Photo España Madrid | Apartments in Spain

Photo España celebrates its twelfth edition in the fabulous city of Madrid. The event will take place along the Paseo de la Castellana, right in the heart of the capital. Photo España dates back to 1998 when a desire to create something that represented society was emerging. Today, the festival has become a mirror for the world, in a setting where visual arts are freely expressed. Therefore it has become an event of great cultural significance. This is a crucial event for many artists and photography critics.

Photo España attracts millions of people each year. Everybody is anxious to see the latest developments in the field of photography and visual art, especially the new photo projects, videos and installations. This edition will present more than 700 samples divided into several exhibition halls. There are also courses given in various ways to an audience that every year is more heterogeneous.

PHE 09 will be held from June 3rd to July 26th. This exhibition, whose director is Sergio Mah, will focus on everyday life and also the History Exhibition. Around 248 photographers from over forty nationalities distributed in 60 different cultural spaces will participate. In addition, other activities such as various educational projects, publications, youth photography contests, etc will be held.

This event goes beyond the Spanish borders, and lands in Portugal and Italy, making it a truly international cultural project. These are some of the possible prizes and awards: the España de Fotos y Baume Mercier Prize, the Bartolomé Ros Award for Best Spanish Professional Photography Award, Best Photography Book of the Year, the Audience Award and many others…

Rent Apartments in Madrid and enjoy an event that only happens once a year. Then enjoy a city that offers a wide host of wonderful things.

via madridapartments.me

milano jazz festival – milan jazz festival | Apartments in Italy for rent

Milan always suggests revolutionary and prestigious musical events. This summer we will witness a stunning demonstration of the most fascinating music: the Milano Jazzin Festival 2009. It will be held from 2nd July to 22nd July.

Tradition and experimentation will come together to present a program full of international names. It will be a great musical month, full of new sounds and fusions: blues with jazz, rock with hip-pop and Latin music and electronic music. In short, it is a time of great experimentation.

This is the third edition of the festival. On the stage we will see Simple Minds, celebrating their thirty years since their first album. Stewart Copeland, the incredible drummer from super group The Police will play along with La Notte Della Taranta. In the afternoon the city will be more alive than ever with music and dance. There are also many artists from the Puglia region living in Milan, who will attend the festival.

The night concerts are spectacular too. Great singers such as James Taylor, Steely Dan, Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, and George Benson, one of the best guitarists in the world, will delight the audience.

The last confirmation of the festival is that of Buena Vista Social Club band, one of the best orchestras in the world. They will play on the Arena Cívica stage on 12th July. MJF is not just a simple music festival but something much more real that involves the whole city and immerses it in culture. This allows the spreading of a feeling of unity and artistic culture through the music.

What are you waiting for? Rent the best Apartments in Milan and enjoy a spectacular time at the Milano Jazz Festival.

via milanapartments.me

Sala Montjuic – Cinema Montjuic | Apartments Blog

Check the program! On June 29th for five weeks, the cinema opens its doors at Montjuic. The institution, which celebrates its 7th anniversary this year, is offering once again a very eclectic program from the cult Hitchcock movie The Birds, Almodovar’s Volver through Fatih Akin’s film The Other Side, which won the Award for the Best Screenplay at Cannes in 2007.

But this cinema is like no other because you have to bring your picnic and something to sit on: this is an open air cinema! In fact, this event every summer enjoyed by all the residents and tourists in Barcelona was the idea of 3 friends who wanted to import the concept already established in France (Festival de Cine Open Air in the Parc de la Villette in Paris) and reproduce it here. But the event has another dimension thanks to the famous park on Montjuic. At the top of the mount at the foot of the XVII century fortress that dominates the city, a giant screen is installed. This isn’t a cinema surrounded by walls. You are lying on the lawn; over your head is the huge starry sky and facing the giant screen which is projecting a selection of movies for all tastes.

And for the same price, you can also attend a concert before each session. The place is so spacious that a stage is setup so that many groups of all styles can come and perform. This year the program is brimming with performances from Mindblank jazz, Spanish rumba / rumba, guajira with Rumbaterapia, African music with Banan Kalo, flamenco-fusion with Triandó and country with Ricky Araiza Trio. Thus, before each film you will discover or rediscover unexpected musical talent, in a dizzying decor before an exceptional movie.

