Last week was an important week for the Akaza Team members Niki and Ivo, because their teachers from Maastricht were visiting Barcelona and Akaza.

This meant that Niki and Ivo's work in their first months with Akaza was evaluated and they got to hear how they are doing so far. So judgement day!!! Luckily for them everybody is very satisfied with their performences and Niki and Ivo are also very

  {mosimage}

Talks about Global warming.. climate change... well me and I think a fair share of the citizens of this world, feels like its a nagged out topic which keep reoccurring. A topic that I eel human ignorance choose to ignore up until recently. But what good is it to talk about it when nothing is actually done to improve the situation? Do we use less fuel? Do we have better recycle systems? Do we use less water?

I think we are all guilty of charge here and it is not until wake up calls come along that we see the results of our bad behaviour?

Or is it so that we forgotten about the twisted springs where it was snowing in April and the Easter bunny had to put skis on to deliver the eggs? I clearly remember this and a this was back in the days in Sweden as I grew up, but to be fair that was a few years back, and no one mentioned anything about global warming back then?

So here we are sat in Spain, escaped the temperamental weather back home. Where summer reaching above 25 degrees Celsius resulted in grasping for the water hose to cool down in the over heated Nordic temperature.

But things changed....

In Spain, the land of promise of Sun Sun and more Sun! That is what the brochure said, and here I am 9 years later, and have to say so far not been asking for the money back, but this year....???? What happened??

First we were faced with water ban, no more hosing down the lawn, nor car, and if you were found doing either you would be heavily fined. Then when we finely managed to scoop out the summer wardrobe, painted toe nails ready for the sandals, not to mention the endless promises of beach party invitations waiting to happen...but...

We kept asking for rain, as we were in the bad drought and warned how we might have to cut down on showers... (can you imagine...garlic, sangria, chorizo, and humid body odur...no showers? hmmmm scary..) 

So prayers were answered indeed! Too many requests and Universe sent us an overload as its raining!!!

I can't even remember a cloud free weekend these past few months...not knowing what clothes to put on for the day, wellies, light shirt, shorts, hat..?? what should it be?

Well maybe we do not need to focus on Day D, but take this as a friendly reminder to how precious our dear mother earth is, and how we should look after her with great care, outer most care in fact, as bad karma, just might spoil your summer and you will have to fly north to find a bit of a sun tan...

Now lets ask for some Sun for Spain where she belongs and take this as lesson learned, take responsibility and do what we can to stay green!

Last week was an important week for the Akaza Team members Niki and Ivo, because their teachers from Maastricht were visiting Barcelona and Akaza.

This meant that Niki and Ivo's work in their first months with Akaza was evaluated and they got to hear how they are doing so far. So judgement day!!! Luckily for them everybody is very satisfied with their performences and Niki and Ivo are also very happy to work for Akaza.

Their teachers' visit also included a dinner with them and other students from the Netherlands. As a location for this dinner the restaurant La Fonda on Calle Escudellers 10 near the Rambla was picked. It opens at 20.30h but people already start queeing around 8 o'clock because you can't make a reservation in advance at this family restaurant.

 {mosimage}

However, once the restaurant is open the que runs very quickly.

The restaurant is comparable with Quinze Nits on placa Reial. It has a nice interior with blank wood and palm trees, the staff is friendly and they serve delicious and affordable Catalan food in a cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Niki's menu  

Starter: Grilled Vegetables
Main dish: Entrecote with pepper sauce
Dessert: Cafe con leche (with extra sugar)
Drinks: 1/2 liter Sangria

Niki's opinion: La Fonda is a nice restaurant and the food is really great compared to the price. However, what I have enjoyed most is that the restaurant offers the possibility to enjoy your meal with friends in a great atmosphere. It was fun to have dinner with the teachers and to meet them in another setting than a classroom. By the way, thank you very much Hogeschool Zuyd Maastricht for paying for the drinks (that explains the 1/2 liter Sangria).

