Party is in the air

More than 70 aircrafts participate in the "Festa del Cel" (Sky party) , which this year takes place over two days, 2 and 3 October. The air festival commemorates the centennial of the first flight engine in Catalonia.

Commercial aircrafts (which will fly a distance very different from the usual), military and historical items. All of them will fly along the waterfront of the city, from the Forum to the Hotel W.

The beaches Bogatell, Mar Bella and Nova Mar Bella are the best places to follow the festival.
Among the innovations, there is a spectacular jump of Alvaro Bultó, Santi Corella and Toni Lopez, who will go with a suit of wings. Do not miss even the Pioneer Tream, with their pyrotechnics show.

Sitges: a perfect day trip for summer

Another perfect full-day trip from Barcelona is the sea resort town of Sitges. A half hour train ride from Plaza Catalunya gets you there, and the trains run from 6 A.M. to midnight.

Wedged beautifully between the hills and the sea Sitges has an impressive artistic and cultural heritage. Luckily Sitges escaped the overzealous development that has decimated fate of so much of the Mediterranean coast.

There is nothing tacky or cheap about Sitges. In fact property in “The St. Tropez of Spain” is as pricey as any city in Europe. But what do you care; you’re only going for a day.

Sitges’s charm is its architecture. Many Catalans went to the Americas to make their fortunes. Many returned in the late 19 century with lots of money and commissioned large mansions in the place to be, Sitges, and in the latest fashion, the art nouveau (modernist) movement of Gaudi and others. Many of these intriguing mansions can be found on the “Carrer Illa de Cuba” (The Island of Cuba Street). Guess where these Catalans made their fortune .Well, not the United States.

And Sitges has always been a center for artists going all the way back to when Catalan impressionist painter Santiago Rusiñol took up residence there.

Of course summer means beaches and Sitges has them for all tastes. If you go in for international crowds and jet-set celebrities, check out the main beach “de la Ribera. See and be seen! If more intimate beaches are more your style search among the small rocky bays and coves. Try Sant Sebastian beach, for example. There is even a nudist beach, permitted but not required.

After a day at the beach Sitges comes alive. After dark the weather cools down, the discos, pubs, and clubs heat up. You can put in some after-dark time at the “Carrer del pecat” (“The Street of Sin”) and still catch the midnight train back to the hotel.

Next week (25 August 21-25), their "Festa Major " is the show. Don't miss all the dance, music and shows of this typical fiesta.

Because of Sitges’s artistic tradition and its sheer beauty many festivals and street parties make their home here. The most famous one is The International Film Festival. Last year it celebrated its 40 th anniversary. It started out dedicated to science fiction, horror, and fantasy flicks and keeps a lot of this tone and attracts film celebrities year after year. It is coming up from October 2 to 12.

And Sitges celebrates Carnival. It’s not Rio, but it is one of Europe’s most famous. It has the usual fancy costumes, parades, and enthusiastic party goers. It is an especial favourite of the gay community who are one of the many groups who choose Sitges for good times.

Beaches in Barcelona (Part 1/2)

Barcelona is a city open to the sea. The broad beaches of the Catalan capital, which extend for 4.5 km, are blessed with fine golden sand and shallow waters for bathing. They constitute one of the largest areas of leisure available to locals and visitors in Barcelona alike. They are never more than just a few minutes away from any point in the city, since they are easily reached by public transport or by bicycle. Equipped with all the necessary facilities and services, every year they are visited by around seven million people.
These are the beaches inside the city:

Barceloneta: Approximately 1,100 m long, together with the Sant Sebastià beach, Barceloneta is one of the biggest in Barcelona, and it is also one of the oldest and most traditional beach in the city. It is a favourite amongst our foreign visitors and it is commonly used by youth groups and for school activities. Due to its location and proximity to the metro and many bus lines, the majority of its users get to the beach by public transport.
Its dimensions make it a suitable beach for leisure equipment, such as volleyball courts, a table soccer area on the Eastern side, in front of the Hospital del Mar; a children's play area on the Western side of the beach, beside the Gas breakwater, where there is also a gym area.
Services: Red Cross, Local Police, beach information point, cloakroom, showers, public toilets, sun loungers, parasols, drinks and ice cream kiosks, sports facilites, sports, bicycle parking areas and restaurants.
How to get there: Metro: L4, Barceloneta. Bus: 14, 16, 17, 39, 40, 45, 51, 57, 59, 64 and 157.

