Friday, 3 August 2012
Svenskdrivet Bed&Breakfast med utsikt över Penedès vingårdar
Vi är inte många svenskar som bor i Penedès-området så det är alltid extra roligt när man träffar en landsman som driver en intressant verksamhet här. Så är verkligen fallet men Ca Solyerik – ett Bed & Breakfast som ligger bland de många vingårdar som omringar den katalanska cavans huvudstad, Sant Sadurní d’Anoia (Alt Penedès, Barcelona).
Här hittar vi en gammal masia som har renoverats och anpassats till våra dagars förväntningar men som ger en genuint lantlig känsla där det ligger på ett visst avstånd från den lilla staden Gelida. Bakom huset löper Penedès mjuka berg, här och var krönta av någon gammal borg, och framför det sträcker sig vinodlingarna i alla riktingar ända fram till det karaktäristiska berget Montserrat. Jag har en stark känsla av att särskilt de som gillar att njuta av vinturism till cykel, fots eller med bil snart kommer att upptäcka det här stället.
Den spektakulära utsikten kan man njuta av från alla rum i huset, men allra bäst från takterassen, vilken ingår som en bonus för de gäster som hyr den rymliga, mysiga sviten som upptar hela övervåningen. Bland de andra platserna som jag fäste mig för vill jag gärna nämna loungen och, framför allt, den imponerande innergården med grillplats.
Ca Solyerik drivs av svensk-amerikanska Helena Centerwall som har med sig gedigna kunskaper om vin och vinturism från bl. a. Napa Valley i Kalifornien (USA). Hon har snabbt integrerat sig i det lokala samhället och bland annat startat PenedesA - ett nätverk för kvinnor med anknytning till cava- och vintillverkningen i Penedès. Hennes personlighet och färdigheter i matlagning är en integrerad del av upplevelsen Ca Solyerik, och henne som person får jag nog skäl att komma tillbaka till i en senare post.
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Här hittar ni Ca Solyeriks hemsida.
Thursday, 2 August 2012
Recommendations on what to do in Garraf, Penedès and Anoia this weekend
Here are a few recommendations on what you might want to do if you will visit the wine region Penedès or any of its towns – Sitges and Vilanova i la Geltrú (Garraf), Vilafranca del Penedès and Sant Sadurní d’Anoia (Alt Penedès), El Vendrell and Calafell (Baix Penedès) or Igualada (Anoia) during the weekend 3-5 August. By clicking on the name (in green colour) for each comarca in this introduction you reach the full agenda in English for that particular area.Cava and wine tourists might be happy to learn that the winery Joan Sardà in Castellví de la Marca (Alt Penedès) will be open for visits and wine tastings this weekend.
Fans of human towers also have a lot to look forward to – on August 4, Castellers de Vilafranca and Xicots de Vilafranca will both perform at home in Vilafranca del Penedès during the annual classic “Diada de Màrtirs Street” and with Castellers de Barcelona as their guests. Closer to the coast, Bordegassos de Vilanova will perform alone in Vilanova i la Geltrú on August 5.
The big Festa Major of the weekend is the one in Vilanova i la Geltrú which now reaches its peak with seven parades (or more) showing a rich range of Catalan cultural expressions (giants and giant mules, devils and dragons, stick dance and other typical folkdances plus human towers). Possible alternatives are the smaller Festes Majors on the beach platja del Francàs in El Vendrell or in La Llacuna (Anoia) which both, among other things, offer fire-runs (correfoc).
Lovers of the music havaneres must not miss the two-day concert with several well-known bands which is to take place in Calafell. Those who prefer classical music are recommended to go the beach Sant Salvador in El Vendrell where the Pau Casals International Music Festival continues with more concerts. In Sitges, finally, there is a quite unique open-air opera evening.
Those who already look forward to the next Sitges Film Festival should take note that its organizers will show short films on the beach platja de Terramar on August 3.
Among less expected events in Penedès this weekend, I want to mention a hunting fair with falconry demonstrations in Font-Rubí (Alt Penedès).
Those interested in sports will also have a lot to choose between: Open water swimming in Sitges, pétanque, tennis and table tennis in Cubelles and pétanque in Calafell.
