Carnival in Barcelona 2014

The Carnival time in Barcelona is the time of joy and celebration. It ends with the Ash Wednesday and is traditionally known as the “last celebration” before the 40-day period of the Lent, run up to Easter. “El Carnaval” in Spanish, starts on the 27^th of February with the “Fat Thursday”.  As the name itself tells, this day is all about eating and drinking. The first parades are celebrated with the arrival of the King of the Carnival and this celebration also opens the whole Carnival celebration week.

On the following days there are also many parades held in different areas of Barcelona where many decorated and colorful  carriages and carnival groups move down the streets of the city. It is usual to dress up; there are different markets where people can try food in the local places, listen to the music, dance and simply have fun. It is also common to have food competitions in these areas. The Carnival ends with the Ash Wednesday on the 5^th of March, when the “burying of the sardine” takes place, symbolizing the end of the fun and the carnival. It will be held in the Park of Ciutadella.

In Catalunya the most famous Carnival celebration, though, takes place in a nearby town called Sitges, which is also known as the gay capital in Europe. The Carnival in Sitges can be also described as a huge and colorful party parade which is about 40 km from Barcelona. However, who decides to stay in the city has a great choice of special party events offered by the clubs all around Barcelona.  

BEST SUMMER NIGHT CINEMA IN BARCELONA

One of the nicest tradition in Spain is the "cine de verano" (summer cinema), consisting in open air projections of movies around the country (mostly in small villages, that get a lost of visitors during the summer) to enjoy under the sky and the stars. And being able to spend a couple of hours open air without getting burned!

These summer nights of cinema are specially charmy and romantic and are normally enjoyed with friends while having a beer or even eating your pic·nic under the stars.

Barcelona has re-invented this lovely tradition and has made it brand-new but without losing the original spirit of watching god cinema under the stars and enjoying the cool air. Barcelona has a climate particulary humid and sticky in summer so the cool air of MontjUic Monuntain is the perfect balm before going to sleep. Maybe that's the reason why The castle on the very top of the mountain has been chosen to play the movies: pleople seat or layon the grass of the pits within walls. And the walls themselves act like a screen. Amazing.

You are strongly recommended to book in advance: that's the best tip to avoid eternal queuin before entering the castle premises.

And a last tip: wear a light jacket or a thin sweater: you will bea on top of a Mountain afert all! :-)

enjoy it by clicking here

HOLA BARCELONA

When travelling for the first time to a city offering so much the whole year round, expectations are high and time is... low! This blog aims to help you make the most of your trip to Barcelona, and not getting too stressed. This is a Mediterranean city after all and you probably come to Barcelona looking for that Meditarranean flavour and way of life, which is (supposed) to be calmed :-)

Today, we have known a new way to discover the city in a really unstressing way, mostly for your budget: Free tours developped by locals! They will only get a tipo from you after the tour so feel free to leave as much €€€ as you can or you feel they deserve.

Check the website Discoverwalks and choose Barcelona, three interesting routes are waiting for you to be discovered.

Enjoy it!