Thank you for your suggestions/recommendations!
Well, I don't think I could really read a book on my balcony (at least not without straining my eyes), but I live on the first floor and close to the street lamps (which are more or less at my level)... There is also a huge lamp above the front door of the building, and the door is on the left side of my balcony just below me, so the lamp is very close to my balcony.
The beach is much better of course. Both in terms of view and of light pollution.
The Barlow lens I was looking at is the Seben (2x). They told me Seben is good quality, and that Barlow lens is much cheaper than other Barlow lenses. Do you know if it is light enough?.
Another thing I might need is a collimation tool. The scope manual, however, says that I can build one myself with a 35mm film canister (which I don't have, but I guess I could find one in town), so I will give it a go.
Today by the way I found a very nice book on stars and planets with huge constellations etc. at the Alumni Bookshop. I can't wait to read it. (It is the
Star Guide by R. Kerrod. It looks like new and it seems to be ideal for beginners.)