CHAMELEON'S EYE

[rutavesaite]

Is it possible to surf in Baltic sea? Surf Camp 2014

Surf Camp is the only one camp for surfers in Lithuania and it is absolutely free. The first Surf Camp was organized in 2008 when it was proved that is possible to surf and have fun in Baltic sea. Since then, every year it is being organized in the end of August. This year it was 7th Surf Camp with more people, therefore more fun. It took place in Preila, next to the Baltic sea full of beautiful waves.

Mornings start with exercise. During the day, the instructors are giving lessons about surfing, surf boards, stand up paddle, the waves etc. They guide you in the coast and in the sea and it is a perfect chance to learn.

Nights start with cinema on the beach (surf cinema) and live music. Finally, in the midnight, the DJs are sucking all the energy that is left from the day. Thanks for it.

The experience being in Surf Camp is very good. People can try various types of surfboards, skimboards, long boards etc. The only thing that is very recommendable is to bring your own wetsuit. 

The atmosphere, stage next to the sea, surfers running around, sharing the surfboards and all the colourful people – it must be seen. And it is a perfect chance to see, to try to surf and afterwards to enjoy one of the best beach parties in Lithuania. More photos are HERE Beautiful video of aroma that sums up everything is HERE 

[rutavesaite]

BARCELONA DISTRICTS: EL BORN

Born is one of the most artistic and fashionable districts of Barcelona. Except of the Picasso Museum, which attracts plenty of tourists here, Born can offer narrow streets, all sorts of cafeterias, restaurants, authentic clothes shops, boutiques, less touristic food market (Mercado de Santa Catarina) and many things that one could like. For me, it is the best district to go for a coffee or to go for a drink in the evening.

Espaí Mescladis, Carrer dels Carders 35 Another bar which is worth to visit is L‘Antic teatre. This bar has one of the best indoor terraces in the city centre. It is a a place to go for a drink as it closes quite early (11 pm) because of the neighbours. In the late evening they put some lights and make the terrace even cozier. 

L‘Antic teatre, Verdaguer i Callís 12 Bar Pasajes attracts attention because of the peculiar place. It is located in one of the most extraordinary places to make a bar - closed street. In the day time it is just a passage, connecting two streets, in the early evening and night it transforms into bar. The owner of the bar is Argentian, that’s why it is not surprising that the bar has a good selection of wines and patties. It is a place to drink vermouth, beer or wine with tapas. 

Bar Pasajes, Carrer de Sant Pere Més Alt 31

In comparison with aforesaid bars, small cafeteria called Lilipep attracts people who like to read or comfortably sit and relax on the sofa. It offers wide breakfast and lunch menu, lots of second hand books and cozy atmosphere. The ability of buying a book at low price is an option as well. It is a perfect place to come alone or with friend, drink coffee, tea, juice and order something sweet. It is a peaceful place for reading, with silently playing jazz music. 

Cafeteria Lilipep, Carrer del Pou de la Cadena 8

This cafeteria is something different when it’s raining or cold outside.

[rutavesaite]

Yaga Gathering 2014: non-commercial psychedelic open-air festival

Yaga is an alternative lifestyle, music and arts festival, which takes place in Lithuanian woods, held from 2003. Non-commercial means that beer is beer (not Carlsberg, Heineken etc), forget the Toi Toi, in other words, everything is handmade, no ads, perfect to enjoy nature, workshops and music.

 In Yaga, dogs are welcome. Its peculiar to see dogs all around, especially those, who looks-alike wolf, moreover, when those who look-alike wolf playfully run in the night time (in the picture is not one of these obviously:).

The location is perfect for kids to play at the day time. Barefoot and coloured their faces with neon paints they are playing all around.

Yaga offers many workshops (body art, dream catchers, lectures etc) and sessions (yoga, massage, acro-yoga, slack line etc) in the day time. There are two stages: psychedelic trance and chill, accompanied with fire shows and neon decorations, 3D visualisations and huge ornamented projections on the trees. This year’s symbol of Yaga gathering was boiling pot, where the elixir of communal intention, tribe of different cultures was brewed. The elixir was successful: people from many countries were friendly living altogether in the forest starting from Thursday, walking/dancing barefoot and sharing experiences in workshops. Yaga is perfect for a person who wants to get back to nature with some supplements of music, communal living, workshops and cozy atmosphere created using all kind of hand made decorations.

[rutavesaite]

BARCELONA DISTRICTS: SUNNY BARCELONETA

Barceloneta is a central disctrict of Barcelona located next to the beach, just a couple of min by walk from the old town. It  was a district of fishermen. The rushy fish auction for commercialists are still going on everyday at the building of Lotja, at 7am and 5pm. Except of the fishermen, gipsies and slums were living here before the 60s.

 The first project of the district were to build two floor houses, but, as usually happens in Spain, afterwards the project was forgotten and various types of buildings, bigger and smaller, rose up. You may still find old buildings of two floors, which are the original ones.  

