[Leica] Barcelona

[nathan at nathanfoto.com (Nathan Wajsman)]

Hi Ilan,

I just moved to Spain from the Netherlands about 6 weeks ago. I don't  
know about darkroom facilities, but there is a very good lab there  
which Luis Ripoll (a LUG member who lives there) uses, and in fact I  
will use them as well when I shoot the occasional roll of film since  
they are willing to do business by mail (I live in Alicante, about  
550 km south of Barcelona).

As for finding accommodation, given that you do not speak the  
language, your best bet is probably to go to a realtor and have them  
find you a place. They will show you places according to the criteria  
you give them, draw up the rental contract etc. But it is not cheap.  
One of the quirks of the Spanish rental market is that you will have  
to pay a commission to the realtor, equal to 1 or even 2 month's rent  
(plus a deposit to the owner, usually 1 month's rent). If you arrange  
the rental yourself, then obviously it is cheaper, but you will need  
help from someone who speaks Spanish, at least to review the contract  
before you sign. If you are going to work there, I would think that  
your employer should be able to help you with those things.

As for insurance, I have no idea. My gear is still insured in the  
Netherlands, since I am still officially resident there.

Nathan

On 9-nov-2007, at 11:45, Ilan Zvi Baron wrote:

> Hello, I was advised to put a message here by friends on the Leica  
> forum.
>
> I'm going to be moving to Barcelona shortly and will be there for 3  
> years. I
> don't speak any Spanish or Catalan and could use some friendly  
> advice on
> moving there. First, I've got my R9 insured in the UK, but not in  
> Spain and
> I was wondering if anybody out there can point me in the direction  
> of a
> reasonably priced insurance company I could use. In the UK I've  
> been using
> photoguard. Second, are there any photography clubs with dark rooms? I
> assume that there are, and the university there might have  
> something, but if
> there is anything out there that comes recommended I'd be  
> interested to hear
> about it. Those are my Leica related questions. I've been to  
> Barcelona once
> before, but only for a few days. I don't know much about living in  
> Barcelona
> (such as finding a place to live, etc.). Any advice in this regard  
> or other
> thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks a bunch!
>
>
> Ilan
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>

Nathan Wajsman
nathan@nathanfoto.com
General photography:
http://www.nathanfoto.com
http://www.greatpix.eu
http://www.frozenlight.eu
Picture-A-Week: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws
Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog