Friday, June 27, 2008

More infos about Barcelona : the catalan


Catalan is the language of Catalonia. It has the category of official language along with Spanish, which is official all over the Spanish State. Catalan is also the language of an extensive area covering the eastern part of the Spanish State (the Balearic Islands, Valencia), Andorra, where it is the only official language, the south of France (the so-called Northern Catalonia) and the Italian city of Alghero. As a whole, the Catalan language is spoken in a territory of 68.000 km² inhabited by 13,5 million people. From them, it is estimated that 9 million are able to speak it, while 11 million can understand it.

It is one of the Romance or Neolatin languages formed inmediately after the dissolution of Latin between the 8th and the 10th centuries in the territories of the Carolingian Empire that formed the Hispanic March. As in the majority of languages, there are differents geographical variants of the Catalan language.

The first known texts written in Catalan are fragments of the Catalan version of Forum ludicum and the book of sermons Les Homilies d'Organyà, both from the 12th century. The language experienced a period of decline with respect to learned literature during the Renaissance and Baroque period, but it was kept for legislation and Administration, and as popular language, until the Renaixença (second half of the 19th century), a movement that restored Catalan to its literary category. At the beginning of the 20th century, political Catalanism demanded the teaching of Catalan and the use of the language at the Administration. This made possible the creation of the modern standard thanks, mostly, to the work of philologist Pompeu Fabra. During Francos's dictatorship (1939-1975), it was the object of a systematic persecution, but continued to be used as a familiy language until with the recovery of democratic rights, dignity is given back to Catalan and its use is restored to normal in schools, mass media, economic life and cultural industries.

That’s the language you will hear here in Barcelona next to the ¨castellano¨ while staying at your Barcelona apartment. J

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

San Juan


Every year St John's Day (Sant Joan) is celebrated throughout Spain with an explosion of bonfires and fireworks and a colourful array of concerts and dances.

Catalonians celebrate in their special way and Barcelona is one of the most spectacular places to join in the fun.

The fiesta takes place the night before Saint John's Day, and during the short nights of the summer solstice. It is a long-standing tradition that combines fun with aspects of Catalonian identity.

Old furniture is bundled onto bonfires in the villages and towns throughout the region, the fire acting as a purifier and curative element. At first, this was a rite celebrated in the main village square that brought everyone together round the fire. Nowadays fireworks are also an integral part.

The most enjoyable part of the ¨noche de sant joan¨are the verbenas (open-air celebrations) that last from sunset on 23 June to sunrise on 24 June. As well as in each village, there are various places in Barcelona where they take place. The main ones are in Eixample, Ciutat Velha, Sants-Montjuic, Les Corts, San Gervasi, Horta Guinardó, Nou Barris, Sant Andrea and Sant Martí. Alongside the bonfire and fireworks there are stages, concerts, dances and, of course, the eating of the traditional sweet cocas.

If you are up to discover the beauties if the St.johns night, just check out an accomodation in the heart of the action in Barcelona. Barcelona apartments.

Friday, June 20, 2008

SONAAAAAR !!


Like every year, here is the summer! And what does summer means? Summer means good weather; summer means holidays and summer specially means a wide variety of music festivals comes! Festivals for all tastes and with all kind of rhythms and music. And now is time for Sónar 2008! From 19th until 21st June, we will enjoy of the best electronic scene in Barcelona (Spain). For fifteen years, this festival has been the most notable, emphasized and reliable one onto dance music tendencies. Just the best artists can play in this amazing festival and you shouldn’t miss it! Come on, lets discover what’s going on and enjoy!

There are two main themes in this 15th special edition: the 'female factor' in today's music and 'hybridism' as the result of the intersection of musical genres and subgenres. Figures such as Justice, Yelle, Diplo, and Boys Noize give this year's programme an injection of hybrid energy. Women have the power this year: unquestionable divas of modern pop like Roisin Musphy or Goldfrapp; the glamorous M.I.A. or Camille, famous for being the new `chanson francaise´ diva’s, will bring a strong and fabulous scene to this edition.

Other styles and sounds will take you to new universes. Yazoo and Mike Banks together with Jeff Mills, Jaime Collum and his brother Ben Collum with Darren Emerson (the former member of Underworld), Kanye West, Dj Mehdi, Yazoo, Daedelus, Discodeine, Kalabrese, Flying Lotus, Neon Neon, Yelle, Hercules & Love affair, Krazy Baldhead, Shackelton and much more…

But Sónar is much more than a music festival! The visitors will be invited to openly explore through an extensive program of interactive exhibitions and many other shows. At night, people will dance with the most popular bands, DJs and VJs of the moment; at day, Sónar offers more than 50 expositions, with the special threat of the year: cinema. There are some exhibitions like `El cine más allá del cine´ or `Luz Y Sonido´, based on construction of images based on going back and recovering different kinds of pre-cinema technologies, the use of light as a focus for the possibilities of installation art, the development of videogames as the huge new entertainment factory for the masses, the birth of live-cinema (the production of sound and visuals in real time that emerged from club culture) as a new format in cinema’s near-future, and the massive influx of YouTube and GoogleVideo as the great collective, universal video library of the 21st .

