Spain's First Tree-house Hotel

I got the unique chance last month to sleep like the birdies, monkeys, squirrels and Ewoks! We took a trip deep into the Guilleries Mountains to stay at Spain’s first tree-house hotel, Cabanes als Arbres.

Thanks to our profession and The Scoop, Nancy and I get to stay in some fabulous and interesting places, but this one took the cake for me. I loved being snug in my tree-house cabin looking over the forested hills, not a noise to be heard, just silent stillness. Maybe that was the best part of the experience, the quietness. In Barcelona we are so used to hearing ruckus at all hours that many of us have forgotten what the sound of rain on leaves is, or the sound of nothingness. Silence can be a blessing.

Tree-house at Cabanes als Arbres

And Cabanes als Arbres has quiet in spades. It also has unmatched views, and a fun, well-executed product. There are 10 tree-houses, some that sleep 2 and others that sleep up to 4. Each tree-house is different with its own theme, design, and name (each tree-house takes the name of a local bird, in Catalan). Some are reached via a suspended bridge (mine was), others are accessed by ladder, and others a combo of both. Some are in fir trees, and some are in beech trees, all are round, cozy and magical.

Trap door in tree-house for getting in and out!

There is no running water, no flush toilet and no electricity inside the tree-houses (all of that is found in the main stone masia farmhouse). This many sound like a pain. No running water! No way! But it’s fine. Really. There is a pitcher and extra water stored in all the tree-houses. The toilets in the tree-houses are a sort of ‘dry-toilet’ and I am not sure how it works, only that I have seen them before at a friend’s hippy commune and that they work well. Candles and lanterns replace electric light. It may sound like roughing it but it is actually very fitting for the space and also romantic…We could call the tree-house experience ‘rustic luxury’.

Cabanes als Arbres interiors - Tree-house hotel

Tree-houses are reached by a footpath that leads from the farmhouse through the woods. The tail is well marked and all guests are given headlamps, flashlights and a map upon arrival. I showed up in sandals in a skirt, not sure what to expect. Expect cooler temperatures (you’re in the mountains) and a rustic environment that demands good shoes, jeans, and a jacket. Inside the farmhouse and tree-houses guests will be comfy by the fine or under a down comforter, but getting from point A to point B requires tennis shoes (at least) and a sense of adventure.

Cabanes als Arbres Farmhouse and reception

For 18.00 Euros per person, dinner is served in the farmhouse at 9pm every night. They put on quite the feast with multiple courses and a wide selection of desserts. During my stay there was homemade chicken noodle soup, Spanish tortilla, bread with tomato, salad, and a huge platter of cheeses, sausages from the area, and pates. There was also Spanish red wine, water, and tea or coffee. The service was good, and the vibe was relaxing and festive at the same time.

Champagne and Cava brought up to your tree-house via basket

In fact, all in all, the service at Cabanes als Arbres was fantastic. I felt like I was staying with extended family. Weird extended family who live in the trees. The only critiques I have for Cabanes is that I think they need to inform guests on appropriate clothing, and that they could install a couple more showers (there are only two to be shared between 10 tree-houses). Apart from these two issues, Cabanes als Arbres is a winner. And maybe we can give them a break  anyhow, they have only been open a year and six months.

Breakfast brought up in a basket

Getting to the tree-house hotel is an easy, albeit curvy, drive from Barcelona. It is well worth the effort! Many who visit Spain do not know Spain’s many diverse faces. A trip to Cabanes and the Guilleries Mountains is an opportunity to see a different Spain, and to see one of Catalonia’s natural parks. My best advice? Head for Cabanes als Arbres late fall, when the trees change to  yellow and crimson and enjoy the sound of silence and falling leaves.

More:

Web : http://www.cabanesalsarbres.com

Prices: Between 97 and 120 Euros with breakfast (served in a basket!)

How to get there – GPS – Maps

Zip-line canopy tour with La Selva de L’Adventura

Where in Spain was this taken?

Shots of Spain

The Picasso Museum contains over three thousand

paintings by the Big Guy.

