Members
Where to Meet Us
Moms and Tots
Wed, 08.09.10 10:30 - 13:00
Where?
Casa Orlandai, C/Jaume Piquet, 23 (FGC Sarria)
BWN´s weekly playgroup brings together babies, toddlers and moms to play, sing, chat and enjoy many other fun activities. Come and join us on a simple drop-in basis. Non-members are welcome for a free trial session
Cost
Free for members
Contact
Rebecca Glazer
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Coffee Morning
Thu, 16.09.10 11:00 - 13:00
Where?
IEN (Institut d'Estudies Nord-americans), Via Augusta 123, Atico (FGC Sant Gervasi)
This monthly meeting gives members and those interested in joining the BWN a chance to meet, hear about and sign up for forthcoming events, and learn more about the BWN. Coffee mornings are always followed by Cheap & Cheerful an inexpensive “menu del dia” at a nearby restaurant.
Cost
Free for members
Contact
Alejandra Ruiz
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Cocktail with our Prez
Thu, 16.09.10 19:30 - 21:30
Where?
El Jardi de l'Angel
Hotel Catalonia Albinoni
Portal de l’Angel 17
Website
Metro station: Plaza Catalunya
Cost
Pay-your-own
Contact
Alejandra Ruiz
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Thank you to our Sponsors
How To Get Round Town
As you may know, I’m a great fan of the Ajuntament city map. Unlike the Google map, which shows Barcelona as it actually lies, the Ajuntament map shows it in the stylized or geometrical way that every city map I have ever used since I first came here in 1973 does. That’s why I have no clue which way north, south, east and west are.
The sea is along the bottom, the Gran Via is parallel to the sea, the Collserola hills along the top, and the Eixample streets go from top to bottom and from side to side, with the Diagonal cutting through, well, diagonally, from uptown (Zona Alta)to the sea at Diagonal Mar.
This is how we always conceived of the city, until Google showed us that we were ‘all skew whiff’ as my mother in Manchester would say. We Barcelona people orient ourselves not by the points of the compass, but by sea-mountain and Llobregat-Besòs (the rivers on the left and right of the city as in the stylized map.)
This checkerboard design with the Diagonal slicing through top left to bottom right is almost as emblematic as the Sagrada Familia towers, and has been used on upholstery on the buses.
What is great about the Ajuntament map is that not only can you enter the street number to find your destination, you can also enter the cruilla - junction or crossroads. Taxi drivers will often ask you ‘quina cantonada?’ - which corner? - especially in the Eixample. It’s easier for them to orient themselves than with just a house number.
The new Ajuntament map has an acceptable English version (congratulations). The best thing of all about the map is that you can use the menu on the left to show bus stops, metro stations, car parks, ring-road on and off ramps, markets, schools, hospitals and pharmacies, etc etc. And you can click on the buses to see the routes. And of course you can print it out. (And then leave it at home when you sally forth)
So to get around town, forget Google for once and go to the Ajuntament City Map. Language option top right.
The only problem (yeah, well, it did seem too good to be true) is that it’s in Beta, so sometimes doesn’t work properly. But you can still access the old map by going here and clicking on Cancel.la. This one doesn’t have an English version but it’s visual enough to figure out.
Happy wandering!
Comments
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Ahhh, but google maps has a street view that is also helpful…real photos (helpful when you get off the bus or emerge from the metro.) Take that little orange guy and drag him onto the map. Of course, not all the streets of bcn have the street view option yet. By Christine Kristofits on 04.10.2009 |
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Yes, it’s true. That’s one of the great advantages of the Google map. But I’m so used to the ‘symmetrical’ one that I feel rather disoriented with Google, even though it reflects reality! Dragging the little orange guy around is also a wonderful procrastination tool! By Valerie Collins on 05.10.2009 |
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Like Valerie,up to now I do not know(in Barcelona) if people ask me where is north, south, east or west. I never go without my Michelin map, can’t use Google Map, although My husband spends a lot of time on it.I find it very easy going around in my bike.When I have a new “baby” or a meeting somewhere, a day before I go on my bike with the map and try to look for the new address first so that I know exactly where it is when I go on the date. By Florita Humphries on 10.08.2010 |