The Women On The 6th Floor - Love, Humor and Respect

By now thousands of migrants are crossing the French borders heading home for the Summer holidays. They left the villages of Spain and Portugal during the tough years of the fascist Iberian regimes and they still take to France, Germany, Switzerland to find a better job and escape the difficulties that still affect these two countries' hinterland.
Depicting the lives of the Spanish cleaning ladies and maids in Paris, "The Women of the 6th Floor" is a beautiful movie that does not fail to show the difficulties of the migrants in a big city but does it with humor.
Starring the acclaimed Spanish actress Carmen Maura (who won a Cesar award in France as actress in supporting role in this movie), Natalia Verbeke and Fabrice Luchini the film revolves around the lives of these funny maids and the love story between a boss and his maid. But it is above a story of respect for the maids and concierges of Paris. Not to miss!!

Underworld's song for the Olympics Opening Ceremony

Underwold teamed up with movie director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire) and wrote the song Isles of Wonder inspired in Caliban's Dream from Shakespeare's The Tempest for the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony . See below the easiest to find excerpt from Shakespeare's play but the one that best seems to have set the tone for the song and the show:

Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,
Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears; and sometime voices
That, if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again; and then in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open, and show riches
Ready to drop upon me, that when I wakedI cried to dream again.

Some claim the ceremony was somehow parochial. It was indeed a great show of Britishness rather than a show of Worldiness. But then again, occasions like these are there to show the host city's glory.
20 years ago Barcelona used the Olympics to propel both the region and the Catalan language and relied on the powerful scenic imagery of la Fura dels Baus.
 Hitler, dangerously but brilliantly used the art and craft of Leni Riefenstahl to film the Germania dream and the Olympics in Munich in what is until now probably one of the most beautiful images of olympic athletes in motion.
Danny Boyle cleverly used the British imagery and did not forget one of the biggest British legacies - Pop culture. Hey Jude was consensually used to please mothers and grandmothers, but we do have to thank Boyle for having included Bowie's song Heroes, hoping it will soon replace the boring "We are the champions" in major events. David, who refused the title of Sir, does deserve it as he made more for British pop culture than many institutions and performers put together.

The Stone Roses live in the adorable city of Lisbon

They went separate ways for 15 years and reunited recently. Lisbon will now have the possibility to see the band live at Optimus Alive Festival on July 13. The band's gig in the capital of Portugal follows a couple of highly acclaimed concerts particularly in England where, according to Reuters, the band made a successful comeback "leaving the fans wanting more".
The Roses concert in Lisbon happens one year after Primal Scream, another great band from the so called Madchester movement, took to this very same stage and revisited the fabulous Screamadelica album.
I wanna adored, I am the ressurection, Fool's gold or Waterfall are just some of the reasons to attend this gig.

Josep Abril - From Catalonia with style

Some days before Barcelona Fashion Week which, will take place between July 10 and July 13, we bring you images from last year's Summer edition featuring outfits by one of our favourite designers - Josep Abril. His name is not featured in the calender for this edition for reasons that we haven't been able to ascertain until now. But that will not hinder from visiting his atelier and talk to the man who created the outfits pictured here and show in the magnificient Barcelona University building.

Boom Festival, Portugal - One of the biggest alternative events in the world

It is hosted every two years in northern Portugal and has become true mantra for those seeking new sounds, new forms of art and new experiences.
 Between July 28 and August 4 let yourself go in this festival taking place in a fully ecological venue. Concerts, conferences, healing and dance dance dance are just some of the many things you can do here to the sound of trance and psytrance music.
For more information check the website http://boomfestival.org/boom2012/