Fireworks In Lloret de Mar

Last night we went over to Lloret to see the fireworks display, which is held on the beach every year as part of the Santa Cristina Festival. The show lasted 20 mins and was bigger and better than ever!! Last night we were surprised that the display was accompanied by music, to which the fireworks seemed to dance about in the sky to!
We were watching from the cliff tops just above the beach and had a very good view. From there we could see what must have been thousands and thousands of people on the beach, roads and all around us. The road between Fenals and Lloret were completely blocked by cars and mopeds.
Here are the photos from last night put to a slide show with our own choice of music...hope you enjoy it !

Fireworks in Blanes.

This week in Blanes is the annual Fireworks Competition, with a different team taking part each night. These teams come from all over the world to compete.

Thousands of people gather to watch from all the best viewing points all over Blanes, so many in fact that the roads in and out are completely blocked.

The show starts at 10.30pm and last for about 30 mins. The local boat company's who run the daily resort trips, do special excursions to see the displays from out at sea.

Even in Lloret people can watch the display, even though it is a few kilometers down the road to Blanes. We went down to our local beach in Fenals from where we can see the coast at Blanes, and had quite a good view!

This slide show is the result of what we saw

Lloret de Mar Nightlife

Lloret de mar has got to be the nightlife capital of the Costa Brava, and with the height of the summer season here now after dark the streets are full of party goers looking for the best club. 

Queues are formed outside just about every music bar and club in town. Workers belonging to the best known clubs are on the streets giving out their free entry tickets and leaflets, but only if you fit their age group and dress code !

More photos of Lloret de Mar nightlife along with links to some of the best clubs can be found here - Lloret de mar Nightlife

Who Gave permission for this eye sore ?

Here we have another eyesore taking shape in Fenals ! Every-one I have spoken to about this building that is now well on the way to completion in Fenals say it is far too big for this area and can not understand how and why permission was granted for something so ugly !

Also its position is just across the road from the very popular Santa Clotilde gardens visited by tourists and locals alike!

It also spoils the view of residents who have paid hundreds of thousands of Euros for their apartments across the road. They used to look onto the woods which are just on the edge of the beach, but now have to look at this monstrosity

Lloret Clon Festival

Last Friday 11th July, the first of this years Lloret Clon Festival was again an excellent nights entertainment, this time from Dire Straits tribute band Sultans of Swing. They played none stop from 10.30pm until 12.30 am, and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone! This is now the 5th year and is a very popular event with all the locals and also the people here on holiday.

 

Lloret de Mar - Beach

With the Lloret de Mar weather being more settled these days holiday makers are out 'in force' on the beaches. The boats are doing a good trade ferrying people from one resort to another. Temperatures are now hitting the 30s, so after a very slow start to the summer season the sea temperatures are also as they should be for this time of year.

On Lloret beach there are plenty of activities to keep people of every age amused while here on holiday. Alongside the more energetic watersports such as the jet skis for hire and the water sking, para-sailing, banana boat and fly-fish there is the slower paced pedallos.
Sun-beds and para-sols are also available for hire if you just prefer to relax on the beach after a well earned rest!

Lloret de Mar - Clon Festival Dates

The dates & bands for the Lloret Clon Festival are as follows...

As said on the previous post Sultans of Swing will play the Clon Festival on 11th July. The next two dates are 25th July the Bob Marley tribute band 'Legend' will play. The band is from Birmingham, you can see their website HERE

The third band to play the Clon Festival this year is the Pink Floyd tribute band from Barcelona 'Crazy Diamond' which I think will be the most popular one judging by what people are saying in town at the moment!

They are playing 8th August, but to see the band in action before go to their page on MY SPACE

Lloret de Mar - Events

One of the most popular events in lloret de mar is the annual Clon Festival. This is where you can see tribute bands of some of the biggest names in music.
The event is free and takes place in the open air down on the sea front in Lloret near McDonalds.

Altogether there will be four nights of entertainment...

