I Sports Senior Meeting

If you've turned 40, you like sports and want to spend a fantastic holidays in the Costa Brava you want to look at this because this year, between 10 to 14 October, are held in Lloret de Mar, the First Senior Sports Meeting.

The First Senior Sports Meeting is a sports competition for people over 40 years and participatory spirit. Registration is open to anyone more than 40 years, whatever their nationality. Like all sports events, these are properly organized by gender, age and sport level.

The sports that will take place in the Senior Sports Meeting are sports being practiced by people aged 40 and above, such as: swimming, tennis, paddle, pitch and putt, golf, cycling, gymnastics, ball room dance, dominoes, bowling, athletics, table tennis, petanque, chess and football. 

The organization is in charge of a committee, chaired by Valero Rivera, Spanish National handball coach. It comprises representatives of the city, hotel groups, entities tourism, sports federations and organizers.

The honor committee, chaired by the Honourable ex-President of Catalonia Mr. Jordi Pujol and Soley, will be formed by the heads of companies and institutions involved: national, regional and local.

More information here.

The legend of Saint George

On Saturday 23 April (this year in middle of Holy Week) is the feast of St. Jorge, and today I will explain the origins of this magnificent day, not only held in the Catalan Countries, but throughout the world, each place with its traditions. 

The countries that celebrate St George's Day are England, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece, Georgia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia Herzegovina, the Republic of Macedonia and Palestine. The cities are Moscow, Genova, Ljubljana, Beirut, Qormi and Victoria (Malta) and many others. It is also celebrated in the old kingdoms and counties of the Crown of Aragon, Spain - Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands. 

The feast of St. George is the most important in England as well as other regions. In Catalonia, called the National Day of Sant Jordi is the second National Day and the tradition is to give a book or a rose to loved ones. 

But where the legends com from? 

"Explains the written legend in lands of Cappadocia, though popularly each region fits the legend to locate in its own, were a dragon which attacked the kingdom. The people decided that to avoid attacks, they will hand over two lambs every day to be devoured by the dragon and satisfy its hunger. 

But one day the sheeps began to run out and people agreed to send a person and a lamb, so every day was a sweepstakes and this person was sent to Dragon's Cave. One day in the draw, came out the name of the princess. At this time, the king offered wealth to the family of these who take her place, but people refused and they criticized him because many had lost their families and the King did not have to be the exception. Thus, no alternative, the princess walked to the dragon's den when she met halfway Saint George that, listening to her situation, offered to rescue her and killed the dragon stabbing his sword into the heart. From the blood that flowed became a rose. 

Saint George was offered him riches by the King, but he rejected it and called to divide by the people. He also built a church in his name, which flowed miracle water to cure the sick." 

In the Catalan Countries, the “Diadad de Sant Jordi” is one of the most important feast, and also the oldest. In Catalonia, it was proposed to convert this date in celebration of obligation for the first time 1436, when a proposal was made to cuts of the Generalitat de Catalunya. The proposal would be effective on 1456. Traditionally, and from the fifteenth century in Catalonia the “Diadad de Sant Jordi” is Lover's Day, and it is customary for couples to give a red "as blood" rose. 

In modern times, the book exchange is also frequent. Roses have been associated with this day since medieval times, but the delivery of books is a more recent tradition, originated in 1923 when a bookseller from Barcelona became to promote the feast as a way to commemorate the death of Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare, almost simultaneous, on April 23, 1616. A curiosity is that they didn't really died the same day, as in England still was use the Julian calendar and the Kingdom of Spain had already adopted the current Gregorian calendar. Still, the 1995 UNESCO declared this day as International Book Day. 

  

The party has an air of protest of Catalan culture and many balconies are emblazoned with the "senyera", the catalan flag. In Barcelona, and in all towns and cities of Catalonia, books and roses are selled all around, but La Rambla, and all the city centers, are where the event reaches its maximum expression. It is traditional to promote the sale of books with signatures of its authors and by a discount price. The libraries nearby Plaça Catalunya are crowded and open even if it is Sunday. There are also poetry and book's fragments readings and entertainment theaters make special promotions. In 2010 it is estimated that six million roses were sold in Catalonia, 40% of those sold throughout the year. There are tends with political demands, to raise funds for humanitarian organizations or schools or simply to get some extra money. The media broadcasts direct from the most emblematic spot. But above all we must stress the festive atmosphere generated by the party. Floral Games are conducted in schools, activities in libraries and concerts in the streets that add to the busy cultural agenda of the city. 