Are you going to miss it? There is just a problem you should solve before coming. The accommodation! Where are you going to stay? Barcelona is crowded because of summer holidays. Here you will find the perfect accommodation that adjusts what you are looking for. Rent an apartment in Barcelona and enjoy your stay.

barcelona tourist guide

Barcelona


Barcelona is the capital of catalonia,second largest city in Spain. It’s a beautiful and multicultural city full os surprises.Barcelona has transformed itself into one of the most dynamic and stylish cities in the world. Summer is serious party time, but year-round the city sizzles - it's always on the biting edge of architecture, food, fashion, style, music and good times.The buildings, especially the work of the eccentric genius Gaudí, will blow you away. The art, with significant collections by Picasso and Miró, will make you clammy all over. Go ands visit this beautiful city that you will never forget, take the chance to enjoy your freedom while staying in an apartment. Check out apartments Barcelona.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

GOING OUT IN MADRID


Just as in the rest of Spain, people here in Madrid go out very late. Most begin the evening at around 10 PM at a tapas bar. The nightclubs open up at around 1 AM but people head for these at around 3 AM, when the bars close up. Then they party and dance until around 7 AM, which is closing time for most nightclubs. It is pretty common to stop over for some breakfast on the way home at one of the city’s many cafes.

If dancing all night long is not your cup of tea, there are other quieter options to choose from when it comes to ways to spend the night.

In Madrid there are over 100 movie theatres. Some are very modern, with the latest movies out at the box office while others are smaller and less frequented. These usually carry foreign or independent films. Make sure to look out for the Dia del Espectador – on these days movie tickets are sold at a reduced price, sometimes even at 50% off.

Madrid has cafes, tapas bars and nightclubs on almost every block and therefore only the most well-known are mentioned.

The area most favoured by those who enjoy going out to these places is probably Plaza Santa Ana. This is where tourists usually flock to, however you will also come across a considerable number of locals as well. Tapas bars line the streets here so the selection is endless.

Along Castellana you will find mostly upscale bars and nightclubs with the kind of crowd such places attract. It is unlikely to find students here and the general age group ranges from 25 years upwards. The same goes for Retiro and Salamanca areas. This is where the "pijos" hang out, Spanish for yuppies.
Running parallel to Castellana are many salsatecas or salsa nightclubs, owned and run by Latin American immigrants.

In the Malasaña district you’ll mostly come across simpler bars that can come off as rather untidy or unclean. Prices here are very affordable and the crowd is generally very young, mostly made up of students who like to spend their evenings here. Plaza Dos de Mayo is a square that is always buzzing with activity – the clubs there are relatively stylish and therefore quite expensive. When the bars in this area close down for the night, the streets empty fairly quickly and it is not a good idea to stay around for to long as in this part of town street crime at that hour is very high.

The Chueca district is one of the favourite areas of Madrid at the moment. It may be helpful to know that this is the city’s gay area, that way you’ll know what to expect before wandering into the nightclubs there.

If you’re a jazz or salsa fan, in Huerta you’ll be sure to find a music bar to your liking. On weekends these places usually have live music to enjoy along with your drink.

The La Latina district is ideal for enjoying a relaxing glass of red wine with your tapas in quiet inner patios and courtyards.

Aaaaand at the end of the night, just enjoy coming home to your relaxed apartment in Madrid !!

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Monday, June 9, 2008

Madrid



The Community of Madrid offers a great deal of cultural, leisure and entertainment activities to please millions of people who visit it every year. Madrid, with its cosmopolitan air, still is the open city it has always been and its well known night life has not lost any of its vitality. This modern air harmoniously contrasts with its important old quarters and its cultural traditions. Its great transportation network makes getting around to any place you wish easy and quick, adding to this the best and most exclusive hotel accomodation network. Tradition and vanguard live together harmoniously, welcoming a dynamic and modern society. The Community of Madrid is a must if you want to get to know the Spanish culture.The autonomous region of Madrid offers numerous possibilities that are sure to suit all visitors, from countless leisure activities, cultural or professional events, to sporting activities and even shopping. Enjoy Madrid's acclaimed night life, take your family to one of Madrid's theme parks or watch one of the many musicals shown on Gran Vía.If culture is what you are looking for, you are certain to find it in one of Madrid's many museums and also in its monuments. Activities as varied as wrapping up business deals, shopping and practicing sports and watching sporting events are some of the many options that Madrid has to offer its millions of visitors every year.Madrid gathers the culinary art from all around the country and there is no regional cuisine that is not expertly represented in our city. Madrid has included these contributions in its gastronomy and also those which have come from afar, originating a great variety of dishes with the Madrilenians stamp.If you are looking for accommodation in Madrid, consider renting an apartment to enjoy your freedom and feel like at home.Apartments Madrid

 
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