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October: Must-See Film Festivals
When the words festival and film come together, the final result is always a success. October is a very prolific month when it comes to organizing events dedicated to raising awareness and honoring the cinematic arts and the talented individuals behind their creation. Here are some dates that you should know for this month: International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia. Sitges (Barcelona). October 3 – 12, 2014. http://sitgesfilmfestival.com/ It claims to be the first fantasy film festival in the world and is popular within a variety of different cultural arenas, since it is considered a unique space to stimulate the creation, design and dissemination of the genre. Bringing together stars such as Anthony Hopkins and Quentin Tarantino, the Sitges Festival helps bring the latest technological trends in the audiovisual world to the public. It’s a must for any movie buff. BFI London Film Festival. October 8 – 19, 2014 http://www.bfi.org.uk It has been dubbed the “festival of festivals” many times over due to its programming, which is based on a selection of the titles presented in other competitions. To further their attempts at bringing the films to the public, they complement their program with activities, talks and debates from experts and celebrities from the film world. The Rome Film Festival. October 16 – 25, 2014. http://www.romacinemafest.it Since 2006, this festival has been celebrated in the Eternal City. It is comprised of a variety of sections (CinemaXXI, Prospettive Italy, Audience Award) and the recognition is divided into categories (Best Film, Best Performance, Best Director, etc.). The winners receive a statuette of Marcus Aurelius, which is inspired by the equestrian statue...
Traveling the World in Marathons
Runners are a new species that are rapidly growing on our planet. These sports enthusiasts devote their Sundays to tracking their heart rate as they add miles to their list of accomplishments instead of resting like the rest of mortals. Today, everyone has that friend who started drinking a Coke or some juice in place of the Friday evening beer, because he or she has to run the marathon that weekend. This new trend has invaded every city, and now it’s even possible to travel the world from marathon to marathon. Here are some of the most well-known or special ones that will be taking place soon: NEW YORK (2 Nov. 2014) The ING New York Marathon is one of the most famous and highly regarded among experts. Over 50,000 participants, who are encouraged by some 130 bands, will race across the Big Apple, passing through well-known areas including Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens or Fifth Avenue to the finish line in Central Park. The registration fee is $347, nothing more and nothing less, and demand is so high that priority is given to those runners with the best times. http://www.tcsnycmarathon.org/ CHICAGO (12 Oct. 2014) The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is another well-respected city race. The 26.2-mile race visits 29 districts of the capital of Illinois. In addition to receiving a blast of endorphins, the more than 40,000 athletes who take part in the race help support a charitable cause, since the registration is linked to various charitable associations. www.chicagomarathon.com ATHENS (9 Nov. 2014) This is the most authentic and genuine marathon. According to legend, Pheidippides ran to Athens...
Enotourism: Wine Tastings in Spain
Red, white and rosé. Wine tourism has no boundaries. And in recent years, we’ve seen an increase in the number of tourists to wineries all across Spain. In this post, I will recommend wineries with offers from open-air tastings to the opportunity to participate in the winemaking process. Smell, taste, enjoy and feel the pleasure of a glass of wine. Hot air balloon ride with views of the Rioja vineyards and a visit to the Bodegas Muga (Haro, La Rioja): A hot balloon ride over the vast fields of Haro is a unique experience. It certainly is a groundbreaking idea within what is known as Enotourism or wine tourism. It’s affordable and above all, very original. Of course, being able to observe the Rioja vineyards from a bird´s eye view is priceless. Afterwards, you can party at Bodegas Muga. Some 20,000 people taste their wines tasted there each year, and many stay to eat and enjoy a good Rioja. Wine Museum of Olite, Navarra: Here you can learn more about each phase of wine production. Compare the grape harvest of the past with that of today. Discover the meaning and principles of the wine harvest, the winemaking steps and maceration times. You will learn about the 11 varieties of grapes grown in Navarra. They compare the cycle of the vine with that of life and they also have playgrounds. It is a great place for visitors both big and small. Weekend tasting of the best Ribera del Duero: It’s truly a treat to visit each of the wineries located in the vicinity of Aranda de Duero. I recommend visit...
Take part in our new Instagram contest and win a two-person stay in Berlin
This month we celebrate World Tourism Day with you and it makes us a bit melancholy. Traveling is one of the best ways to create and store unique memories. That evening in Lisbon, the kiss I gave you at the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, the incredible snack in that hidden New York cafe… moments that happen only once in a lifetime and are inevitably linked in our memory with the city in which they took place and which we were a part of for a while. At Only-apartments we like to think that it’s possible to be a little bit of all these places by collecting experiences near and far. Remember what it was like to live like a Parisian? What did you enjoy most about being a Londoner for a few days? Now we want to hear from you. We’re holding a contest through Instagram and will choose the best photo-souvenir from the submissions. The winner will receive a stay for two for a weekend in Berlin. Sounds good, right? So get out your photo albums and take a trip down memory lane. Share your best travel memory with us by using the hashtag #OnlyBeRealTravelers and participate in our contest for real travelers. You have until October 31st! * You can read all the terms and conditions of the contest on our Facebook page. Have you seen our apartments in Madrid...
Barcelona, City of Second-Hand Goods
It´s time to shop around the flea markets, one alternative to the usual trade that in addition to being economical is also useful in finding real bargains or unique pieces.