If a Picasso original isn’t in your budget, The Picasso Museum Store, located in the same  group of medieval buildings, has a large stock of framed and unframed prints.   Regina and I, your Scoopettes, love shopping museum stores.  This diverse Barcelona shop is worth a stop just to view the arched stone ceilings with their wooden beams.   If George Bush decides to travel outside the U.S.,  he would shop here.  The long wiggly pencils, key chains, and magnets would appeal to him.

Fine jewelry, scarves, and an excellent selection of books  for children and adults are for sale.  You get to buy cool stuff and support the arts.  No admission charge to go to the Museum Store.  Bathrooms down the hall.  Lines are long.  Get there early.  Need hotels in Barcelona?  Check out this Scoop.

Where:   Montcado, 15

Metro:  Yellow Line, Jaume I

Hours:  Tuesday – Saturday, 10 – 7.30

Sunday and holidays, 10-2

Pot Plants on Patios in Barcelona, Spain

In August, most of Barcelona, and most of Spain for that matter, goes on holiday. Some people worry, and rightfully so, about leaving their flats unattended for a month to three weeks at a time. Crime and burglary of homes is common in August, when crooks know that no one will be about.

This fear of robbery keeps some people home during the hottest summer month. Like me, they are on Stay-cation. Others have to stay home to take care of their plants. Their marijuana plants. Sown in the early spring, Barcelona’s marijuana users now proudly display full grown plants on balconies and patios. The first time I saw one, I thought, ‘Wow! They sure are out in the open about their habits!’ Then I saw more plants. I started walking down the street looking up at balconies to see if I could spot 10 marijuana plants in a single stroll through the neighborhood. (side note: walking through the streets of Barcelona is risky business…you can run into people, get tangled up in a dog leash, or worse, step in Fido’s poo! Thanks for cleaning up after your dog!)

It is unclear what the law on using and growing marijuana in Barcelona is. Is it legal? No. No entirely. However the police seem to turn a blind eye, and there are many bars where people smoke marijuana quite openly and without fear. Then there are all these plants everywhere, which means that it must be legal to grow it (though perhaps not sell it) or that people just do not give a damn. I’ve asked around about what the exact law is, and the word on the street is that everyone has a different story. I guess if I was really interested I could call the police and ask them, ‘Excuse me sir, what are the laws concerning marijuana cultivation in you fine country?’, but the truth is that I am not going to grow it, so for the moment it will be a mystery.

Stay home to protect the harvest!

Yesterday on my walk with the dog I counted 6 plants. I saw one on a first floor balcony and wondered how often marijuana plants are stolen in Barcelona? Surely, it is not a crime one could report to the authorities. Indeed, August is a risky month in Barcelona.

Questions? Something to share? Send up your scoop! We’re all ears!

More on The Scoop’s Summer here.

Pigeons now plague the world.  They used to be carriers of important messages and  were delicacies for the palate.  Millions  of these overweight birds hang out doing nothing on Plaza Catalunya in Barcelona and plazas all over the world.  If they are transported out of the cities and the eco system is jeprodized, I don’t care.  At least Regina and I, your Scoopettes, can walk through the Plaza without pigeons spewing their nasty bits in our faces.

Joachim and Lisa planning Barcelona Arts

Lisa, from Antwerp, Belgium  is an international photographer of fashion, design, and people, often creating a tension between ugliness and beauty.  Joachim lives in Barcelona and Auch, France.  As an internationally known artist, his installations, paintings and sculptures have been known to provoke, and make people laugh and cry.

Check  out the Decadent Pigeons show.  I hope it makes me laugh.   I vote for the Great Pigeon Giveaway Program which would give the millions of tourists who visit Barcelona each year a free pigeon to take home – an easy item to tuck under one’s plane seat.  It is a win-win trade out and Regina and I can walk across Plaza Catalunya without tripping over a fucking pigeon.  I am hoping that Lisa and Joachim will also give away free pigeons at their show.  I will say, “No thanks.”

