Apartments in Barcelona, Madrid, Amsterdam, Rome, and Marbella

If during your stay in Madrid,  with Habitat Apartments, this September you would like to go to the beach, you can go to the river where you can find the best beach in the city.

You already know ! The beach of  Madrid Río is one of the attractions of the leisure and entertainment in Madrid.

The city beach of Madrid is known as the Beach Arganzuela. And there are three areas that provide water from an area where they lie in the sun, water jets and clouds of high water spray.

Rest areas and stay with more than 6,500 square meters and nearly 300 trees

The beach is open from 10:00 until 23:00

Madrid Rio is an area of ​​over 30 kilometers along the river Manzanares that offers parks, sports facilities, historical monuments, green spaces, leisure spaces and fabulous mirardores where aprecidar the city. I recommend mirardor the Huerta de la Partida, which offers a magnificent view of the sky line Madrid's historic monuments including the Royal Palace and the Cathedral de la Almudena

This August is already ending and with it the summer holidays . But do not deprimais because September is a good month, with great weather to enjoy the city and all the events and festivals that you can find in Barcelona durings this month.

From Habitat Apartments we recommend the main events of September so do not miss these:
 

11/09/2011: La Diada - Catalan national day with many demonstrations and much flag waving

From 22 to 25/9/2011: Festes de la Mercé (Our Lady of Mercy)- week of celebrations to in honour of Barcelona's patron. During all the week  from 11 am to 04 Am, there are up to 600 events taking place in  the area of the whole city, mainly in the centre. The more famous are: the castellers ( the human tower) , Correfoc,  the Giant figures and the show of fireworks

From 22 to 24/9/2011, BAM - free musical performances for the Festes de la Mercé, taking place in the squares, city centre and waterfront.

27/09/2011: George Michael Barcelona Concert ,

Enrich your stay in one of our Barcelona apartments with one of these events !!!

Are you enjoying your holidays in Barcelona with Habitat apartments? Probably you'll need to know the customs and social habits of the Barcelones to enjoy each minute that you spend in this city.  What time do restaurants open & close? what about business hours? Even general times?….etc. Take note below:

Barcelona Mealtimes

In Barcelona, ​​as elsewhere in Spain, people tend to eat later than in other European countries. The first main meal of the day is breakfast. On vacation, breakfast is eaten between nine and eleven o'clock. Its usually lighter than in other European countries, equivalent to what hotels call a continental breakfast (orange juice, coffee and croissant or toast). Lunch is between two and three in the afternoon and dinner between nine and ten at night. Nevertheless, restaurant hours are also suitable for the rhythm of working life: you can eat lunch from one until four in the afternoon and dinner is served from nine up to twelve or so. There are many restaurants where you can eat any time of day making it easier for visitors to the city.

Business Hours

Shops in Barcelona open their doors at nine or ten o'clock and close for lunch at two in the afternoon (many stay open). After lunch, shop owners return to open their doors between four and five, and remain open until eight or nine. It should be noted, however, that the big shopping centers do not close for lunch and some are open until 10 pm. On Saturday afternoons, a few shops and all department stores are open, but they are generally closed on Sundays along with most everything else (tip: there is one shopping centre open on Sundays, 'Maremagnum' if you can't wait until Monday to go shopping!), except on some specific dates that the stores have permission to open.

Event times

• Theaters and cinemas

  On weekdays, cinemas regularly schedule four showings between four and ten. However, on weekends, some theaters have matinees beginning at approximately noon, and AM showings that usually start at midnight.
  The theaters feature a daily presentation, usually between nine and half past ten in the evening on weekdays and on Sundays between six and seven. In some, especially on Saturdays, there are two showings. The first is about six or seven o'clock and the second between nine and ten at night.

• Clubs and Pubs (with music!)

  The pubs and bars with music generally open in the afternoon until 2:30 to 3:00 am, and clubs open shortly before midnight and close around five or six in the morning.

Social Habits of the Barcelonese

Although more and more locals prefer to go out at night on weekdays, Fridays and Saturdays are main nights for crazy nightlife. Although lately, Thursdays at some places are usually very crowded. The evening can begin with a dinner at a restaurant, then continue with attending a play, a concert or a bar for the first drink, and end up in a nightclub or similar local jazz hot spot.

Sunday morning is the day for exploring the city. Barcelonese do not usually go out for tapas, like they do in other Spanish cities, but instead it is customary to have a snack on a terrace on a sunny day or inside a bar or cafe if the weather is bad. However, for many locals, the weekend may also be synonymous with getting away from the city.

Joaquin Cortes, born in a Gypsy family, is one of the most important flamenco dancers and choreographers  recognized both nationally and internationally. As a child he moved to Madrid, in Lavapies area where he began studying dance when he was twelve. In 1984, fifteen years, he was admitted as a member of the National Ballet of Spain and was soon promoted to soloist. Throughout his career Cortés has travelled to many cities, dancing in major theaters like the Metropolitan Opera House in New York and the Kremlin Palace of Congresses in Moscow. In 1992 he created his own company, "Joaquin Cortes Ballet Flamenco".

Now, Joaquín Cortés returns with contemporary flamenco dance show "Cale", which means Romany Gypsy. Released in March 2009, Córdoba dancer in this show goes over his twenty year career. Works like Cibayí, My Loneliness, Passion, Gypsy Soul and Live, are present in Calé. From August 11, 2011 to 21 August at the 'Teatro Nuevo Alcala' in Madrid, accompanied by 10 dancers and 16 musicians he will tour. Cortes has put his own stamp on flamenco in Spain.

Venue: Teatro Alcala Jorge Juan, 62. Madrid (Salamanca Area)

Do not miss this fantastic show when on vacation in one of the Madrid apartment of Habitat apartments. Don't miss it !

Are you spending a few days in Rome with Habitat apartments in a fantastic apartment? Rome is an impressive city full of interesting places to visit. You should certainly visit the cities and places around Rome. Here we want to recommend you a good trip: Capri

This scenic full-day trip to Capri from Rome is a rigueur for all tourists travelling in Italy. Here's the detail:

After leaving Rome and travelling on the Highway del Sol, crossing the fertile Roman countryside and the Castelli Romani region, full of medieval villages across the regions of Lazio and Campania. From the road you can admire the famous Abbey of Montecassino.

Arriving to Naples, you will  sail to the island of Capri known as the "Pearl of the Mediterranean." The island is located in the Gulf of Naples, 45 minutes between the Sorrento peninsula and the islands of Procida and Ischia. Two urban centers co-exist; you can visit Capri and Anacapri. There you will have the option of visiting by speedboat the Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) where the sunlight passes through a  submerged cavity ,leaving the surface, creating a magical blue reflection that illuminates the cave. This boat trip depends on the weather and sea state.
After lunch and free time to stroll the streets of downtown properties and to test coffee in the famous "Piazzetta at 16.30 you will return to the dock to embark in the direction of Naples.

The duration is one day, about 14 hours. It is important to note that part of the tour is on foot and are you advised to wear comfortable shoes well.