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Valentine’s Day in Barcelona
Valentine´s Day, also known in many countries as Lover´s Day and in others as the Day of Love and Friendship, is celebrated on February 14. Originally Valentine´s Day comes from the Anglo-Saxon territory, tradition throughout the twentieth century has spread throughout the world as the day in which couples in love, express their love for each other. In Spain this feast was established in the mid-twentieth century to encourage shopping They say the legendary mall Galeries Preciados were the ones who imported this event into the Spanish calendar. Even so, do not forget that originally itcomes from the Roman Empire, as Valentine was a Christian priest who celebrated marriages in secret for young lovers, since Christian religion was forbidden. Currently, although marriages no longer happen in secrecy, people enjoy this day taking long walks, having romantic meals in restaurants or giving gifts to each other. Barcelona is one of the most charming cities in Europe, an ideal place to spend Valentine´s Day. There are many places where one can enjoy and revel in the company of their respective partner or special friend Without further ado we will name a few of these places that Barcelona has to offer : We begin with a sunrise at sea, as you all know one of the great charms of Barcelona is that it has a beach. And why shouldn´t you? get really close to it and watch the sun rise hugging your lover in its sands . Next, and very close to the sea, it is advisable to go to the Ciutadella Park to take a long walk, have lunch on...
Amsterdam for Lovers
The capital of the Netherlands is yearly visited by over 4 million travellers from all over the world. Visitors come to this beautiful and exciting city to experience its rich history, great museums, characteristis canals, and of course the famous Red Light District and numerous “cozy” coffee shops. Amsterdam offers the perfect romantic scenery when roaming along the canals with your loved one. The city just has this welcoming, warm and magical athmosphere that every visitor will feel. Let us reveal some more of that romance the city has to offer. Here is a, by locals carefully selected list of romantic places in the warm heart of the city. Only for Lovers. Canal Cruise Surrounded by water, the best thing to do is take a cruise through the canals of Amsterdam. This is a great way to have a look at the charming city from a whole other point of view. Recommended specially when the sun has gone down. It is also possible to rent a private boat just for the two of you. Explore by tandem For active couples it is a great idea to explore the cities treasures by bike. Rent a tandem to bike around together as a team. Bring a long a picnic basket and a picnic in the Vondelpark. Vondelpark This park was voted by locals as the most romantic spots in Amsterdam. Almost a quarter of the cities residents had a special moment in their life they think of when crossing the Vondelpark. Also an excellent place to relax on a blanket and have a romantic picnic. Nomads...
Carnival in Catalonia – Three hidden destinations
Carnival, or Mardi Gras, is celebrated in a huge variety of ways around the world. Each autonomous community of Spain celebrates in its own unique way, and as the big festival approaches once again, we turn to a very different sort of Carnival celebration in Catalunya. Let’s have a look at three towns where carnival is an adventure to experience. Vilanova i la Geltrú This little city lies just south of Barcelona, and its Carnival celebration is deeply rooted in ancient tradition. The city comes out en masse to celebrate, and if you can make it to Vilanova i la Geltrú, it’ll be an unforgettable experience. What makes Carnival in Vilanova i la Geltrú so unique? Here, Carnival is celebrated with candies. Food fights erupt seemingly spontaneously, and quickly turn sticky as revelers throw mountains of meringues and other sweet treats. Celebrations begin on “Maundy Thursday” (Jueves Ladero), the Thursday before Lent, and carry on for several days; however, Saturday’s La Meringada (meringue wars) and street parades are definitely a highlight. Of course, revelry starts early in Vilanova i la Geltrú. The Saturday before Maundy Thursday, a pre-carnival taster is held, accompanied by a traditional Shawl Dance. This event gets everyone in the Carnival Spirit as the celebrations get rolling. Things are in full swing by Thursday, as the whole city celebrates and partakes of the “Xatonada”, a traditional Lenten meal consisting of salad and codfish served in a sauce of red peppers, almonds and garlic. Once the meal is over, the meringue tossing begins. “Arribo” or Arrival begins on Friday, as the Carnival King, “Carnestoltes”, is greeted by...
Valentine’s Day in Tokyo
The great city of Tokyo has, like almost every city in the world, some important dates when its inhabitants celebrate a normal day as it were something really special. Included among these is February 14, Valentine’s Day, a date when lovers celebrate each other. Thousands of gifts are exchanged on this day, expressing the love that each part in a couple has for the other. And things are no different in the Japanese capital. But gifts there take a different form. Gifts are required as in any other place in the world, but here they are very specific. On Valentine´s Day the girls give the boys a chocolate. Yes, only the girls give the gift, and not only to their partners, but also to all the males they work with, including their colleagues and even the boss himself. This type of gift is called giri-choko, while if the gift is for the couple it’s called honmei-choko. It’s a sweet gift that like everything else stems from a company interested in selling their own products. This celebration has been taking place for about 55 years. And the city’s stores shelves are decorated with black chocolate delights, ensuring that no girl will forget to buy a gift for her beloved … and her coworkers. Everything from allegorical figures to cakes and all sorts of products made with this succulent food are displayed in all the major stores in Tokyo as well as the pastry shops and any other place. The demand is so high that they have started importing chocolates from other countries, including Spain, in...