Another tradition of the Montjuic Cinema is that the viewer chooses what will be the film that will be scheduled on the last day of the festival. In fact, over the 5 weeks you can vote among 3 movies and the selected one will be presented to the public to celebrate the closure of the “cinema”. From June 29th to July 31st and for only 5 € per session, you can watch movies and concerts al fresco. A snack bar, deck chairs and all necessary amenities will be available for you to spend a great time relaxing at the events.

How can you resist this opportunity to experience cinema differently? Come and experience unforgettable emotions in a dream setting. Rent apartments in Barcelona at low cost and enjoy an excellent soiree with friends at the open-air cinema.

via blogonlyapartments.com

Trastevere in Rome | rome blog

Trastevere is the most special and charming neighbourhood of Rome. It was built on the right bank of the Tevere River, while the others appeared on the left bank, making it the main river port of the city (Porto di Ripa Grande). Trastevere has received people from everywhere: merchants, visitors from the peninsula and foreigners coming from the Alps. With plenty of beautiful cafes and markets, it has a vast network of narrow streets and a lovely main square, the Santa Maria Square.

This is a cosy neighbourhood, open to outside influences, but also a deeply traditional Roman place. Over the time, the Trastevere charm has not changed beyond the obvious social changes which have gradually modernized it due to the beautiful tourist restaurants, the pubs, the ethnic stores, alternative libraries or Cybercafés. Nonetheless, it still retains a large number of typical and traditional craft shops.

Apart from the Romans who have lived in this neighbourhood for several generations, rich people and intellectuals who live in large, expensive houses and many foreigners attracted by the charm of its streets have also moved in and made it their home.

Some of the most charming places are: the Santa Maria Church, the Santa Cecilia Church, the Santa Maria Della Scala Church, the San Pietro in Montorio Church and the Bramante’s Temple. It also highlights L’Isola Tiberina, the Gianicolo, where you can enjoy a splendid view of Rome and the L’Orto Botanico. There are many other incredible places: the Plaza Del Mercado de San Cosimato or the chaotic market of Porta Portese. One must also try the delicious Vicolo del Cinque cakes, or the De ‘Noantri folk festival held in August.

In Trastevere there are all kinds of people because there is place for everybody. The day changes leaving space for the Rome evenings. To have a drink is pleasant and cheap and there are excellent ice-cream parlours and crêperies!

Come to one of the most beautiful city in Italy! Trastevere in Rome is a charming place and of course rent apartments in Rome for the best in cheap and comfortable accommodation.

via romeapartments.me

New National Gallery Berlin – berlin art galleries | Berlin blog

The amazing city of Berlin is one of the most contemporary and innovative in Europe. In this charming town you’ll find everything you need for a perfect vacation. One of the most amazing attractions for visitors is its art. One of its artistic points of reference is the New National Gallery. The museum is housed in a building known as the “glass temple of light and was designed by Mies van der Rohe. Altogether there are more than 2,000 works of art and was inaugurated in 1968.

The New National Gallery in Berlin houses a collection of European painting and sculpture of the twentieth century. Inside you can find paintings by famous painters such as Munch, Picasso, Klee, Kirchner and Dalí. One of the most representative works of the collection is the Potsdamer Platz, a representation of the nightlife of Berlin, founded in 1914 by Kirchner.

The permanent collection displays a series of works of the twentieth century, including cubism, expressionism, surrealism and the Bauhaus. This is an exhibition of works that represent different expressions and feelings that are reflected in each work. There are artists of great calibre like; Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Otto Mueller, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, Erich Heckel and Emil Nolde.

The stunning gallery soon became extremely popular, not only in Germany but throughout the world as a symbol of modern architecture. Mies van der Rohe created an open space of soft light which is both universal and unique, allowing each exhibition to become exciting event in its own right.