Need a place to stay in Barcelona while attending the show?  The Scoop has some great hotel ideas for you.

www.decadentpigeons.com

Where:  Fort Pienc, Street:  Ribes, 14, Barcelona

When:   Opening, September 9.

Summer's lazy days are upon us in Barcelona

As my stay-cation rolls on, I find that my Barcelona schedule is fuller than ever. There is something on every night of the week. Right now the Festa de Sants is in full swing, and I plan to check it out during the week. Live music, food, and lots of costumes and entertainment await those who head over to this vibrant fiesta.

Starting point for Puigcastellet hike, outside of Barcelona, Spain

I have also been using my stay-cation time to take in some of Catalonia’s many natural wonders. From Portland, Oregon, originally, I get depressed if I am out of contact with nature for too long. Last weekend we headed off to the mountains to do a bit of hiking and see green up close and personal (Barcelona is many things, but green is not one of them). The fine folks over at the Diputacio de Barcelona have put together a handbook full of hikes to do around Catalonia, and we chose one of them, the Casol de Puigcastellet hike, and tried it out last Saturday.

Hiking along the Casol de Puigcastellet trail

We discovered that the map the Diputacio de Barcelona has printed in its handy guide is not 100% correct. We did not reach the Casol de Puigcastellet site, which is contains the remains of an Iberian settlement. I am not sure why we never got there, but we did find the rest of the places marked on map. I am not much for ruins anyways, unless they are really impressive. What was interesting to see on the route, were all the old Villas and farmhouses, many still in use as working farms. The Casol de Puigcastellet hike is not a popular one, and during the day we only saw one other group of people.

Rutes de Patrimoni Arquitectonic - Catalunya

The guide book clocks the hike at an hour and 45 minutes, but I would say it is a bit more. Bring water and a picnic and make the most of it. The hike offers beautiful views of Folgueroles village and the Guilleries Mountains.  I am sure to try more hikes from the so-so guidebook as my August stay-cation continues.

Farmhouse or Catalan Masia on the trail

See more on hikes in this region of Spain here: Guilleries Hikes

See more on hikes in other parts of Catalonia here: More cool hikes in Spain

Festes de Gracia Barcelona

Each neighborhood in Barcelona has its own party once a year, usually in the summer. August is a big month for these barrio parties, with the Festa de Gracia on now until next Sunday and the Festa de Sants on next weekend.

These very local, grassroots events are fabulous because they celebrate community, food, wine, music, and fun. There are activities for the young and the old, and all the entertainment is FREE.

Every Barrio has its own Fiesta!

Do not miss the Festa Major de Gracia. It is the best of all the Barcelona barrio parties (La Merce outdoes Gracia, but La Merce celebrates all of Barcelona – it is in September). Go over to Gracia around 9 or 10 pm and have a drink and some food in the street. Then wander the barrio and take in the wild and imaginative decorations. Considering the whole thing is put on my the neighborhood, it is really impressive. Then check out a couple bands at one of the many plazas with live music. This party lasts one week, although the weekends will be the most crowded.

How to do it: head to the Metro and take it to Joanic or Fontana. Head into the heart of Gracia, in the direction of Calle Verdi. Lose yourself in the magic of the celebration.

See all the details here.

-Want more on great fiestas in Spain? Write us at The Scoop with your questions.

Van Gogh may have put sunflowers on the map in France  but history in Spain tells us that the Spanish brought them back from Mexico and Peru hundreds of years ago. 

Sunflowers, which sing the exaltations of summer, always make me smile.  As a major oilseed crop, they are made into margarine, biodiesel fuel, livestock feed, and latex.  And, of course, the Spanish love to eat these tiny seeds.  Most people crack the shells between their teeth rather than buy them in a bag already shelled.  No thanks to that.  I am saving my teeth for tapas.

Los girasoles, sunflowers, follow orders.  When young plants, they follow the sun, east to west during the day. When they reach maturity, they All Face South.    Did they have a meeting and vote in the ‘let face south’ decision?  Did a great voice from the sky bark, “Ok, turn left.  No, no.  Too far.  Hey you, in the 27th row, a little more to the right.  South. “  I am always amazed at the sychronicity of these brilliant blooms that seem to know to stand at attention toward the light. 