In Igualada, finally, there will be a guided tour at the leather museum.
Welcome to Penedès!
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As you see, this week I have presented the events by theme and not according to their geographic location. What do you prefer?
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By Erik Wirdheim – your guide in English and Swedish to the wine region Penedès (Catalonia, Spain).
Wednesday, 1 August 2012
Vilanova i la Geltrú Sees Best Human Towers so far in 2012
We in the local team, Bordegassos de Vilanova, had lived several weeks of good rehearsals, so we were extremely ambitious and had decided to attempt two human towers which we have not built for years. We opened with a 4d8 (c), which was crowned but collapsed during the disassembly, but compensated for that by immediately achieving a 3d8 – a construction which our team had not managed to complete since 2005.
After that we made two attempts with 2d8f – for quite a few of us the first time ever we had been up on the base (pinya), to build a second support ring (folre). Both attempts fell before crowning, but the conclusion by most members is that we have this within reach. We have a very solid stem (tronc) for our 2d7 and just need to learn to manage the increased swaying you get when you add a folre. Bordegassos rounded off with two pillars of 5 levels and apart from the results of the day, we could also celebrate that there were so many of us and - above all - so many new and young faces. An important signal for the future!
When Castellers de Vilafranca visited us last year, they achieved their best exhibition until that date in 2011, and since they had the same target this time, expectations were high in the square plaça de la Vila – "Els Verds" are, after all, the by far best team in Catalonia. And - although that is not surprising, but still highly impressive - they delivered 100%. They opened with a rapid 3d9, followed by 2d9fm, whereby the spectators saw the first “gamma extra” construction of the day. After this they built a 4d9 and then raied the bar and rounded off with their first Pd8fm (again “gamma extra”, of course) for this year.
The third team, Colla Jove Xiquets de Tarragona, for their part could look back at a great exhibition here in 2011, but had to lower their expectations this time. A few recent falls with human towers of 9 levels had scared their top children (la canalla) and this made them opt for safe constructions. That still left them with the second best total of the today, since they easily completed 5d8, 3d8 and 4d8.
An additional nice memory I have from this day was how one casteller from Vilafranca used the expression “here at home” when he commented on the square in Vilanova. I believe that we have started to build a new nice spirit of mutual support and that feeling is confirmed when you look at the photos of the human towers and see the great amount of members who supported the other teams with their pinyes. I am personally one of the yellow dots in the photos of the giant Pd8fm but have problems identifying myself, since there were so many of us.
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The Festa Major of Vilanova i la Geltú has started but the most traditional parts are still to come, during its main days August 4-5. Find here the full program in English.
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Photo by Maite Gomà
Friday, 27 July 2012
What to do in Penedès this weekend?
Below you find a few comments on what you might want to do if you visit Garraf (Vilanova i la Geltrú, Sitges), Baix Penedès (El Vendrell, Calafell), Alt Penedès (Vilafranca del Penedès, Sant Sadurní d’Anoia) or Anoia (Igualada) during the weekend 27-29 July.Like most people who love Penedès, I have one town which ranks higher than the others. In my case that is Vilanova i la Geltrú (Garraf) and since we now see the start of our annual town festival - Festa Major - I have difficulties being neutral in my recommendations this time, but I will do my best… ;)
Since many followers of this blog have a special interest in human towers, let us start with the obvious: the most important challenge between castellers in Catalonia this weekend, is the one which takes place on Saturday, July 28, in Vilanova i la Geltrú. Already last weekend did Castellers de Vilafranca complete their first “gamma extra” construction in 2012 (a 4d9a). They now want to beat that result and as a consequence we can expect human towers of the absolutely most advanced category in Vilanova as well. Apart from this, Colla Jove Xiquets de Tarragona wants for this diada to be as important as it was for them last year, and the local team, Bordegassos de Vilanova, have every reason to hope for a Saturday when they jump up one category among the teams in Catalonia.
Now the other events: Staying in Vilanova i la Geltrú and Garraf, the Festa Major program also includes a huge fire-run (correfoc) and Penedès style acrobatic human towers, falcons. In Sitges, you will be able to see another exhibition in building human towers and in Cubelles they celebrate their “little town festival” – Festa Major petita.
