English Oasis - language exchanges & weekend activities http://www.englishoasis.org Socializing with locals, expats & tourists in Barcelona Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:18:25 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Palindrome, Fondue & Gardens http://www.englishoasis.org/newsletters/palindrome-fondue-gardens/ http://www.englishoasis.org/newsletters/palindrome-fondue-gardens/#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:18:25 +0000 Germaine http://www.englishoasis.org/?post_type=newsletter&p=2326 Today is a “Palindrome date”!

A curious day.  Today’s date is 21/02/2012… you can read it front to back or back to front and get the same results…it’s a Palindrome date!  Examples of Palindrome names include Anna, Bob, Eve, Hannah and Otto!

3 intercambios + FONDUE this week

  1. Wednesday Cafe Salambo (Gracias) from 7pm-9pm for our Cocktail-style intercambio
  2. Thursday at Bar Borneo (the Born) from 8pm-10pm for our seated-intercambio
  3. Saturday in the outdoor garden of Olokuti (Gracia) from 12noon-2pm for our lovely garden intercambio (currently alternate Saturdays, but when Spring arrives, we plan to do it every Saturday)

Visit our EVENTS page for more details

Cheese Fondue Fri 24th Feb

A great way to combat the cold is with a fun, social, cheese fondue!  We need your 5€ deposits by Thursday morning!!!!

To make it even more social we will start our Fondue night with a glass of cave, enjoy our cheese fondue and do another social mixing, to make sure we get a chance to talk to everyone!  Only 23€ for a great menu See event for more details .

5€ deposit required to reserve your place cash or via bank transfer). – La Caixa, English Oasis account: 2100 1841 06 01 00478886.  Make sure you give your name and say “Fondue deposit” in the reason so that we know what it’s for!

Secrets & Legends of the Gothic quarter

Secrets & Legends of the Gothic quarter:  Sunday 11th March Juan takes us one one of his most popular walking tours .  Those who have been on some of Juan’s other tours are already starting to sign up which is an indication as to just how good Juan’s tours are!

5€ deposit required to reserve your place cash or via bank transfer). – La Caixa, English Oasis account: 2100 1841 06 01 00478886.  Make sure you give your name and say “Secrets & Legendst” in the reason so that we know what it’s for!

Visit our EVENTS page for more details

COFFEE TALKS COMING SOON

 We will soon be introducing “coffee talks” sessions… either  mornings (11am) or afternoons (5pm) for those of you have  more free time during the week.  I’d love to hear  your ” target=”_blank”>Email me

Help wanted for intercambios

Yes, I know I posted this before, but I accidentally deleted many of your mains and due to changes, I am again looking for intercambio organizers for both Wednesday and Thursdays.  So, please, if you are interested in organizing an intercambio about once or twice a month, please email me .

]]> http://www.englishoasis.org/newsletters/palindrome-fondue-gardens/feed/ 0 Palindrome date + Fondue & Garden http://www.englishoasis.org/palindrome-date-fondue-garden/ http://www.englishoasis.org/palindrome-date-fondue-garden/#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:27:10 +0000 Germaine http://www.englishoasis.org/?p=2323 Today is a “Palindrome date”…and Carnaval Tuesday of course!

A curious day today is 21/02/2012… you can read it front to back or back to front and get the same results…it’s a Palindrome date!  Examples of Palindrome names include Anna, Bob, Eve, Hannah and Otto!

3 intercambios + FONDUE this week

  1. Wednesday Cafe Salambo (Gracias) from 7pm-9pm for our Cocktail-style intercambio
  2. Thursday at Bar Borneo (the Born) from 8pm-10pm for our seated-intercambio
  3. Saturday in the outdoor garden of Olokuti (Gracia) from 12noon-2pm for our lovely garden intercambio (currently alternate Saturdays, but when Spring arrives, we plan to do it every Saturday)

Visit our EVENTS page for more details

Cheese Fondue Fri 24th Feb

A great way to combat the cold is with a fun, social, cheese fondue!  We need your 5€ deposits by Thursday morning!!!!

