Nuestras expectativas de Blanes

Esperábamos buen tiempo, amistades duraderas,comida buena, la playa y el mar; el estilo español! Todo era perfecto y incluso mejór que nuestras expectativas. Nos hizo mucha ilusión veros y tuvimos suerte con el clima. El mejór nos gustaba la playa!! Era un tiempo memorable :)

MISS YOU ALL!
Katrin, Chiara y Sophia

Hey guys! I'm Laia again and i'm going to explain some things of Catalonia. I'm also going to upload some videos about Catalonia history, tourism in Blanes, la Costa Brava and ''els castellers'', the last video in german.
First of all, let's see our history.

Republic and civil war

After the electoral victory of the left in the Spanish national elections of February 1936 came the July 1936 armed insurrection that led to the Spanish Civil War. The defeat of the initial military rebellion in Catalonia placed Catalonia firmly in the Republican camp. During the war, there were two rival powers in Catalonia: the de jure power of the Generalitat and the de facto power of the armed popular militias. Violent confrontations between the workers' parties culminated in the defeat of the CNT-FAI and POUM, against whom the PSUC unleashed strong repression. The local situation resolved itself progressively in favor of the Generalitat, but at the same time the Generalitat was losing its autonomous power within republican Spain.
The military forces of the Generalitat were concentrated on two fronts: Aragon and Majorca. The latter was an utter disaster. The Aragon front resisted firmly until 1937, when the occupation of Lérida and Balaguer destabilized it. Finally, Franco's troops broke the republican territory in two by occupying Vinaròs, isolating Catalonia from the rest of republican Spain. The defeat of the Republican armies in the Battle of the Ebro led in 1938 and 1939 to the occupation of Catalonia by Franco's forces, who abolished Catalan autonomy and brought in a dictatorial regime, which took strong measures against Catalan nationalism and Catalan culture. Only forty years later, after Franco's death (1975) and the adoption of a democratic constitution in Spain (1978), did Catalonia recover its autonomy and reconstitute the Generalitat (1979).

Franco's dictatorship

As in the rest of Spain, the Franco era (1939–1975) in Catalonia saw the annulment of democratic liberties, the prohibition and persecution of parties, the rise of thoroughgoing censorship, and the banning of all leftist institutions. In Catalonia, it also meant the annulment of the statute of autonomy, the banning of many specifically Catalan institutions, and the complete suppression of the Catalan-language press, although the publication of Catalan books was allowed from 1941. During the first years, all resistance was energetically suppressed, the prisons filled up with political prisoners, and thousands of Catalans went into exile. In addition, 4000 Catalans were executed between 1938 and 1953, among them the former president of the Generalitat Lluís Companys i Jover.

NOW YOU CAN WATCH THIS VIDEO ABOUT WHAT MEAN BEEN INDEPENDENT IN THE CASE OF CATALONIA (it's in English)

Here you've got another video about Catalonia :)



And now i'm going to explain some things about La Costa Brava.

The Costa Brava is a coastal region of northeastern Catalonia,in the comarques of Alt Empordà, Baix Empordà and Selva, in the province of Girona. Costa is the Catalan and Spanish word for 'coast', and Brava means 'rugged' or 'wild'. The Costa Brava stretches from Blanes, 60 km northeast of Barcelona, to the French border.

Small towns like Cadaqués, which is close to the French border and close to the foothills of the Pyrenees, have attracted artists, such as Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró and Pablo Picasso. The Dalí Theatre and Museum in Figueres is one of the most important and visited museums in Catalonia. One can also visit Dalí's House-Museum in Port Lligat, near Cadaqués and the Castle of Púbol in Púbol. The coast between Roses and Tossa de Mar has many delightful small coastal towns

Here you've got two videos, the first one is about Tourism in Blanes

.......and the second one is about La Costa Brava.

Finally i'm going to explain ''Els Castellers'' .

The castles are the human towers that build traditionally, since does more than two hundred years ('n find references already to the century XVIII), to the Countryside of Tarragona, and that afterwards extended to the Penedès, , and during the century XX for all Catalonia, north Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, especially from the years 80. A casteller is a person that forms part of a ‘’colla castellera’’, where take part tens or hundreds of people with l'aim of raising different human buildings, with no mechanical help, of diverse complexity and that have reached to have until ten flats of high. Since the 16 of November of 2010 the castles are Immaterial Cultural Heritage of the Mankind for the UNESCO .

Origin

In the ancient ‘’Dance of the Valencian’’, one of the that realized in the surroundings of the religious processions. These dances ended with a figure constituted by the raising of a human buildin.