The best of Vienna
Vienna is one of the most beautiful cities in the whole of Europe. Despite being considerably smaller than other European capitals, the beauty and elegance of the centre of Vienna are quite simply unique. In this old part of the city, you can find architecture that will make your jaw drop, beautiful palaces, theaters and museums. It´s an area that, as you can imagine, is quite popular amongst tourists. Naschmarkt Perhaps the best time to visit it is early in the morning or late in the evening. However, don´t be put off by the affluence of visitors, there is still plenty to see and do around the city centre. Among the attractions in Vienna we find the Naschmarkt, where many locals go in search for delicious and exotic food. In this market not only can you enjoy excellent food but also go shopping in the flea market that it turns into on Saturday evenings, where you can find the most diverse and sophisticated items. Steirereck And when it comes to sophistication at dinner time, we recommend the famous restaurant Steirereck, highly recommended by the prestigious association Les Grandes Tables du Monde. In this important restaurant you can enjoy the best Austrian cuisine. After your meal, you can walk around the park where the restaurant is in. Another restaurant that we recommend for a romantic dinner is Palchutta, where they serve the best tafelspitz in the whole of Vienna. If you want to go somewhere nice for lunch, Cafe Central is the perfect option: of course, as well as the delicious coffees and hot chocolates, the best traditional food is...
Rio Carnival 2013
We must be well prepared before going to Rio Carnival, because this celebration comes with very intense days of entertainment, dancing and music all wrapped in a colorful atmosphere. Get the party started with the opening ceremony in which the King of Carnival, which is called Momo (the king of mockery according to the Greek mythology), is crowned and provided the keys of the city by the mayor. The main stage in the carnival is the Sambadrome, which is a huge avenue where samba schools parade before thousands of locals and tourists from around the world. Performers work the whole year preparing costumes, music, and choreography, because, as you might imagine, this celebration requires a lot of preparation. Rio Carnival experts know that there are four groups of samba climbing or descending according to their level: the panel, the access group, school of champions, and the children samba group. Each of the schools focuses their works on any chosen subject through dance, lyrics, their costumes and imagination. This is what will count to decide which is the one, which will get the prize. The carnival agenda is compressed into four intense days. Apart of the Sambadrome, where you’ll be able to see all the famous parades, there are other alternative events is to go to as private parties, which, even though they are a bit more expensive, you’ll have a great time guaranteed. The celebration is in essence pretty ostentatious, but this carnival is the perfect occasion to bring together children and adults. Everything is ready for all audiences. Another event that you don’t want to miss, although it...
Rugby. Six Nations in London
Are you ready? The RBS Six Nations 2013 is about to start, the tournament will see the national rugby team of England, Wales, France, Ireland, Scotland and Italy face off to win the trophy, possibly avoiding the wooden spoon, given to the team that comes last in the tournament. On February 2, Wales hosts Ireland in Cardiff, the next day it´s up to Italy, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome against France. Just to remember that Wales is the current title holder, winning each of its matches played during the 2012 Championship, but England is one of team that can win the tournament this year. They will play against Scotland on February 2, with France on the 23 and on March 10 against Italy, all the internal matches will be played at the fantastic Twickenham Stadium in London, the home of England rugby. If you are a planning a game trip to this city don´t miss it please. With 82,000 spectators, Twickenham is one of the most important dedicated rugby stadiums in the world and has become an interesting destination for fans around the planet. People can experience the emotions of a game of course, but they have also a chance to know something more about the history of this place by the stadium tour, only one information: the first match was played here in 1909. With some help from the official guides imagine how many stories you can discover. Unmissable is also the World Rugby Museum, you will find there a collection of over 25,000 memorabilia, including tickets, books, match programmes, and objects from other rugby unions....
Wiener Opernball
The Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper), a music paradigm in this city which was known as the Vienna Court Opera until 1920, is a neo-Renaissance building that goes back to the year 1861 approximately. This theatre is the home of a world-famous opera company and it annually holds the Wiener Opernball (the Dance of the Opera), a highly important event for the Viennese and also famous around the world. At 8.30pm, the doors of the Opera open and a committee of distinguished people enters the building and is welcomed with champagne. When the time of inaugurating the celebration arrives, the President of the Austrian Republic stands up along with all the participants and they sing their National Anthem. 180 debutant couples, the men dressed in black and white dress-coats and the women in white dresses and a tiara in their hair, enter the room holding each other´s hands to the music of the Polonaise. It´s their initiation in an elite circle and for that they must comply with three conditions: to know how to dance the waltz from the left, to come recommended by someone with influence in Austria and to be in the age frame between 18 and 24 years old. When this solemn act ends, there´s the presentation of the State Opera Ballet, in which children also participate. Also, famous singers go on stage and perform well-known songs to entertain the attendants. When the shows are over, the master of ceremonies comes out and says a couple words that open the ball for the attendants: Alles Walzer (which means “everyone waltz”). After a few hours of waltzing and well after midnight,...Dress up for the World’s Best Carnivals
Don’t miss out on this year’s Carnival! Not only is it the best party of the year but we have found a way to make you have an even more fantastic time! Only-apartments has partnered with travel experts Lonely Planet for you to make the most of your trip. In order for you to enjoy every bit of this party and others to come we will give away a Lonely Planet PDF eBook to the first 100 travelers to make a booking until 17 February 2013. The clock is ticking… so hurry, book your apartment and enjoy the best and most popular travel guide on your computer, Smartphone or Tablet. To participate in this promotion, follow these steps: 1 – Go to our website, choose your destination and make your reservation. 2 – At the time of booking, select the “promo code” (found above “Total Price”), introduce the code PCSJ8LT3RTNA and then click “Apply”. 3 – If you’re one of the lucky 100, you will receive an email from Only-apartments 3-5 days after the promotion ends with a coupon code to get your Lonely Planet eBook guide in the Lonely Planet online store. The offer is valid until February 17, 2013 for the first 100 bookings. The promotion is limited to the Lonely Planet guides available in eBook format. To see the list of destination guides from Lonely Planet, click...
