| NETWORK NEWS |
| Barcelona Supplement July 2005 |
| EDITORIAL |
by Mònica Feixas & Marina Tomàs, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Spain Dear Partners, We are delighted to welcome you to the 3rd Symposium of the European E-Competence Initiative in Barcelona. We are sure that this will be as productive as the other meetings and we hope that you will enjoy your stay in Catalonia. UAB was founded in 1968. It is therefore a young and modern institution in comparative studies and is one of the first three Spanish universities in research and teaching. At present, UAB has approximately 3,000 teaching staff and 40,000 graduate and post-graduate students distributed in five areas of knowledge: Experimental Sciences, Human Sciences, Health Sciences, Social Sciences and Engineering. In addition to a large variety of service and cultural facilities, the campus hosts a Scientific and Technological Park formed by specific research centres and consortiums, created with the aim of answering to the own interests of the research community and to do research in collaboration with other universities, administration, State research centres (CSIC) and industry. The Faculty of Education Sciences, where the Symposium will take place, was founded in 1992 to group the Teaching studies and the Pedagogy studies. Nowadays, 10 education degrees, 6 doctoral degrees and an important number of master degrees are being taught. UAB is a bilingual institution and you are very welcomed to practice Catalan. The Catalan language was prohibited during General Francisco Franco Dictatorship (1939-1975), but with the re-establishment of democracy it officially began being used again. As in most nations, our language is the strongest sense of identity for the Catalan people and our University is a great defender of it. Among other identity traits we can mention our typical cuisine, which we hope you will be able to enjoy, and our folk culture. In particular spectacles such as “castellers” (human towers), “diables” (devils running with fire), “bastoners” (a dance with sticks), “capgrossos i gegants” (giants), etc., which you will have the opportunity to see if you stay in Barcelona on Saturday, with the occasion of Mercè’s Festivity, the Mistress of Barcelona. Benvinguts! Mònica Feixas & Marina Tomàs |
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BARCELONA SIGHTS TO SEE AND DO By Christina Legg, National University of Ireland, Galway For those staying in Barcelona and intending to hang around after the conference, there is an abundance of things to do. From sunbathing on the sun-soaked beaches to touring the ancient city, there is something for every visitor. The only problem may be just where to start. The 1992 Olympic Games saw huge investments put into Barcelona, quickly converting it into a modern, cosmopolitan city. Boasting broad avenues, bustling traffic, modern shops, and striking old and new buildings, there is something to see for every type.
Most people start at Las Rambles, the promenade that runs from the port to the Plaça de Catalunya. Tourists and visitors cram the boulevard, taking in the bars, shops, and stands. As you head for the port, stroll down the Paseo de Colon boulevard while taking in the sights of the beach, the harbour, and the aquarium. If you have time, climb de San Sebastia tower in little Barcelona for some fantastic views of the city. Conveniently, this is also where the cable car for Montjuic leaves. Finally, end up at the old city centre, the Gothic Quarter. The Gothic Quarter offers a spectacular sight of both medieval and ancient times, showing a variety of architectural styles from Gothic to Roman. Being the oldest residential district in Barcelona, the Gothic Quarter offers a maze of narrow streets, shops, restaurants, and tapas bars, in addition to remains of the Roman walls that still separate the boundary between the districts. Combining ancient ruins and modern tourism, the Gothic Quarter is an atmospheric area that can't be missed.
For more detailed information on recommended tours in Barcelona see http://www.gohop.wcities.com/en/guide/tours/18/guide.html
For more details on this map, please go to http://www.bcn.es/guia/welcomea.html |
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The best way to introduce yourself to Barcelona is to simply stroll though the city centre. Displaying ancient sights (some Roman walls can still be seen), Gothic architecture, open-air markets, and historical buildings, walking allows for soaking it all in.
Montjuic is an area in Barcelona with a park, museums, the Spanish Village, which remains fairly intact, and a 'magic' fountain, which gives a spectacular display of colour, light, motion, music and
water acrobatics. 
The most central point to the city is the Plaça Catalunya, and will also end up being a main transport hub during your journeys around Barcelona. Once standing outside the city walls, Plaça Catalunya is now a large central square surrounded by huge buildings and displaying fountains and sculptures. For tourists hot from the Spanish sun, there is a welcome respite of grassy green areas as well. Fiesta times see the Placa Cataluyna crammed with onlookers, as well as providing musical performances and other shows. 
The day after the eCompetence conference ends, on the 24th of September, Barcelona will boast one of its most famous annual fiestas, the "Festa de la
Mercè." A fantastic oportunity to know
more about the Catalan culture, music and tradition, the festival displays Catalan activities to their fullest. Including a parade, Castalls (human castles/towers), the Correfoc (a spectacular fireworks parade), and more, it is the feste major of Barcelona, and an opportunity that you won't want to miss.