Here i leave a video in German about ''Els Castellers''. You obviously be able to understand it better than me :D

Thanks for reading that, i hope you learn things you didn't know before. See you in a week !
Any questions... you know i'll be here, so..just ask! ^^

Laia , Sophia's partner

Topics of Germany, Spain and Catalonia. Pau Nualart

Normally, topics aren't true, but we have to live with them. I know some German topics. Like, that they like a lot drinking beer but, I think that Germans are very hard-workers too. The most famous Spanish topics are: that they are lazy and that they like bullfights. There are catalan topics too. The most famous topic about catalan is that we are mean. For sure that, the topics depends on the person. I'm sure that in Spain and Germany, there are mean people, and people who like beer, and people who are lazy too.

My Opinion...

Well, I've listened very few things about Germany, all I've listened is things about oktober fest, Frankfurts... I think that us (Spanish People) don't known enough about german people, I think that they're quite inteligent people, like Albert Einstein, I have german neigbours and they're very clean people, they're always cleaning the house, Beethoven was german too, My 2nd idol M. Schumacher,a great F1 pilot. I could continue mentioning great important german people, because there are lots. I've heard that they've got a very hard education sistem, and they're very polite people. When I go I'd just like to meet nice people and I think it's going to happen =)

Have a nice week ;D

Miquel R.A.

Fantastic Deutschland

Greetings to everyone !!! Now, I'm going to explain a little bit my opinion about this fantastic country, Germany. I know a lot of things about it, because I have read a lot and I have some friends which live there. The three best qualities of this country for me are : it is very traditional, the people is very friendly and there are fantastic places to visit and beautiful landscapes to contemplate. The most important traditions of Germany are the fairs, "kirschweig", the carnivals, the wine festivals, the christmas market, drinking beer, following the football and the music. There are also a lot of local festival which are typical for each city such as the Berlin Marathon or the most important, celebrated in Munich, the Oktoberfest, an enormous festivals with fairs, beer, music and tradition. The football has always been very important to the people as in England is. Most of the classic composers have been German, so, behind Austria, is the country of the music. I have always wanted to visit Germany, and my favourite attractives of this country are: visiting the Neuschwanstein castle, an imponent castle in the Black Forest, swinging in a carousel in the Oktoberfest, going to the Allianz Arena, home of Bayern München F.C., standing below the Branderburgen Tor, going to the Reischtag , skiing at Garmisch-Panterkirchen and contemplating the Rhine from a castle in the sorrounds.

For me, the best state in Germany is Bavaria, because it is the one with more tradition and with more places to visit. In brief, I expect a lot of this country and I hope it will be like this. Althought it is smaller than Spain, it has more population, riches and companies than us.

Hi!!!
I have never been in Germany but I have listened the topics for exsample the beer i hate it but as Laia Puig Has said this are only a topic!!
The frankufurts are one of my typical diush so, i hope that here in Germany I can eat the original !!!
Other things, but spanish things, the topics here are "botellón", "fiestas" or something like these but I don't think so.
Maybe the Germany teenagers are like Spanish teenagers.
I would like know more things about your favorite football team I only know " Bayern München"!!
So I want go to Eggenfelden I am really impatient!!!!

Kisses!!!
Júlia Gerez Brunet lena stumpf's Partner!!

Pau's opinion about German

I recognise that the german persons and the catalan persons are a bit diferent but a part of this, we know how to live our life.

We have a lot of diferent topics or traditions but I think that have diferent things are good because if all the countries have the same traditions, there will be only one country.

I see the germany persons a good friend and a persons who are extroverted. I think that they are a really relaxed persons and sometimes they don't be angry.

Also I see in the video that they are a very polite persons with the nature and they eat something diferent that the catalan food, but I also see that they like the beer.

I like her buildings, because there are important buildings, also there are particular nice houses with a beautiful garden and with a lot of colours.

In conclusion I like the German persons and her country.

Good bye !!!

