Book about Hong Kong to be presented at the Ulyssus travel bookstore in Girona

Xavier Moret, author of the book "Días de Hong Kong" (Hong Kong days), will be presenting it on November 29th, 2013, at the renowned travel bookstore Llibreria Ulyssus in Girona. This book compiles the impressions of the author during a 2-month stay in the former British colony.

Right after the presentation of the book, Llibreria Ulyssus and the travel agency Viatges Viñolas are going to introduce their new partnership, through which they plan to organize further book presentations, talks, workshops and exhibitions for all the travelling fans. Llibreria Ulyssus and Viatges Viñolas can be found at the Cort Reial street, 3, in the old quarter of Girona.

[caption id="attachment_2779" align="aligncenter" width="231"] Inauguration of the partnership between Llibreria Ulyssus and Viatges Viñolas[/caption]

 

Taiwanese delegation visits Girona to learn from its touristic promotion

From http://bit.ly/1gX3nxp (in Catalan)

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="336"] Taiwanese delegation visits Girona to learn from its touristic promotion[/caption]

A group of 17 entrepreneurs and university professors from Taiwan have recently visited the city of Girona. Their main interest was to learn about the public-private cooperation on the promotion of touristic activities, specially on the business and conference sectors. This visit has been organized by the Barcelona office of the Taiwan Trade Center. They have been received by Ms. Marta Madrenas, Deputy Mayor of the city of Girona and in charge of the city's promotion. She has introduced the assets of Girona as an attractive destination for both family and conference tourism. Ms. Madrenas has stated that for the city of Girona it was very positive to hold this kind of meetings and has highlighted the "importance to meet groups of tourism professionals that later can spread the word about the city and recommend it once they are back in their home countries". She also mentioned the degree of interest shown by the Taiwanese delegation to learn from the Girona experience and remarked the efforts done by the city council "to promote the city as a touristic and cultural destination". The Taiwanese delegation ended up their stay in Girona visiting the Scientific and Technological Park.

Laketània Tours ready to bring Chinese tourists to Catalonia

From http://www.laketaniatours.com/ca/blog/laketania-tours-preparada-per-portar-turisme-xines-a-catalunya/ (in Catalan)

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="144"] Laketània Tours' Chinese Tourist Welcoming Quality Host certification (image from Laketània Tours website)[/caption]

Girona-based travel agency Laketània Tours has recently been awarded with the certification "Chinese Tourist Welcoming Quality Host" (欢迎中国游客优质服务商), a label that guarantees that its staff has the adequate knowledge to deal with Chinese tourists, taking into account their preferences and cultural expectations as well as adapting their products to fit their specific requirements. Laketània Tours is the first Catalan travel agency and the second one in Europe to obtain this certification.

赫罗纳的Laketània Tours已经获得“欢迎中国游客优质服务商”的认证。这项认证代表其工作人员具备足够的知识来接待中国游客，且重视他们的喜好和文化取向，并有能力提供合适的旅行规划以符合他们的特殊需求。Laketània Tours是第一个在加泰隆尼亚地区，同时也是第二个在欧洲地区通过这项认证的旅行社。

 

Girona's restaurant El Celler de Can Roca awarded as best restaurant in the world

[caption id="attachment_2919" align="aligncenter" width="283"] Jordi, Joan and Josep Roca, World's Best Restaurant in 2013 (image from El Celler de Can Roca website)[/caption]

After two consecutive years in the #2 position, as Girona residents we are proud to share the news that the local restaurant El Celler de Can Roca has achieved the top position in the 2013 edition of the competition The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, organized by the British food magazine Restaurant and sponsored by San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna. Congratulations for such an outstanding achievement!

Here's a sample of the pictures of our visit to the restaurant in July 2011.

