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Tags: Airport Photo Shoots / Celeb Travel / Gwyneth Paltrow / Barcelona Travel / → All Tags

Paltrow Lets It All Hang Out (Of Her Tank Top) At Barcelona's Airport

If only we had a dime for every time we've flashed our bra at the airport security check, we'd have just about enough to buy a stick of gum. And you know why? Because we are not Gwyneth Paltrow, who apparently decided that the weather in Barcelona was cold enough to wear a scarf, but so hot that a handkerchief of a tank top would do for the flight home.

Alas, the tank top didn't do very well, and now pictures of Paltrow not only looking haggard at the checkpoint are out on the web, but they include her flesh-colored bra, which, unless you do a double-take, looks like fully nude side-boobage. We're going to jot this down in our no-nos list of in-flight fashion, for obvious reasons. Also, doesn't that scarf kind of look like a neck brace until you see the whole picture?

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Tags: Celeb Travel / Oprah / Barcelona / Spain Travel / Cruises / → All Tags

All Aboard The Oprah Boat: A Free Cruise For Winfrey's Employees

It pays to work for Oprah. The second most powerful celebrity in the world is treating 1,700 of her employees and their families to an all-expenses-paid Mediterranean cruise this week, estimated to be setting Oprah back about $5400 per person, totaling $9.2 million.

The trip began on the mainland in Barcelona, where Oprah celebrated her 55th birthday in Poble Espanyol, a popular tourist destination featuring shops, restaurants and bars. During their three day stay in the Barcelona, Oprah and her staff toured the city, taking in sites like the famously incomplete Antonio Gaudi church La Sagrada Familia.

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Tags: Travel Snapshot / Jaunted Flickr Pool / Animals / → All Tags

Barcelona Bulldog Attempts Popular Skateboard Maneuver

Remember the popular YouTube video of the English bulldog hopping on the skateboard and taking off? Well, it looks like this French bulldog in Barcelona is trying to get his own shot at fame. Although, it doesn't look like he (or she) succeeded.

Still, the Flickr member who took this snapshot, Marni Rachel, dropped in a ton of great travel shots from Barcelona and abroad into the Jaunted Flickr Pool. Trust, us. We probably spent a good half-hour just looking at them all. And wishing we were traveling some place right now.

Got your own travel snapshots to share? Drop them in our pool here!

Tags: Worlds-Coolest-Pools / Barcelona / Spain Travel / → All Tags

A Dip At The Foot of Barcelona

Last one in's a rotten egg! We're finding the best places in the world to stick our toes in this summer (or next winter) for our World's Coolest Pools map. Know of any pools we must check out? Let us know.

One guest's dealbreaker is another's delight: The Hotel Arts Barcelona's website barely mentions its pool among luxury offerings like the deluxe suites and the "Spa By Six Senses," but we think this gorgeous seaside tower's got something to shout about.

This Ciutat Vella skyscraper operated by Ritz-Carlton opened in 1994 and was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the architects who brought us the US embassy in Beijing and the Sears Willis Tower in Chicago. The neighborhood, the oldest part of the city currently holding the FC Champions League title, includes La Rambla, the long boulevard which is both tourist trap and exuberant artery of Barcelona street life.

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Tags: U2 / Music Travel / Concerts / → All Tags

U2's 360 Tour Will Kick Off in Barcelona This June

While some music festivals are dying including Spain's popular Summercase, the U2 360 Tour will certainly bring out thousands of fans in Barcelona on June 30th.

The band will play at Nou Camp Stadium, home to the FC Barcelona football team, before continuing on its European leg of the tour which finishes at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on August 22. Then the US leg will kick off on September 12 at Chicago's Soldier Field with surprisingly affordable ticket prices, too.

Tickets for some tour dates are currently on presale today through Thursday but the presale for the Barcelona concert has ended. Similarly, a lot of other shows are already sold-out and random ticket sites have already begun offering tickets for exorbitant prices. Still, we bet U2 will release more tickets as the dates get closer.

