TAPAS TRAIL UPDATE

As you know the 11th to the 27th of February there was a tapas Trail round Cartagena.

I went down on the 26th evening with some friends and we had a great evening going round a few of the bars having some beers and tapas.

Thought you would like to see some of the pictures taken by Mike Frisbee who is a professional photographer, who has kindly let me put them on my blog  ( see details for him here http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/11/taking-better-pictures-of-your-property.html )

We started off at Carrot Real

and had what they called a breaded anchovy, This was one of our favourite tapas on the whole night.

Then we  had a walk through the streets

 and went up to one of my favourite bar / restaurants in Cartagena , Taperia de Casa Tomas ( to see my review on this place click here:
http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/07/taperia-casa-tomas-and-tapas.html )

Here we had something that was a little like a minature sunday dinner!

Next we went just over the square to la Trolla Tapas

and had a minature sandwich with wedges

The next place was a little walk but well worth it, I am definatly going to go back and try their restaurant menu as it was very busy and food looked great.

It was called CASON EL TIO ANDRES



You walked in and there was the bar area, the whole place was buzzing and round the bar were people having tapas and watching the football, the bar area was adorned with produce:

Then as you walked up a few stairs was the main eating area, where there was a Bull watching down one you

We had what was delicious and was like a sausage and onion and potato mash

We finished off in El Barril, which is always a very busy popular place with the locals, it is very conveniently located just up near roman ampitheatre

Here we had an aubergine tapa, which its looks do not do it justice as is very delish ;)

To see the locations of these click here and you can see the map and the bars

This trail you could do anytime and try any tapas in each bar, a great way of finding new places in Cartagena

http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2011/02/iv-tapas-trail-in-cartagena.html

A few more pics from the evening

CARNAVAL 2011 - CARTAGENA

Cartagena´s Carnaval started on Saturday 26th February 2011 and goes on till the 8th of March.

Lots going on as you will see from the programme below, which is now being done in english :)

The translation for parade though has somehow become "pasacaglia" !

The biggest parades are on the 5th and the 8th of March

and also noteworthy is the Childrens carnaval on the 6th of march

For a good description of the carnaval and some more info

See simply networkings entry on the carnaval:

http://www.simplynetworking.es/calida-5318-65-10-cartagena_carnaval_26th_february_to_8th_march.html



MEDIEVAL MARKET CARTAGENA

There will be a medieval Market in Cartagena from Friday 26th of November 2010 to Sunday 28th of November 2010, throughout the centre(old quarter) of Cartagena (see map below)

From 12 till 2pm and then from 6pm till 10pm

MORNINGS

12:00 - Parades
13:00 Animation with the jump of death and magic
14:00 The Devil and human pyramides

TIME FOR LUNCH- HEAD DOWN TO TAPERIA CASA TOMAS http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/07/taperia-casa-tomas-and-tapas.html

AFTERNOONS

18:00 Parades
19:00 The german wheel
20:00 Circus workshop
21:00 Music Concert
22:00 Fire and acrobatic spectacle



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Medieval Markets are great for all ages, and even Men and people who hate shopping enjoy them. Head down to Cartagena and enjoy.

JAZZ FESTIVAL CARTAGENA

Cartagena Jazz Festival started yesterday 5th of November and runs till the 21st of November. This year is their 30th anniversary of holding this event.

Sábado 06 Noviembre 2010 - Wayne Shorter & Maceo Parquer

Miércoles 10 Noviembre 2010 - Starlicker, Tortoise y Adasiewics

Jueves 11 Noviembre 2010 - Stacey Kent + Portico Quartet

Viernes 12 Noviembre 2010 - Sax Summit & María de Medeiros

Sábado 13 Noviembre 2010 - Howe Gelb & A Band Of Gypsies + Zenet

Jueves 18 Noviembre 2010 - Michel Camilo & Tomatito

Viernes 19 Noviembre 2010 - Macy Gray + David Saborn Trio

Sábado 20 Noviembre 2010 - Roberta Flack + Esperanza Spalding

Domingo 21 Noviembre 2010 - Eli Paperboy Reed

If you click on the flyer above it will take you to the cartagena jazz webpage where you can see more info on booking and concerts.

Enjoy

ARTESAN MARKET IN CARTAGENA FOR THE BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND

There will be an artesan market in Cartagena until Tuesday 12th October running over the bank holiday.