The first event takes place on Friday 11th July at 10.30pm, the band playing this night will be the Dire Straits tribute Sultans of Swing. The band are from Barcelona and here is a link to what they do ! Sultans of Swing.

Lloret de Mar - Innovation 2008

This week is the annual Innovation event held at Colossos here in Lloret. This event brings hundreds of clubbers into town so the hotels are having a busy time this week. To read more about this fun event click HERE

Lloret de Mar - Old Stuff

After recent emails the first of which was from John McGuire who worked here in Lloret back in the 70s, I have decided to start a new blog dedicated to the good old days of Lloret de Mar.

I never thought this would have created so much interest, so thanks to John for starting the ball rolling and sending photos which he has kindly given me permission to use. The first photo seen here is from the Prince of Wales back in the 70s. John is the twit with the beard at the front, sorry John but they were your words not mine !

Behind him to the right is Alan Hagger...who is still here and still making a nuisance of his self :-)

With the new blog I will be posting photos from 'days gone by' and if possible put old friends back in contact with each other.
Here is the link for Lloret de Mar old stuff

Lloret de Mar - Watersports

After the heavy downpours we have been subject to during the last few weeks, it now looks as though the summer beach activities are back in business.

Both Lloret and Fenals water sports centres are up and running for the season. Here is a short slide show showing them at work !

Lloret de Mar - Eating Out

Eating out in Lloret...you need never be stuck for somewhere to go. The famous fast food place McDonalds can be found at the opposite end to the castle right next to the beach!

Lloret de Mar - Fun on the Beach

With hardly a cloud in the sky today the beach was very busy with holiday makers making the most of the sun. Something we haven't seen much of just recently! The current temperature is 28º in the shade(4pm), just as it should be for this time of year. The Water Sports Centre in Fenals were doing a nice steady trade, but the three little girls above decided to bring their own to the beach!

Independence of the Seas - Barcelona

Here are the photos from Barcelona port which is where the Independence of the Seas docked last Wednesday 4th June. As I said in my previous post, we travelled down there on the Thursday when we heard the ship was in the port until that evening. The ship is the largest cruise liner in the world with a length of 1,112ft, 185ft wide and 237ft high. These photos do not do it justice at all, you have to see it for yourself to appreciate the size of it! Maybe you can see the men in the cages cleaning the sides of the balcony's. (click on the photo to enlarge it)

The ship was built in Finland and only made its maiden voyage last month in May.
I have found a very interesting piece about the liner in the Mail Online

There are more photos from a previous visit to the port including some of Voyager of the Seas a sister ship to the 'Independence'... click HERE for the post

Barcelona trip round the port

Yesterday we travelled down to Barcelona with some friends of ours (John and Karen) who are in Lloret on holiday for 2 weeks. We saw that there were 2 or 3 cruise ships in the port, so we got on the ferry which takes you on a 35 min tour round the cruisers for a closer look. The trip cost 5.50€ and was well worth it !

This cruise ship is the 'Aida Diva' and has 1,025 double occupancy cabins, so it carry 2,050 passengers as well as a crew of 646.
The ship is German based and is the first one of a €2 bn order of 6 which was delivered to Aida Cruise back in 2007.

If you would like to read more about this unusually decorated cruise ship click HERE.

(Watch this space for more photos from the port including the 'Independence of the Seas' )

The Rain in Spain !

Last Friday we had a good day day weather wise, the sun shone and the temperature got to 25c in the shade. Saturday was quite pleasant slightly cooler with a bit of cloud...today?? we are back to normal with the rain.
Just when we think that the weather is starting to improve the rain comes back! The same is forecast for tomorrow and possibly even more later in the week, so its not much fun for holidaymakers here this week.
To keep a check on the weather if you are planning a holiday in this area click HERE This forecast is for Barcelona but we do get very similar weather and temperatures.

Lloret de Mar - April- May

Here are the latest views of Lloret de Mar, taken during the last couple of months. The weather has still not settled down to what should be by now sunny almost everyday.
We are still having a lot of rain for some part of the day, but at least it is warm with no need for the heating on at home.

