commerce, nice to re-discover our close reality beyond the typical ‘everyday perspective’ with renewed eyes of value to what we have ‘at hand’.  Cheap.  Instant.  Easy.

Together with Xtina we decided long ago to walk along our Mediterranean ‘neighbourhood’ of six little, amazing villages: Arenys de Mar, Caldes d’Estrac, Canet de Mar, Sant Vicenç de Montalt, Sant Pol de Mar, Sant Andreu de Llavaneres.  All of them ‘reachable’ by walking while chatting about life.

Let’s hope that other habits root deep into our everyday-life, as e.g. studying more (virtually is easy!), or refreshing what we studied once, or dedicating the saved time in transport (when working from home) to some new ability, old hobby, or deeper/better connection to our beloved ones, etc.

‘Til the Next one!

B (Sr)

(Photos: Arenys de Mar)

 

 

 

València is more than the original paella, the best oranges and tasty ‘horchata’.  In fact, together with Xtina, we discovered a so beautiful, varied and pleasant city that deserves some nice time to be known and enjoyed.

The ‘Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències’ (‘City of Arts and Sciences’), from famous contemporary architect Santiago Calatrava, was a logical first choice.  I’ve always admired, as an architecture lover, this incredible complex that brings life to many science approaches open to whoever wanting to enjoy entertainment and knowledge together.

Main buildings being the ‘Hemisfèric’ (planetary and IMAX cinema), ‘Museu de les Ciències’ (interactive museum in three stages), the ‘Umbracle’ (landscaped walk with native plant species), ‘Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía’ (dedicated to music and performing arts), the ‘Towers’ (multi-active space), or the ‘Oceanogràfic’ (designed by Félix Candela, one of Calatrava’s mentors, the largest aquarium in Europe), it is also beautiful the ‘Àgora’, open area usually hosting cultural and sport events.  A relevant aesthetic input is the ‘Pont de l’Assut de l’Or’, impressive bridge which main pillar, 125 meters high, is the tallest point in the city.

The famous ‘Túria’ park is combined with this monumental work, which has even influenced the surrounding architecture, where modern high-rise buildings compete to visually assemble with it.

‘Another València’ comes from ancient times and is, at least, as marvelous as the modern and avant-garde one.  The Cathedral, the ‘Plaça de la Reina’ (giant square in the downtown), the ‘Plaça de la Verge’ (huge medieval square in the middle of the old town), the ‘Llotja de la Seda’ (Valencian civil Gothic masterpiece, located in the historic center of the city), or the ‘Torres Serrano’ (in the old and picturesque neighborhood of Carmen) are true jewels that shine from ancient mystery and fascination that tells old stories to turists and culture-lovers’ curiosity.

This València from the past, with all of its treasures, was the main choice for Xtina, and I honestly understood why after having walked through it, admired with many incredible spots (like the royal hall in the ‘Llotja de la Seda’ or the Venetian-like ‘Font de les Vuit Sèquies’ -elegant and iconic water source in ‘Plaça de la Verge’).

The Port was a ‘bonus’ that we walked and enjoyed a lot too, with many well-known places like the ‘Veles e Vents’ buildings, from where to see the start of the famous international regattas that make this city stand out even more.

A luxury hotel (Vincci Lys) in the center of everything in València, completed the idyllic travel that, for sure, we’ll repeat some day, whenever we want to enjoy old and new, night and day the most comfortable way.

A huge room with all the comfort and extras we can dream about was the reason that we extended this unforgettable experience a little longer than expected.

Special mention for gastronomy, which even charmed a demanding ‘chef’ like Xtina: the ‘paella del Señorito’ and the ‘Valenciana’, accompanied by excellent vintage wine, and here we end, or I will leave the article unfinished to run back to Valencia 😊

‘Til the next one!

B (Sr)

 

 

CONFINED …TO GR🙂W

OR LOCKDOWN OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCING PROFESSIONAL POTENTIAL

‘Time of Pandemics, Time of Opportunities’ would properly represent Einstein‘s original thought, that I tried to put into practice alongside the historic, planetary lockdown.

Revisiting knowledge that our diplomas & certifications swear is still there, even if time drops it away day after day, month after month, and so on… as well as Adding new knowledge, necessary to enhance professional potential adapted to coming new challenges.

Studying + Reading (yes, good novels included) has been a hopefully-productive way of keeping in good shape while experiencing something new for the whole of our population, or huge part of it.

See You in the ‘New Reality’ soon, to write together some exciting further pages of our existence-book (hey, this came out well! 😊).