If you want to get to know German art better, especially the period that goes back to the reunification of Germany, come and discover it. The art of the German Democratic Republic is currently represented in the New National Gallery, which houses the largest collection in the country. This beautiful exhibition reflects the spectrum of artistic creation from East Germany until 1989 and along with central figures like Tübke Werner, Bernhard Heisig and Wolfgang Mattheuer, there are also works of art and ideas of other artists such as Harald Metzkes, Libuda Werner and Walter Stötzer.

If you want to know the city of Berlin better and visit The New National Gallery, why not rent apartments in Berlin?

via berlinapartments.me

Barcelona Grec festival 2009 – Grec festival in Barcelona | Apartments Blog

The Grec Festival is probably the most popular and transcendent cultural festival of Barcelona. Specialized in music, dance and theatre, the Grec Festival has been taking place every year since 1976. This edition focuses on the renovation and expansion of the program with the presentation of up to 66 shows.

On June 20th the 33rd edition of the Summer Grec Festival 09 starts and will extend until August 2nd. This festival brings together the best acts on the national and the international scene. The Grec takes its name from the early editions, when it was held at the Grec Theatre (Greek Theatre) in Montjuic. Nowadays, besides in the Grec Theatre, the festival develops in diverse stages, as the Teatre Lliure the Mercat de les Flors, the Teatre Ovidi Monitor or the Centro de Cultura Contemporánea de Barcelona (CCCB), among others. It also holds outdoor activities in the Plaza del Rey or in the Grec Gardens.

This year Italy is the guest country and it will become the festival’s backbone with the ‘The Divine Comedy’ trilogy by Romeo Castellucci. In addition, theatre and dance will become important again, opposed to music, as in its beginnings.

In the opening a circus show will delight the public with the representation El jardín de las estrellas (The Garden of Stars). Besides the presence of Italy, with 19 productions, this year the festival will focus on the co-productions like Edipo, una trilogía (Oedipus, a trilogy) or Don Carlos (Mr. Carlos). The star show will be La guerra de los hijos de la luz contra los hijos de las tinieblas (The War of the sons of light against the sons of darkness), a co production with the d’Avignon Festival and the Athens Festival, by Amos Gitai.

Meanwhile, regarding dance, there will be such spectacles as Entity, of the Random Dance Company under the direction of the famous English choreographer Wayne McGregor; H3, by the Grupo da Rua Company, La naturaleza delle cose (The think nature) or Eonnagata, by the dancer Sylvie Guillem, the theatre director Robert Lepage and the choreographer Russell Maliphant…

Despite the reduced supply of music this year, it will continue to be an elementary part of the program, as it has become customary at the festival. These are some of the most outstanding concerts: the singer Vinicio Capossela, the Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca, the Algerian singer Khaled with its rai music, the Argentinean composer and singer Sofía Rei Koutsovitis or the hip-hop singer la Mala Rodríguez & Refree, among others.

This year the Grec Festival has adjusted to the crisis and reduced the ticket prices. This way, the unemployed and people over 65 years old will enjoy a 25% discount, while the owners of a library card will enjoy a 20% discount. People under 25 years old will pay a fixed price of 10€ and families and children under 16 years old a fixed price of 8€. Furthermore, the activities of La Caldera, Barcelona Libraries and the ones coinciding with La Nit de Montjuïc are totally free.

Don’t miss the most authentic festival of the Catalan city of Barcelona. Rent Apartments in Barcelona and discover why it is the favourite holiday destination for millions of people.

via blogonlyapartments.com

Berlin Gay Pride – Christopher Street Day Berlin | Apartments Blog

In the past two decades following the reunification of Germany, Berlin’s cultural diversity has made it the capital of the gay world and a very popular holiday destination among the collective. As the eclectic and tolerant city it is, Berlin hosts one of the most important and symbolic Gay Pride Festivals of Europe.

The Berlin Gay Pride, better known as Christopher Street Day, is held at the end of June (June 27th, 2009), coinciding with other notable Gay Pride Celebrations such as the New York Gay Pride, the San Francisco Gay Pride, the Paris Gay Pride , the Madrid Gay Pride along with other cities around the world.