If you're planning on seeing U2 in Barcelona, the Nou Camp stadium can be reached from the heart of Barcelona (about three miles away) via the Metro or Bus. And while Barcelona has plenty of cool hotels, we personally have to recommend the Hotel Omm situated along the city's swank Paseo de Gracia. Currently rooms are going for 240 Euros from June 29-July 1.

Related Stories:
· U2 360 Tour [Official Site]
· U2's Secret Gig at Fordham University [Jaunted]

Tags: Travel Snapshot / Airports / Exits / BCN / → All Tags

Barcelona Really Wants You to Get Out of The Airport

When we first landed in Barcelona back in October we were bewildered by all the signs leading us out of the Barcelona International Airport. These signs appear in the air and on the ground in three different languages: Catalonian, Spanish and English.

We encountered the same sort of "guidance" on the streets in Barcelona as the signs on the pavement directed us to the underground metro detour. It was actually quite helpful, even if staring down at the cement for your next "clue" was sort of annoying. Can you imagine if New York City actually did something like that? Of course, they wouldn't. That would be borderline helpful.

More Barcelona Exit pics after the jump.

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Tags: Recessionomics / Music Festivals / Music Travel / Festivals / Summercase / → All Tags

Spain's Summercase Music Festival Bites the Dust

Uh-oh, three is a trend. We told you last week about two stateside music festivals that have joined the club of recession casualties, and now it's gone global.

Summercase, one of Spain's largest music festivals since it debuted in 2006, is a no-go for this year. The two-day indie, rock and electronica fest was held simultaneously in Barcelona and Madrid, in the past bringing in some of Europe's most popular acts, from Kings of Leon to Kaiser Chiefs to the Sex Pistols.

The organizers of Summercase say the poor financial climate made the festival impossible this year, but they still hope to return in 2010.

Hopefully that's the last of the recession music causalities, but we wouldn't bet on it.

Related Stories:
· Hard times in Spain put Summercase on ice [AFP]
· Are Music Festivals the Next Recession Casualty? [Jaunted]
· Music festivals coverage [Jaunted]

Photo: [pinc floit]

Tags: Photography Tours / Barcelona To Do / Sightseeing / → All Tags

Learning To Take Proper Photos In Barcelona

Jaunted contributing editor JuliaB gives us the low-down on snapping experts pic in Barcelona.

If you’ve been to Barcelona, you already know it’s a lush place for photos. And for those first timers, here’s why – it’s got beach, it’s got mountain, and it’s got unabashedly photogenic architecture, from medieval streets to thoroughly modern towerblocks with Gaudi’s M&M-coloured buildings thrown into the mix.

My problem is (or was – because I shoot pretty mean these days) that I’m not a natural photographer. Luckily for me, British expat Dan Rose is, and two years ago he set up Barcelona Photographer, which teaches the likes of me how to take a decent picture on a three hour walking tour of the city.

Dan assumes that you’ll already have seen most of the main sites, so his official group tour goes round the less touristy parts of Barcelona, like the Raval district (one of the city’s more gritty areas, so feel free to flaunt those piercings and hold tight to your bag) and the backstreets of the Gothic Quarter. If you’d rather get crack tuition in shooting your top ten, though, you can hire him on a private tour and go where you like. But bear in mind that you’ll probably spend the first two hours queuing to get into La Pedrera.

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Tags: Street Art / Beaches / Barcelona Travel / Barack Obama / → All Tags

The Writing, or Charcoal Drawing, is on the Wall in Barcelona

Our new President has inspired artists working in all mediums. One of them, Jorge Rodriguez Gerada, was inspired in a very big way.

Last November, Gerada sculpted Barack Obama’s head on a Barcelona beach that was so large it could be seen on Google Earth. The sculpture was 140 yards long by 80 yards wide, took 500 tons of sand, gravel and pebbles, 50 volunteers and more than $13,000 to complete. The size was meant to represent the importance of the American vote to the entire world. But because it was carved in sand, the weather has washed it away.