‘Til the Next one,

B (Sr)

 

Taking advantage of the progressive permission to get out of our ‘bunkers’, Xtina and Bernardo Sr. were revisiting familiar places near home, finding them plenty of silence and beauty (we mean: without shouty crowds filling the landscape with empty packages, cigarette butts, and so on…).

Sometimes, a short walk is enough to let us marvel by observing the endless sea until a horizon that looked also so clean (no giant container-ships or smog starring the scene together with clouds and birds).

Let’s hope we can keep the unexpected good consequences of this pandemic time going on, and do our best to prevent future disasters.

Good progression towards ‘new normality’!

‘Til the Next one…

B (Sr)

 

 

France again!  Following the idyll with its non-stop appealling seduction, Xtina and Bernardo Sr. were enjoying the ‘ville de la lumière’ during a fantastic week full of Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame, Les Halles, Seine river, Trocadero, culinary delicatessen, best wine …’le plaisir’!

Among the best unexpected moments, to re-discover from inside ‘Le Chatelet’ (Chapelle de Saint-Eustache) at Les Halles, near the Centre Pompidou (Bernardo’s ‘2nd house’ during his art studies there :)  and on the bad side, the deceiving impossibility to do the same at the Cathedral, completely fenced and almost ‘invisible’ besides inaccessible (sigh).

Les Invalides, Champ de Mars, Bir Hakeim bridge, Champs Elysées or Les Tuilleries were other key destinations to enjoy while admiring, once more, the monumental beauty of a city that can arrive sometimes to leave you breathless.

Xtina loves the city ‘flair’ and elegance, as well as its multiplicity of options whenever we decide to go out and just enjoy (La Défense, Montmartre, le Musée Rodin, L’Opéra…).

Words appart for the varied experience of taking many different Métro lines, ‘different’ indeed to the point of seeming to travel in time: some ‘historic’ train models mixed with modern ones, in traditional stops like ‘Cité’ or big, elegant ones like ‘Les Halles’.

And such an impressive city deserves also the opportunity to offer to the visitor lot of ‘lost places’, hidden marvels that we just discover and are almost always as beautiful as the famous spots.

‘As time goes by’ other places remain only in our memories, as it happened with ‘Gallerie 172’ always in Bernardo’s heart together with other remarcable points of his passé parisien.  Well, life is the present time, and already crossing fingers for making Paris become near-future again.  Some things are always welcome 😉

Au-revoir!

B (Sr)

 

 

STORM TIME

The devastating ‘Gloria’ storm was whipping much of southern Europe in this early part of the year…

…and Bernardo Sr. was gladly saying ‘bye-bye’ to it during its last day of harmful activity in the Mediterranean area.

Unrecognizable beaches on the coast and a giant graveyard of broken umbrellas in populated areas will make it difficult to forget this storm.

Our planet seems to want to remind us about the force of nature being greater than the human inability to treat it well.   Let’s reflect!

‘Til the Next one…

B (Sr)

 

 

A 20’s TEMPLE FOR 2020!

CELEBRATING THE BEGINNING OF A YEAR THAT WE WISH FRUITFUL + HAPPY TO EVERYBODY

We thought it made sense: the famous and emblematic ‘Palace Hotel’ in Barcelone, considered an icon of the 20’s (still magnificently stylized this way) to receive 2020 😊

Xtina and Bernardo Sr were living there a marvelous experience, enjoying ‘L’Éclair’ Restaurant delicatessen in a dinner paired with superior quality wine and attended by a so professional, warm staff.

Words apart for a young pianist of enormous talent that was mixing Maurice Ravel, Elton John or Astor Piazzola in such harmonic way that we barely distinguished the beginnings and the ends: it was permanent pleasure floating around celestial music accompanying celestial menus …almost heaven 😊

We remembered all of our beloved ones, our friends, colleagues, clients, accountants, humans that share existence with us and to whom we Wish Only the very Best.  Happy 2020!!!

Xtina & Bernardo Sr

 

 

‘3×1’ ANNIVERSARY NIGHTS 😊 

Both Xtina & Bernardo Sr. were accomplishing with last year’s wish about repeating anniversary celebration, now multiplied by 3!

01. Emblematic ‘Hispania’ Restaurant in Caldes d’Estrac was an unforgetable night in a luxury environment with original plates.  02. Renewed ‘Portinyol’ in Arenys de Mar was the opportunity to enjoy a marvelous landscape of sea + beach + moon together with delicatessen recommended by the Chef, and  03. ‘Nuus-Athenea’ in Mataró proved ideal as a closure night with tasty food + marvelous wines perfectly paired.  What else can we wish?…

…more & more celebrations like these ones in the coming years!!! 😊

‘Til the next one,

B (Sr)

 

 

Knowledge Development can arrive to be Fascinating, like any adventure from the most famous comic, or animation characters!

