FREIXENET

Here we are in the world of bubbles,called Freixenet. The story of this cava producing place is very long and complicate and all the numbers are really impressive, I mean numbers about volume of production and part of market all over the world.

http://www.freixenet.es/default.asp?lang=3

It's is worth to see it.

Let's go to see what happens in basements 35 m under.

Untouched bottles from 1982.

Living in Catalunya I have learned a lot not only about wines but also about cava, and honestly I have never drank so much cava before as living here. It is a part of culture which you can not resist.

WORLD OF WINE OF PERE OLIVELLA

Another season of grape harvest is here. This time we are visiting one of wineries in our neighbourood Penedès called Pere Olivella Galimany. By the way whire grapeaps are always picked up first and then the red ones. Picking up of grapes starts in the begining of September and can finish in November for the late sorts. The hostess of winery is very hospital showing us all the cellars and explaining the process of making wine and cava (that they they mainly produce). So let's see that happens behind this door after picking up the grapes in all those huge fields around.



In these huge tanks is captured the juice of grapes in order cool the juice down to 16 gr. C and to add all the necessary components to make good wine or cava. That takes only one day, afterwards it gets filled in the bottles and brought down in the cellar. Depending of the kind of wine or cava follows its life down in the cellar. The cellar is created in a way not only to be used for storage of bottles but also as guide in a world of wine, allowing us to see some antic tools and unique collection of bottles of wine and cava. The oldest which I saw was from the beginning of 19th century. As this winery is 152 years old and is a business of a family, we could hear an interesting histories how has been developed the techniques of producing wine. Now is the 5th generation which is taking care of this winery.







Every box has a label with the description of wine on it and when it is going to be ready to follow it's way. The every bottle gets it's label and gets packed in boxes. 30 % of bottles produced in this winery get exported. Our visits ends with tasting some cava and buying some bottles of wine to know better this winery. I got a lot of positive emotions as this infinite world of wine and cava is a huge discovery and makes me feel more closer to the nature.

VISCA el BARCA

If you want to know something about real passion, you should be here (in Catalunya)) when some very important football games are happening. This time I am completely involved as it is European championship and plays BARCA and Manchester Unites. All the day people were talking just about the game which is giong to be in the evening. During the game the feeling was like everybody just breaths together during the game. If somebody wants to have an excursion in Barcelona having nobody out and having possibility to walk down the streets just on your own, this is a perfect moment for that. The happiness of people was more that huge then BARCA became a champions of Europe 2011. Celebration longed not only all the night but also some days afterwards. The most funny thing was that next day a lot of classmates in Nuria`s kinder garden came dressed in BARCAS costumes. All the nation got VERY united and level of happiness and pride was undescriptive, so many people were crying tears of happiness. I can agree with all those who say - BARCA is more than just a football team!

VIA VERDE

The biking adventure life continues, and this time we are a real team – I, Pol, Nuria, Ana, Holger and Noa. The choice went for Via Verde. What is Via verde you would wonder. That is a path which is done in a trace of old train rails, and can be used for biking or walking, goes through beautiful fields and countryside towns. The one we took started in Girona and went until sea town Sant Felliu del Gissuls, totally 40 km. For our luck the weather was cloudy and a bit cool, so we could enjoy the riding and discovering surroundings.

The station building.

Let me introduce you - this is a river. Growing up near Daugava, I see it quite strange. But this is how a lot of rivers are mainly in summer time. In return here is Mediterranean sea.

Deserved bears.

Another time I can say Catalunya is BEAUTIFUL, I love it every day more and more. We were lucky to see fields of blossoming poppies, apple and pear trees.

Coming back the girls were having really sweet dreams after having so much fun.

SANT JORDI

Sant Jordi day is all the lovers day in Catalunya hold in 23rd of April, when beside ''love is in the air'' sweethearts also exchange the presents. Woman gets the red rose and man a book.


There are markets of books and roses all over the city center. Everybody is out for a fiesta, streets are just overcrowded, all people are into it as they give a lot of importance to this day here.


Squears of city are the best places to enjoy the atmosphere of Sant Jordi. Usually in placa st. Jaume is the essence of this beautiful event.







Some cultural activities are hold, music and a lot of fun.


Being inside of a crowd, you allow yourself just flow, being involved in all the happening and to expirience.


SOLD OUT.

CALCOTADA IN MANRESA

February and March are the months when is happening a very interesting and joyful event in Catalunya called ''calcotada''. This was my first expirience of calcotada and I just loved it. What is calcotada? The name comes from word ''calcot'', what means young onion, therefore that is a party when a lot of friends come together to eat fried young onions. The best taste of calcots is if event is happening in countryside, when nature makes it to be very natural and real.


''Calcots'' are fried on a real fire thereforehaving a very natural taste.


Then they are waiting the correct moment to be eaten, as this is a party with a lot of other things like an aperatif, chatting and making the atmosphere.


And here they are, completely black and not looking being so tasty.


When all of us are around the table and the host says ''attake'' (lets start), everybody is just jumping into the adventure of calcots.


First thing is to clean the onion, it goes very smoothly and quickly.


Then just to dip it in a special sauce (where the main integrients are tomatos and almonds) and good appetite! The taste is fantastic and beside everything a lot of fun.


The onion thing is just a part of all the party, we had a great food and wine and jokes. And for sure the presence of the beautiful landscapes of Catalunya. Living here every time more and more I expirience that people know how to keep traditions alive, to celebrate and to shear the life. Thank you Ana and Jordi for so warm hospitality!