[caption id="attachment_2157" align="aligncenter" width="300"] El Celler de Can Roca[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2160" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Josep Roca displaying his wine sanctuary in El Celler de Can Roca[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2158" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sampling the dishes of El Celler de Can Roca[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2159" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sampling the dishes of El Celler de Can Roca[/caption]

 

El Celler de Can Roca
Can Sunyer 48
17007 Girona
Phone number: +34 972 22 21 57
E-mail: restaurant@cellercanroca.com


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El Celler de Can Roca awarded as second best restaurant in the world for second consecutive year

From http://www.theworlds50best.com/awards/1-50-winners/el-celler-de-can-roca/ (in English)


[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="461"] The Roca brothers, owners of El Celler de Can Roca (image from the restaurant's website)[/caption]

Girona-based restaurant El Celler de Can Roca has maintained the #2 position already achieved last year in the ranking of best restaurants in the world, according to the website The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. With this distinction, the Catalan family-run restaurant, that also has three Michelin stars, remains on the elite of world's gastronomy. El Celler de Can Roca has been ranked right after restaurant Noma, from Denmark, which has remained on top of the list for third consecutive year.

Last year we were fortunate enough to taste their exquisite creations. Here there is a sample of what we were offered :-)

[gallery columns="4"]

 

A set of lifetime experiences in Costa Brava

Now, a recommended link!

Velvet Escape blog perfectly summarizes in a set of pics and a few lines what are the main unique experiences you can live when visiting Costa Brava. From the culinary excellence of El Celler de Can Roca and El Bulli to a skydive in Empuriabrava, a visit to the Dalí Museum in Figueres or Dalí's house in Portlligat, to a stroll in Girona's old city.

Go to Once in a lifetime experiences in Costa Brava to see all the fun those guys had and that you can also have!

But first get a taste of what the link has with these pictures of our own!

[caption id="attachment_616" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Medieval city of Besalú[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_619" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Santa Clotilde Gardens, Lloret de Mar[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_618" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Dalí Museum, Figueres[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_617" align="aligncenter" width="300"] View of Portlligat bay from Dalí's house in Cadaqués[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_621" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Girona by the Onyar river[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_620" align="aligncenter" width="300"] A beautiful corner in Girona's old city[/caption]

Slight decrease of unemployment in Catalonia in April

From http://www.expansion.com/2011/05/04/catalunya/1304506796.html (in Spanish)

Unemployment rate in Catalonia decreased by 1.59% in April as compared with the previous month due to the fact that 9.728 people found a job in this period. The main decrease happened in the Girona province (5.24%), followed by Tarragona (3.51%), Lleida (1.15%) and Barcelona (0.86%). Total number of unemployed people in Catalonia is 601.541, of which 54.064 are below 25 years old.

El Celler de Can Roca awarded as second best restaurant in the world

From http://www.acn.cat/acn/609884/Cultura/text/Celler-de-Can-Roca-El-Bulli-restaurant-Ferran-Adria-Restaurant-Magazine-Arzak.html (in Catalan)

Girona-based restaurant El Celler de Can Roca has climbed from #4 to #2 position in the ranking of best restaurants in the world, according to the website The World's 50 Best Restaurants. This distinction represents a new achivement for this Catalan family run restaurant after it was also recently awarded with the third Michelin star. El Celler de Can Roca has been ranked right after restaurant Noma, from Denmark, which has remained on top of the list for the second consecutive year. Joan Roca, chef of El Celler de Can Roca, has declared that this award represents a new international recognition for Catalan cuisine. After the success of Ferran Adrià and El Bulli in Roses, and the late Santi Santamaria and El racó de can Fabes in Sant Celoni among others, El Celler de Can Roca is definitely taking the relay as the present day leading resturant in Catalonia.

Enjoy your meal! Bon profit!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="596"] Welcome page at El Celler de Can Roca internet site[/caption]

 

Annual inflation rate in Catalonia – February 2011

From http://www.expansion.com/2011/03/11/catalunya/1299837637.html and http://www.ine.es/daco/daco42/daco421/ipcpro0211.pdf (in Spanish)

Inflation rate in Catalonia increased 0.1% in February and interannual values reached 3.6%, as well as in overall Spain. Among the four Catalan provinces, Girona had the highest increase (0.4%) and the highest rate (4.1%), followed by Lleida (0.3% and 3.8%), Tarragona (0.3% and 3.7%) and Barcelona (0.1% and 3.5%).