Coolvertible | Coolvertible Tours

Mar 31

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Old villages that became part of the city

Gràcia, Sarrià, Sants, Poble Sec… Very popular neighborhoods in town that once were independent villages around Barcelona. It was not until the 19th century that Barcelona took over those small villages because of the need to grow beyond the Middle Ages city walls. Traditionally, these towns still keep a kind of peculiar urban style: narrow streets, small or medium churches and cozy plazas, and some other features like water fountains, old stores, and manufacturers. Gràcia and Sarrià are probably the most different neighborhoods. Gràcia has a “young arty and unconventional” inhabitant profile, while Sarrià has quite a “well-off young families and professionals” one. These are fantastic areas to know on the Coolvertible’s Trendy Barcelona Tour or to know just strolling.

Sep 17

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Most of the Art Nouveau (Modernista) buildings in downtown Barcelona are…

Not the original ones. But, please, don’t get mad at me. I’m not lying. I’m just saying that many of the outstanding works by Gaudí, Puig i Cadafalch and Domènech i Montaner were set up over existing buildings. So what’s the story? During the second half of the 19th century, Barcelona’s urban planning efforts were aimed at making the city grow beyond the medieval walls in a quite rational way. Indeed, the Cerdà Plan was executed on the basis of social equality and harmony. Therefore, buildings could not be more than 22 metres (72 feet) high and blocks could strictly be built in a square grid. This is easy to confirm if you have a bird’s eye view of the city, or just by walking through the streets. Some years later, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, some wealthy manufacturers and entrepreneurs in the city wanted to have their own conspicuous mansions, different from all the rest. They had the money and pressured the city council to approve the rebuilding and refurbishment of the “egalitarian” homes where those rich people wanted to live. So from 1900 to 1925, many Catalan Art Nouveau building projects were commissioned to the […]

Apr 12

by enric in Barcelona, Barcelona convertible tour, Barcelona Cool Private Tours, Barcelona in a Convertible, Coolvertible, In style, Street Art in Barcelona 0 comments tags: Barcelona Cool Private Tours, Barcelona Cool Tour, Barcelona in a Convertible, Coolvertible

Cool Street Art in Barcelona

When riding around in Barcelona, color often bursts out of the blue, right before your eyes, whether on a wall, in an advertising display, down on the pavement or hanging on a lamppost. The work of urban artists is unpredictable, direct and provocative. Sometimes it makes you smile, often it stimulates you, and yet it can make you wonder about what you see for a couple of minutes while driving or walking. Keith Haring’s mural was the first one in Barcelona. Created way back in 1989, it was a project against AIDS in the Raval district, but many other international and local artists like Fontcuberta, Binty Bint, El Xupet Negre, Kenor, Aleix Gordo, Invader and Axe Colours have also left their mark on the city in the last few years. Like other Western cities, Barcelona is a huge canvas for those who have something to express. The urban habitat is the best art gallery. Keep your eyes wide open and look around. Coolvertible’s Trendy Barcelona tour is the best way to find street art and the trendiest places in town.

Feb 20

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Some tips when moving around in Barcelona #1

Hola is the keyword to starting any conversation. Since Barcelonans speak Spanish and Catalan, people will really appreciate it if you can say something in Catalan, such as bon dia (good morning), gràcies (thank you) or adéu (good bye). Tipping at bars and restaurants is not a requirement. It is up to you… Humidity is a reality in the city. Get used to it, although it may increase your feeling of heat. Sometimes it makes you sweat, as well, so take it easy. Don’t hesitate to ask for directions. Barcelonans really like to help foreigners. Watch out when crossing the street. Walk through the traffic lights zone. Be very careful with zebra crossings. Avoid restaurants and bars that display the dishes in pictures outside. No way! These places serve the worst paella and the most inedible tapas and food. Taxi cabs must post a sticker with official rates on a side window. You’d better have a look at it.

Dec 03

by enric in Barcelona, Barcelona Cool Private Tours, Barcelona in a Convertible, Coolvertible, In style 0 comments tags: Barcelona Cool Private Tours, Barcelona Cool Tour, Barcelona in a Convertible, Barcelona Private Tours, Barcelona Tours, Convertible Tours, Coolvertible

Five tips for travelers: when you’d like to eat something between meals in Barcelona

Eating in Barcelona is a ritual. This is not only because eating times are different than elsewhere in Europe, but also because we love the act of eating. We eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But we may also have an aperitivo, a merienda or a late-night snack. Here are 5 useful tips to enjoy snacking in the city: Tapas! These are a legend in Spain… In Barcelona, they are different than those from Madrid, Bilbao and Seville. Here, we love patatas bravas (hot spuds), ensaladilla rusa (Russian salad) and anchoas (anchovies). We eat tapas before lunch and dinner, as an apéritif. A word of caution, however: good tapas are always served in very crowded bars and restaurants. Avoid empty ones. You should try jamon ibérico (Spanish cured ham) at least once (The best is black in color, called de bellota). Where? Try Ciudad Condal, La bodegueta, Cerveseria Catalana, 5 jotas, Cañete or Casa Pepe. It’s best to have it with pa amb tomàquet (bread with rubbed tomato). Order a caña (draft beer) or a vino tinto (a glass of red wine) while eating jamón. Some Catalan and Spanish wines are very good. Try DO Priorat, Ribera del Duero, and Toro. […]

Nov 10

by enric in Barcelona, Barcelona convertible tour, Barcelona Cool Private Tours, Barcelona in a Convertible, Coolvertible, In style, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: Barcelona, Barcelona Cool Private Tours, Barcelona in a Convertible, Barcelona Private Tours, Barcelona Tours, Convertible Tours, Coolvertible

Barcelona Tours in a Saab 93 Convertible

I love classic cars. They are like treasures. Driving them is indescribable. The Saab 93 Convertible is not a classic yet, but it will be. It has a stylish Swedish design. Austere but sleek. It is said that Saab’s main designer Björn Envall sighed with admiration when he saw the new convertible beauty created by design manager Eero Miettinen at the beginning of the 21st century. I can only imagine. Because when I drive my Saab Coolvertible, I feel like I’m sailing through the streets of Barcelona. It is an awesome feeling that spreads to everyone in the car. Every ride has a story in the Saab 93 Convertible. Daily life in a city like Barcelona and the people that come to enjoy the tours make it possible. Coolvertible loves Barcelona!

Oct 22

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Barcelonas

It is not a huge city, it is not the capital city and it is probably not the most beautiful city in Europe. So, what is the appeal for all those who come to visit us every year? I guess that the answer lies in the many different faces of Barcelona. When I started the Coolvertible tours, I was amazed by the comments of some customers afterwards that they now could say they had seen the different Barcelonas. At first this seemed like praise. But beyond that, it supported the basic idea behind Coolvertible: to see Barcelona from a new perspective, rather than as part of the standard tourist experience. So what does this entail? It includes finding the best views of the city to understand its shape and growth, driving through the rowdy streets of Barceloneta, the seamen’s district, to grasp the great importance of the sea and seafood in the community, touring the cleanest streets in town to see the gardens, cars and manor homes of those who hold power and cruising by the millennial palaces in the Born and Gothic quarters to feel history and art. That is the point. Experiencing the city is what one is supposed to […]