To make it even more social we will start our Fondue night with a glass of cave, enjoy our cheese fondue and do another social mixing, to make sure we get a chance to talk to everyone!  Only 23€ for a great menu See event for more details .

5€ deposit required to reserve your place cash or via bank transfer). – La Caixa, English Oasis account: 2100 1841 06 01 00478886.  Make sure you give your name and say “Fondue deposit” in the reason so that we know what it’s for!

Secrets & Legends of the Gothic quarter

Secrets & Legends of the Gothic quarter:  Sunday 11th March Juan takes us one one of his most popular walking tours .  Those who have been on some of Juan’s other tours are already starting to sign up which is an indication as to just how good Juan’s tours are!

5€ deposit required to reserve your place cash or via bank transfer). – La Caixa, English Oasis account: 2100 1841 06 01 00478886.  Make sure you give your name and say “Secrets & Legendst” in the reason so that we know what it’s for!

Visit our EVENTS page for more details

COFFEE TALKS COMING SOON

We will soon be introducing “coffee talks” sessions… either mornings (11am) or afternoons (5pm) for those of you have more free time during the week.  I’d love to hear your ” target=”_blank”>Email me

Help wanted for intercambios

Yes, I know I posted this before, but I accidentally deleted many of your mains and due to changes, I am again looking for intercambio organizers for both Wednesday and Thursdays.  So, please, if you are interested in organizing an intercambio about once or twice a month, please email me .

]]> http://www.englishoasis.org/palindrome-date-fondue-garden/feed/ 0 Garden Intercambio: Saturday 12noon in Gracia http://www.englishoasis.org/event/garden-intercambio-saturday-12noon-in-gracia-2/ http://www.englishoasis.org/event/garden-intercambio-saturday-12noon-in-gracia-2/#comments Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:41:33 +0000 Germaine http://www.englishoasis.org/?post_type=event&p=2305 NOTE: Please reserve (RSVP) online for our intercambios and update your status if you can no longer attend.

Garden-Party-Style intercambios:

We love Olokuti’s back garden patio! It’s a hidden paradise of tranquility. We have chosen Olokuti because we share their philosophy of fair trade,ecological products&cultural diversity.

The set-up / format = Sit – stand – sit: The fantastic garden creates a very social relaxed atmosphere. We start by forming tables of 5 people but then after about 1 hour we get everyone to fold their chairs and form new groups (by star sign, colored dots etc). After about 20 minutes of mingling people are encouraged to unfold the chairs and continue talking freely.

ENGLISH: Olokuti (planet earth in Swahili) is a shop in Gracia specializing in and promoting fair trade,ecological and environmentally friendly products. It also has a great outdoor patio at the back of the store which is where we will meet.

CASTELLANO: Olokuti (planeta tierra en Swahili), es una tienda en Gracia que promueve y se especializa en productos de comercio justo,ecológicos y que respetan al medio ambiente. También tiene un fantástico patio exterior que es donde nos reuniremos. Each group controls their own “language bell” to make sure that everyone gets a fair practice of their target language.

FAQs: For more information about our language exchanges visit our FAQ intercambio page.

The details:

  • When: Saturday 12noon – 2pm
  • Where: In the garden of Olokuti-C/Asturies 38 (Gracia)
  • Nearest metro: Olokuti is about 1 minute walk from Fontana (L3) metro.
  • Intercambio organizer: Germaine (click link for more info about the English Oasis team)

2012 Prices

Price for intercambio FIRST TIMERS with or without online reservations

  • English 1st timers wanting Spanish: FREE
  • Españoles/Catalanes que vienen por primera vez a uno de nuestros intercambios para practicar su inglés: 2€

Price WITH online RSVP (reservations):

  • English speakers wanting Spanish: 3€
  • Españoles/Catalanes y otras nacionalidades que buscan practicar su inglés a cambio de Castellano: 4€**

Price WITHOUT online RSVP (reservations):

  • English 1st timers wanting Spanish: 4€
  • Españoles/Catalanes que vienen por primera vez a uno de nuestros intercambios para practicar su inglés: 4€

* We offer a 1€ discount to native and near-native English-speakers who RSVP (reserve) online
**Porque tan solo ofrecéis descuentos a los angloparlantes que buscan español?! Disculpad pero necesitamos animar a mas Anglo-parlantes a participar. Damos aun mas razones en nuestra sección de FAQ.

