Fête des Géants and Goigs - Villefranche de Conflent, Pyrenees Orientales

Saturday 3rd - Sunday 4th April 2010 : Villefranche de Conflent, Pyrenees Orientales

Easter weekend in Villefranche is a bit of a treat. The « Goig dels ous de xocolat » sees musicans « Els Ministrils del Rosselló » parade through the streets with the ’geganters de Villefranche’ playing Catalan musical intruments and asking for chocolate eggs from the inhabitants of the town in exchange for their music.

A few days before the event, lists of music to be played will be posted into everyone’s letter box. Baskets of eggs on ropes lowered out of first floor windows are particularly appreciated! The procession of the giants or ’gégants’ through the streets of Villefranche is not to be missed.

For further details....READ MORE at ANGLOPHONE-DIRECT.com I'm reading: Fête des Géants and Goigs - Villefranche de Conflent, Pyrenees OrientalesTweet this!

La procession de la Sanch - Perpignan

Friday April 2nd 2010, 15h00 - 18h00.

Impressive, atmospheric, just a little frightening, the long black and red hooded and robed figures of the Procession de la Sanch march slowly through the streets of Perpignan to the solemn beat of black veiled tambourines.

The Procession de la Sanch, takes place every ’Vendredi Saint’, (Good Friday), opening the celebration of the Easter Holy week in Perpignan. For further details....READ MORE at ANGLOPHONE-DIRECT.com I'm reading: La procession de la Sanch - PerpignanTweet this!

New Routes at Girona airport !

Ryanair have announced that they will restart 7 routes from Girona airport for the summer season which had been suspended over the winter due to the worldwide recession.

In addition 4 new routes will start, 2 to France and 2 to Poland. Route details below :

Re-activated routes from Girona airport :

Ibiza, Newcastle, Hamburg, Lübeck, Perugia, Aarhus, Altenburg-Vasteras and Stockholm.

New routes from Girona airport :

Gdansk (Poland), starting on May 3, Kaunas (Lithuania, 4 May), Lille (France, 1 May) and Poitiers (France, 23 June). I'm reading: New Routes at Girona airport !Tweet this!

Tour de Cataluyna

March 22nd - March 28th 2010.

Check out cycling's third oldest race, the Tour de Cataluyna which is taking place all this week. Held for the 1st time in 1911, the Volta a Cataluyna is one of pro-cycling's top draws.

Stage details are :

Monday: Lloret de Mar - Lloret de Mar (individual time trial 3.6 km)

Tuesday: Salt - Banyoles (182.6 km)

Wednesday: La Vall d'En Bas - La Seu d'Urgell (185.9 km)

Thursday: Oliana - Asco (209.7 km)

Friday: Asco - Cabaces (181.2 km)

Saturday: El Vendrell - Barcelona (161.9 km)

Sunday: Esport Parc (Sant Cugat) - Circuit de Catalunya (117.8 km) I'm reading: Tour de CataluynaTweet this!

France is almost closed on March 23rd. Frogbus fares are almost free - ONLY 1 cent !

There is a nationwide strike in France on March the 23rd with most unions participating. Expect severe travel disruption and widespread unavailability of normal day to day services.

FROGBUS.com services will run as normal. In fact, FROGBUS.com have slashed fares for travel all day on Tuesday 23rd March to ONLY €0.01 (yes 1 cent!) e/w on its Girona airport - Perpignan line ! – click here to book your €0.01 fare now ! (Valid for online single bookings made before 5pm Monday 22nd March - Promotional tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged)

Escape the strike in France and hop to Spain for the day by snapping up a 1 cent FROGBUS.com fare. Travel to Barcelona, Girona or the Costa Brava coast as described on this page.

I'm reading: France is almost closed on March 23rd. Frogbus fares are almost free - ONLY 1 cent !Tweet this!

Les Angles ski resort : 30% off Pyrenees Skiing!

From Saturday 20th March until the end of the ski season (18th April) Les Angles ski resort is offering 30% off 6 day ski passes!

There has been incredible skiing this season in the Pyrenees ski resorts. After the huge dump of snow last week, Les Angles has 150 - 200cm of snow on its pistes!

Click here for Les Angles information. Don't forget, you can transfer from Girona or Perpignan airports to Les Angles/Font Romeu every Saturday with FROGBUS.com.

I'm reading: Les Angles ski resort : 30% off Pyrenees Skiing!Tweet this!

Happy St Patricks day from FROGBUS.com !

Lá Fhéile Pádraig shona díobh go léir!!

Some of the FROGBUS.com team are Irish and will be raising a glass to celebrate St Patricks day in the Pyrenees Orientales!

St Patricks day is not widely celebrated in French Catalonia, however Barcelona has a ten day Irish festival called EL FEILE. In 2010 EL FEILE presents a cultural ‘pica pica’ that includes music, dance, Gaelic Games, comedy, and cinema amongst other activities.

Click here for details on the 2010 EL FEILE programme in Barcelona.

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Girona airport celebrates 25 million Ryanair passengers

Girona airport and Ryanair recently celebrated a landmark passenger number.

