Off-METM activities
Besides the main programme, we’re putting on some fringe activities to help you make new contacts and get to know Barcelona better. There’s something for everyone. See this pinned map to find out what’s happening where.
Off-METM activities are for attendees only, unless otherwise specified.
Monday, 29 September
Location: online (we’ll send a link on the day to all attendees)
No sign-up required.
Keen to make contacts before Barcelona? Meet council members and other volunteers online at this informal mixer. The session is open to all attendees and particularly recommended for anyone new or newish to METMs.
No sign-up required.
Keen to make contacts before Barcelona? Meet council members and other volunteers online at this informal mixer. The session is open to all attendees and particularly recommended for anyone new or newish to METMs.
Wednesday, 15 October
Address: Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuïc, s/n
Max: 11 people plus leader (locals, please hold back; a visit can be arranged another time if you’re interested)
Group leader: Mary Ellen Kerans, long-time friend of the MNAC and fan of the Romanesque since the age of five
Price: €8.40 (free for >65 year-olds)
Lunch: at MNAC (optional)
Not included in conference fee. Sign-up required.
Join one of MET's founders for a dip into the MNAC’s two most unique collections in the large Romanesque and Modernisme sections. Besides enjoying the art, we’ll ponder terminology and other translation problems.
Our visit begins in the Sala Oval with coffee, an introduction to the building and a brief explanation of how and why recent curators have transformed the medieval and Modernista areas over the past 30 years. We’ll then visit the medieval collection, starting with the bridge period between Gothic and Romanesque art in Catalonia and then quickly move back in time. After a break for lunch, those who don’t have to rush off can see part of the Modernista collection upstairs, where we’ll talk about issues in the translation of wall texts.
Max: 11 people plus leader (locals, please hold back; a visit can be arranged another time if you’re interested)
Group leader: Mary Ellen Kerans, long-time friend of the MNAC and fan of the Romanesque since the age of five
Price: €8.40 (free for >65 year-olds)
Lunch: at MNAC (optional)
Not included in conference fee. Sign-up required.
Join one of MET's founders for a dip into the MNAC’s two most unique collections in the large Romanesque and Modernisme sections. Besides enjoying the art, we’ll ponder terminology and other translation problems.
Our visit begins in the Sala Oval with coffee, an introduction to the building and a brief explanation of how and why recent curators have transformed the medieval and Modernista areas over the past 30 years. We’ll then visit the medieval collection, starting with the bridge period between Gothic and Romanesque art in Catalonia and then quickly move back in time. After a break for lunch, those who don’t have to rush off can see part of the Modernista collection upstairs, where we’ll talk about issues in the translation of wall texts.
Location: Cafè Palau
Address: Carrer del Palau de la Música, 4-6
Not included in conference fee. No sign-up required. Guests welcome.
Grab a drink with your fellow METM25 attendees before you head off for dinner. First time at METM? Don’t worry: our welcome team will be there to greet you and make introductions.
Note: Cafè Palau is located on the ground floor of the concert hall and will be packed with opera-lovers until 19:00.
Address: Carrer del Palau de la Música, 4-6
Not included in conference fee. No sign-up required. Guests welcome.
Grab a drink with your fellow METM25 attendees before you head off for dinner. First time at METM? Don’t worry: our welcome team will be there to greet you and make introductions.
Note: Cafè Palau is located on the ground floor of the concert hall and will be packed with opera-lovers until 19:00.
Dinner for MET founders and council members past and present
Thursday, 16 October
Location: Camp de l’Arpa Library
Address: Carrer de la Indústria, 295
Max: 20 people
Sign-up required.
Curious about Catalan? Join MET member Timothy Barton to learn how Catalan relates to and differs from other Romance languages. Replace that green owl with a human to practise your pronunciation and pick up some vocab. Sponsored by Gespoint.
Address: Carrer de la Indústria, 295
Max: 20 people
Sign-up required.
Curious about Catalan? Join MET member Timothy Barton to learn how Catalan relates to and differs from other Romance languages. Replace that green owl with a human to practise your pronunciation and pick up some vocab. Sponsored by Gespoint.
Location: El Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria
Address: Plaça Comercial, 12
Max: 17 people per group
Sign-up required.
Join one of our guided tours down in the depths of the old El Born market to learn about the history of Barcelona from Roman times to the 18th century. Sponsored by RWS.