BASIC INTERCAMBIO INFORMATION

Entrance our intercambios includes:

  • Meet & greet by the organizer (whether you come alone or with a friend, we make sure you meet at least 4-5 others)
  • “Language bells” to ensure equal & fair language practice time for all languages.
  • Notepads to write down (apuntar) new vocabulary, expressions, good websites etc… and a dictionary.

Please buy a fair-trade drink from Olokuti’s vending machine.

In return for using Olokuti’s magnificent garden please get a drink from the vending machine at the start of the intercambio/language exchange. In line with Olokuti’s philosophy all drinks are fair-trade (comercio justo). They have great hot teas, great for the winter months as well as coffee and fruit juices (no soft drinks or alcohol).

FAQs:

For further information on our intercambios see our intercambio FAQs.

]]> http://www.englishoasis.org/event/garden-intercambio-saturday-12noon-in-gracia-2/feed/ 0 Location change tonight + Fondue date change + Choc http://www.englishoasis.org/location-change-tonight-fondue-date-change/ http://www.englishoasis.org/location-change-tonight-fondue-date-change/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:40:56 +0000 Germaine http://www.englishoasis.org/?p=2295 Good Moring!

Location change for tonight’s intercambio: 1873 Cafe

Football continuous to generate chaos for our Wednesday intercambios and so I thought I could we could have our Wednesday 08th Feb Intecambio in a beautiful Moderniste Cafe dating back to 1873, just infront of the metro of Girona (L4).

Jordi the son’s owner will tell us a little about the emblematic cafe.  The intercambio has generated a lot of interest with about 30 people officially signed up so far. It will be our 1st time doing an intercambio here so I am not 100% how we will do it. Ideally some standing, some sitting.  No timers this time!

2 intercambios this week

We battle the coooold temperatures with…

  1. CHANGE OF VENUE for Wednesday 08th Feb: Intercambio in great Modernista cafe dating back to 1873!!!  (the change is only for tonight, Wed 08th Feb, after that we return to Cafe Salambo)
  2. then we go on to Thursday with our seated-intercambio an

Chocolate & Cava pairing, 10 spots left

CHOCOLATE EXPERIENCE: Saturday 18th February at 11am  Cava, Chocolate & Wine pairing.  This professional workshop will show us how two opposing tastes can be beautifully complementary.  We will sample 5 different chocolates At the choc museum.  Around 24€ too, need to check.
5€ deposit required to reserve your place.  La Caixa, English Oasis account: 2100 1841 06 01 00478886.  Make sure you give your name and say “Chocolate pairing deposit” in the reason so that we know what it’s for!  10 spots left.

Cheese Fondue Fri 24th Feb

A great way to combat the cold is with a fun, social, cheese fondue!

New date for CHEESE FONDUE: Friday 24th February:  we will be repeating our great Fondue experience.

To make it even more social we will start our Fondue night with a glass of cave, enjoy our cheese fondue and do another social mixing, to make sure we get a chance to talk to everyone!  Only 23€ for a great menu See event for more details .
5€ deposit required to reserve your place cash or via bank transfer). – La Caixa, English Oasis account: 2100 1841 06 01 00478886.  Make sure you give your name and say “Fondue deposit” in the reason so that we know what it’s for!

Secrets & Legends of the Gothic quarter:  On Sunday 11th March Juan takes us one one of the most popular waking tours.  Those who have been on some of Juan’s other tours are already starting to sign up which is an indication as to just how good Juan’s tours are!

Help wanted for intercambios

Yes, I know I posted this before, but I accidentally deleted many of your mains and due to changes, I am again looking for intercambio organizers for both Wednesday and Thursdays.  So, please, if you are interested in organizing an intercambio about once or twice a month, pleaseemail me .