Ivo's menu: 

Starter: Macaroni boloñesa
Main dish: Grilled salmon with green asparagus
Dessert: Vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce
Drinks: Water

Ivo's opinion: I also really liked the atmosphere in the restaurant and the food I had was delicious. I would recommend to always take a starter as well as a main dish as the main dish was not very much. Together with the starter however it's a more than complete and satisfying meal. The service was also very good and fast. It was nice to meet the other students from our university because although we all live close to the centre of Barcelona I didn't meet any of them yet. 

La Fonda

Calle Escuder 10 (off the Ramblas)

08002 Barcelona

Tel: 933 017 515

The spring has finally come to Barcelona, and noticeably so. People are like flowers, like a closed bud in winter which with the heat and sun shine starts flourishing and the smiles on their faces growing wider. The Akaza Team is thrilled and excited to be able to stroll down to the Barceloneta beach on their lunch break, munch away on a sandwich and sip in the spring atmosphere.
And not only does the heat bring out the smiles but also the love, "love is in the air" as the song says, Couples popping out of the wood work, snugging and looking very much in love where ever turn.
 
To take advantage of the great weather the Akaza Team is sent out to work on several projects, where we want to offer more information to our guests and visitors.
Niki is currently working on photo gallery where she has taken photos of art, graffiti, and people of Barcelona, to be found on this link:
Akaza Photo Gallery
 
Ivo is in charge of our new Barcelona City Guides which will be in the management Barcelona Holiday apartments. Which you can take a look at in a word format and download from our web page:
Akaza Guide Book
 
Judith is about to send the latest Newsletter with information about the latest happenings in Barcelona. If you would like to sign up for our newsletter go to:
Akaza Newsletter sign up
 
Thijs is doing a thorough market research, to find out what Akaza guests would like to experience when visiting Catalunya and how Akaza can offer them more services to fulfil their needs, so shortly we will be launching a whole new range of services. The aim is to keep Akaza vibrant and energetic with our philosophy to stay innovative and creative.
 
If the spring has not arrived to where you are at and you would like to seek the sun, Akaza Team is more then happy to assist you with any needs you might have in order to make your stay in Barcelona as easy and comfortable as possible. info@akaza.net or www.akaza.net
 
Happy Spring days to all of you out there.

  {mosimage}

Tidnings artikel från Örgryte Lokal Tidning

  {mosimage}

Valencia teams strikes down in Barceloneta.

Just one day after the exciting match for ¨el copa del rey¨ against FC Barcelona (1-1) the Valencia FC team stroke down in Barceloneta. The main reason of their visit to the neighbourhood was lunch....

  {mosimage}

Why does it seem that a year can just swing by and yet another birthday party is to be organised, but this time it seemed the year was shorter. It went sooo fast!!!

As I love organising any party with an excuse to get friends together for a good time. Of course I had to do it again.

This time an invite to the mountains was sent out. We were to go skiing... well at least I was, then who ever wanted to come I was delighted to include in the party..

  {mosimage}

Gör det du gillar bäst så följer allt där efter..

En Svensk kariärs kvinna i Barcelona berättar sin historia
Av Regina WB

“Jag älskar att resa på den mest otrampade vägen, ju mindre människor som har varit där desto bättre” säger Andrea Drottholm, ägarinna av en av dem ledande Turist lägenhets uthyrnings firmorna i Barcelona, Akaza.

Denna unga Svenska egna företagare har rest dem sju haven, bott och jobbat i nio olika länder och har inga tankar på att sluta resa. När Andrea inte sitter bak till på en motorcykel åkandes över Himalaya eller klättrar Maya pyramider i Guatemala, sitter hon lugnt dockad i sin segelbåt i Barcelonas hamn, Port Vell, och driver sitt företag från central kontoret i Barceloneta.

  {mosimage}

Doe Waar Je Van Houdt & de Rest Zal Volgen

Een Succesvolle Zweedse in Barcelona Verteld Haar Verhaal

Door "Regina WB"

“Ik ben gek reizenover  het onbewandelde pad, hoe minder mensen het pad bewandeld hebben des te beter,” zegt Andrea Drottholm, eigenaar van een van Barcelona´s toonaangevende appartementenverhuurbureau, Akaza.