Address: Plaça Comercial, 12
Max: 17 people per group
Sign-up required.
Join one of our guided tours down in the depths of the old El Born market to learn about the history of Barcelona from Roman times to the 18th century. Sponsored by RWS.
Location: Aula 02
Group leader: Francesca Matteoda
Sign-up required.
Unwind with Francesca Matteoda’s session of chair-based asanas (yoga postures) and pranayama (breathing exercises). Everyone is welcome, back-bending yogis and beginners alike. Wear comfortable clothing.
Group leader: Francesca Matteoda
Sign-up required.
Unwind with Francesca Matteoda’s session of chair-based asanas (yoga postures) and pranayama (breathing exercises). Everyone is welcome, back-bending yogis and beginners alike. Wear comfortable clothing.
Location: Generator Barcelona
Room: the Lounge
Address: Carrer de Còrsega, 373 (bus H8 is a 15-min ride door to door from Casa Convalescència)
Slammers: Fiona Kelso, Louise Keohane
Moderator: Gary Smith
Direction: Catalan into English
Sign-up required.
This year’s slam honours our METM13 guest speaker, Josep Vallverdú. Join us in the Lounge, drink in hand, to see how Louise and Fiona, gently abetted by Gary, tackle the translation of three poems by MET’s friend Josep, grand old man of Catalan letters.
No knowledge of Catalan needed; Gary will help us decipher the source text (Aragalls, Mundial and Llibre abandonat
).
Room: the Lounge
Address: Carrer de Còrsega, 373 (bus H8 is a 15-min ride door to door from Casa Convalescència)
Slammers: Fiona Kelso, Louise Keohane
Moderator: Gary Smith
Direction: Catalan into English
Sign-up required.
This year’s slam honours our METM13 guest speaker, Josep Vallverdú. Join us in the Lounge, drink in hand, to see how Louise and Fiona, gently abetted by Gary, tackle the translation of three poems by MET’s friend Josep, grand old man of Catalan letters.
No knowledge of Catalan needed; Gary will help us decipher the source text (Aragalls, Mundial and Llibre abandonat
).Share a table with like-minded colleagues at one of our themed meal groups. We book the restaurant, you split the bill.
Group leader: Amy Dara Hochberg
Restaurant: Les Filles
Address: Carrer de Minerva, 2
AI and legal translation: a law unto itself? Can AI be trusted with sensitive documents? Come and share your knowledge and opinions for or against the use of AI in a legal context.
Group leader: Sarah Downham
Restaurant: PÖTSTOT
Address: Carrer de València, 204
Bad Romance? Knowing one Romance language can help and hinder learning another. Share your attempts at intercomprehension, from epic fails to epic wins.
Group leader: Jacqueline Lamb
Restaurant: Flax&Kale
Address: Carrer dels Tallers, 74b
Bon profit! A chance to try traditional Catalan food at one of the oldest restaurants in Barcelona. Join your fellow foodies for a selection of appetizers and a choice of fish- or meat-based mains. Omnivores only, gluten-free options available.
Group leader: Simon Berrill
Table size: max. 12 people
Estimated price: €40-45 (not including drinks)
Restaurant: Ca L’Estevet
Address: Carrer de Valldonzella, 46
Craft beer corner. Share a few glasses and a bite to eat, all expertly paired to enhance the flavours of these locally brewed beers. And to top it all off, see behind the scenes of this local microbrewery and learn a thing or two about the beer-making process.
Group leader: Sandra Young
Table size: max. 12 people
Fixed price: €40
Restaurant: La Cervesera Artesana
Address: Carrer de Sant Agustí, 14
First METM? We’d love to meet you! Join fellow first-timers and a MET council member to chat about what we do, what drew us to METM25 and much more. Be part of the conversation!
Group leader: Heather Hamilton
Restaurant: Teresa Carles
Address: Carrer de Jovellanos, 2
Game, MET and 100% match. When not working, do you spend your time watching people chase a little yellow ball? If you can’t think of anything better than dissecting Carlos Alcaraz’s dropshot or discussing the flaws in Coco Gauff’s forehand, come along to chat about all things tennis.
Group leader: Laura Bennett
Restaurant: Flax&Kale
Address: Carrer dels Tallers, 74b
Salut! Wines of Catalonia. Partial to Penedès? Agüita will be serving up a delicious selection of Catalan food-and-wine-pairing tapas. Omnivores and wine lovers, this one’s for you. Gluten-free options available with advance notice.
