Monthly Archives: October 2009

Barcelona – What’s happening in November?

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29 Octuber - 1 November 2009: ArtFutura Festival

Spain’s major digital festival, ArtFutura delves into the world of new media, videogames and animation. Every year it brings cutting-edge design projects and innovations to major Spanish cities. The Barcelona leg is held at Auditorio IMAGINA and Arts Santa Mónica.

In 2009, ArtFutura celebrates 20 years with the theme ‘From Virtual Reality to Social Networks’. The event spreads its feelers to Alicante, Cádiz, Zaragoza, Gijón, Granada, Madrid, Murcia, Murcia, Segovia, Valladolid, Vigo and even Argentine capital Buenos Aires.

  • Where: Paseo de Circunvalación 8, in the city centre
  • When: all day
  • Cost: 11€ / 7€ for students

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October – November 2009 (annually): Record Collector’s Fair

The Barcelona Record Collector’s fair (Fira del Disc de Colleccionista) at the Palau Sant Jordi sells over two million records, CDs and books every year.

Items for auction include clothes, instruments and strands of hair belonging to stars – get there early to pick up a bargain.

  • Where: Palau Sant Jordi
  • When: all day
  • Cost: free

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29 October – 8 November 2009: In-Edit Beefeater

In-Edit Beefeater is Barcelona’s International Music Documentary and Film Festival. Films in the Official Selection give fans an insider’s peek into the life of music legends. Prizes are awarded to the best national and international documentaries and the audience’s favourite.

The screenings usually take place at the Club Coliseum and Aribau Clubs 1 and 2.

  • Where: Club Coliseum and Aribau Clubs 1 and 2
  • When: all day
  • Cost: please visit the organization’s website for more information

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20 November – 21 November 2009: Depeche Mode in Barcelona!

Doom-laden synth-rock gods Depeche Mode are on an extensive tour in support of latest album, Sounds of the Universe. These dates are at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona.

Depeche Mode’s debut release of catchy synth-pop, Speak and Spell, made the UK top ten in 1981. The group have gone on to sell more than 75 million albums.

A heavier sound brought US success and 1993′s, Songs of Faith and Devotion, topped both the US and UK charts. The subsequent, stressful 14-month world tour lead to addiction, health problems and the departure of a band member. The group healed itself before coming back with the 1997 release of Ultra.

  • Where: Palau Sant Jordi
  • When: 9.30pm
  • Cost: €45-€70

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10 November – 20 December 2009: World Press Photo Exhibition

The Contemporary Culture Centre of Barcelona takes its turn at hosting the World Press Photo exhibition. Regarded as the world’s most important display of photojournalism, the award-winning snaps appear at galleries and art centres in some 100 cities worldwide.

Each year an independent international jury selects winners from photographs submitted by photojournalists, agencies, newspapers and photographers from all over the world. Eleven competitive categories include news events, current affairs, sport, arts and entertainment, portraits and nature.

Expect the photos to make shocking and poignant political statements, as well as offer up unexpected moments of beauty in sport, nature and daily life.

  • Where: Contemporary Culture Centre of Barcelona
  • When: all day
  • Cost: free
Twitt

Enjoy Halloween in Barcelona, Madrid or Lisbon at our Rent4Days apartments!

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Just a few more days and the creepest weekend of all starts again, Halloween. All good and well, but where does the tradition of celebrating Halloween actually comes from? And who invented the well-known trick-or-treat ritual being displayed at the front door of almost every (Anglo-saxon) house on the 31st? Rent4Days gives you some history class!

What is Halloween?

Halloween (or Hallowe’en; but also known as Samhain, Summer’s End, All Hallow’s Eve, Witches Night, Lamswool, and Snap-Apple), is a holiday that’s celebrated annually on the night of October 31. It originated in Ireland, and is celebrated in quite a few countries including Ireland itself, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Sweden among others. It’s celebrated in a variety of ways and activities including trick-or-treating, ghost tours, bonfires, costume parties, “haunted house” tours, carving pumpkins (Jack-o’-lanterns) and reading / watching scary stories / movies.

But, what’s the historical part of all that?

Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain (celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture). Traditionally, the festival was a time that was used by the ancient pagans to take stock of their supplies and slaughter livestock for winter storage. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, the boundary between the living and the dead dissolved, and the dead become dangerous for the living by causing problems such as sickness (plague) or damaged crops. The celebration of Samhain would frequently involve bonfires, upon which the bones of slaughtered livestock were thrown; costumes and masks were also worn in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or placate them.

Ok, but then, what does this have to do with the typical aspects we associate Halloween with today?

