10/04/2014

Spending Easter Holidays in Costa Brava

When coming to spend Easter holidays in Costa Brava you will be able to attend several typical Spanish parades and processions during the “Semana Santa”, the Holy Week.

Most of towns and villages in Costa Brava have special events for Easter Holidays, when the faithful celebrate the resurrection of Christ, with traditional parades and processions. Easter processions are quiet spectacular in Spain for visitors as they are centuries old and often involve elaborate customs and traditions. They are definitely not to be missed if you plan on spending your vacation along the coast.

Spending Easter Holidays in Costa Brava
Easter Calendar: Traditions & Processions

Palm Sunday, this first Sunday of the holy week is characterized by the benediction of the palms. On this special day godfathers / godmothers give their godchildren the traditional Mona de Pascua.  This is a special seasonal treat that can be either traditional or take the form on Sponge Bob.

Holy Thursday, we recommend that you visit the Procession of Verges during your Easter holidays in Costa Brava, especially the passage of the Procession along the Carrer dels Cargols. The procession is divided in two parts: the first represents the Passion of Christ and the second one is held at midnight, when Jesus has been condemned to crucifixion. You can assist the Crucifixion in the church along with the Dance of Death where people dressed like skeletons will dance at the feet of Christ.

Spending Easter Holidays in Costa Brava
On Good Friday, crucifixes are carried through the streets of major towns, you will have several processions to choose:
-          Sant Hilari Sacalm, do not miss the “El Via Crucis Viviente”, the living Via Crucis, a popular manifestation to go out the streets and see the history alive.
-          Beget – Camprodón, it is the Procession of the Saint Mysteries: a Via Crucis formed by Roman Soldiers, a Women’s Parade and the Passion.
-          Besalú, to attend the “Procesión del Dolors”, excellent chance to get to know this charming medieval village. Famous for its medieval bridge and summertime medieval festival
-          Girona: it is the most popular procession for Easter holidays in Costa Brava, the capital city. Here you’ll find one of the biggest medieval Jew Quarters in Europe, and the procession of the “Cofradía de Cristo Crucificado” as Roman Soldiers and other characters passing along the narrow streets of its old quarter and cathedral. Starting at 22.00hs from the Cathedral Square.
Dances, demonstrations and parades are accompanied by the typical song of the Semana Santa, the “Saeta”, a religious song sang A cappella.

Spending Easter Holidays in Costa Brava
During Easter Holidays in Costa Brava, you will be able to enjoy the typical Catalan Easter pastrie. Of course, there are the traditional chocolate eggs and the “Mona de Pascua”, but you will also find special sweets such as “Buñuelos”: fried doughnuts which can be accompanied by chocolate, the “Torrijas” which are pieces of bread soaked in milk and fried in butter, the “Pestiños” is a pastry prepared with sweet dough fried in oil, or the “Tortell des Rams”, a round tart decorated with fruits and full of cream)


08/04/2014

Barcelona City Tour

Discover all of the most important sights of Barcelona while relaxing and soaking up the sun on the roof of the Barcelona City Tour.


Barcelona City Tour
Thanks to the panoramic deck of the bus you will be able to get to know Barcelona from a different point of view in a really comfortable way. I recommend you to do this City Tour at the beginning of your stay to have the perfect overview of the city.

With Barcelona City Tour, get on and off at 44 different stops and enjoy Barcelona with two different routes to impressive places and masterpieces.


Barcelona City Tour
East Route:
Plaça Catalunya, Gótico, Port Vell, Museu d’Historia, Barceloneta, Port Olímpic, Platja de Bogatell, Nova Mar Bella, Forum, Torre Agbar, Sagrada Familia, Hospital Santa Creu, Parc Güell, Tibidabo, La Pedrera, Casa Battló, Cuitadella-Zoo, Teatre Nacional Auditori, Torre Agbar.

West Route:
Plaça Catalunya, Gótico, Passeig Colom, World Trade Center, Jardins Miramar, Fundació Miro, Anella Olimpica, MNAC, Poble Espanyol, Caixa Forum, Plaça Espanya, Estació de Sants, Camp Nou, Plaça Puis XII, Illa Diagonal, Avinguda Diagonal, La Pedrera, Casa Battló.