At bf© the Research side of our activity keeps playing the most relevant role, as it grants advancement and renewal, always necessary to keep ourselves in good shape in order to boost growth to our friends and partners in the academic, scientific and business scenarios.

The adventure begins by having a mystery to solve (‘How can we be more successful with our talent and resources?’ for example), then an investigation to open the case up (‘What are our best tracks?’ or ‘Who can be our enemy?’ ←possible barriers, inconveniences, etc.) and, of course, a field-based magnifying glass will help (‘What type of market frames our action?’ and ‘Who are our main competitors?’) to finally put a script for the show into practice (‘Let’s develop this public-related side in order to better cope with their main needs, outplaying competitors by quicker and more accurate approach to case resolution’ ←goal-achievement 🙂

After a well-defined track of action to ‘solve the case’ (get the goal) we need to colect Knowledge (initial info), use it adapted to the Goal to reach (strategic vision), arm the best possible path of Development for Public’s joy and success (better ‘growth with pleasure’!) and finally Apply Solution to prove it right and proper.

In other words: Identification of a Need, divergent Creation of several possible alternative Solutions, and rational + Strategic (thus convergent) Choice of the best one. Easy?

Like in every adventure from the famous Franco-Belgian character pictured up there (the shadow one, I mean 🙂 the threats and dangers will be ready to block our success, although the passion for our work + the right decisions alongside the process will bring us to fruition for the benefit of our beloved Clients 😊

Knowledge forms permanent part of every successful ‘formula’ (Happiness, Growth, Achievement, Self-realization, Triumph) and to be involved in some of its sides makes us feel priviledged people, always wanting to prove useful to as many destinees as possible, in compensation.

(B.t.w., in short we’ll publish the whole ‘portfolio’ with list of fields covered from our involvement in Coaching, Training, Mentoring, Consultancy, and general Support to Success in the varied fields we work with …’Coming Soon’!)

‘Til the next one,

B (Sr)

 

 

Villefranche de Conflent (Pyrénnees Orientales) is considered the most beautiful town in the whole France, and declared World Human Heritage by UN.  Xtina and Bernardo Sr. come to confirm why.

A thousand-year-old walled city in ‘fortress’ style, counts however on another fortress (Fort Libéria) located about 50 meters up the Pyrenean slope, from where Villefranche can be protected from any unexpected attack.

Nowadays, only tourists of multiple nationalities enter through its two Majestic gates (‘Porte de France’ and ‘Porte d’Espagne’), in what can rarely be considered an attack if they behave in civic way 😊.

Difficult to highlight any spot to visit in case of you feeling tempted to enjoy this village.  The whole of it is a jewel, and makes one feel part of medieval stories that happened here and are recreated in visitors imagination.

Even though, Saint-Jacques church, a marvel built on stone inside which time seems to stop for a while, deserves a chance, as well as the bridges attached to the walls, which arches observe the crystalline waters jumping on the rocks in the middle of an idyllic green landscape with snowy mountains as a background (in winter the white dominates  the whole of the scene).

The nearby caves of ‘les Grandes Canalettes’ add magics to this village that has left us marked by beauty and with obvious desire to repeat soon…

…WITH THE YELLOW TRAIN! (‘TRAIN JAUNE’)

Another chapter that deserves attention, and a chance!  Also this unique train and its itinerary are being considered by UN as probable ‘World Human Heritage’ in short, and we again agree with the selection.

Travelling 3 hours that seemed just minutes because of the permanently changing beauty of myriad of high mountain landscapes, the ‘Train Jaune’ brought both Xtina and Bernardo Sr. through parallel changes of inner emotions and sensations, from surprise to joy and satisfaction.

Reaching the highest French railway station (Bolquère-Eyne) and plenty of other spots with geographical, historical, or touristic importance, we took this trip as an added reason to want to come back 😊

‘Til the next one!

B (Sr)

 

It’s been unforgettable, as it happens with special moments that leave a mark in life.  In the academic one, as a professor in different fields, I usually feel ‘paternalistic’, or so, while witnessing the key instant in which my dear Students (some from them kind of ‘second sons and daughters’ after lot of time and experiences together) go walking full of pride towards their Diploma.

Undergraduate and Graduate (Master) courses have been making me work a lot alongside this ending academic year, and they exceeded by far my expectations in terms of happiness, feeling useful, and learning from every single one of our Students in the European University Business School, an institution that is consistently growing in prestige and solidness so much that I can barely compare current EU to the one of my old times there (13 years ago).

A cycle ends to many, and another begins for them, like the butterfly getting out of its caterpillar wrap.  Let’s hope they fly high and far, coloring this world with their talent, capacity and will of serving in ethics, professional way.

Xtina was enjoying as a special guest both the impeccable Ceremony (in Palau dels Congressos de Catalunya) and further cocktail in the gardens of Fairmont Hotel Juan Carlos I, where all the academic community could happily say bye-bye and hello, in a symbol of how life usually works.

Every end is a beginning.

‘Til the next one!

B (Sr)

 

The Occitan, Languedoc-Roussillon region in the Eastern Pyrenees offers multiple choices to whoever wanting to enjoy the sea, the mountains, or a bit of citizen culture in Perpignan (i.e.), where Xtina and Bernardo Sr. discovered plenty of places with charm and history.

From medieval spots to modern architecture, the French flavor accompanied even tasty pizza (normally so Italian) on a fantastic terrace facing the Place de Catalogne.  Still in the restoration side, Le Comptoir restaurant (Campanile Urban Hotel) recommended us a merveilleux red wine (‘153’), typical product of this region, together with variety of famous French cheese and miscelanea of delicatessen.

The Têt river, and its ‘son’ La Bassa channel add elegance and richness to the urban landscape, and the calm, pleasant rhythm of the city invites to relax while walking alongside their Boulevards, chained in a giant ring that contains some of the most remarkable points as i.e. Le Castillette, Èglise-Cathedral de Saint Jean-Baptiste, Palace des Rois de Majorque, Theatre de l’Arxipelag, etc.

Keeping for a further ‘chapter’ the unforgettable experience of the ‘Train Jaune’ (Yellow Train), one of the best itineraries in the whole France, it has been an overall exciting + constructive time to charge batteries and want to come back soon 😊

‘Til the next one!

B (Sr)

 

As our dear friend Diego Bonardo says: ‘the Blue of Menorca sea is out of this world’. Absolutely agree!

Some peaceful, sunny days enjoying the marvels of the island were turning our spirits lighter, ready to fly among its paradisiac ‘calas’ and smooth, silent nature of rocks, sand, endless green from the forest, unforgettable turquoise-blue from the Mediterranean sea.

If each Balearic island has ‘own personality’, Menorca’s one is quiet, kind, luminous, and healthy: true ‘lung’ of the archipelago, its uncontaminated atmosphere invites to enjoy walking, biking, riding, and plenty of other activities that will remain in the memory for long.

Xtina and Bernardo Sr. were delighted to experience the luxury attention that ‘Hotel Romantic 5 Sentidos’ offers in the touristic Ciutadella, a place where to enjoy marvelous gastronomy while taking a walk by the port (certainly one of the most beautiful ones in the whole Mediterranean sea) or the medieval down town.

From the porthole windows of the comfortable cabin in Transmediterranea iconic ‘J.J. Sister’ vessel, also the magic of a shining moon on the waves’ foam will remain evoking a lovely trip.

Definitely, we’re ready to come back!

‘Til the next one.

B (Sr)

 

A POWERFUL BOOK TO BOOST SUCCESS? DEAL! 😊 

‘Comunicación que Funciona’ is the new book from Bernardo Sr, available everywhere through Internet and also in every book-shop inside Spain (by now in Spanish, later on so probably also in English).

The giant making this possible is ESIC Editorial, a publishing house having been recently recognized as the most prestigious one in the fields of Communication, Marketing, and Business.  493 pages to get entertained and grow at the same time …sounds good?

Then GET THE BOOK NOW!  😊

How to be more successful in life and at work through our communication is what all is about throughout the 20 chapters of the book, that follows a progressive path to cover from the basement to the most subtle aspects of such an impressive thing as communication is.

Communication Professionals, Journalists, Students and Professors, Coaches, Trainers, Busioness people, Sales people, Managers + Leaders in general, and surely YOU can benefit from the easy, funny, and entertaining style of redaction to achieve your highest goals of success.

Let’s hope you like it, and begin soon to experience its benefits.  Of course, we also expect from you an instant recommendation to all of your friends and colleagues in case of enjoying …or to your enemies if it was horrible!

Keeping in touch, please tell us how the experience has been, in order to value so much your opinion and putting it into practice the next book.