Moving over the Baix Penedès, there are still a few highly interesting events related to the Festa Major in El Vendrell: Today, Friday, there will be parades (cercaviles) with performances by all Catalan dances and on Saturday those who understand Catalan can enjoy the satirical “dances” called ball de malcasats.
In Alt Penedès, this weekend offers the second and last concert of the
Music Festival in the Vineyards of Subirats – “Swing Appeal” – and in Vilafranca del Penedès you can watch and dance the Catalan national dance sardana.
Anoia, finally, stands out as a great alternative for those who are not interested in folk culture. Those who like modern Catalan music ought to check out the program of “Anòlia Estrella”, with concerts in Igualada by Love of Lesbian, Mishima and others. Also in Igualada, fans of sports, for their part, will be happy to see that the town is filled up with competitions of the World Bike Trial Championship.
Welcome to Penedès!
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By Erik Wirdheim – your guide in English and Swedish to the wine region Penedès (Catalonia, Spain).
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Photo by Bordegassos de Vilanova - Maite Gomà
Festa Major in Vilanova i la Geltrú – Full program in English
Today is the first day of the town festival (Festa Major) in Vilanova i la Geltrú (Garraf, Barcelona). Find here my version in English, including all events and also recommendations on things of interest to those of us who want to learn more about the wine region Penedès, the rest of Catalonia and the local culture here.Some of the most exciting events take place already this weekend, notably the Fire-Run (Correfoc), the big exhibition of human towers (with Bordegassos de Vilanova, Castellers de Vilafranca and Colla Jove Xiquets de Tarragona) and the exhibition of Falcons (acrobatic human towers).
Having said this, the most traditional part of the celebration in next weekend, August 4-5. That is when the street of the town fills up with festival parades and performances of all our group of Catalan dances.
Welcome to Vilanova i la Geltrú and its Festa Major 2012!
Friday, 20 July 2012
What to do in Penedès this weekend?
For all of us who see Penedès as a totality, the coming weekend represents an absolute overload of events. However, if you plan your days a bit (above all the late afternoons) you will have a unique opportunity to see a lot in a short time. The links below take you to agendas in English which can be of help.
In Garraf, Sitges hosts a broad range of concerts, opera and tango performances, but also a chess tournament. Vilanova i la Geltrú, for its part, offers human towers (castells) on both Saturday (combined with the acrobatic version, falcons) and Sunday but also a beach korfball tournament and modern Catalan music at the concert Faraday Major. In the small town of Canyelles they celebrate Festa Major.
In Baix Penedès, the small town of Sant Jaume dels Domenys celebrates Festa Major with a correfoc (fire-run), human towers (castells) and a parade with Catalan folkdances. However, apart from that, you have several concerts in El Vendrell related to the Pau Casals International Music Festival, plus tournaments in beach tennis and beach handball in Calafell.
Alt Penedès offers a correfoc (fire-run) in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, a flamenco and jazz concert during the Music Festival in the Vineyards of Subirats plus human towers (castells), sardana dancing and havaneres in Vilafranca del Penedès.
In Anoia, finally, you can listen to modern Catalan music during the music festival Anòlia or at the music festival in Piera.
Welcome to Penedès!
Who thinks about the public when a human tower collapses?
Last weekend, the historic centre of Calafell celebrated its Festa Major and I went there to take part in the traditional human tower exhibition. The atmosphere was full of expectation since all three teams – the “home team” Nens del Vendrell, the team from my town, Bordegassos de Vilanova, and Xicots de Vilafranca – planned to build human towers of eight levels.
Looking only at the results of the day, we all have reason to be quite content.
Nens del Vendrell managed to crown, but not complete, a 4 of 8 and completed 2 of 7, 5 of 7 and a pillar of 5.
Xicots de Vilafranca had to dismantle their attempt to build a 3 of 8 before it was crowned, but completed their first 2 by 7 during this season and followed up with a 5 of 7, a very light 4 of 7 and a pillar of 5.
