Culture

Bon dia! Sóc la Genevieve Shaw.

Bon dia! Sóc la Genevieve. I’m from the UK and I’ve been living in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia, for the last 17 years. I decided to make this Mediterranean country my home because of the incredible people, the beautiful landscapes and the quirky, passionate culture. A lot of the things I think and feel make me want to grab a piece of paper, write them down, put the paper in a bottle and cast it out to sea so that other people can discover them too. This blog is about all those intriguing things. My Message in a Bottle.

I'm also a freelance copywriter and translator. Please visit my website to find out more.

Catalan, Language of Romance

I'm often surprised by people's unconscious emotional relationship with Catalan: they are "sons" or "daughters"

Working with the Rich and Famous in Barcelona: Part 2

Dream job or total nightmare? A day in the life of a personal assistant at a celebrity agency in Barcelona, and my experience of accompanyin

Working with the Rich and Famous in Barcelona: Part 1

Nothing is as it seems in Barcelona. Starting out in the world of work in Barcelona? Make sure you're prepared for just about anything.

Food for Thought

One day, Jordi’s gran said to me, “Pero mira que gorda que estás!” (look how fat you are). I was mortifed. For her though, it was the ultima

Fire & Dragons in El Vendrell (Catalonia)

On 26 July, every year in El Vendrell (Catalonia), fire dragons and devils take to the streets for a ritualistic fire run or correfoc. Spect

A New Life in Barcelona

Seventeen years ago, I moved to Barcelona. The high I felt on moving to the Mediterranean was incomparable... I was blown sideways, upwards

"La Revetlla" in the heart of Catalonia

This photo-report is about "La Revetlla" - the mediterranean fire celebrations on the eve of Sant Joan. Here's how it happened

The es-lo-que-hay (that's life) Mentality in Barcelona, Catalonia

A possible explanation for the "es lo que hay" mentality lies in the lives of people who came to Barcelona fifty years ago, from o

Three Must-Visit Restaurants in Lleida, Catalonia

Want to visit Lleida province but don't know where to go for lunch? This photo blog has the lowdown on three of the most authentic resta

Spring is here, and it's "calçot" season in Catalonia

Have you heard of a Catalan "calçotada"? Half leek-half onion, they're charred over an open fire and served with special sauce