Group leader: Ruth Simpson
Table size: max. 28 people
Estimated price: €35-40
Restaurant: Agüita Wine Club
Address: Carrer de Sant Ignasi, 5
Talking to young people about translation. Stacie, your host, works with the Stephen Spender Trust in UK schools to bring translation into classrooms. Join her to discuss this and other ways to engage young people.
Group leader: Stacie Allan
Restaurant: Restaurant Gut
Address: Carrer del Perill, 13
Travellers’ tales. Do you remember your first trip to Spain, the sights and the scents? And if Spain is your home, how did you feel when you first left? Feast on wanderlust and nostalgia with your fellow voyagers.
Group leader: Paul Appleyard
Restaurant: Flax&Kale
Address: Carrer dels Tallers, 74b
What will your next five years look like? In an ever-changing world, how do you plan to keep your work going in the right direction? What impact do you think AI will have? Chat about how you’re prepping for the future and potential life changes.
Group leader: Jackie Senior
Restaurant: Teresa Carles
Address: Carrer de Jovellanos, 2
- All tables are for six people (unless otherwise specified).
- Restaurants can provide vegan/vegetarian options with advance notice (unless omnivore is mentioned in the table description).
- Remember to complete your dietary requirements on your My METM page.
- Sign-up required.
Group leader: Amy Dara Hochberg
Restaurant: Les Filles
Address: Carrer de Minerva, 2
AI and legal translation: a law unto itself? Can AI be trusted with sensitive documents? Come and share your knowledge and opinions for or against the use of AI in a legal context.
Group leader: Sarah Downham
Restaurant: PÖTSTOT
Address: Carrer de València, 204
Bad Romance? Knowing one Romance language can help and hinder learning another. Share your attempts at intercomprehension, from epic fails to epic wins.
Group leader: Jacqueline Lamb
Restaurant: Flax&Kale
Address: Carrer dels Tallers, 74b
Bon profit! A chance to try traditional Catalan food at one of the oldest restaurants in Barcelona. Join your fellow foodies for a selection of appetizers and a choice of fish- or meat-based mains. Omnivores only, gluten-free options available.
Group leader: Simon Berrill
Table size: max. 12 people
Estimated price: €40-45 (not including drinks)
Restaurant: Ca L’Estevet
Address: Carrer de Valldonzella, 46
Craft beer corner. Share a few glasses and a bite to eat, all expertly paired to enhance the flavours of these locally brewed beers. And to top it all off, see behind the scenes of this local microbrewery and learn a thing or two about the beer-making process.
Group leader: Sandra Young
Table size: max. 12 people
Fixed price: €40
Restaurant: La Cervesera Artesana
Address: Carrer de Sant Agustí, 14
First METM? We’d love to meet you! Join fellow first-timers and a MET council member to chat about what we do, what drew us to METM25 and much more. Be part of the conversation!
Group leader: Heather Hamilton
Restaurant: Teresa Carles
Address: Carrer de Jovellanos, 2
Game, MET and 100% match. When not working, do you spend your time watching people chase a little yellow ball? If you can’t think of anything better than dissecting Carlos Alcaraz’s dropshot or discussing the flaws in Coco Gauff’s forehand, come along to chat about all things tennis.
Group leader: Laura Bennett
Restaurant: Flax&Kale
Address: Carrer dels Tallers, 74b
Salut! Wines of Catalonia. Partial to Penedès? Agüita will be serving up a delicious selection of Catalan food-and-wine-pairing tapas. Omnivores and wine lovers, this one’s for you. Gluten-free options available with advance notice.
Group leader: Ruth Simpson
Table size: max. 28 people
Estimated price: €35-40
Restaurant: Agüita Wine Club
Address: Carrer de Sant Ignasi, 5
Talking to young people about translation. Stacie, your host, works with the Stephen Spender Trust in UK schools to bring translation into classrooms. Join her to discuss this and other ways to engage young people.
Group leader: Stacie Allan
Restaurant: Restaurant Gut
Address: Carrer del Perill, 13
Travellers’ tales. Do you remember your first trip to Spain, the sights and the scents? And if Spain is your home, how did you feel when you first left? Feast on wanderlust and nostalgia with your fellow voyagers.
