Vintage Car Rally in Barcelona

If you are the nostalgic kind, you cannot miss the Barcelona-Sitges Vintage Car Rally, on the next weekend (26-27 May).
It was first held in 1959 as an initiative of the Sitges Tourist Board. The rally was created in order to give the town a social event it could take part in during the winter months and to fulfil the wishes of many vintage car aficionados who wanted to take part in an event of this kind and enjoy their vehicles.
The Sitges Rally has become one of the main highlights on the region's social calendar. The departure from Barcelona’s Plaça Sant Jaume attracts hundreds of people and, over the years, there have been increasing numbers of participants from beyond our borders, including France, Germany, Andorra, England, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Poland and the United States.
Catalonia is the region of Spain that attracts the most participants, but a great many cars take part from Zaragoza, Teruel, Logroño, Madrid, Valencia, Cadiz, Segovia, Seville and Vizcaya.
The rally isn’t just an endurance trial for the cars; all the drivers and their companions dress in costumes from the period when the car they are competing in was built. The winning driver will be awarded the Elegance Grand Prix which AUDI has been offering for a number of years now.
The show begins saturday 26 at 11:00, in the Passeig Lluís Companys, close to Arc de Triunf and not far from Hotel Principal, with the exhibition of the cars which will be participating.

Run, Barcelona, run

Want an original, and healthy, way to see Barcelona? Why not run through it. Throughout the year the city organizes a series of sporting foot races which go by the city´s major tourist places. Here are a few of those races:

The Jean Bouin is now a time-honuored Barcelonatradition; it has been going on since 1920. The main circuit goes through the iconic Montjuic, Ciutat Vella (Old Town), and the Paseo Martímo (The Maritime Passage). But don´t even think about this one unless you are in great shape. There are various other categories and circuits (some as short as one kilometre). The Jean Bouin takes place on November 29 from 9:00 to 3:00 hrs. Enrolment is open until November 24.

The Nassos-San Silvestre race is an original way to usher out the old year. This New Year´s Eve the tenth edition will take place which, unlike our other races, is basically flat and takes place near the sea. Although they say the most important thing is playing the game, winning this one isn´t all that bad since the grand prize is 1,000 Euros and the second place is 600 Euros. Everyone above the age of sixteen, both men and women, are welcome to participate.

The Barcelona Marathon is coming up, but you still have time to start training for this 45-kilometer race which is getting more and more popular every year. The next rendition will take place on March 7 at 8:30 in the morning. The starting point is the Plaza España, the finish line is in Monjuic. Along the way runners see the Camp Nou (the soccer stadium), Gaudi´s La Pedrera and la Sagrada Familia, the Agbar Tower, Plaza Catalunya, and the Ramblas among other architectural icons. You can sign up for 45 Euros before December 20, 55 Euros before December 31, and 65 Euros before February 21 when enrolment ends. You can do it all on-line.