How I see Germany & Germans :D

Hi, i'm Laia. I've been to Germany when i was a little child, but i can't remember many things from there. Althought i know i had a good time. I don't like frankfurts but i remember, for example, i was in a little town in a market, i ate ''Bratwurst'' and there were delicious. I also think German people like too much drinking beer, but i also think it's a topic, because not everyone has to like it. In that video they don't talk too much about traditions, they talk about a website called meet-the-germans where you can find information. So i visited this web and i discovered some things.
Germans have enthusiasm for summer barbecues and model railway sets. There also say that is possibly typical school dances and a concern for good etiquette. As Naila comment, there's also the Oktoberfest, that consist in drinking beer, but it was originally a horse-race. I found an opinion from how Bavarian people drink(i find it quite strange but anyway i put it here):
1.At the Oktoberfest at least, beer is a breakfast drink, more nutritious(claims the Bavarian) than muesli.
2.Faster than the Englishman, after the second drink, he feels the need to tell jokes to strangers.
3.The mood changes: he starts to complain about the Saupreiss"n (almost anybody north of Mainz) and the Sozis.
4.After the third litre the Bavarian becomes sentimental, feeling the urge to telephone his wife. Sometimes they argue, and he cries, alternating it with loud speeches praising the virtues of his wife.
5.It would be good to go home but he feels... sooo sleepy
There are also different dialects in Germany, as Bavarian, Saxon and Berlinish.
It's also a topic that German males are cars fanatics.
It also exist the “Bildungsbürger” that it's like the “middle class intellectual”. You can find them everywhere. In the theatre, mid-week, when no Englishman leaves his television set, you can hear serious analysis during the break. Because the German is not ashamed to be serious. And because theatres and opera houses are so well organised that you have time to talk, rather than fight for a glass of wine and a bretzel.
In that blog there are more things, but i'm not going to put all here.
I really want to know how Bavarians are, they traditions and behavior. And i also expected to have fun, meet people and discover new things.
Thanks,

Laia, Sophia's exchange partner ♥

typical german - naila

I've not heard many things about German but I know that in Germany is typical the sausages and frankfurts, I think that frankfurts are very tasty...
My exchange partner told me that in spring there is a holiday week called Gerner Dult, and the traditional dress is the Dirndel! And that on Christmas there is a market called Weihnaschtsmarkt.
In the video there aren't many things about German because it's not very long, but I'll know more things when I go to Germany :D 




naila

Ann's personal opinion.

Hi! I'm Ann.
The vidio is really good because in 3 minutes we can take a good idea of Germany. I think that the traditions are different between Spain and Germany so the truth is that i'm really nervious to meet Germany; and know the traditions, and the traditions that the young people do.
In the vidio I can see a beautiful building in Berlín so I think that we can study a lot of things: buildings, traditions, important places, museums ...
And if we go to Salsburg I think that we can learn more things about the music's stars(Mozart, Haydn...)
So we will draw a great deal from this trip!
SEE YOU SOON GUYS!

Mireia's personal opinion

When I see the video, I'm surprise because I've never been in Germany. The most things that I like more are the traditions. The only thing that I know from Germany is that the people like the beer. When we go there I want to see something traditional. I think that your country is very nice and I so excited for go there.

Laura's opinion about Germany

Well...I don't know about more thins to germany people. But I only want we'll find a lot of fantastic people, who can learn me the tradicionals things, and a lot places or curiositys about this country. I won't go with any idea about when I go, but I go really excited and happy, because I think I won't boring there.

Laia's opinion of germany

Hi!

The truth is that I didn't know many things of germany ... And with the video and more information I've learnt some traditions and more places. I like very much your christmas, because are more magicals than our Christmas!

I have some questions of your culture, as for example, which is your typical dish ?

When we will come, I would like visit Munich, and its spectaculars places! :) And for the rest, we'll be fantastic! :D

Laia Mateu.

Sofia's opinion about German

When I see this video, I'm surprise a little because there are a lot of things I didn't know about German. I see in the TV some programmes to talk abouts countries. One time I see German, and the people who live here explain the Oktoberfest. I like it so much because it's a beautiful and traditional celebration. Other thing I know about German people is that here they drink a lot of beer. When I'll go to German I'll like to learn more things about this place, its traditions and the people.

Att: Sofiia*

Expectativas

Deseo, que el cambio será una experiencia muy interesante. Quiero aprender mucho de la cultura española y ver el  "Camp Nuo". :-) 

Thoughts of Katrin, Chiara and Sophia about Spain

The video was very interesting for us, because we could see, what's typical for Spain!
We saw in the video, that usually there is good weather and much sun and heat.
Also the food looked really delicious, now we are really hungry :D
We hope we get enoguh food, so we will survive in Spain :D:D
We hope, too, that we get good friends and have a really nice time with you :)
What we like is the thing that you can linger outside also in the evening, because in Germany it gets cold at night!!

We'd like to see the beach and the sea and hopeful we can swim in the sea, too.
We're looking forward the excursions with you, maybe Barcelona and go shopping!!! :)

WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU <3>
Katrin, Chiara and Sophia

Typical Spanish/German

Dear all,

Let's start a new activity about how we see our neighbours. What do you think about people from the countries we’re going to visit, people who we are living with in a few months?