Group leader: Paul Appleyard
Restaurant: Flax&Kale
Address: Carrer dels Tallers, 74b
What will your next five years look like? In an ever-changing world, how do you plan to keep your work going in the right direction? What impact do you think AI will have? Chat about how you’re prepping for the future and potential life changes.
Group leader: Jackie Senior
Restaurant: Teresa Carles
Address: Carrer de Jovellanos, 2
Friday, 17 October
Location: Refectory, Casa Convalescència
Times: Friday at 12:45 and Saturday at 18:45
Performance: At the Saturday closing dinner
Choir director: Ruth Simpson
No sign-up required. Guests welcome.
The METM choir’s first-ever outing was an off-the-cuff rendition of On Ilkley Moor baht ’at. This year, we’re giving it a 20th-anniversary glow-up with fresh lyrics that celebrate how far we’ve come. We’ll also be channelling the local Catalan spirit with a choral arrangement of L’estaca by Lluís Llach.
For scores, audio and more info, go to Ruth's music folder.
Times: Friday at 12:45 and Saturday at 18:45
Performance: At the Saturday closing dinner
Choir director: Ruth Simpson
No sign-up required. Guests welcome.
The METM choir’s first-ever outing was an off-the-cuff rendition of On Ilkley Moor baht ’at. This year, we’re giving it a 20th-anniversary glow-up with fresh lyrics that celebrate how far we’ve come. We’ll also be channelling the local Catalan spirit with a choral arrangement of L’estaca by Lluís Llach.
For scores, audio and more info, go to Ruth's music folder.
Share a table with like-minded colleagues at one of our themed meal groups. We book the restaurant, you split the bill.
Group leader: Siru Laine
Restaurant: El Trencadís
Address: Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 157
Better together. Which other professional associations are you a member of? Do they complement each other? Share your experiences over lunch.
Group leader: Timothy Barton
Restaurant: El Trencadís
Address: Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 157
First METM? We’d love to meet you! Join fellow first-timers and a MET council member to chat about what we do, what drew us to METM25 and much more. Be part of the conversation!
Group leader: Louise Normandière
Restaurant: Green Kiss
Address: Av. de Gaudí, 87
Hobby evangelists. How do you channel your creativity when not working? Show off your latest creations and inspire others to try something new.
Group leader: Jenny Zonneveld
Restaurant: Arrosseria Gaudí
Address: Av. de Gaudí, 44, 46
Moving in-house. Thinking of giving up the freelance life? Or perhaps you’ve already taken the leap. Let’s chat about the pros and cons and what life is actually like on the other side.
Group leader: Kelly Dickeson
Restaurant: Little Viet
Address: Carrer de Cartagena, 328
Substacking, blogging and other writing practices. Writing your own stuff to write better? Share your work, reasoning and recommendations with the group.
Group leader: Allison Wright
Restaurant: El Meu Capritx
Address: Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 199
Where do I belong? Having many places to call home can prompt a cultural and linguistic identity crisis. But it makes you you. Reveal how you navigated your multicultural upbringing and how you identify now.
Group leader: Alice Lehtinen
Restaurant: El Pilar't D'en Marcelino
Address: Carrer del Guinardó, 18
- See Thursday off-METM tables for full details.
- All tables are for six people.
- Sign-up required.
Note that our lunch groups are at the same time as the Friday choir rehearsal.
And our 12 points go to… Want to Eat Your Salad (Latvia 2022) with fellow Rock ’n’ Roll Kids (Ireland 1994)? Congratulations (United Kingdom 1968), here you can chat about the Eurovision Song Contest with No Prejudice (Iceland 2014). Even if your Eurovision knowledge is Comme ci, comme ça (Cyprus 2007), you’re welcome to join us!Group leader: Siru Laine
Restaurant: El Trencadís
Address: Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 157
Better together. Which other professional associations are you a member of? Do they complement each other? Share your experiences over lunch.
Group leader: Timothy Barton
Restaurant: El Trencadís
Address: Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 157
First METM? We’d love to meet you! Join fellow first-timers and a MET council member to chat about what we do, what drew us to METM25 and much more. Be part of the conversation!
Group leader: Louise Normandière
Restaurant: Green Kiss
Address: Av. de Gaudí, 87
Hobby evangelists. How do you channel your creativity when not working? Show off your latest creations and inspire others to try something new.
Group leader: Jenny Zonneveld
Restaurant: Arrosseria Gaudí
Address: Av. de Gaudí, 44, 46
Moving in-house. Thinking of giving up the freelance life? Or perhaps you’ve already taken the leap. Let’s chat about the pros and cons and what life is actually like on the other side.
