We are just leaving Barcelona for Sitges. It’s only 30 minutes south from the center of Barcelona by high speed rail link, so we have a few minutes to update our blog.

I can see why so many great artists have called Barcelona home. The most famous is Pablo Picasso, who came to Barcelona when he was 13 years old. Picasso started painting in Barcelona and now there is the Picasso Museum with over 3000 works in it’s collection. Picasso himself donated many of the pieces to the museum; www.museupicasso.bcn.es

And, you can’t talk about art or architecture in Barcelona without Antoni Gaudi. Gaudi’s mark is all over Barcelona with his signature buildings in the Catalan Modernista style. Gaudi was in search of an architectural style that evoked Catlaonia’s romantic medieval past. Brilliant color, free-form shapes and large scale were all Gaudi trademarks. If you don’t know about Gaudi, then check it out on wikipedia…..amazing work and way ahead of his time.
Check out the photos of some landmark Gaudi buildings so you can see the details.

Barcelona continues to inspire artists and designers. I will be using some of the images, colors and textures in my next collection.

One of the things I love about Barcelona is the signage and the use of letters and fonts. It’s a much different aesthetic than we often see in the US. I’ve got some great ideas for our new line of Espada t-shirts and hoodies coming soon using text and fonts in a new way. Coming soon.

If you are visiting Barcelona, we can recommend two hotels in the Eixample area of Barcelona (in the center of the City, but not too touristy); Hotel Rafael Casanova and Hotel Soho. Both are “design” boutique hotels and provide a sanctuary for a quiet siesta when you need a break. And, don’t be afraid to indulge in the Barcelona food, drink and nightlife. Everybody sleeps at some point during the day & you will quickly walk off any extra calories from all the tapas and great wine!. Enjoy everything Barcelona has to offer.

On a side note, Spain is in the semi-finals of the World Cup and plays Germany tonight. If Spain wins, then the streets will explode in celebration. Go Spain !!!!

Santos

After a long 15 hour flight from Los Angeles, we finally arrived in Barcelona: the second largest city in Spain and the capital of Catalonia. It is also definitely the style and fashion capital of Spain, being home to hip ideas, trendy interior design and fabulous restaurants.

Just 30 minutes south of this hotbed of style, though, is Sitges, a chic seaside village of about 20,000 residents. Originally it was for the summer homes of the wealthy from Barcelona. Now, this unique seaside town attracts visitors from around the world, mostly from Scandinavia, Germany, Britain and France.

Sitges has more than 17 beaches fronting the Mediterranean Sea and each has its own style. With a broad tree-lined promenade fronting all the beaches, it makes for some of the best people watching around. Also, Sitges has its own ‘microclimate,’ with 300 days of sunshine per year. During our stay, we didn’t encounter any rain, so we have no idea how it is when it does.

Sitges and the adjoining Costa Daurada (Spain’s Gold Coast) continue to be a major source of inspiration for Espada Swimwear. The vibe and lifestyle brings to mind a style of casual chic with brilliant colors. Everyone comes to Sitges for a beach holiday, so great swimwear is absolutely essential. Being in the Mediterranean, it’s definitely in style to wear racers as the locals do.

Take a look at some of the quick pictures we’ve taken of the beaches, the people and the street life in Sitges. Hopefully, you can get a feel for this charming village which brings us back time and time again.

Tomorrow, we go to Barcelona for some shopping and to check out new hot spots. Barcelona is always changing, so we’ll be sure to tell you what we find.

All the best,

Santos