Bordegassos de Vilanova, for our part, opened with our seventh (!) 2 of 7 this year, but only managed to crown, not complete, our big challenge of the day, the 4 of 8. After this we rounded off with a 3 of 7 and a pillar of 5.
Having pointed out that the results were satisfying, this day gave me many reasons to reflect over how tourists might perceive Catalan human towers. We experienced a number of dramatic falls and since the ambulance staff had to intervene and even take one casteller to the hospital, the exhibition had some almost unbearably long breaks.
What is worse, there was not anyone - neither among the Festa Major organizers, nor among the participating teams -, who seemed to think about the public when the activity stopped. That irritates me since I know that most participants like to have a lot of people watching and, on top of that, Catalan authorities on all levels love to use castells in tourism promotions.
We must not let the public leave the squares with a feeling that this cultural activity is highly dangerous and that might very well have happened in Calafell – a coastal town full of foreign tourists at this time of the year.
The solution to this is very simple: Like at many days of human towers organized in the towns north of Barcelona, we in Penedès ought to have a speaker during our exhibitions. It is enough if they only speak Catalan and Spanish – the important thing is to signal that there is one person who, if needed, can answer questions and help you digest what you see.
We want for tourists to return to their countries with nice memories of Penedès and Catalonia and its human towers, so let us all take responsibility and improve where we can.
Friday, 22 June 2012
July is a Great Month to Discover Penedès!
Now this is an opportunity for Penedès as a territory. The distances between our towns are short, so hopefully people here will now realize that we cannot all have “our own” festivals for all possible tastes but rather ought to explore what our neighbour towns can offer.
Today I have finally published the Penedès Agendas for July 2-18 in English, and they are full of unique events. The most spectacular one is the European Hot Air Balloon Festival in Igualada (see: Anoia) but I assume that the wine, cava and jazz festival ViJazz of Vilafranca del Penedès (see: Alt Penedès) will attract a much bigger crowd. And during the same time period we will see the first big town festivals – Festa Major – in Cunit and Calafell, respectively (see: Baix Penedès) while Sitges hosts the more niche oriented festival Gay Pride Sitges (see: Garraf).
As soon as I have published the main structure of the agendas in all seven languages, it is my plan to try to come back with detailed translations of some of the individual programs. Let us see how much I will manage to do – I do, after all, hope to "live" many of these festivals as well. And I recommend you to do the same. July is a great time to Discover Penedès!
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By Erik Wirdheim – your guide in English and Swedish to the wine region Penedès (Catalonia, Spain).
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Summer means human towers in the wine region Penedès
The season for building Catalan human towers (castells) traditionally starts on April 23 (el dia de Sant Jordi) and lasts until November, but the summer months are when the frequency of the exhibitions reaches the peak. Last Saturday, June 16, two teams showed their skills here in Vilanova i la Geltrú (Garraf).
We in the local team, Bordegassos de Vilanova, showed great stability by again building a 2 by 7 (2d7), but also 5 by 7 (5d7) and 4 by 7 dismantled via a pillar (4d7a). However, we had to give up on our dream target for the day – to repeat the 4 by 8 which we had achieved in l’Arboç only a week earlier. We simply did not manage to get enough team members to come to the exhibition. I guess that they were down on the beach – it was, after all, a really hot afternoon.
Our guests on this occasion were Xicots de Vilafranca from Vilafranca del Penedès and – as always –I filmed their constructions while trying to explain what we saw. In this post you find the videos: a 5 by 7 (5d7), 4 by 7 dismantled via a pillar (4d7a), 3 by 7 (3d7) and a pillar of 5 levels (Pd5). And, yes, I realize that I should not have tried to make these comments in German without having prepared the vocabulary in advance. That will be one of my goals for this summer.
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By Erik Wirdheim – your guide in English and Swedish to the wine region Penedès (Catalonia, Spain).
Tuesday, 12 June 2012
Discover Penedes tourist agendas now up-dated in 7 languages
The part of Catalonia where I live is full of traditions and cultural and sports events which you can enjoy without fully understanding the local languages. At Discover Penedès you can now find new events calendars for the time period June 15 to July 1, in 7 languages: Catalan, English, French, German, Russian, Spanish and Swedish. What do you think?
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