Archive for February, 2010

Sitges Carnival 2010 is here!

Friday, February 12th, 2010

Sitges Carnival 2010

Sitges Carnival 2010

February has arrived and with it the carnival season. Celebrations and parties across the world attract millions of visitors every year, together united by music, dancing and the desire to have a great time.

In Barcelona, the carnival in Sitges is without a doubt one of the liveliest most colorful and certainly most anticipated events.

Sitges is a beautiful town situated about 35km south of Barcelona. It’s famous for its beaches, historical landmarks and nightlife. You can easily get there by train, bus or car.

For those of you who would like to know a little bit more about the Sitges Carnival and its various activities and events, here’s a small recap:

-The festivities began on Thursday with “Dijous Gras” with the spectacular arrival of the King “Carnestoltes”, accompanied by the Queen of the Carnival.

-Then, on Sunday and Tuesday, the floats and masked groups will parade along the main streets filled with curious visitors and locals. They are known as the Rúa de la Disbauxa and Rúa del Extermini respectively. The rúas are a display of aesthetic and artistic creativity. They are a true spectacle of costumes, makeup, pens, daring models of fantasy and unbelievable theatrical stages.

-Finally, the carnival ends with the burial of the Canestoltes on Wednesday.

All these elements and the peculiar idiosyncrasy of the people transform the Sitges Carnival into a feast for the senses!

For more information available on the Sitges Carnival, visit these useful links:

Barcelona tourist guide – Sitges
Ajuntament de Sitges

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Ready, set, go! Barcelona Marathó 2010

Monday, February 8th, 2010

Barcelona Marathon 2010

Barcelona Marathon 2010

Thousands of experienced runners and amateurs are impatiently waiting for the big day where they get to take the streets of Barcelona for one of the most important sporting events of the year: the Barcelona Marathon.

On March 7th 2010, both runners and spectators will have the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful city by cruising by some of the most impressive and world-famous landmarks, including Camp Nou, Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera and the Hospital de Sant Pau.

The race, beginning at 8:30am at Plaza Espanya (below the Montjüic hill), covers a distance of around 42km, some of which includes a run along the harbor, around the old city and some steeper parts of the city.

The race started as the Catalunya Marathon in 1978 and has gained increasing popularity ever since. Last year, it featured over 10,000 participants, nearly half were visitors from abroad.

But not only the runners get to enjoy the day, there are also plenty of recreational activities aimed at the spectators: the Pasta Party on February 28th is free for all runners +1 guest, and on the day of the event, there will be music, dancing and lots of fun for everyone, thanks to the Batukadas, the brasilean percussion groups.

This year, I will proudly show my support to two of my friends who have decided to participate and who are very excited to travel and visit a new city. They come all the way from Costa Rica!

If you need more information on the race, visit the official website of the Marathó Barcelona.

So good luck to all and I hope to see you there!

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Get ready for Lisbon Carnival 2010

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Lisbon Carnival 2010

Lisbon Carnival 2010

The carnival, although exported to the New World, has remained one of Portugal’s most popular events. It is widely celebrated not only in Lisbon but also in its outskirts: Sesimbra, Loures, Torres Vedras, Algarve and Madeira Island are famous for its parties and parades. Carnival parades also take place in the heart of the city and along the coast at the resorts of Estoril and Cascais.

Carnival traditionally celebrates the ending of winter and the beginning of Lent but has become more of a fun thing in Lisbon, where tourists and locals take on the streets to witness the dazzling show of street parades, lively parties, colorful costumes and of course the magnificent and richly decorated floats.

This year, the carnival will take place on February 16th. However, if you plan to arrive early, you can also enjoy the parties and different events in local bars and discos, prior to the main event.

In downtown Lisbon, the best place to be is at the Parque das Naçoes, a vast riverfront entertainment complex with exceptional aquarium, tower and cable car. The party people who love the sea can head to the Algarve region where traditionally adorned boats navigate the shoreline.

If you are planing your little getaway to Lisbon, check out our current promotions. We offer fully-equipped apartments in the heart of Lisbon, so you can enjoy the parties and be close to your home away from home.

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