Still, President Obama’s face isn’t Gerada’s only "heady" project. He has also been working on the “Identity Series”, giant charcoal drawings of random people on walls throughout Barcelona. The blending of charcoal, the wall, and weather, is the most important part of the process. The intent is to have identity, place and memory blend together to become one.

Since 2002, the giant faces have adorned the streets of Barcelona, known as one of the street art centers of the world for more than two decades. Other noted artists, including Banksy, have also been encouraged by the city to tag their streets. Though the city is known for its art, there are no formal graffiti tours. Luckily, in most cases, you won’t need a guide to find unique pieces, just start walking.

Related Stories:
· Jorge Rodriguez Gerada [Official Site]
· Jorge Rodriguez Gerada [NY Arts]
· Jorge Rodriguez Gerada The Identity Series [Jay You]
· Obama Gets A Really Big Head [WTOP]
· Street Art coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Jorge Rodriguez Gerada]

Tags: Javier Bardem / Celeb Travel / Academy Awards / Award Show Travel / → All Tags

Heartless Killer Spotted Enjoying Sporting Event

Now there's a sporting son: Javier Bardem takes mom Pilar to a FC Barcelona football game at their home stadium Camp Nou for a game against Atletico Madrid.

At last year's Academy Awards, Bardem took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his turn as the frightening Anton Chigurh in last year's Best Picture winner "No Country For Old Men." Classically, the Best Supporting Actor presents the next year's Best Supporting Actress trophy, but officially, no one knows if Bardem will show up--because the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has opted not to release the names of any presenters besides host Hugh Jackman. That may be because last year's campaign to tie America's longest awards with non-nominee presenters like Miley Cyrus resulted in the lowest ratings ever for the Oscar broadcast.

Still, with Bardem garnering a steady stream of praise for his supporting turn in the Woody Allen movie "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," he might even find himself on the nominees list again. Oscar nominations are expected to be announced next week.

Related Stories:
· Oscar Presenters to Remain Secret Until Showtime [AP, via MSN]
· Movie Set Travel: No Country For Old Men [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Faded Youth Blog]

Tags: Christmas Alternatives / Fine Arts Travel / → All Tags

Wake Yourself Up In Barcelona

Aunt Mary's Christmas sweaters may provoke discussion this year, but will that really carry you through to New Year's Eve? Find something you can really argue about (besides religion or politics) at Barcelona's BAC! International Festival of Contemporary Art, through December 28.

The Spanish fashion scene is practically homegrown in Barcelona, considered the hip cousin to slightly stodgy capital Madrid. The theme of BAC! 08, held at the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, is "Réveille-toi" or "Wake yourself up"--a rallying cry for conscious cultural consumption and a re-valuation of society that takes into account more that just superficial value.

Pieces on display include a film exhibit of surrealist satires curated by Chilean and New York filmmakers and Phil Toledano's neon art.

Related Stories:
· Réveille-toi! [Official Site]
· Movie Set Travel: Vicky Cristina Barcelona [Jaunted]
· Barcelona on a Budget [Jaunted]

[Photo of original art from BAC! 08: doloreshorrores]

Tags: Movie Set Travel / Penelope Cruz / Scarlett Johansson / Javier Bardem / Woody Allen / → All Tags

Movie Set Travel: Vicky Cristina Barcelona

One of our favorite bespectacled directors (Woody Allen) is back to the big screen this week with "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," a sensual romantic comedy about two girls on holiday in Spain for the summer who fall for the same guy (Javier Bardem).

The girls (Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson) also don't realize that their love interest's ex-wife (Penelope Cruz) who, oh yeah, tried to stab him, isn't completely out of the picture yet. She arrives and decides maybe she knows what's best for him after all. And yes, there is one particularly racy scene involving Scarlett, Penelope and Javier, but we hear it's been talked up quite a bit more than it deserves.

"Vicky Cristina Barcelona" was not only shot in, but is a literal tribute to, Barcelona. Keep reading to check out some ideal stops there.

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