Blog de Hostal Marenstrum

MUSE concert in Barcelona 7th June 2013

2013-05-09

Next 7th June, the British group Muse comes to present the success of his seventh studio work The 2nd Law to Barcelona. They present it at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Montjuïc, and full house is expected. Winners of the Grammy Awards, the Brit and Ivor Novello, you cannot miss the chance to see Muse, as the band is known for their extravagant live shows and for fusing musical genres like rock, metal and electronic music , in their alternative rock style. Where: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys When: 07th June 2013 How much: 45 euros through TicketMaster More info: Muse official website If you need a room to stay in Barcelona for the concert, we remind you that our Concert Nights will make you save 10% on the total of your stay,!

Bruno Mars: concert confirmed in Barcelona

2013-04-30

The first Bruno Mars tour "The Moonshine Jungle World Tour" has already 2 concerts confirmed in Spain: Madrid (sold out in 72h) and now in Barcelona. On November 14, we all have a must at the Palau Olimpic de Badalona. The ticket price is 45 euros for standing tickets and 45 and 50 euros for sitting tickets. The Moonshine Jungle World Tour will start in Washington DC on June 22. A total of 68 concerts are confirmed so far, for a world tour that has sold out and tickets in the middle of the shows, and for which new dates for 2014 have been anounced. Where: Palau Olimpic (Badalona) in Barcelona When: November 14, 2013 How much: 45 euros through TicketMaster from next May 7. If you need a room to stay in Barcelona for the concert, we remind you that our Concert Nights will make you save 10% on the total of your stay, show us the entrance ticket for the concert!

Sant Jordi's legend and festivity

2013-04-23

Today, April 23, the Catalans take the streets to celebrate the feastivity of St. George, patron saint of Catalonia, the Day of Books and Roses Fair. Catalan flags are waving in many balconies. Throughout Catalonia roses and books are sold, reaching its peak in Las Ramblas, where new street shops are added to the existing ones for the occasion. In recent decades the sale of books with signatures of the authors and a discount to the sale price is also promoted. Since April 23 it is officially the Book Day Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare died on April 23 1616. At the end of the day, about four million roses and 800,000 books are bought. Most women wear a rose in hand, and half of the total book sales of a year in Catalonia take place in Sant Jordi. The tradition of the man giving a rose to the woman goes back probably to the XV century. Some versions say that it is related with Roses Fair taking place in Barcelona during those summers. What is certain is that the women who attended the April 23rd Mass celebrated in the chapel of Sant Jordi at Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya were given a rose. The red rose (symbolizing passion) must be accompanied by “senyera” (Catalan flag) and a wheat spike (symbol of fertility). Precisely on April 23rd it is the only open house day at Palau de la Generalitat, the main government building in Barcelona. The interior is decorated with roses to honor Sant Jordi. There is a legend related to Sant Jordi that everyone in Catalonia knows: "It is said that a terrible dragon caused terror in the surroundings of the town of Montblanc, and with its poisoned air puffs, he produced the death of all who breathed them. Concerned about the situation, the villagers thought of feeding the dragon every day with a human person to try to calm him, and decided to submit it to draw. For a while they did and the beast calmed down. But one day the fate made the king's daughter be chosen to be devoured. The young princess was loved by all and although they offered to be changed for her, the king did not permit this and that's how the princess went to meet the dragon. When she was heading to the monster, a young gentleman crossed her path, Sant Jordi, who had heard of her misfortune and was going to help her. The dragon and the knight fought until Sant Jordi wounded and killed the dragon with a spear. From the blood that flowed from the wound a rosebush with the redder roses the princess had ever seen grew, and the knight cut off one of them and handed it to the princess” We recommend you to walk around the city today and enjoy all the activities it offers such as the Sardana, the national dance of Catalonia, which is held during the day at Plaça Sant Jaume. Throughout the city, you will find many book shops and Cafés holding readings from various authors. Street performers and musicians in public squares add cheer to the atmosphere of the day. From Hostal Mare Nostrum we wish you enjoy this day so special and unique!!