The essential elements of Halloween – lighting bonfires, costuming, trick-or-treating, telling ghost stories and attending parties can all be traced back to Samhain celebrations as early as 2000 years ago. Ultimately, the Celts believed that on October 31, the Lord of Death (Saman), would call together all the souls that had died the previous year in order for them to travel to the afterlife. Thus, the living would often disguise themselves in ghoulish costumes in order for the spirits of the dead to think they were one of their own, and pass by them without incident. The villagers would also wear masks and form parades in order to lead the spirits (souls) out of the town. The Celts would also offer food to Saman, in order to persuade him to more be temperate when he is judging their ancestors. This is seen as a precursor to “trick-or-treating”, a key component of modern day Halloween celebrations.

Check our website http://www.rent4days.com for the special promotions we have in mind for you, and join us in Barcelona, Madrid or Lisbon to enjoy a weekend full of Halloween!

Twitt

Not particularly enjoying the weather forecasts for the weekend at your place?

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Then quickly book a trip to Barcelona with Rent4Days, because following the current weather forecasts, you can enjoy your Halloween weekend with us in the sun at the beach, at a temperature of 23 degrees!

What are you waiting for :-) ?

Twitt

Lisbon – Rua Augusta

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rua-augusta

 

The Rua Augusta, one of the historic streets of Lisbon, is closed to traffic and has all kinds of stores for all tastes, such as selling flowers, selling roast chestnuts, street artists and independent player on the family of harmonic.
The Rua Augusta is situated between two magnificent squares, the Praça do Rossio and Praça do Comércio.
One of the many curious aspects in this area is the name of the streets parallel to Rua Augusta. Most names or letters concerning the material that once was practiced in them (the Sapateiros Rua, Rua da Prata, Rua do Ouro).
The classic architectural style, from the reconstruction carried out in Lisbon after the earthquake of 1755, is still intact, so you can see many buildings with the original design.

 

 

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Lisbon – Praça dos Restauradores

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praaa-dos-restauradores

Located on the southern end of Avenida da Liberdade, right above the train station of Rossio, the Praça dos Restauradores is one of the most bustling areas of Lisbon and the place where you can admire the newly renovated Eden Orion, once a theater and a hotel today maintaining the original historical facade.

The Obelisk and the sculpture that commemorates the restoration of independence of Portugal from Spain are two of the icons of the square, but the strong point is the architecture that can be seen in buildings like the Palacio Foz, the Hotel Eden Orion, the small bandstand, the Avenue Palace Hotel, and many others.

 

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Lisbon – Avenida da Liberdade

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av-liberdade

In this amazing avenue, one of the “crown jewels” of the capital of Portugal, you can find shops, hotels, some of the best cafes, theaters, universities and many other points of interest. It is a vein that is the living link between the Marquês de Pombal Square and downtown Lisbon.
This is probably the most important avenue of Lisbon and is also the point of election of offices, centennial trees, international fashion stores and thousands and thousands of workers who pass by there every day.
Look carefully around you and notice the old shops of tailors that fuse with shops of internationally known brands as Calvin Klein, Timberland, Massimo Dutti, Armani, Burberrys and Adolfo Dominguez. Walk the Avenida da Liberdade was, at times, synonymous of elegance and style!
If you want to take a meal or just a coffee, make a stop in one of the terraces that offer a local and very relaxing environment.

 

Twitt

Lisbon – Praça Marques de Pombal

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marques-de-pombal

The Praça Marquês de Pombal is among the Eduardo VII Park and the Avenida da Liberdade. In the center of the roundabout is the magnificent statue in honor of the Marquês of Pombal, the “architect” of the reconstruction of Lisbon after the terrible earthquake of 1755. This work represents the Marquês at the top, with the hand in a lion and looking at his masterpiece, the downtown Lisbon.

This monument includes references to the reforms introduced by the Marquês in various areas such as education, politics and agriculture and the moment that changed his life – the 1755 earthquake, represented by stones falling and the waves simulate the flooding of the city.

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Lisbon – Parque Eduardo VII

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parque-eduardo-vii

 

This amazing park, icon of the city of Lisbon, is located in the north end of Avenida da Liberdade, just behind the Marquês of Pombal Square. Originally called the Parque da Liberdade, its name was changed with the visit of the King of England who came to Lisbon in 1903 to reaffirm the Anglo-Portuguese alliance, being called Parque Eduardo VII in honor of the English king. Holding excellent views over the city, is often the scene of exhibitions, concerts and the Annual Book Fair. The cold greenhouse is a true green museum, where plants and flowers from around the world grow harmoniously in a complex that regulates the air temperature and intensity of light. It was inaugurated in 1930 and provides those who visit it peace of mind and a purification of the senses in a wonderful setting with ponds, small fountains and statues.

In this area you can find three different zones, the original stove, the hot stove and oven fresh. The first is very diverse and has beautiful vegetation, together with the building in which it is inserted, it offers magnificent scenery. The hot stove with its glass cover shows species that need a warmer atmosphere to survive, and greenhouse sweet, is home to several species of cactus!

 

Twitt