You will find billions of sunflowers in Andulucia, especially on roads around Seville and Ronda.  Also, at the base of the Pyrenees when you head up the A-7 to France.     Recently traveling through Andulucia, I walked in the hot fields of bright gold.  I do love sunflowers and they have me longing for country life.  For cheap flights to Spain, make sure you visit Dealcheckers.

We have The Scoop on cool hotels in Seville. 

Hostels can be cool places to stay.  It is important to know what you want and get your info before you arrive blurry eyed from that overseas flight.

Retiro Park - In Madrid

l.  Elevators -  Some hostels are on upper floors.  If you have a 63 pound backpack, and your room is on the 8th floor, you definitely don’t want a walk up.

2.  Air Conditioning – Madrid cooks in the summer.  Yes,  even those of you  who rough it, believe me, you will want AC.

3.  Centrally located – This means different locations to different people.  Some hostals will promise you are close to EVERYTHING.  Wrong.  Impossible.  Google map your hostal location  if it is important to you.  Saving money on transportation and going back six times in awe of your favorite museum can be important criteria.

4.  Bathrooms – Just how many people are going to share a bathroom?  Are you ok with mixed gender bathrooms?

5.   Wireless access to the internet – Important to you?  Check it out before you book.

6.  Checking in and out – Some hostals have weird check in and out times that may not co-ordinate with your travel plans.

7.  Price? -  I won’t stay in a hostal that is under 20 euros, and that is pushing it.  I want my hostal clean with no creepy crawlies.

Prices listed vary with the time of year.  Need some tapas with your hostels?  Check out The Scoop’s recommendations in Madrid.

Color Host Hostal – Requires two night stay.  Fresh and, guess what?  Ikea colorful.  Close to stores, discos, restaurants. In Cueca neighborhood.  Double with pivate bath, 50 euros.  You are paying more for the color.    www.colorhost.com

Hostal Condestable -  All rooms with bathrooms.    Check out the pictures.  Clean and new.  AC.  30- 40 euros for a single.  www.hostalcondestable.com

Hostal Bahia Madrid – Central. Some rooms with balconies.  Extra beds 15 euros.  Free wireless.  Parking nearby.  22.50 euros.  Next to the Plaza del Sol in the center.  http://www.hostalbahiamadrid.es/en-index.html

Barbieri International Hostel – Free maps, a multi lingual staff, guest kitchen, and lots of tourist info.   A free breakfast is included.  I bet there are lots of corn flakes.  Twenty four hour staff.  http://www.barbierihostel.com/ privates, 22 euros.

Cat’s Hostel - Central with secure lockers.  Bar with very helpful staff.  Dorm rooms only.  Courtyard for hanging out.  Maybe you will see some cats.    17 euros.  www.catshostel.com

More cool places to stay can be found on The Scoop.

An Old Kind of Easter Parade: Holding candles, thousands of people line the streets in many cities in Spain to watch Semana Santa processions.  Especially elaborate in Southern Spain,  these Easter processions celebrate the death and rebirth of Christ.

Easter In Spain

I have seen grandstands  and white plastic chairs set up in Seville along the streets for this special event, many of which are for sale. Hotels fill months in advance so it is wise to book your holidays to Spain as early as possible.

Holy Figures: History in Spain is played out  with centuries old rituals as holy figures are carried to cathedrals by men in brotherhood societies.   These coastalers wear shoulder pads to carry the heavy, ancient wooden figures which are dressed in brocades and silks.  On lookers view silently and weep;  I am assuming with penitence.  Some processions continue through the night.  I have watched with awe and frankly find the whole thing weird and without joy.  Ok, Christ died, and he had many good lessons.  Why not emphasize the positive stuff?

Fashionistas: Men,  the nazarenos, wear black, white or purple robes with tall pointed hoods and slits for eyes – a fashion plate for the Klan.  Eerie yet mesmerizing, something ancient is tapped inside of me at the sight of them.  Garments are  richly embroidered with crosses and other religious symbols.   They walk barefoot to slow, penetrating sounds of drums and coronets.  Hoods are taken off on Sunday to represent that Christ has risen.