20 different stalls will be offering their produce.

It will be held in the Plaza San Juan

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From 11:00 till 14:00 and then from 17:00 to 21:00

There will also be workshops.

Monday will be a Glass Workshop
Tuesday will be a Framing workshop

Enjoy

GREAT TAPAS BATTLE TRAIL - GRAN BATALLA GASTRONOMICA MEDITERRANEO

Well....After the superb TAPAS TRAIL held over the audi med cup in Cartagena, they are holding another one :) and this one coincides with the ROMANS AND CARTHAGINIANS FESTIVAL !

I thoroughly enjoyed the last one and will definatly go down for this one. Its a little different this time as you need to vote.

Basically there are 36 bars and restaurants participating and they have taken a side, so 18 establishments are Roman and 18 are Carthaginian.

Each one has chosen a speciality tapa, which they will serve throughout the Battle which runs from the 17th - 27th September

Basically you follow the map, and pop into a participating bar (there will be a poster on the door showing the tapas).

Each Tapa plus a drink(wine,beer or soft drink) costs 2.50 euros. You can print off the map above and tapas below to get you started but all the bars will have the maps and tapas guide in them on the bars.

But, this twist with this Tapas trail is you should go to 6 establishments, 3 from the Roman side and 3 from the Cartaginian side, have a tapa, get your card stamped, then you can vote for the best tapa.

To see the tapas better than the pictures above, click here:
http://granbatallagastronomicadelmediterraneo.com/vota.php

The times for the tapas are from 11.30-4pm and then from 19:30-23:30

Once you have finished your trail, you need to fill in the form and hand it in to one of the places listed on the rules http://granbatallagastronomicadelmediterraneo.com/bases_concurso/BASES.pdf
One of these places is at the encapment of the Romans and Carthaginians at the stand 16
See here for info on The Romans and Carthaginians Festival
http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/09/carthagineses-and-romans.html

Enjoy...I know I will

CARTHAGINESES AND ROMANS

Cartagena holds the Carthaginians and Romans Festival from the 17th to the 26th of September. Throughout these 10 days, cartagena remembers its history through costume, battles, performances, fireworks,Ancient market

The lighting of a sacred fire traditionally inaugurates the festivities and on the final day this Fire is extinguished to mark the close of the festival with a firework display

To see the full programme - click here
http://www.cartaginesesyromanos.es/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=219&Itemid=294

To see a more in depth version of the programme and festivities take a look at Simply Networkings site http://www.simplynetworking.es/calida-3670-65-10-romans_and_carthaginians_cartagena_17th-_26th_september_full.html

I have just sumarized the most interesting for you below, but click the link above for the full programme.

Programme of Festivities - 2010

Friday 17th September 2010
20.00 .- Lighting of the sacred fire  -Plaza HH Cavite. Main Stage

20,00  - Parade of the legions and troups through the Historic Center
21,00 .- Town Crier at the Townhall
22,00.-  March towards the Encampment. Itinerary - Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Mayor, Puerta de Murcia, Carmen, Plaza de España, Alameda de San Antón, Soldado Rosique, puente Cartagonova al Campamento.
22,45 Horas.- Inauragaration of the Festivities at the Encampment.

Saturday 18th September 2010
The First of the 4 performances "FUNDACIÓN DE QUART-HADAST" . This starts at 19.30 and each act is held in a different location. See full programme for exact locations

Sunday 19th September 2010

12,30 .- CHILDREN´S PARTY - Plaza del Ayuntamiento (Townhall square)

Monday 20th September 2010
21,00 .- THE WEDDING OF ANÍBAL AND HIMILCE - Plaza HH. Cavite. Principal Stage

Tuesday 21st September 2010
21,00 .- ORÁCALE OF THE GODDESS TANIT - Plaza HH. Cavite. Principal Stage
24,00 .- CARTHAGINESES GAMES - The Festival Encampment.

Wedenesday 22nd September  2010
21:00 .- ACT IN HONOUR OF EMILIA PAULA
22:30 .- LUDIS ROMANIS
23:30 .- FERIAE LATINO - The Festival Encampment

Thursday 23rd September 2010
13,00 .- Opening of the Ancient Market  - Parque Municipal Vallejo Alberol

21,00 Horas.- MARCH OF HANÍBAL TO ROME - ItinerarY: Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Mayor, Puerta de Murcia, Carmen, Plaza de España, Alameda de San Antón, Soldado Rosique, puente Cartagonova al Campamento.