Nova Icaria: The family beach. Situated in the middle of the city's coastline and 400 metres in length, this is the beach where people come to spend the longest period of time. The Nova Icària Beach is rightly considered to be a very peaceful beach, and is a popular choice for families and groups of friends. Lying very close to the Port Olímpic, it is surrounded by a great variety of restaurants and bars, as well as the most comprehensive range of facilities for sports and other activities on the entire coastline.
Services:Red Cross, Local Police, beach information point, cloakroom, showers, public toilets, sun loungers, changing rooms, parasols, drinks and ice cream kiosks, sports, sailing, bicycle parking areas and restaurants.
Barcelona Mar: Panoramic views of Barcelona from the sea on a sailing boat. Departures: Centre Municipal de Vela - CMV. Dinghy sailing, canoe and windsurfing courses by the hour with a monitor. Reservations in advance.
How to get there:Metro: L4, Ciutadella-Vila Olímpica or Bogatell. Bus: 6, 36, 41, 92 and 141. Tram (T4), Ciutadella-Vila Olímpica.

Bogatell: Barcelona's "Olympic" beach. Extending for nearly 600 metres, this is one of the beaches that was created for the 1992 Olympic Games, when Barcelona regained its seafront. It is particularly popular with the older generation. Together with Platja de la Nova Icària, it is one of the finest beaches inherited from the Olympic Games.
Services: Red Cross, Local Police, beach information point, cloakroom, showers, public toilets, sun loungers, parasols, drinks and ice cream kiosks, sports, bicycle parking areas and restaurants.
Other activities: Beach volleyball and table tennis.
How to get there: Metro: L4, Poblenou or Llacuna. Bus: 6, 36, 41, 92 and 141. Tram (T4), Ciutadella-Vila Olímpica.

Marbella: Barcelona's Mar Bella Beach is the young people's beach. This beach, which runs for about half a kilometre, is a firm favourite with young people in particular, many of whom come here every weekend when the weather is fine.
Mar Bella was created during the period when the city's coastline was redeveloped for the 1992 Olympic Games. It also has a nudist area.
Services: Red Cross, Local Police, beach information point, cloakroom, showers, public toilets, sun loungers, nudist beach, parasols, drinks and ice cream kiosks, sports, sailing, boat hire, bicycle parking areas and restaurants.
Sports and sailing: Base Nàutica Municipal de la Mar Bella. Sailing trips along the city's seafront, kayak excursions along the coastline and other activities. Catamaran excursions and beach volleyball for groups. Reservations in advance.
Complex Esportiu Municipal Mar Bella. Vanasdive Diving centre.
How to get there: Metro: L4, Poblenou or Selva de Mar. Bus: 36, 71 and 141. Tram (T4), Selva de Mar.

Nova mar beach: The women's beach. Also created when the coastline received a facelift prior to the 1992 Olympic Games. The Nova Mar Bella, which extends for 500 metres, is very popular with women, who represent more than 60% of its users. Bathers, most of whom are young people, like the beach because it is quiet.The Nova Mar Bella is one of the Barcelona's beaches with an area for people with disabilities, featuring all the necessary amenities to help people into and out of the water and make the most of their time on the beach.
Services: Red Cross, Local Police, beach information point, cloakroom, showers, public toilets, sun loungers, parasols, drinks and ice cream kiosks, sports, bicycle parking areas and restaurants.
How to get there: Metro: L4, Selva de Mar or El Maresme/Fòrum. Bus: 36, 43 and 141. Tram (T4), Selva de Mar or El Maresme.

Llevant beach: The newest beach. 380 metres in length, this beach was created in 2006. This makes it the newest beach on the coastline of the Catalan capital. Situated next to la Nova Mar Bella, it offers the most essential services and facilities.
Services: Red Cross, Local Police, beach information point, cloakroom, showers, public toilets and sun loungers.
How to get there: Metro: L4, Selva de Mar. Bus: 7, 36, 41 and 141. Tram (T4), Selva de Mar or El Maresme.