Rain Dates: If it rains, the processions are canceled and no rain date in rescheduled.  Seville, Toledo, Malaga, and Granada are cities with well known processions.  Your Scoopettes like strange stuff.  We find many Semanta Santa events wonderfully odd and another reason why we love living in Spain.

Book at Travelsoon to enjoy Semana Santa celebrations next year. Or for other great holiday destination deals, check out www.travelsoon.com

Want more Scoop? Email us with your questions on Semana Santa.

Relax with a Yoga Retreat in Spain

In August, the Spanish take a month off and head to the beach, the mountains, or to their family’s ‘village’. Wherever they go, the idea is to relax for a month in order to be ready to take on work and day-to -day life once more come mid September. This long break is one of the main reasons I live in Spain – well that and the cheap wine!

Yoga in Spain - Retreat Masia

For maximum relaxation check out this YOGA retreat coming up August 16th through the 20th! I can personally recommend the teacher, who is talented and bi- (tri?) lingual.

The retreat is to be held in a masia (farmhouse) from the 16th century, and the cost is 450 Euros. Check out all the details on the official blog for the retreat below.

Yoga in Spain with Jose de Goot – Retreat

http://yogajosedegroot.blogspot.com/2010/05/retiro-terapeutico-yin-yoga-reiki-16-20.html

So many great web sites, so little time. Here are some of The Scoop’s favorite sites. Please send in yours and we can add to the list and save savvy traveler’s time and money!

TRAVEL STORIES

http://www.wavejourney.com/ - A site for networking with businesses. Info on books, travel, cooking.

www.europealacarte.co.uk – Authentic travel posts for traveling on a budget.

www.parisianparty.com – Love Paris? You will love it more after visiting this site. Good for weddings.

http://thirstforrioja.co.uk/ - All you red wine lovers, get a visual taste of great Spanish wines.

http://www.travelerstales.com/links.html – Traveler’s Tales are publishers of stories, wit, and wisdom from travel writers around the world.  My favorite books are the ‘Best American Series’ which is a collection of travel stories for each year starting in 2000.  Editors include Tim Cahill, Jamaica Kincaid, etc, and my hero Bill Bryson.  Transporting you to different niches on the planet, you can always be on a trip with a Traveler’s Tale book in hand.

www.wanderllustandlipstick.com – Travel stories and tips. Their mission is to inspire travel.

http://www.notesfromspain.com/– An expat marries a Spanish woman and loves living in Spain. You get first hand observations..com

USEFUL INFORMATION

http://www.gogalavanting.com/ – Travel tips and stories.

Just Spain.org -More great Spain tips.

Centre de Cultura Contemporania CCCB – Museum and Cultural Center, fab movies!

Sagrada Familia Church – tips for visiting this important site.

Barcelona City Tourism Offices – Info on trains, events and more.

Clickair - low cost flights in Spain and Europe.

Vueling air – another budget flight option, also pretty cool!

CheapOair - for flights around Europe at budget prices

Mango – one of Spain’s most popular clothing stores.

Cook and Taste - Cooking classes in Barcelona.

YOGA – Best yoga in town, bilingual!

GETTING READY AND YOU’RE OFF

www.rcplayers.com – find holiday rentals in Spain here!

http://www.vouchercodes.co.uk – A money saving website that scours the web for deals and discounts to save you cash. Their travel discounts can take the sting out of holidays!

www.flightstats.com – A flight alert system for road warriors that will give your Blackberry or laptop phone a buzz if there is a gate change, flight delay. Gets info before the airline.

www.seatguru.com – You don’t want to sit in the middle of a row of five seats? Or across from a flushing noise? Type in the style of your plane, and you’ll find a map of the seating arrangement with ranking of really awful to good seats. Then, go back to your airline site and make your seat assignment.

www.spanishdict.com – No, it isn’t a porn site. It could save your booty when you need to ask for an anti diarreah pills in Spanish. Spanish-English. English-Spanish.

www.xe.com – I like anything or anybody that can do the math. This site does currency conversions. It is easy and fast. No currency exchanges on mangos or monkeys. Up to the minute currency rates.

www.yapta.com – Tracks ticket prices. Type in your flight info. If there is a price drop you may qualify for a refund. Site automatically checks airfares and will email you if there is a change. Wow!