In addition, during the weekend before the Pride parade, Berlin will host the annual Lesbisch-Schwules Stadtfest festival, turning it into the Europe’s longest gay event. So, from June 20th the German capital will be the centre of the gay cause.

The Gay Pride will take place in the Berlin’s popular gay district of Schöneberg. The heart of the LBGT movement, the Nollendorfplatz will be the scene of celebrations for both weekends (19th – 21st) and 26th and 28th respectively.

The Gay Pride Parade, which holds its 31st edition, will move through the Schoneburg area. It will begin at noon on the corner of Kurfurstendamn and Knesebeckstrasse and it will continue through Wittenbergplatz and Nollendorfplatz. Then it will turn left at Bülowstrasse and will go on along Potsdamerstrasse and Potsdamerplatz. After, it will continue till the Brandenburg Gate where it will turn west and go through the famous Tiergarten Park and directly to the Victory Column (Siegessäule). Once there, a very proud festival will be held.

The Christopher Street Day is celebrated in memory of the first major rebellion of the attacks against homosexuals by the police in Greenwich Village (New York, USA) on June 27th, 1969. The so-called Stonewall riots occurred at the Stonewall Inn bar. This way, the first German CSD was held in Bremen and Berlin in 1979.

You can’t miss this amazing gay festival of  the Berlin gay pride! Rent Apartments in Berlin and enjoy good, cheap, and gay-friendly accommodation.

via blogonlyapartments.com

budapest shopping | Apartments in Hungary

What kind of shopping do you like? Do you prefer the major shopping centres, or are you a fan of markets? In Budapest you can find whatever you like, especially souvenirs on stalls along the banks of the river Danube. But the large covered markets of Budapest, such as the one near Vorosmarty Square also deserve to be visited.

I imagine that you like to shop around, when you are in a new town; here it is possible, too. After seeing the beautiful monuments of Budapest, you can relax buying some special souvenirs to remember your trip. In Budapest the shops are usually open around 10:00, while the closing time is around 20:00. Sundays are usually closed, except for those that are in special tourist areas.

From Vorosmarty Square the major shopping streets of Budapest begin: Vaci UCTA is full of luxury shops. In November 2007 a large shopping centre was opened in which you can find stores like H & M and New Yorker etc. At the northern end of the road you will find the famous Café Gerbeaud Confetteria and at the southern end a very big Market. The road is not very long and can be very nice to take a relaxing walk along. There are other shops specializing in Hungarian and African crafts and still other shops that specialize in Russian cuisine, but these tend to be a bit more expensive.

There are many shopping centres such as the WestEnd Shopping Centre, near Nyugati square.This is very large and has some impressive architecture. The Mammut Buda is another mandatory stop, the shops here are very elegant and refined such as the bar Mirò café or the Duna City Centre.

How can we forget the Nagyvasarcsarno near the Danube River? This is the largest indoor market in Budapest and is spread over three floors: on the ground floor there is an exhibition of peppers from which we get paprika. The smell is wonderful and here they also sell the typical Hungarian sausages along with typical bread and cakes. The upper floor is reserved for Hungarian crafts, and there is a fast-food restaurant where you can enjoy an excellent goulash. But if you are looking for non-tourist places, the covered market square Racokzi is perfect for you and you will find that this is where the citizens of Budapest usually spend their time. The other covered markets in the city are close to the Parliament, the market square Hunyadi, Klauzal square, the Jewish quarter and close to Batthiany square.

Why you not book your summer holidays to Budapest? Rent apartments in Budapest as they are comfortable, economical and above all you can choose the one you like. What are you waiting for? Fly to this fantastic city of culture, art and so much more.

via budapestapartments.me

Fête de la Musique: Fête in Berlin | Berlin blog

If you think about the big music festivals nowadays, you’ll no doubt know the positive advantages. But if you think about them in detail, then you’ll see that most of the festivals are limited to only one kind of music style. They offer you rock or jazz, hip hop or electro…but a mix of all styles seems to be impossible. But don’t be sad! You only have to go to Berlin and discover the Fête de la Musique 2009, a spectacular trip through all kinds of music styles!