Airport Transfers to Lloret de Mar

Just recently I have had several emails asking for information about airport transfers from both Barcelona and Girona airports to Lloret de Mar. So here I will try to give as much info as possible along with links.

Arriving at Barcelona you have a choice of taxi, train or bus.
First of all a private taxi will cost about 150€ with your luggage etc, so its quite expensive. Journey time about 1hr depending on traffic.

Your next option is the train (approx every half hr) This is the cheapest but not easiest option. You travel as far as Blanes by train then by bus from there to Lloret, the bus waits for the train outside the station. The full cost of this journey was 5€ last year, so maybe just a few cents more now. Owing to the coastal route of train this journey can take 2 - 2 1/2hrs from airport to your hotel. Click HERE for times. (To return to this page click back.)
The train station is just over the road from the airport, reached via the footbridge. When you buy your ticket tell them you are going to Lloret de Mar as you can use this ticket for the bus part of the journey, but you will have to change trains at Barcelona Sants.

Another option both for Barcelona and Girona is Resorthoppa bookable on line. This is not a private transfer, you will have other stops along the way so again it could take 2hrs or more, but it is the easiest way for Barcelona as it could save you getting lost! The Barcelona fare is about 38€ return. Girona about 25€, with a transfer time of about 1hr depending on other pickups. Resorthoppa will drop you off and pick-up as close as possible to your hotel.
Also with a Girona flight there is an airport bus which runs to and from Lloret bus station, costs about 8€ but unfortunately does not run all that often, journey time 35mins, times can be found HERE This time table is valid till June.
A private taxi Girona - Lloret cost's about 48€.

No train service is available from Girona as Lloret does not have a train station.

Lloret de Mar Today

This morning the weather seemed warmer and more settled than it has for quite a while, so we decide to have a walk over to Boadella beach. So here are three very different shots from today.
The first one with people in the sea which I didnt expect to see, they are braver than me at this time of year!

Then the next shot, a lizard came out onto the rocks just next to us to soak up the sun.

The last photo is the sandy path leading down to the beach, quite a difficult walk down but much harder walking back!

Lloret de Mar, Bar Cala Banys

The bar with the best view in town has got to be the one tucked away in the rocks at Cala Banys.

A little bit difficult to reach owing to the rocky foot paths and steps but at least when you get there you can sit and have a nice relaxing drink.

Oh yes...I forgot to mention, although these photos weren't taken today its finally stopped raining !

The Rain in Spain.

Click on photos to enlarge.

These Pictures were taken today from our balcony at 4.30pm.
 

We had a bad day yesterday with the rain lasting all day, but this morning was much better.
Although cloudy it was still warm. Then all of a sudden the rain started again.

With the above picture we should be able to see the deep blue Med in between the buildings, but we cant see anything for the rain.

More rain is forecast for the next few days but it is needed badly as Spain is going trough its worst drought in 50yrs.

Lloret de Mar - Views

A change from the usual beach scenes usually associated with Lloret.

The top photo is looking over the country side towards the Monastery and Angle Golf course, and below is the foot path between Lloret and Fenals which brings you to the bar in the rocks at Cala Banys.

Party Night at Buzzby's !

CONGRATULATIONS ANN...

Click above to play.

To celebrate Ann's 50th birthday it was party night in Buzzbys last night. Many of her family and friends came from all over the UK to help her celebrate, and celebrate we did...until about 4am!

So I should think there's a few sore heads in Lloret this morning!!

Steve and Stan behind the bar did a great job keeping the booze flowing, and there was a fantastic selection of food all laid out on the pool table outside. So thanks to Steve and his army of sandwich makers for their hard work!

Lloret de Mar - Todays Weather

3 views from Fenals beach today.

Today has been the busiest day on the beach so far this year.

The current temperature (at 3pm) in the shade is 23c, and there's more to come tomorrow!