Barcelona Guides/Tours: Check out the many tour options offered by this local company. This is a fabulous way to see the city. It may sound nerdy, but I love tours and guides – afterall, they have the inside scoop on the city you’re in.

SimonSeeks for Tips on Hotels in Madrid -   http://www.simonseeks.com

MOVING TO AND LIVING IN SPAIN – BARCELONA

British Chamber of Commerce: www.britishchamberspain.com
The Business Lunch: www.thebizlunch.com
Entrepreneurs Network Barcelona: www.networkbarcelona.com

The British Consulate: www.ukinspain.com
Barcelona miniguide*: www.miniguide.es
Barcelona Metropolitan: www.barcelona-metropolitan.com
Spain Expat: www.spainexpat.com
Barcelona Connect: www.barcelonaconnect.com
Anglo Info: http://barcelona.angloinfo.com
Kids in Barcelona: www.kidsinbarcelona.com

FREE in Barcelona : www.barcelonagratis.com

LeCool: Lecool.com

Tips: Livingbarcelona.com

CLUBS

Toastmasters / Prestigious Speakers: www.prestigiousspeakers.com
The American Society of Barcelona: www.amersoc.com
The International Women’s Club Barcelona: www.iwcbarcelona.com
Barcelona Women’s Network- This one is a winner with over 200 women from 30 countries.  Fun and energetic women.   www.bcnwomensnetwork.com –
Barcelona Tennis: www.barcelona-tennis.com
Barcelona Hash House Harriers: www.geocities.com/barnahhh

British Society of Catalunya – Emporda Branch: www.bsce.ch
British Society of Catalunya – Roses Bay Area: www.bscroses.com

MORE COOL SITES WE DIG

Topanien : http://www.topanien.com/ - Bringing you fairly traded , unique global gifts and home décor: Hand-embroidered Decorative Pillows, Cat Throw Pillows, Hemp Purses, Fair Trade Wall Hangings, Angel Ornaments, Japanese Dishes, Chinese Teapots, African Baskets, Cambodian Handbags, Polish Boxes and more…

The Scoop is always updating our Links page. Want to add a link to our list? We want to hear from you!

]]> http://www.thespainscoop.com/links-we-love/feed/ 1 http://www.thespainscoop.com/links-we-love/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thespainscoop/iJjg/~3/Qr4OGh3jHvA/ http://www.thespainscoop.com/dairy-of-a-stay-cation-in-barcelona-2/#comments Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:52:44 +0000 admin http://www.thespainscoop.com/?p=2926 By Regina Winkle-Bryan

The thing about a stay-cation, is there’s no hotel room. And therefore, no room service, maid service, or poolside drinks or pay-per-view… While many people in Spain spend sleepless nights on uncomfortable hotel beds, or are being roused at the wee hours of the morning by persistent maids wanting tidy up, I am snug as a bug in my own home. This is just one of the many perks taking a stay-cation has.

Plenty to see in BCN on a Stay-cation!

Another perk is that while I am on stay-cation in Barcelona, there is a lot going on in town. A little known fact about Barcelona in August is that it is much easier to get around, and that there is a ton of free cultural events all over the city. Events such as the CCCB Gandules Film Festival, going on now all month long. The CCCB is one of the city’s modern art museums, and they also host a rich array of cultural activities. A word to the wise though, go early. People are never feistier (ruder?) than when something is free. There are a limited number of seats at this festival, and an even more limited number of really-sweet-seats at the CCCB. Go early, but don’t try and save 10 of the best seats for your best friends. Do this and you could find yourself in a fist fight. Take it from this stay-cationer, I know what I am talking about.