]]> http://www.englishoasis.org/location-change-tonight-fondue-date-change/feed/ 0 CHANGE to location tonight + Change Fondue date http://www.englishoasis.org/newsletters/change-to-location-tonight-change-fondue-date/ http://www.englishoasis.org/newsletters/change-to-location-tonight-change-fondue-date/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:33:00 +0000 Germaine http://www.englishoasis.org/?post_type=newsletter&p=2253 Football continuous to generate chaos for our Wednesday intercambios and so I thought I could we could have our Wednesday 08th Feb Intecambio in a beautiful Moderniste Cafe dating back to 1873, just infront of the metro of Girona (L4).

2 intercambios this week

We kick off  February with our

  1. CHANGE OF VENUE for Wednesday 08th Feb: Intercambio in great Modernista cafe dating back to 1873!!!  (the change is only for this Wed 08th Feb, after that we return to Cafe Salambo)
  2. then we go on to Thursday with our seated-intercambio an

Chocolate & Cava pairing

CHOCOLATE EXPERIENCE: Saturday 18th February at 11am  Cava, Chocolate & Wine pairing.  This workshop will show us how two opposing tastes can be beautifully complementary.  We will sample 5 different chocolates At the choc museum.  Around 24€ too, need to check.
5€ deposit required to reserve your place.  La Caixa, English Oasis account: 2100 1841 06 01 00478886.  Make sure you give your name and say “Chocolate pairing deposit” in the reason so that we know what it’s for!

DATE CHANGE Fondue

New date for CHEESE FONDUE: Friday 24th February:  we will be repeating our great Fondue experience.  To make it even more social we will start our Fondue night with a glass of cave, enjoy our cheese fondue and do another social mixing, to make sure we get a chance to talk to everyone!  Only 23€ for a great menu See event for more details .
5€ deposit required to reserve your place cash or via bank transfer). – La Caixa, English Oasis account: 2100 1841 06 01 00478886.  Make sure you give your name and say “Fondue deposit” in the reason so that we know what it’s for!

Secrets & Legends of the Gothic quarter:  On Sunday 11th March Juan takes us one one of the most popular waking tours.  Those who have been on some of Juan’s other tours are already starting to sign up which is an indication as to just how good Juan’s tours are!

Help wanted for intercambios

Yes, I know I posted this before, but I accidentally deleted many of your mains and due to changes, I am again looking for intercambio organizers for both Wednesday and Thursdays.  So, please, if you are interested in organizing an intercambio about once or twice a month, pleaseemail me .

]]> http://www.englishoasis.org/newsletters/change-to-location-tonight-change-fondue-date/feed/ 0 Heavenly cakes from Monasteries & Convents http://www.englishoasis.org/heavenly-cakes-from-monasteries-convents/ http://www.englishoasis.org/heavenly-cakes-from-monasteries-convents/#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:26:39 +0000 Germaine http://www.englishoasis.org/?p=2271 Caellum:  Caellum’s products come from monasteries & convents across Spain.  Although you won’t find anglo-saxon type desserts, you will not be disappointed with the cake, tart, pastry selection.  The cake shop is divided into two sections.  The naturally lit section on the ground floor, and the cosy crypt which is only open in the afternoons.  In addition to sweets & pastries, Caellum offers a wide selection of tea and coffee, artisan cakes and biscuits, jams, liquors, and more.  It also has a non-food section where you can buy more products made in Spanish religious institutions.

 

]]> http://www.englishoasis.org/heavenly-cakes-from-monasteries-convents/feed/ 0 Magic since 1881 http://www.englishoasis.org/magic-since-1881/ http://www.englishoasis.org/magic-since-1881/#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:38:05 +0000 Germaine http://www.englishoasis.org/?p=2266 El Rey de la Magia: The 1st magic shop in Spain, today, it is still a reference in the world of magic and is part of the city’s cultural heritage. The store is very small, but the sales assistants, most who are relatives of the owner, are very welcoming and will delight in showing different tricks…but of course, not how the trick is done.  In addition to the shop, they have a museum situated nearby at Jonqueres 15.
Products: Specialized magic games and accessories.