Parc del forum bathing area: This is a new concept of beach, without sand, with areas where the sea is controlled for shallow bathing. The Parc del Fòrum bathing area was created for the Universal Forum of Cultures within the Parc del Fòrum de Barcelona, a large precinct divided into different zones. The bathing area can be found in the zone closest to the sea.
Services: Red Cross, Local Police, beach information point, cloakroom, showers, public toilets, sun loungers, seawater swimming pools, parasols, changing rooms, drinks and ice cream kiosks, sports, sailing, bicycle parking areas and restaurants.
Sports, sailing and other activities:May to October: sports and sailing activities, in addition to various complementary services.
Services and activities: seawater swimming pools, boat and catamaran trips, canoe excursions, water skiing, ski bus, fly-fish, parasailing, diving centre, equipment hire.
How to get there: Metro: L4, El Maresme/Fòrum. Bus: 7, 36, 41 and 141. Tram (T4), Selva de Mar or El Maresme.

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Barcelona skyline from a luxury yacht

The Barcelona shoreline from the sea; what a great way to appreciate the nuances and beauty of the great city. We at the Hotel Principal had an opportunity to do just this on the luxury yacht of Gonzalo Calvo Asturgó, owner and skipper of Oceans Luxury and friend of the hotel.

It was a beautiful day and the skyline in all it´s glory as we headed toward France, first through the Old Port, then past the beaches, the Modernist architecture, the Olympic village… And we had a nice drink as we watched the ever-challenging Barcelona shore.

The next time you are in Barcelona you can take a two-hour or a four-hour trip with Oceans Luxury, or even spend a whole luxurious week exploring, sailing, and fishing the Mediterranean islands of Ibiza, Formentera, and Mallorca. We went under the deck to see the sleeping accommodations; they would comfortably sleep 12, the perfect number according to Gonzalo.
If you are coming to Barcelona on business why not think about a fully catered on-board cocktail and business dinner? Or the shorter cruises around Barcelona? Or a week in the islands?

And for real yacht enthusiasts —or just the curious— the May 15th yacht festival at Barcelona´s Port Vell (Old Port) will unofficially launch the Barcelona yacht season.

“The daring young men in their flying machines” return to Barcelona

So, you think you’ve seen everything in Barcelona? Just wait until October 3rd and 4th when Barcelona has the honour of hosting the season-ending climax to the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, sponsored by Red Bull energy drink. Small airplanes will be doing crazy leaps, dodges, and spins over the Mediterrean sea and Barcelona’s beaches. And Gaudi, the cathedral, and the Gothic Quarter will make up their backdrop. This season started in April in Abu Dabi, then went on to San Diego, Windsor-Onterio, Budapest, and Oporto but Barcelona will crown the champion. The last time “the Formula One for airplanes” was in our city an estimated 1,300,000 watched the celestial acrobatics from our beaches. And this year’s championship finale will be quite a show for those who love excitement, speed, bravery, skill, and flair. The daring pilots take their “racing cars with wings” to estimated speeds of 400 kilometres/hour and there are always moments of high drama.

If this seems a little crazy to you, you are not alone. Not everyone in Barcelona thinks this is a great idea, and the negotiations with the Barcelona City Hall were intense and drawn out. Finally the date was pushed back to low beach season and no temporary runway will be built on the beach.

The Red Bull Air Race World Championship is intended to cap off the Semana de la Aeronáutica which in its turn is to be a kind of desert to the Festas de la Mercè (23-27 Sept), the most important of Barcelona’s local festivals.

Beach Volley Ball on... a mountain

Everything is possible in Barcelona, even a beach volleyball match without a beach, at least, without a natural one.
From 8th – 13th September the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc (la Font Màgica de Montjuïc) will be home, for the second year running, to the women’s stop of the Swatch FIVB Beach Volley World Tour’09.
The event will take place in front of the Museu Nacional d`Art de Catalunya (MNAC), where an artifical beach, a stadium for 3,500 spectators, and additional playing courts will be set up.
So, if you want a beach environment and iconic medieval buildings, all in the same place, this event is for you.
And it is free.