Barcelona City Tour
Practical Information
Barcelona City TourOffice of customer: Ronda Universitad, 5
Tel: +34 93 317 64 54
More information: www.barcelonacitytour.cat

Opening hours:
Daily service all year round (expt. January 1st and December 25th)
- First departures between 9am and 9.30am
- Last departures: 7pm in winter, 8pm in summer
- Frequency: Between 5 and 25 minutes
See timetables posted at the stops.
Office of customer: Monday to Sunday, 8.30am to 8pm

Included services:
- Hop on and Hop off at 44 stops
- Audio guide in 12 languages
- Headphones
- Book of discounts all over the city
Prices:
FREE for children under 4 years old
- 1 day adults:  around 20€
- 1 day children (4 to 12): around 10€
- 2 days adults: around 25€
- 2 days children (4 to 12): around 15€

06/04/2014

Everything ready for the Formula 1 2014

Everything is ready for the 65th Season of the F1 Grand Prix! This year, 11 teams with 22 drivers will compete in 19 Grand Prix spread all over the world. This season promises to become a very exciting one. 

So what can we expect from F1 this year?

We have driver changes between the teams:

Massa went from Ferrari to Williams, Maldonado went from Williams to Lotus and Räikkönen went from Lotus to Ferrari! 2014 we will say goodbye to Mark Webber. After so many years, he announced his retirement from the F1, but he will still stay active in the automotive competitions.


Everything ready for the Formula 1 2014
The teams and drivers for 2014 are:
Caterham – Renault M. Erricson & K. Kobayashi
Ferrari – K. Räikkönen & F. Alonso
Force India – Mercedes S. Pérez & N. Hülkenberg
Lotus  Renault – R. Grosjean & P. Moldonado
Marussia Ferrari – M. Chilton & J. Binachi
Mclaren Mercedes – K. Magnussen & J. Button
Mercedes – N.Rosberg & L. Hamilton
Redbull Renault – S. Vettel & D. Ricciardo
Sauber Ferrari – E. Gutiérrez & A. Sutil
Torro Rosso Renault – J. Vergne & D. Kvyat
Williams Mercedes – F. Massa & V. Bottas

This year we have some very strong teams in the F1 competition. Especially the Ferrari team is really remarkable. They have 2 former F1 World Champions in their team! But everyone knows that all the attention will go to S. Vettel. For the last 4 years he has been carrying the title of F1 World Champion, if he manages to keep his performances as high as the previous years, he will become World Champion again. If this is the case, he will equal the record of 5 F1 World Champion titles in a row, which now still is Michael Schumacher’s record. Massa went from Ferrari to Williams, Maldonado went from Williams to Lotus and Räikkönen went from Lotus to Ferrari!

Everything ready for the Formula 1 2014

Barcelona Formula 1 experience, more than just a Grand Prix :

Formula 1 StartMontmeló, the Circuit in Barcelona, is one of the most modern sports facilities in Spain, serving as the venue for the most important motor sports events of the world. But the Circuit is not only passion for speed; it also offers the chance to enjoy all kinds of events and activities thanks to the multi-purpose facilities fitted to offer all kinds of experiences for all the family. 

Buy a ticket for the Formula 1 in the Circuit of Catalunya means:
Free admission to all Formula One Test Days 2013
On Thursday of the Grand Prix you will have the chance to visit the Pit Lane of the Circuit and watch the drivers and mechanics in their garages!

On Friday you may access any grandstand with a general admission ticket, except grandstands C and E.

Everything ready for the Formula 1 2014
During the three days of the Grand Prix you can walk around all public areas in the asphalted paths that connect the different areas inside the Circuit.

You will be able to follow the whole race without missing a single detail from any place thanks to giant screens strategically located around the Circuit.

Free entrance to the grandstands for children under 5 without occupying a seat. Children under 12 General Admission free ticket. -Kids between 3 and 12 years will have fun playing at our Kids Zones. (Free activity)

Make sure you order your tickets in time since the F1 championships are getting very popular!