Group leader: Kelly Dickeson
Restaurant: Little Viet
Address: Carrer de Cartagena, 328
Substacking, blogging and other writing practices. Writing your own stuff to write better? Share your work, reasoning and recommendations with the group.
Group leader: Allison Wright
Restaurant: El Meu Capritx
Address: Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 199
Where do I belong? Having many places to call home can prompt a cultural and linguistic identity crisis. But it makes you you. Reveal how you navigated your multicultural upbringing and how you identify now.
Group leader: Alice Lehtinen
Restaurant: El Pilar't D'en Marcelino
Address: Carrer del Guinardó, 18
Location: Refectory, Casa Convalescència
Event open to all conference attendees and pre-paid guests.
Raise a glass to 20 years of MET meetings with fellow attendees in the spectacular ceramic-tiled refectory at Casa Convalescència. Weather permitting, take the conversation outdoors to enjoy the autumn evening.
Event open to all conference attendees and pre-paid guests.
Raise a glass to 20 years of MET meetings with fellow attendees in the spectacular ceramic-tiled refectory at Casa Convalescència. Weather permitting, take the conversation outdoors to enjoy the autumn evening.
Saturday, 18 October
Saturday rehearsal location: Refectory, Casa Convalescència
No sign-up required. Guests welcome.
See Friday rehearsal for full details.
No sign-up required. Guests welcome.
See Friday rehearsal for full details.
Location: Hotel Montblanc, Via Laietana, 61
Menu: see choices
Entertainment: METM choir performance, dancing and DJ
Event open to all conference attendees (excluding opt-outs) and pre-paid guests.
Enjoy a welcome drink on arrival, followed by a three-course dinner and an after-party drink. Dine, chat, laugh and dance like it’s 2005.
Sponsored by Wordfast.
Menu: see choices
Entertainment: METM choir performance, dancing and DJ
Event open to all conference attendees (excluding opt-outs) and pre-paid guests.
Enjoy a welcome drink on arrival, followed by a three-course dinner and an after-party drink. Dine, chat, laugh and dance like it’s 2005.
Sponsored by Wordfast.
Sunday, 19 October
Meeting point: Plaça d’Espanya (Torres Venecianes)
Meeting time: 10:20 for 10:30 start.
End point: Carrer Blai
Total distance: approx. 5 km; difficulty: moderate (some uphill and steps)
No sign-up required. Guests welcome.
Join Lisa McCarthy for a hike around Montjuïc. The route takes in some picturesque parks and an amphitheatre before a steeper section leads up to the fortress and its panoramic city and sea views. Heading down again, Carrer Blai, famous for its pintxos and tapas, is a fitting finish line for hungry ramblers.
Meeting time: 10:20 for 10:30 start.
End point: Carrer Blai
Total distance: approx. 5 km; difficulty: moderate (some uphill and steps)
No sign-up required. Guests welcome.
Join Lisa McCarthy for a hike around Montjuïc. The route takes in some picturesque parks and an amphitheatre before a steeper section leads up to the fortress and its panoramic city and sea views. Heading down again, Carrer Blai, famous for its pintxos and tapas, is a fitting finish line for hungry ramblers.
Meeting point: Moll de les Drassanes, opposite the Columbus Monument
Meeting time: 11:15 for 11:30 sailing.
Cost: €12.00
Buy your own ticket. Book in advance on Las Golondrinas website.
Guests welcome.
Hop aboard a boat and round off your METM on the water. This relaxing 60-minute tour of the port and coastline offers stunning views of the city’s landmarks. An audio guide and bar service are available on board at an additional cost. Post-boat trip options include joining the walkers on Carrer Blai for drinks and tapas.
The trip is open to the public. If available, last-minute tickets can be purchased on the pier.
Meeting time: 11:15 for 11:30 sailing.
Cost: €12.00
Buy your own ticket. Book in advance on Las Golondrinas website.
Guests welcome.
Hop aboard a boat and round off your METM on the water. This relaxing 60-minute tour of the port and coastline offers stunning views of the city’s landmarks. An audio guide and bar service are available on board at an additional cost. Post-boat trip options include joining the walkers on Carrer Blai for drinks and tapas.
The trip is open to the public. If available, last-minute tickets can be purchased on the pier.
Follow us: