Barcelona Travel Guide by Hostal Residencia Australia

A surprise from the 15th century

The Jewish community and their descendants that were expelled from Spain by The Catholic Kings in 1492 are known as Sephardi.

Their descendants have maintained part of their Spanish tradition and language over the centuries.

Here we have from the U.S.A, Elisa Agava, that speaks Spanish and still recalls here Grandmother speaking to her in Judeo Español , an old spanish from the 15th century

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Barcelona at sunrise in winter. A hot appealing coffee is waiting for me.

Thomas Lorenzo , Hostal Australia´s owner goes national with Bob Sands Big Band

Thomas Lorenzo & Bob Sands Big Band. Spanish National TV, Tele 5

Meat Balls Composed and arranged  by Thomas Lorenzo.

Thomas Lorenzo, Bob Sands Big Band, Meatballs

The Montojo family, my cat, Hostal Residencia Australia

The Montojo family and my cat , chochin. Hostal Residencia Australia welcomes two neuro phd scientisst in brain mapping, (Caroline Montojo ) and brain stem cells ( Daniel Lee). The cat gets all the attention and she loves it .

Hostal Residencia Australia, The Montojo Famiy

The lost happy luggage

Here we are celebrating that the luggage had arrived. Yolanda flew 300 km and her bag courtesy of KLM , (we have no idea how they got hold of a bag for a local light as they fly only international) flew 6000 km for free around europe.

Yolanda had wished she had been part of the 6000 km trip.

In the picture we have Yolanda Zhang, me, and Jingjing Ma.

Would you still fight until death for your loved one? Give it a try.

Do I love her so much? Barcelona daytrip

Today I recommend an interesting day out in Callela, a small town right next to Barcelona and on the coast. On the 12th and 13th of June they celebrate a medieval fare showing Catalan life back in the good old days.

Just imagine what life would have been like. No need for manners, you could be filthy as a pig and still be loved. Nothing like fighting until death for your loved one. Things have not changed since then, have they? . When we wanted a girl we would just show up and chop off any competitors head. Yes things were good in the old days.

I have just read through the programme they advertise and it seems like fun.

You will be able to experience what is was like to hunt with a hawk.

You will be able to make a tapestry for Grandma or some warm underwear.

Barcelona tapestry,

You will learn how to shape boulders for house building. This seems very practical for present day recession awareness

You will learn how to make plates, bottles, cure headaches with herbs.

And of course you will be able to eat what they were eating back then. This I am really looking forward as I have always wanted to have a wild boar for myself as in Asterix and Obelix

See you all there

Thomas Lorenzo

La europea desunida.

Me he quedado sorprendido de la falta de información de los gobiernos locales durante el caos aéreo vivido el mes pasado. Es importante que el viajero sepa que Europa aun estando unida es una región desunida. Las fronteras existen y cada país es soberano de su existencia. Si alguien se encuentran que quiera viajar de España a Francia en transporte publico es mas fácil pensar en viajar hasta una frontera , cruzar y desde allí coger otro transporte. Existen muchos trenes y autobuses desde los pueblos de las fronteras ya que es lógico que los ciudadanos necesiten viajar por su país. Pero existen muy muy pocos trenes y autobuses que crucen fronteras. Espero que este consejo les ayude si algún día se encuentren atascados en Barcelona.

Barcelona day trip, wine and modernist arquitecture

isit the Penedes wine region.
A day trip from Barcelona , where you rent a car and enjoy some very pretty nature , history and end up visiting the modernist buildings of the freixenet , codorniu wine cellars constructed by the modernist arquitect Puig i Cadafalch.

It is very easy to rent a car for the day so no worries here. At our reception I will give you a detailed itenary that we could also map on google for you and you car navigator.

Easy very easy.

This will give you a chance to discover a region only 30 km from Barcelona next to Monsterrat where most of the famed catalan cava is produced.

Here are some pictures that might help you decide .

a nice view of a part of the penedes wine region

Depending on when you go you might get a chance to see the human towers in action called the castellers. When they tumble and fall you will here bones crack.

The human towers in action , the castellers

This is a nice view of the freixenet cellars .

A front view of the cellars

This next little map gives you an idea of the 30 km route we propose as a day trip outside Barcelona.

The wine region we propose to visit

The route will go through the following landmarks

Vilafranca del Penedès,
The church of Sant Cristòfol.


Guardiola de Font-rubí
Pla del Penedès.
Santa Maria de Bellver
Sant Pere de Riudebitlles,
The church of Sant Pere,
The gothic palace of the marquesos de Llo
The romanic churches of Sant Marçal, d’estil romànic, i Santa Maria.
Modernist arquitecture of the Casa Mestres, l’Ateneu Agrícola, l Freixenet and Codorniu

Barcelona things to do.

Barcelona things to do.

How about a good pop flamenco concert not intented for tourists ?

I recommend the following artist and concert:

Who?  JOSÉ EL FRANCÉS’

Where ?

When? 19/03/2010 at 21.30

Price 22 euros.

Jose “El Frances” (1971 -), whose real name is Jose Rodriguez Vazquez was  born in  Montpellier in 1971. That is why he is called Joseph the French ( el francés. Yes he is a gyspsy descendant of spanish immigrants and a cantaor, a flamenco vocalist.

Having played and recorded with the famed Camaron de la Isla his discography includes:

* The streets of San Blas (1992)

* We’re perfect (1995)

* Soul (1999)

* Playing love (2002)

* Water of hope (2004)

Respirando Amor (2009)

He will be presenting his latest CD  “Respirando Amor”.  with 11 new songs as “Caracolillos de Luna”

Please listen to him on

Jose el Frances, Barcelona Hostal Residencia Australia

The Labyrinth of Horta

Our barcelona hostel tip of the day is to visit the romantic gardens and labyrinth of Horta. Prices adults: 1,90o. Children under 6 free Opening hours: From 10.am until sunset XVIII century construction Architect: Doménico Bagutti

How to get there: Line 111, the green line, exit at Mundet Have fun.

The Labyrinth represents a journey to our own center and back again out into the world. Labyrinths have long been used as meditation and prayer tools.

This is cool tip and it is a good opportunity to get a nice view of the city as it is located in the top part of the city next to the mountain of Tibidado.