Thirteen-month-old Archie Longley flying from Leeds Bradford Airport with his parents, became Ryanairs 25th millionth passenger at Girona airport!
The Longley family were presented with a holiday by Ryanair to celebrate the landmark number.

Read further details here. I'm reading: Girona airport celebrates 25 million Ryanair passengersTweet this!

St Patricks day in Toulouse

17th March 2010.

Celebrate St. Patricks day in Toulouse at De Danu Irish pub. According to their website they are throwing the biggest St. Patricks day party in Toulouse!

De Danu is owned and run by Trevor Brennan, former Stade Toulousain star and Irish rugby international.

For further details check out the De Danu website. I'm reading: St Patricks day in ToulouseTweet this!

Travel France - Barcelona

07h30 Thursday 11th March

Travel conditions in the Pyrenees Orientales and Girona province area remain difficult this morning with icy roads the main issue.

Frogbus services are running with only slight delays expected, allow plenty of time for your trip. Click here for real time traffic information. To follow flight progress on Ryanair's website - click here.

Don't forget, you don't need to be catching a flight to use Frogbus! Frogbus is the quickest, most frequent and cheapest way to travel France - Barcelona. Click here for details. I'm reading: Travel France - BarcelonaTweet this!

Travel in Girona province and the Pyrénées-Orientales

Wednesday 10th March : 08h30

Travel conditions remain difficult along the A9 motorway between Perpignan and the France/Spain border with delays possible - click here for real time traffic information.

Allow plenty of time for your trip. Frogbus will accept tickets from Monday/Tuesday on services today.

To follow flight progress on Ryanair's website - click here

For real time updates follow us on Twitter and Facebook I'm reading: Travel in Girona province and the Pyrénées-OrientalesTweet this!

FROGBUS services resumed from 14h30 today

After the snow in the Pyrenees Orientales, Frogbus is back on the road from 14h30 today - Girona airport resumes activity from midday - expect severe delays and please check Ryanair's updates online here I'm reading: FROGBUS services resumed from 14h30 todayTweet this!

Girona airport expected to re-open in the next hour

Update 11.30am Tuesday 9th March

To follow flight progress on Ryanair's website - click here

Expect severe flight disruption to continue for the rest of the day at Girona airport.

The A9/A7 autoroute is open again but there are long delays. For Autoroute information - click here

I'm reading: Girona airport expected to re-open in the next hourTweet this!

Girona airport - Perpignan : Travel update

Update : 8h30 Tuesday 9th March

Travel between Perpignan and Girona airport is impossible at the moment due to blocked roads. Girona airport remains closed this morning with no flights in or out at time of writing.

It seems likely that it will be towards midday at the earliest before the airport re-opens and travel between Perpignan and Girona is possible again.

For real time updates follow us on Twitter and Facebook I'm reading: Girona airport - Perpignan : Travel updateTweet this!

Pyrénées-Orientales & Cataluyna : Severe weather warning : Update

15h00 Monday 8th March

Due to exceptionally heavy snowfall in the Pyrénées-Orientales and Girona area, Frogbus services are suspended until further notice.

Girona airport is also closed until weather conditions improve, expected to be this evening at the absolute earliest.

For real time updates follow us on Twitter or Facebook I'm reading: Pyrénées-Orientales & Cataluyna : Severe weather warning : UpdateTweet this!

Pyrénées-Orientales : Severe weather warning

Sunday night 7th March - Monday 8th March

Météo France has issued an Orange weather alert for the Pyrénées-Orientales area (Sunday evening 7th March). Heavy snow is expected overnight Sunday and Monday morning.

Frogbus has snow chains and will be using them but if the forecast turns out as expected there is the possibility of weather related delays on the A9 motorway between Perpignan and Girona.

Click here for the latest weather forecast. Further updates will be issued in the morning. I'm reading: Pyrénées-Orientales : Severe weather warningTweet this!

FROGBUS Fridays - Offer closes midnight March 5th

REMINDER !

Snap up discounted tickets with FROGBUS Friday Fares until midnight Friday 5th March 2010.

Tickets available at ONLY €1, €3 and €5 each way for travel any Friday in March ! (Girona airport - Le Boulou - Perpignan).

Click here to read more. I'm reading: FROGBUS Fridays - Offer closes midnight March 5thTweet this!

TILT Festival 2010 : Perpignan

17th - 20th March 2010

El Mediator Perpignan presents the 8th annual TILT Festival with a host of concerts, DJ's, spectacles and other events scheduled during a packed weekend of music and theatre.

Programmes, ticketing and access details are available at the TILT Festival Perpignan website - (French only) I'm reading: TILT Festival 2010 : PerpignanTweet this!

Girona hosts Spanish Womens Open Golf Championship

The 2010 Spanish Women's Open Amateur Championship is being held this week at Club de Golf Platja de Pals in Girona. The top lady amateur golfers from countries all over Europe and beyond will compete to win this prestigious tournament.

The championship starts on Wednesday, 3rd March, 2010 and finishes with an 18-hole final on Sunday, 7th March 2010.

For contact and access details click here for the Golf Platja de Pals Girona website in English. I'm reading: Girona hosts Spanish Womens Open Golf ChampionshipTweet this!