Give us a name for our new guest!

2013-04-16

Hi friends! We’d like to explain you something that is going on here at Hostal Mare Nostrum. This is… a bear. He’s been at Hostal Mare Nostrum for a while and it seems that he has no intention of moving on. He loves the new look of our hostal as he’s been here during the transformation and we’re so happy to have him as a guest but we have a little problem with him: WE DO NOT KNOW HIS NAME!! We tried to ask him, but he is very silent and barely speaks. He stares at you and doesn’t respond. It’s very weird! Here you can see some pictures of him: lying in his bed and watching TV, from where he can also see people on Las Ramblas; watching Las Ramblas also from the dining room; checking Facebook from the courtesy PC; waiting behind the front desk… We’d like you to help us to find a name for him. We thought about some names: Brian, Mr. B, Brownie, Mr. Bear, Calvin, Mr. Sand… Which one do you like the most? Any other suggestion? We will give all names to the bear, and if he likes the name you gave him, he will pay 50% of your next stay at Hostal Mare Nostrum and he will welcome you, of course! PLEASE HELP US! Let’s find our new guest a name! * Discount 50% applies to rack rate on stays of 3 nights maximum. Subject to availability.

Sant Jordi's Day is coming!

2013-04-10

Next 23rd April we celebrate Sant Jordi's Day. The most popular legend in Catalonia about Sant Jordi tells that at Montblanc, in Conca de Barberà, there was a terrible dragon which viciously attacked men and beasts. To pacify it, lots were drawn and a person was chosen to be given as a sacrifice to the monster. One day, the misfortune fell on the king's daughter, who would have died in the beast's claws if it had not been for the arrival of a handsome knight (Sant Jordi) who challenged the dragon and killed it. This same legend, although with slight variations, is told as a popular legend in England, Portugal and Greece. The tradition is that men give a rose to their girlfriends and they give boys a book. Where you will spend Sant Jordi's Day? If you are looking for accommodation in Barcelona, please take a look at our offers.

Celebrating Valentine's Day at @HMareNostrum

2013-02-18

Last Thursday it was Valentine's Day all around the World, and of course at Hostal Mare Nostrum all special dates are an excuse to celebrate something with our guests, so we took the opportunity to sweeten a little bit the day with some delicious chocolates. We wish you had a great Valentne's Day! - Hostal Mare Nostrum Team

TODAY WE CELEBRATE “CARNESTOLTES” OR CARNIVAL

2013-02-07

Carnival or Carnestoltes as stated in Catalunya, is a celebration that belongs to moon worship. This is why it is a moveable festivity, which this year takes place from 07 to 13 February. It seems that the word Carnival comes from "carnem levare" which is understood as "remove meat", which occurs during the forty days of Lent, when according to tradition, you can not eat meat. Carnival is a break with the established order during a specific period of time, ranging from family happiness of Christmas to the severity of the Easter liturgy. It questions the rules, removes the hierarchy and privilege, and breaks taboos . Throughout history this confrontation between madness and sanity, between the breaker and the established, is symbolized by two characters: the Carnival King (fat character, drinker, crazy and foul-mouthed) and the old Lent (an old woman of seven legs, who fasts and that is also vegetarian), his former enemy. Carnestoltes or Carnival King is a plastic representation of satire and wildness, and it's shaped as a human. His birth in Catalunya is documented in the seventeenth century, and the typical puppet that farmers put in cultivated fields to scare the birds, was used as a model to buid it. In Barcelona, we built a mobil puppet dressed in Carlos III style with hat and coat, and was kept in a box. He get the treatment protocol of King or His Majesty, as it is the king of wildness and the monarch of joke. According to tradition, the program of activities during Carnival is: The Dijous Gras (tomorrow February 7th) is a day to eat tortilla, egg sausage and “coca de llardons”. Between Thursday and Friday the arrival of Carnestoltes king take place, and he is greeted by ambassadors and officials, reading a speech focused on the biting satire to the civil and ecclesiastical powers. On Saturday, February 09th, the masked balls begin, and Sunday it is the traditional day for rúas, processions and parades of carriages. Monday and Tuesday continues with masked balls and finally, on Ash Wednesday, which is on February 13, King is publicly accused of being guilty for all the excesses committed during the last days , so it is judged and sentenced to death, burned and buried. In some places it's also host the "Burial of the Sardine" as a prelude to the beginning of Lent. And so Carnivel is finished. As you have seen, because of the nearness of Lent and the overruns, the Carnival typical gastronomy is characterized for the eating of fatty foods and meats. The three most common products that are consumed at the beginning of the holidays are the “tortilla”, egg sausage and “coca de llardons”. And in the end, coinciding with the beginning of Lent, sardines, herring and “coca de recapte”. Today we have served in our breakfast a just baked “coca de llardons” so our guests have tasted it during their breakfast. Yummy! Every corner of the world also celebrates Carnival and each in his way, following their own traditions and resulting thousands of very different parties. Brazil and its wildness together with its high temperatures, or Venecia with its elegant masks, and the Canary Islands and its spectacular costume parades... We just have to say that: "Per Carnival, tot s'hi val!" (For Carnival everything is allowed!)