Catalan MotoGP Grand Prix 2011

From the 3rd to 5^th of June is celebrated, as every year since 1995, the Catalan Moto GP Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya in Montmeló.

If you are interested to attend and you haven't booked yet, you better take advantage of our offers, with up to 10% discount if you book before April 30th! Our hotels in Calella, just 50 km from the Circuit (30 min) and Lloret de Mar, 70 Km (45 min) is a quality option at an unbeatable price.

In addition, you can draw to do some shopping at the Roca Village Outlet, near Montmeló, with a selection of the best brands at a great price. 

More information here. 

Wifi at the whole GHT Hotels establishments!

At GHT Hotels we like to give the best service to our customers and all possible comfort. For this reason and because we believe that the High-speed Internet connection should be a global good accessible to all world, this 2011 season we've covered all our establishments with Wireless access to Internet at the whole hotel*, free of charge and without any limitation.

Now you can check email from your terrace overlooking the magnificent beaches of the Costa Brava or upload your vacation photos to Facebook from the pool. By the way, do not forget to rate and comment our hotels, now you do not need to wait to get home!

We hope you enjoy!

*Except Balmes Hotel and Xaloc, covered only the common zones and apartments.

Activities in Lloret de Mar - April 2011

We're pleased to show you the schedule of activities for Lloret during April. 

We would highlight the VIII Rally Costa Brava Historic (already mentioned in a previous post), from 31 March to 3 April, Nordic walking 2, 9, 16 and 23 April and the "Catalan National Day of Sant Jordi" and Book Day, also on 23 April. In sports there are many tournaments, starting from the Ultimate tournament (popularly called Frisbee) and ending with the Master of Bocce Vila de Lloret, through handball, football, basketball, judo and much more. 

Take this opportunity to remind the Aquarium Hotel & Spa, in Lloret de Mar, open this year on April 9. Do not miss it!

You can  get more information here.

Challenge Barcelona-Maresme: the best Spanish triathlon 2010

Two of the hardest sportive tests come back in Calella for the third consecutive year. We're talking about Half Challenge, with typical distances of 1.9 km. swimming, 90 km. cycling and 21.1 km. of foot career and the Challenge, with distances of 3.8 km. swimming, 180 km. cycling and 42.2 km. on feet. 

The seal of the Challenge brand, known throughout the world-famous Ironman from Roth come to Spain again this year. This is part of a expansion campaign that Challenge has begun in countries such as France, Portugal or New Zealand. And this year we are in celebration, as the COE (Spanish Olympic Comite) has awarded the Challenge Costa de Barcelona-Maresme with the award of the best triathlon in Spain in 2010. Challenge Barcelona-Maresme will receive this valuable prize on February, 19th at the COE headquarters during the Spanish Triathlon Gala 2010, and will attend the Secretary of State for Sport Jaime Lissavetzky, the President of the ITU and COI member Marisol Casado and the President of the FETRI Jose Hidalgo. 

The Half Challenge Costa de Barcelona-Maresme is celebrated this year on Sunday May, 29th and the Challenge on Sunday October, 2nd and in GHT Hotels we have the best rates and best service! In hotels Marítim and Balmes you can enjoy the best Spanish Ironman from 21.50€ per person and night with breakfast included. Don't miss it! 

More information here: 

Challenge Barcelona-Maresme 

Offers in GHT Hotels

Formule 1 comes back to Circuit de Catalunya, are you ready?

The Spanish Grand Prix is comming to Circuit de Catalunya and if you're planning to come but have no accommodation yet, what better to enjoy the hospitality of our facilities, at an unbeatable price? The Maritim*** and Balmes Hotel***, in Calella, and hotels Aquarium**** and Oasis Park ****, in Lloret de Mar, are, respectively 30 and 45 minutes (50 and 70 Km) from the Circuit de Catalunya. Also, if you book before April 30th, will get between 8 to 10% off! What are you waiting for?

The Spanish Grand Prix dates from 1913, but since 1991 has been held at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmeló. Of the 20 races at Montmeló, Michael Schumacher has won 6, 3 for Mika Häkkinen and 2 for Kimi Räikkönen and Nigel Mansell. Fernando Alonso is the only Spaniard who has won the Spainsh Grand Prix; he got it in 2006 with Renault.

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