Friday 24th September 2010

11,00 .- SEA BATTLE - Port OF Cartagena
17,30 .- DESEMBARMENT OF THE ROMAN ARMY - Port of Cartagena
18,30 .- GREAT BATTLE TO TAKE QUART-HADAST - Cuesta del Batel
21,00 .- GREAT VICTORY PARADE - Itinerary: Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Mayor, Puerta de Murcia, Carmen, Plaza de España, Alameda de San Antón, Soldado Rosique, puente Cartagonova al Campamento.

Saturday 25th September 2010

11,30 .- IV CONCENTRATIÓN OF “MINIS” - Plaza HH. Cavite.
13,30 .- HOMAGE TO THE FALLEN ROMANS IN BATTLE - Monumento Funerario. Torreciega
19,00 .- GREAT PARADE OF TROUPS AND LEGIONS- Itinerary: Calle Esparta, Paseo Alfonso XIII, Plaza de España, Alameda de San Antón, Soldado Rosique, Puente Cartagonova al campamento.

Sunday 26th September 2010
23,00  EXTINGUISHING THE SACRED FIRE - Festival Encampment
24,00 .- HUGE FIREWORK DISPLAY - From the mount “Atalaya” - so that the whole city can enjoy it.

The encampment is located next to the Football Stadium in Cartagena


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TAPAS TRAIL UPDATE

Well, we went down on Sunday to try the Tapas Trail (in the interests of keeping you informed of course!) And what a superb idea, loved it. Unfortunatly it was Sunday and some of the bars were closed. See my blog earlier for more info running from 20th August to 29th August, alongside the Audi Med Cup Regatta.
http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/08/audi-med-cup-and-tapas-route.html
You can print off the trail below by clicking one of the pics which will take you to the page.



As you can see each bar and tapa is numbered and this correlates to the map. Once you go into the first bar, you can pick up a proper smaller version.

We started at Number 18 - El Barril del Tapeo. And I must say this was my favourite, due to the food, ambience, and decor.

Located just down from the roman ampitheatre, this is a picture taken from the door to the ampitheatre (above)
A Place I would have never have found, had I not gone on the trail.
Busy with local people and service was great. The bar was laden with Tapas.
An amazing looking coffee machine!
These were the best Tapas we had, aubergine slices which were sandwiched with a tuna mayo filling and gratine on top! And a couple of beers to wash it down! all for 5 euros (2.50 each! I couldn´t reccomend this place highly enough. And will go back again and again.

Our next stop was number 16 which is "La Vieja Taberna"

Where we had a Meat and vegetable croquette on top of a carrot puree with cherry toms.

We did gobble this one down too quickly that I had forgotten to foto it! So asked lady next door and she kindly held hers up to foto!

Just along from this was the number 17 - restaurante Casino. But we decided not to have one in here, as needed a walk first.

So we continued on and ended up in Restaurante La Marquesita, which was just simply gorgeous,
Here we had a cannelloni filled with duck confit and mushrooms in an almost sweet and sour sauce.

This was a restuarant and not a tapas place, but very very nice and quaint, the food coming out to the diners looked sublime and extremely well presented. I will definatly go back and try their restaurant menu next time I am in Cartagena, service was great and friendly.

We continued on, but by now were actually not that hungry, so spent a while walking the streets staring upwards at Cartagena bulidings because they are incredible
Churches and the most fascinating buildings!
We walked by number 4 "Cerveceria Azafran" which unfortunatly was closed on a sunday.

Other wise I reckon we could have been tempted into another! As each participating place has a Poster in the door with the Tapa on it and check this one out!

Yummy looking or what!

I Have also been reccomended EL PINCHO DEL CASTILLO (number 34) and BARRIO DE SAN ROQUE (number 6) but unfortunatly both were closed on Sunday. So I will have to go back and try them.

This trail runs alongside the Audi Med Cup Regatta where there are also loads of concerts, parades, kids entertainment on, I have added pictures of the Village area to the Earlier blog post

http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/08/audi-med-cup-and-tapas-route.html