The Importance of Good Shoes
Generally, our feet are the parts of the body that suffer most when we are away from home. They say that prevention is the cure, and that certainly is the case here. We recommend you to bring different types of shoes for hiking (for both mountaineering experts and casual trekkers), footwear for walking along the beach, and even ones ideal for walking on rocky areas. All those who want to experience nature can now have the feeling of walking barefoot in the mountains. For you, I recommend the shoes called Barefoot. If you’re not familiar with them, they’re a bit like a sock that’s shaped to fit your toes and soles. No doubt, their main advantage is comfort. With them, you can feel the ground you’re walking on without a fear of slipping, thanks to its adherents and resistance capabilities that can withstand the weight of a person on a slope. I first saw Barefoot shoes in New Zealand when they were still rather uncommon and thought them a strange but extraordinary idea. For hiking at a more casual level or strolling down the street, there are a number of specialty brands. For example Callaghan Adaptaction and Geox are known for their comfort, quick adaptation to one’s feet, and breathable, flexible soles. But they are not cheap. But if you are not used to walking much in your normal daily routine and don’t have shoes that are already broken in, these shoes could be very useful. And as an added bonus, both Adaptaction Callaghan as Geox are very lightweight. However, I prefer the Gore-Tex brand. No doubt they are...
Souvenirs from Your Travels
This post isn’t about your typical souvenirs. It goes beyond the capturing memories in fridge magnets, thimbles and plates to hang on the wall. There are many other collectible objects, such as coins and banknotes from the places you’ve visited and others as simple and tangible as beach sand, local newspapers, or selfies (which are very popular at the moment), and I would like to highlight their originality. Selfies around the world: Is there anyone out there who has not made a selfie at some point? It’s become a buzz word lately, but it’s really nothing more than taking a picture yourself or a group utilizing a good stiff arm. And while it is true that there are extendable adapters you can get for your mobile phone, the original selfies were just close-ups. There are travelers who collect these kinds of photos; and there are even some that have become classics, like getting a selfie at Machu Picchu in Peru, at the pyramids of Egypt, or any beach on the planet. Sand from around the world: This collection is made up of handfuls of sand from places that have formed part of our life. It’s a material and tangible way to remember a place. At any time, you can then touch that bit of beach that’s been marked but from which you are now far away. I know people who keep sand from the Galapagos (an almost impossible mission), the Azores, as well as exotic places like Fiji, Madagascar, New Zealand and the Maldives. A collection can be even larger if one adds sand from places like deserts, rivers,...
La Mercè 2014: Music, Art and Tradition in Barcelona
September is the Catalan month of the calendar. Between September 11 and “la Mercè” (September 24), locals take to the streets to fight their post-holiday depression with parties and concerts. “La Mercè” is the star of these celebrations. As the feast day of the patron saint of Barcelona, it has been held since 1902 and considered year after year to be the best summer farewell party. With a program of activities ranging from children´s workshops, parades of the big heads and giants, correfocs (“fire runs”), concerts for all tastes and, of course, the famous human towers, this festival manages to keep alive Catalan tradition while also showcasing the cosmopolitan and intercultural potential of the capital of Catalonia. Here are some of the activities you shouldn’t miss at the 2014 Mercè: Free concerts: The city is filled with settings, and a variety of artists are invited to liven up these festive nights. The main locations for this year include: the Joan Corominas plaza, the Moll de la Fusta, the Fòrum, the Plaça dels Angels and the Antigua Fábrica Damm (a former factory), where you can enjoy the performances of Mishima, Flamingo Tours, SR.WILSON & The Blackstarliners, Mariam the Believer orKlaxons, among others. You can find the entire program and the detailed schedule here: http://www.bcn.cat/bam/ca/index.html Street art: The Festival Mercè Arts de Carrer (MAC) is a great opportunity to discover new talent and original ideas in the field of dance, theater and circus arts. There are three main stages: the Ciudadela Park, Montjuic Castle and the Albéniz palace, where several technological shows will also take place. Kids activities: Children are definitely...
Oktoberfest, the Celebration of Beer
When a tradition works, why not copy it? When Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen celebrated their marriage in Munich in 1810, they never would have imagined that their ceremony would be the origin of one of the most famous festivals in Europe and part of America. Today, in the twenty-first century, the German city is known for the event it organizes whose name speaks for itself and where mugs of beer and most authentic bratwurst are the main event over the course of several days filled with costumes, music and German-style partying. Tradition dictates that every self-respecting Oktoberfest should start with the famous opening of the barrel to the cry of “O´ zapft is!” This means “It is tapped!” And that is when the party begins and beer may be served. The beer must meet specific conditions (the Reinheitsgebot) to be considered authentic German beer: a minimum of 6% alcohol and it has to be brewed within the Munich city limits. Other key aspects of this celebration are the parades in costumes typical of the area, accompanied by brass bands and carriages which enliven the experience. Each city also organizes activities to complement the big events, which range from children´s shows and performances by live DJs to photography competitions. While access to the tents at Oktoberfest is usually free, we would still recommend reservations in advance to ensure a good spot. Then you’ll be able to kick back and enjoy authentic German cuisine and the legendary mug of beer that will bring out the German in you. Here are some of the cities where you can...