Here, some link in case of wanting to keep an eye or (better) to BUY!

https://www.esic.edu/editorial/editorial_producto.php?t=Comunicaci%F3n+que+funciona&isbn=9788417513825

Best wishes of a nice, ‘literary’ life 😊

‘Til the next one!

B (Sr)

 

CLASSIC PLEASURE

Eximia violinist Clara-Jumi Kang playing Sibelius with her magic Stradivarius, and the symphonic orchestra Camera Musicæ honoring Dvořák were enough for Bernardo Sr. and Xtina to enjoy a marvelous concert while feeling in the air for an unforgettable while.

Words appart for the Palau de la Mùsica Catalana, only theater declared as World Heritage by Unesco, a true piece of art that combines architecture with sculpture and many other marvels.

Bernardo Jr. was the clear responsible of the ‘crime’, having both recommended the show + given the tickets as a gift for Xtina’s birthday.  What a present!

Recommended to everyone next time these talented musicians offer such an outstanding interpretation.

‘Til the next one!

B (Sr)

 

BACK IN (NURIA) PARADISE

La Vall de Núria is more than a marvelous place full of nature and hostelry + gastronomic offer reaching the top.  Is also an opportunity to get stunned by the huge variety of landscapes that leave visitors breathless, at every season of the year.  And silence.  Is a place where to enjoy the power of silence for finding again ourselves (far from stress and duties), and getting in deep connection to creation.

Both Xtina and Bernardo Sr. enjoyed ‘another’ vision, after the snowy one some months ago, now with the lake (full of trouts) mirroring high, eternal mountains whose leafy conifers add some more magic to the place.

‘Vall de Nuria’ Hotel was now the place chosen to re-arm Self after frequent walks among transparent rivers, variety of animals, and unforgettable places where the profuse presence of crosses, hermitages and religious symbols recall the special character of this geography, under the maternal protection of the Virgin of Núria, who reigns in the basilica, in the center of complex-building seen in the upper photo.

In the previous ‘Núria-report’ we recommended the experience to whoever wanting to enjoy winter.  Now let us extend the thing to the whole year 🙂

 

ANNIVERSARY NIGHT

Xtina & Bernardo Sr. were gladly celebrating both the 1^st anniversary of the new bf^© phase + a so significant personal one in fantastic ‘Galaxó-Casa Fuster’ restaurant, in Barcelona.

We hope to repeat the pic for many years!

B (Sr)

 

‘VNIVERSITAS’ (GRADUATION DAY)

The Latin term means ‘the whole, the universe…’, and for lot of newcomers to the exciting world of Journalism (photo) we know it had to feel like this: Graduation Day means ‘I can begin to eat the world and make career’ 🙂

To their families, it’s just the magical moment expected since the babies’ birth: ‘Let’s hope I’ll live until seeing them graduating in the uni’ proud parents can remember having said half a life ago.

Congrats new mass communicators (B Jr included, under the red arrow 🙂)!  From now on, ‘the Truth’ is in your hands.

‘Til the next one!

B (Sr)

 

TARRACO: FOR THE GLORY OF ROME

Some couple of days in ‘Tarraco’ (Roman name for current Tarragona, in Catalonia) were inviting both Bernardo Sr. and Xtina to evoke those ancient times of the Imperium Iberian side.

Built at the end of the 1^st century BC, the Amphitheatre still invites to imagine the numerous fights with gladiators (munera) and animals (venation) held there during a long time.

The rest of the city is enjoyable at any corner of it, well deserving a visit to immerse yourself both in the history and its architectural beauty.

Said remains …for the glory of Tarraco 🙂

 

SNOWING AROUND…

Nature in winter can be magic, as we discovered with ‘the older’ side of  bf^©  team (Xtina & Bernardo Sr. 🙂 ) in Vall de Nuria (Catalan Pyrenees), where a frozen lake rounded by ski slopes near a millenary sanctuary (Virgin of Nuria), and a big hotel with comercial centre, worth a nice couple of entertaining days.

To complete the amazing trip, we enjoyed also the pacific atmosphere of Queralbs (connected to Nuria by an original rack railway), resting and enjoying the gastronomy of Hostal Les Roquetes, in front of the train station precisely.

Recommended to everybody wanting to enjoy life in winter!

 

CELEBRATING LIFE & JOB

To begin february in healthy way, we met with the bf^©  team (there are more out of the frame 🙂 ) around some roasted beef, good wine, and lot of boiling ideas on the table on how to keep on offering  the best to partners and friends during this year.

JUST CONTACT US IF CURIOUS ABOUT OUR STUFF!