Visit Barcelona's MACBA and CCCB for cultural events this Aug 2010

My Stay-cation has also given me plenty of time to drink coffees by the seaside. I love this. I take the dog, and we go and order a cafe con leche and stare into the blue horizon. Sometimes our staring is interrupted by one of Barcelona’s crazies coming over and striking up a conversation or sharing with me one of their conspiracy theories. I am not sure if it is me or the dog, but one of sure is a magnet for locos.

Stay-cation means lots of time on Barcelona's Beaches!

If you too, crave coffee with crazies while vacationing in Barcelona, you need not walk all the way to the beach. No sir! You can find plenty of good brew and eccentric personalities at Cactus Bar in Barcelona’s Born barrio.

Sunset in Barcelona - Summer 2010

August is the month when Barcelona shuts up. Everyone goes on vacation in August all over Spain, usually for a month. Usually busy, noisy and bustling, come August 1st, Barcelona seems like a ghost town. In a way, it is really pleasant to be in Barcelona in August because it is so tranquil (aside from the beach and the center, which are packed with tourists).

Stay-cation means lots of time to read books, like Best Seller- Cathedral del Mar

Due to moving house, an expensive venture anywhere, and perhaps even more so in a city like Barcelona, my August vacation plans are….well, they don’t exist. I am doing what many others have had to do when tightening one’s belt and holidays collide: a Stay-cation.

What an annoying word, Stay-cation. And yet so appropriate for what I am going through. Instead of throwing myself a pity-party and crying over the fact that I must stay home while others travel for a month, I am going to make the very best of my Stay-cation, and get to know Barcelona that much better (not to mention paint my house, walk the dog, sleep, oh yeah, and write)!

I will be publishing my adventures had during my Stay-cation here, on The Spain Scoop. Come mid-September, will I be sick of Barcelona? Or will I find a hundred new ways to fall in love with this city as I Stay-cation here? Tune into the next post to find out. I am sure the suspense it killing you.

Festivals abound in Spain.  Everyone here loves a good party.  Your Scoopettes have the Big Scoop on some of the best for August.  If you are here from out of town, check out our scoop on hotels in Barcelona.

Festivals In Spain

l.  Major Festival of Gracia – This authentic Barcelona neighborhood is off the tourist path and reflects Gracia’s locals:  hipsters, bohemians, oldsters, kids in strollers, immigrants, etc. Music stages blast it out from plazas and small lanes.  Neighbors of all ages join to make street decorations, usually of recyclables, some hokey, some clever.  The artistic quality doesn’t matter – the spirit does.  Every night of the week and Friday and Saturday nights till 3.30 a.m.   August 15 – 21.    http://festamajordegracia.cat/  Need a break for tapas?   We have the goods on good tapas.

2.  Santander Classical Music Festival – Lounge on the beach all day.  Get some culture at night in the Santander region at the 59th Annual Festival.  Opera, ballet, chamber music, symphonies.  Tickets can be purchased on line in advance or at the door.  All of August.

3.  Horse Racing in Andulucia is wild.  No, you are not hallucinating if you  see jockeys in full regalia running their steeds along the beach.  San Lucas de Barrameda, second and fourth weekends. Check out horse racing on regular tracks, Seville and Mias Costa.  http://www.andalucia.com/rural/horseriding/racing.htm

4.  La Tomatina  Festival-  Splat.  Bam.  Splash.  Tomato tough folks throw over 90,000 tomatoes at each other in the village of Bunol, about 20 miles from Valencia. Trucks loaded with 90,000 tomatoes park on the main drag.  Throwers in the trucks then lob tomatoes to over 20,000 revelers who then throw them at each other.    This bizarre festival started in 1945.  Some say it was to commenorate the tomato,  others say that teens out for a good time began this ritual which happens the last Wednesday in August.  Most people wear swim goggles to prevent the sting of acid.  Showers, if you are lucky to get one, are on side streets for the fans.  Many Brits, ready to throw, fly in for the day.    www.tomatina.es

Write us about your favorite festivals in Spain.