The 35th Edition of Zurich Marató of Barcelona 2013

2013-01-29

Hostal Mare Nostrum wants to announce today that on Sunday March 17, 2013 at 08.30 it will start in Barcelona the Zurich 35th edition of the Barcelona Marathon, and it will give a turn around the entire city of Barcelona, as usual. The Zurich Barcelona Marathon is powered by a Promoting Committee composed by four institutions and organizations: the City Council of Barcelona, Barcelona Marathon Platform, the Catalan Athletics Federation and Tourism of Barcelona. Here you will see the tour of the race and the rules . Where: Barcelona city streets When: Sunday 17 March 2013 Official website of the Barcelona Marathon

GSMA Barcelona Mobile World Congress 2013 is about to start!

2013-01-14

From Hostal Mare Nostrum we want to announce the new edition of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The city is already preparing for the most important mobile congress in the world. Montjuic Fira de Barcelona is too small now for this Congress, so it has been moved and will be held in Fira Gran Via (Hospitalet, Barcelona). With 1,500 companies participating in the 2013 GSMA Barcelona Fair, the most important ones are: AirWatch, Alcatel-Lucent, Amdocs, Bharti Airtel, Cisco, Deutsche Telekom, eBay, Ford, Fujitsu, Gemalto, HTC, Huawei, IBM, Intel, LG, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, NTT DOCOMO, Oracle, Orange, Qualcomm, Samsung, SAP, Sharp, SK Telecom, Sony Mobile, Telefonica, Tellabs, Visa, Vodafone... Visit here the official website of the GSMA Barcelona Mobile World Congress 2013. Where: Fira Gran Via (Hospitalet de Llobregat) When: from 25th to 28th February 2013

Their Majesties, the Three Kings of the Orient, will arrive on Saturday in Barcelona

2013-01-04

Here in Spain there is a lovely tradition on Christmas. Instead of Santa Claus, we have here the Three Kings of Orient: Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar. They come to all cities all around the world during the night of 5th January and leave many presents for children. Many mean all presents on a list written by the children and given to the Kings during the procession taking place in all spanish cities, all of them at the same time! (They are magical!!). Their Majesties, the Three Kings of the Orient, are on the last leg of their journey and will be arriving here in Barcelona this Saturday, having journeyed thousands of kilometres to be able to give children their gifts. They are expected to moor at the Fusta wharf at 5 pm, where they will be handed the key to the city, so they can open all the doors of Barcelona's houses. Afterwards, at 6.30 pm, they'll then start on their procession through the streets of Barcelona. They'll be setting off from Avda Marquès de l'Argentera and finishing their tour at Avda Rius i Taulet. They'll be accompanied by several artistic companies. In addition, they'll be tasked with collecting all the letters not yet delivered to them. And, seeing as they are Magical, the Three Kings of the Orient will also be taking part in processions being held in the city's various districts. Do not miss their magical tour on Saturdat 5th January!!