Today we celebrate St. Jordi, the patron saint of Catalunya. It’s not a public holiday, but a romantic tradition, much like Valentine’s Day. The streets are filled with roses wrapped in the ribbon of the Catalan flag and book stands, coinciding with The World Book Day.  Today, women are supposed to receive a rose and men, a book, even though it doesn’t necessarily have to be from your partner. It can just as well be from a co-worker or friend, or from children to their parents.

The legend of St. Jordi (St. George) is the same as the one told worldwide, where the knightly hero saves the princess and her village from a terrorizing dragon.

The main streets of Barcelona are crowded today, with a festive feeling and lots of couples strolling, with books and roses. Don’t miss the chance to get in that romantic mood!

Between the 5 -12th of May, one of Seville’s biggest, yearly events takes place. The week-long celebration of La feria de Sevilla, has been marked in the calendars of the locals for a long time, and it’s soon time to dust off their flamenco dresses and hit the streets.

Every day, in the afternoon, the city’s streets fill up with horse carriages, kids and adults in traditional dresses, and tourists can come and take part in this unique event. During the afternoon and early evening, it is customary to spend time with family and friends, enjoy local exhibitions, ferris wheels and local dishes, such as Pescadito Frito (small, fried fish). In the evening, when the youngest part of society are tucked in their beds, the big party starts. In private tents sat up along Guadalquivir river, called Casetas, partying and dancing will continue until late hours.

We can help you to be a part of this magic event! Contact us for help with accommodation, transfer and tips!

Sevilla, here we come! Ole!

We recently posted on our Instagram, some pictures from one of this season’s Calçotada. This is a Catalan custom which takes place during spring, when the barbeque season begins. The “Calçot” is a vegetable that resembles a leek but taste more like a mild onion.

Calçots are grilled on an open flame, until they seem burned, then wrapped in newspaper and finally served on a terra cotta tile. This is a traditional appetizer, that can be quite messy to eat. First you peel off the burned part, then you dip in a delicious almond and tomato sauce and finally you eat the tender parts. In restaurants you often get a bib and a pair of gloves, to stay somewhat clean, but on a countryside barbeque, you better not wear your best clothes. After all the peeling and dipping, it’s time to dig in some grilled meat, often lamb chops and sausages accompanied with white beans.  Do you want to join us for the next Calçotada?