Hotel terraces

By Génesis Mendoza

People who live in Barcelona value hotel terraces less than tourists. "Una Vista d’Hotel" was a new initiative which consisted of opening 36 hotel terraces in the city to the local population freely for five days, from 3rd to 7th May. "A Vista Hotel" was the first which began this experience because they think that it is a good way to collect money. This only was for a limited time, because it costs a lot of money. The hotels which participated in it were: the Mandarin Oriental, W Barcelona, ME Barcelona, Casa Fuster, Pulitzer, and the new Barceló Raval Hotel OHLA, among many others.

Apart from enjoying the view or the fresh air, each terrace of Barcelona also has a cultural environment because they offer events and activities, for example, films, book presentations,… Many hotels offered Mediterranean drinks, the most exotic and healthy fruit drinks or cocktails without alcohol. Drinks were different each day and in each terrace. Apart from the different drinks, also people had the pleasure of enjoying a variety of snacks, lunches and dinners accompanied by fine wines, drinks and evening cocktails prepared especially for the occasion. Furthermore, a photo competition was organised for people who took part in these activities. They could win technological gadgets and some nights in a hotel. There were three categories: one for the picture which best illustrates the city from a terrace, another for the best picture of one of the terraces and the third for the picture which best captures the atmosphere of the terrace.

Lorca earthquake

By Andrea Bertrán

Eight people were killed and dozens injured after two earthquakes shook the Murcia town of Lorca on 11th May 2011. Hundreds of people couldn’t come back to their houses and they had to stay at the camps.

Some churches and the castle of the town were affected by the earthquake.

The first, at 5.05pm, measured 4.4 on the Richter scale. It was followed by a stronger one of 5.2 shortly before 7pm.

It hadn't happened an event like that in 30 years time.

All the schools remained closed in Murcia in the following days.

The government will take care of the rebuilding of the affected buildings.

After this tragedy, several entities are arranging positive events to raise money to help the victims.

Osama Bin Laden’s murder

By Pere Cases

Usāma bin Muhammad bin Awad bin Lādin (Osama Bin Laden) was the world’s most searched terrorist, creator of Al-Qaeda terrorist group, the most powerful terrorist group. Bin Laden was responsible for many attacks against the USA and other western countries, including attacks in U.S.A., embassies of Kenya and Tanzania. Before his murder, there was a reward of fifty millions dollars.

On May 1st 2011, it was reported that Osama bin Laden died during a military action. The identity of Bin Laden was confirmed by comparing DNA samples of his lifeless body to his sister's DNA. The body was taken by members of U.S.A. army after the attack and they kept it. That same day President Obama spoke to the nation, after the confirmation from U.S.A. officials that Osama bin Laden had died in a secret operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan, a city 50 kilometers northeast of Islamabad and 150 kilometers east of Peshawar. Obama said the operation was done by a small group who acted under his orders.

Another volcano

By Joana Roig

The clouds of ashes of the Grimsvötn volcano (Island) might arrive today or tomorrow in Ireland and in UK if the metorological conditions don't change.

Nowadays it is possible to do reliable predictions in 48 hours time and know if this cloud will affect other places in Europe, because meteorological conditions are changing all over the day, and because they haven't got a lot of information about the volume and denseness of the ash. There was a meeting of the group of crisis: the airports, the airlines, the national aviation authorities and the Europe Agency for the security in the Aereal navigation.

These advices will establish three zones (red, blue or black) depending on the cloud level. With this information they will decide if it's safe to fly.

The volcano can change the trip of Barça to Wembley if the aerial space is affected by the cloud.