]]> http://www.englishoasis.org/magic-since-1881/feed/ 0 Cake, deli & cafe http://www.englishoasis.org/cake-deli-cafe/ http://www.englishoasis.org/cake-deli-cafe/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:12:47 +0000 Germaine http://www.englishoasis.org/?p=2248 Cornelia and Co.: The gourmet style of Cornelia attracts a trendy, youthful crowd.  Slightly upmarket, Cornelia has a small but great selection of home-made cakes.

]]> http://www.englishoasis.org/cake-deli-cafe/feed/ 0 Modernista café 1873 http://www.englishoasis.org/modernista-cafe-1873/ http://www.englishoasis.org/modernista-cafe-1873/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:00:27 +0000 Germaine http://www.englishoasis.org/?p=2243 The Cafe del Centre, is the oldest in the Eixample with a great dusty air, where example gentlemen sometimes meet to play “competitive” dominoes.  The Giménez family has owned the Café del Centre since 1873. It has been the site for numerous advertising shoots and for filming television programmes. Jordi Bel, the great-grandson of the original owner, works behind the bar.  The decor is dark wood Modernista benches, walls stained with the nicotine and marble tables.  Torrades (toasted bread with different toppings) are offered, braves and other pica-picas are offered.

 

]]> http://www.englishoasis.org/modernista-cafe-1873/feed/ 0 3 I/Cs + Fondue + Choc Exp + Help Wanted http://www.englishoasis.org/3-ics-fondue-choc-exp-help-wanted/ http://www.englishoasis.org/3-ics-fondue-choc-exp-help-wanted/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:29:46 +0000 Germaine http://www.englishoasis.org/?p=2238 Welcome to February! 29 days this year! Yes a leap year!!!!

After an absence of 2 weeks due to the Barça v Real Madrid matches, our Cocktail-style intercambio returns.

3 intercambios this week

We kick off  February with our

  1. Cocktail-style language exchange on Wednesday 1st at 7pm…highly social.  And this week (and next) the quarter-finals of the “Copa del Rey” between Barça & Valencia!
  2. then we go on to Thursday with our seated-intercambio and
  3. Saturday at the very reasonable hour of 12noon, our lovely Garden intercambio.

Fondue & chocolate & cava

CHEESE FONDUE: Friday 11th February:  we will be repeating our great Fondue experience.  To make it even more social we will start our Fondue night with a glass of cave, enjoy our cheese fondue and do another social mixing, to make sure we get a chance to talk to everyone!  Only 23€ for a great menu See event for more details .
5€ deposit required to reserve your place cash or via bank transfer). – La Caixa, English Oasis account: 2100 1841 06 01 00478886.  Make sure you give your name and say “Fondue deposit” in the reason so that we know what it’s for!

CHOCOLATE EXPERIENCE: Cava, Chocolate & Wine pairing.  This workshop will show us how two opposing tastes can be beautifully complementary.  We will sample 5 different chocolates At the choc museum.  Around 24€ too, need to check.
5€ deposit required to reserve your place.  La Caixa, English Oasis account: 2100 1841 06 01 00478886.  Make sure you give your name and say “Chocolate pairing deposit” in the reason so that we know what it’s for!

Secrets & Legends of the Gothic quarter:  On Sunday 11th March Juan takes us one one of the most popular waking tours.  Those who have been on some of Juan’s other tours are already starting to sign up which is an indication as to just how good Juan’s tours are!

Help wanted for intercambios

Yes, I know I posted this before, but I accidentally deleted many of your mains and due to changes, I am again looking for intercambio organizers for both Wednesday and Thursdays.  So, please, if you are interested in organizing an intercambio about once or twice a month, please email me .

 

]]> http://www.englishoasis.org/3-ics-fondue-choc-exp-help-wanted/feed/ 0