So go ahead! Take your calendar and mark the 21st of June, because on this special day you should be in Berlin, one of the best European capitals and you’ll be part of a real music spectacular. This is the day the 15th edition of the Fête de la Musique 2009 in Berlin is held. So you can dive completely into the world of wonderful sounds and rhythms and forget about your problems of your daily life. In the German capital they will organize uncountable open air concerts, performances and shows in fantastic places and clubs of the city. Well, if I tell you now that they offer you this music paradise gratis, don’t fall off your chair, ok?

From 16th on you can see uncountable live concerts of all different kinds of music styles, like jazz, hip-hop. pop, indie, ska, reggae, punk, folk, classic, etc., on more than 76 stages which you will find in all the fantastic districts of Berlin. From such a huge offering you shouldn’t miss the concerts of “Blue Wednesday”, an a-capella-jazzgroup who’ll give a concert in the Lichthof of the foreign office, as well as performances by “African Aspects” (afro, beat, afro jazz, zouk), “Red On Blue Duo” (pop, jazz), “der kartell” (groove-jazz)… Apart from this, the spectacular concerts of international singers and songwriters, like Egil Saebjörnsson (Iceland), Annika Ström (Sweden) or Asia Today (England), on the stages of the Schlossfreiheit in the district of Mitte will captivate you. The Centre Francais in Wedding will offer you a huge programme of rock, funk and chanson. Sit down, lay back, relax and enjoy the music of Caroline du Bled, Les Copains d´Abord.

The hip-hop music style will have a very exceptional role in this edition, because a lot of different cultural projects of Berlin Kreuzberg will give new talents the opportunity to be on stage and show the public their performances of hip-hop, breakdance, ska and streetdance.

There will be an amazing programme for all fans of indie music as well, like for example the RedBull Tourbus Festival in the Mauerpark. The Wasserroute will offer you concerts of house, techno and electro on various stages around the famous river Spree. It’s just perfect to dance and enjoy life.

If you are thinking of what you should do with your kids, don’t worry! Just take them with you. Even the little ones will have a great time at this festival, especially in all the workshops where they can make a lot of noise with all the different instruments.

If you still have enough energy after all those emotions during the day, well, go to the Fête de la Nuit. From 22:00p.m onwards they will organize a lot of concerts in clubs, bars and fantastic bars.

The idea of this festival, which took place for the first time in Paris, comes from the French minister of culture Jack Lang from the year of 1982. It has become one of the most important international events. The Fête de la Musique unifies millions of people in over 340 cities of the world, 60 from those are in Europe, and more than 20 in Germany. They organized this festival for the first time in Berlin in 1995. Since then, the festival is one of the most important parts of the cultural and musical scene in Germany’s capital.

It’s just the perfect opportunity to combine the festival with a trip to one of the most famous European capitals. Berlin offers you culture, history, music and everything you are dreaming of. Rent apartments in Berlin and discover the wonderful world of all kinds of music styles.

via berlinapartments.me

Leo and Bar both single again | The Word Monster

Today is our lucky day. Two of the most gorgeous stars of the Hollywood jet set are back on the market! The actor Leonardo DiCaprio has left his girlfriend, the Israeli model Bar Rafaeli. This is the third time the couple has decided to have a break, after she asked the actor for a more serious relationship.

It seems that DiCaprio panicked when Rafaeli suggested that they moved in together, as the magazine “People” reported. Although at the moment no one has ventured to speak of a definitive break, since this is the third time that the couple takes a time out.

Now many people understand why the model, who is only 23 years old, attended the 11th Annual Young Hollywood Awards in Los Angeles alone, where she refused to talk about DiCaprio. Meanwhile, the star of Titanic has been seen in a bar in New York talking with another woman the entire night – inappropriate behaviour for a man who has just come out of a serious relationship.

Last summer the couple suffered a similar crisis, spending their holidays separately. After spending some time reflecting on their relationship, they got back together again. Bar’s father has told his future son-in-law that he has to convert to Judaism if he wants to marry the model. Too much pressure for the boy?

Will America’s most eligible bachelor get back together again or is this maybe the definitive break?

via thewordmonster.com