We suggest you to watch these two videos, one of them related to Spain and the other one to Germany:

Typical Spanish (in Spanish):

http://www.rtve.es/noticias/20100419/comando-actualidad-typical-spanish/328223.shtml

Typical German (in English):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x5Apqzo6aI

Pupils from Germany should comment first video (Typical Spanish) and Spanish pupils should comment second video (Typical German). What are you expecting about the country you are going to visit?

Hi!!!
I hope that you are Ok!!!!

my Christmas

On 25th December I celebrated the Christmas day with my family in my grandmum's house, with my cousins, aunts, my uncle, my mum, and my grandmum... and we gave the papers with the names of the persons who we should to make a present for the invisible friend... (some people gets presents on 25th, but I didn't get anything on this day).
On New Year's Eve I stayed with my mum at home and we ate twelve grapes (people say that if you do you'll have much luck on the next year). I am not very good eating a grape for each bell ringing because I must eat them very very fast and usually is impossible for me :D
On 6th January I celebrated the three wise men day with my family too (in my grandmum's house) and I get some presents, one of them, a parfume (I love it). This day we gave the gifts of the invisible friend and so. In the photo there is the 'pessebre' of Blanes.




naila :)

Hello people!

Now I explain you my Christmas holidays.

In Christmas Eve I have a dinner with my parents and my grandmother. This day people celebrate "Caga Tió", it is wood, and children took it and have presents.

In Christmas Day I have a normal putlock with my parents. Some people celebrate Santa Claus.

In New Year's Eve I went to my oncle's house, and have a funny dinner with all of my family. This night we ate 12 grapes.

In New Year's Day, 1st of January, I have a lunch with all of my family too.

Finally in day 6 of January, here we celebrate "the three kings", the people leave the presents in the three and children open it. The kids think that the three kings give them the presents.

In the photo you can see my Christmas Tree!

See you soon!!

BY: Sofiaa!

Merry Christmas for everybody. I hope that all of you had a good christmas. We finished the first week class and was also a little tired, but it must go it because...

Well, good bye.

I hope that you past fantastic holidays and I hope that sta.Claus give you a lot of presents.



Júlia Lena's partner

My Christmas

First we decorated the house.
With a Christmas tree and a ligts on a balcony.

At 24th day we celebrated the Christmas' Eve. We have dinner with all family.
At 25th day we celebrated Chirstmas. When we get up, found gift from San Nicolas. Then we went lunch with a friends and family.
At 26th we celebrated Saint Esteve, we went at my maternal grandparents and we have lunch with my maternal family.At New Year's Eve we celebrated on my house with my sister's boyfriend and his brother.

Then we celebrated the "reyes magos" day. 5th day there was a very beautiful ride about this day¡¡
The day 6th we found gifts again¡¡and went to dinner at house of my aunt.
Are a beautiful parties and I'm like a lot celebrated this¡¡

Laura, Sarah's partner

Hi!

The Christmas' holidays I celebrate with my family, you can see in the photo, but this photo is from last year. We celebrate "el Tió" on 24th December in my aunt's house to have dinner. On Christmas' day we go to my house to have lunch. On 31th December is "Fi d'any" and we go with our friends, and the next day we go to my aunt's house too. And now, we are on 5th January, and we celebrate "Els reis" and tomorrow we have a lot of presents.

In the other photo you can see our "Tió".

Hi!!
Here we celebrate "The Kings" and sometimes they give that sweets than you can see at the photo:
Then we eat a "Tortell" that is a kind of cake and inside there are a little king of porcelain and if you have it you are the king and there are a bean too and if you got it you have to pay the "Tortell"
Happy new Year !!!
Júlia Gerez Brunet!!!

Some tipical things...

One of the things that I like most of Chrismas is the "Pessebre", it explains the Jesus' born one of the special characters of the "Pessebre" is the "Caganer", people hide it and they hope that other people find it. The 24 we celebrate the "Cagatió" with child, it's a trunk with wooden sticks as legs, wearing a "Barretina" a Catalunya's typical hat, and covered with a blanket. The kids feed it with
fruit peel, then at night they kick it with sticks till they are singing a song, then they take out the blanket and there are some presents sometimes for the old people too. The 24 and the 25 people have lunch with their families. In Catalonia the 26 is "Sant Esteve" and people spend all the day with family too. The 31 I think everybody eats the 12 grapes each one in the last 12 seconds of the year: 1 grape/sec. People have dinner with their families. The 6 of Genuary we celebrate the "Reis", they go from house to house on their camels keeping what people have asked for in their letters, if they have had good behavior all the year. If they have had bad behavior they keep them sweet carbon.


Happy new year everybody! =) Have a nice 2011.