La champanería in the morning is already busy (Carreer de la Reina Christina 7) If cava is a must, to try two appetizers, bombas (if you eat meat) and patatas bravas, is recommendable. Many bars in the district offer them with two different sauces.  Apart of the many small bars, Barceloneta attracts people because of its beach. To have a beach 5 min from old town seems to be perfect. However, the worst part of it is rubbish in the sea, which could make the swimming experience not as pleasant as one had wished. In case you want to find less people during summer and cleaner place, better to go out of Barceloneta and choose other beaches, which have little bit sand and cleaner water. Aprox 15 min.  

Wednesday in Barceloneta. Imagine what happens on weekends

You can also rent bicycles, skates, longboards and other things with wheels which will help you to move around. However, by renting it at the beach you will overpay 2, 3 or more times. Better to rent it in Raval or El Gótico districts. For example, in plaza George Orwell in El Gótico, guys are renting bikes for 1.5 Eu per hour, without any deposit (The shop is called Green bikes).

If you are into vintage market, lost & found market is happening from time to time in Plaza del Mar Barceloneta. It is a huge second hand market with music, open bars, nice atsmosphere and fashionable people. So even if one is not a fan of second hand things, good time is guaranteed. You can check next dates here .

Lost & Found market If you are into sports, there are many privately held events that you could check via meetup page. For example,swimming group , playing ping pong in Barceloneta, volleyball in the beach, yoga and many more. I have been using it a lot here and met different sports addicted people from all around the world. 

[rutavesaite]

BARCELONA DISTRICTS: EL GOTICO

This is the oldest district of the old town. One could think if its old, it should be very authentic. Well... its authentic when it comes to its romanian and gothic style architecture. The authenticity disappears with its internationalisation. It is a meka for foreigners, especially for young people. You will probably hear more foreign language than Spanish in El Gotico. The mix of foreigners and locals makes it special and busy every day and quite loud during the night.

The district is full of nice bars such as Bar Mariatchi, which owner is Manu Chao. Its owner is one of the reasons why the bar is packed during the night. If you are lucky enough, you might see Manu Chao around. If you are extremely lucky, you might enjoy him doing jam sessions in the bar. Lucky you are or not, once you are inside the bar, do not hesitate to try vermouth or honey wine in the bar. It is another reason why bar Mariatchi is so popular.

Polaroid Bar, Saturday vintage market. Calle Codols 29 In case you are hungry, go to the next street and pop into the restaurant Carabassa on Sunday. It serves Italian appetizers from 8:30 pm. every thirty minutes. You just need to buy a drink (prices start from 2.50 Eu) and enjoy unlimited amount of appetizers. 

Restaurante Carabassa. Calle Carabassa 19 Its all about internationalization of the district. For those who like Italian food, El gotico district would be the best one. The best pizza is here. The bar that you surely will like is called Sports Bar Italian Food and is always full of people. I am not Italian, but this place was approved by many of them because of the fresh ingredients and good way to make food. Come during the day to enjoy some discounts.

Pizza in Sports Bar Italian Food. Calle Ample 51 If you want to save time, but still want to eat, go to street called Escudellers, surely you will find something that you like. And remember, if you shout loud at night in El Gotico, be aware of water or eggs that could be thrown from the balconies by the people who live here and cannot sleep. 

El gotico is full of little squares with music. One of the best district to enjoy morning coffee or evening beer. No wonder why many foreigners chose to rent their flats here.  

[rutavesaite]

BARCELONA DISTRICTS: RAVAL

If somebody might call El Gotico, the oldest district of Barcelona, dirty, take a look at Raval. If in El Gotico lives people from Germany, France, England, Italy and other European countries, Raval is more cultural mixed district with a domination of Muslims. If you are into cooking, you might find good seasonings from India and from other far east countries here. As well as all kinds of vegetables (some that I never imagined that could exist in this world) and lots of Arabic sweets.

Raval is also a place of vintage shops, which sometimes expand into streets. So if you are looking for trendy second hand shops, this is the place. 

Vintage shops go into streets

Raval is comparatively cheap, full of contrasts, prostitutes, strange bars and striptease clubs. Also the deeper Raval is not so safe, popular of its pick pocketing tricks (like all Barcelona, but especially this district). Even the local stars of Raval are strange.

Singer in Raval during the Days of the district of Raval

Raval is worth to explore. It can offer extraordinary places. One of my favourite places is Bar Marsella. This bohemian bar is the oldest in Barcelona, started to serve absinth in 1820. Salvador Dali, who perfectly fits with this mystic bar, Ernest Hemingway, who worked as a reporter during spanish civil war, Pablo Picasso, who had his studio very close to this place and other bohemian people were going here frequently. Seems that the bar was not cleaned for that long. Some people are grumbling about the dusts, but the bigger part claims that it should be the way it is and keep its authenticity. The simplicity and austerity of bartenders and all the bar, the location of it next to the corner of prostitutes, all this mix is worth to see. By the way, no music exists here, just the absinth and, if you come before the midnight, silently talking with each other people. Gorgeous.

If outside of the bar was continually changing, as one could see, the inside of Bar Marsella was never changed. To keep this bar here, in 2013 Government of Barcelona bought all the building for 1.1 millon Eu. This step prevented the closing of the bar and let it existing until now.  The bar opens at 10 pm every night, but at 12 pm it is hard to find a space here.