Barcelona Clubs Heed Haiti Call: Barcelona for Haiti Group
BY PROJECTRAVEL
Barcelona Clubs have grouped together to help the people of Haiti. As we are all aware by now the earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter Scale struck the Carribean Island Causing devastating damage, and killing thousands of people.
In an effort to help those affected by the quake Barcelona nightclub owners, led by Grupo Foc together commited to donating the 10% of their turnover for January 20th towards Haiti Aid. Grupo Foc, the concept creators have also pledged to donate € 1 for each person who becomes a member of the Barcelona for Haiti Group and comes out on the 20th to support the cause. As such, if you’re in BCNa and have a Facebook account, please join, and please help.
As of Saturday, the 16th of January 2009, the following nightclubs have committed to the aid movement for the 20th.
They Include, Foc, Gran Foc, Shoko, Magnolia, Q-Bar, and Bar 15.
Taking the call of this initiative, Plain White Paper, Limited, our publisher and that of F3Fundit has decided to donate 5% of it’s revenues from the 20th of January to the ICRC.
So if you’re in Barcelona this coming week, we urge you to go out and support this noble cause. All the same, please consider donating to any of the following organizations.
1. UNICEF has opened donations specifically for those affected by the quake. For more information, please click here.
2. The ICRC and the Red Cross were one of the first non governmental organizations to extend aid to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. The ICRC has also been working in Haiti without interruption since 1994 and their long standing presence in the country makes it one of the top options for donation.
3. Intermon Oxfam has always been at the forefront of Global Aid, and you can donate to their operation for Haitian relief in various international currencies by clicking here.
4. Like most other major aid organizations the Mercy Corps has developed a site specifically for the Earthquake victims, the donation page can be located by clicking here.
5. Wyclef Jean’s Yéle Haiti Organization is another organization that is collecting public money in order to bring aid into the country; for Earthquake Specific Donations – please click here.
Haiti Earthquake Relief – Help the Victims by Donating Aid Today
BY PROJECTRAVEL
As many of you know Haiti was recently hit by a 7.0 Magnitude Earthquake and we feel a Social Responsibility to the three million affected souls to help spread the word on how we can help the people in this, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, the people of this Caribbean country need outside help now more than ever. So please consider donating, we know it’s tough out there for everyone at the moment, but every £, €, $ helps.
1. Considering that children are the most vulnerable population in any natural disaster UNICEF has opened donations specifically for those affected by the quake. For more information, please click here.
2. The ICRC and the Red Cross were one of the first non governmental organizations to extend aid to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. The ICRC has also been working in Haiti without interruption since 1994 and their long standing presence in the country makes it one of the top options for donation.
3. Intermon Oxfam has always been at the forefront of Global Aid, and you can donate to their operation for Haitian relief in various international currencies by clicking here.
4. Like most other major aid organizations the Mercy Corps has developed a site specifically for the Earthquake victims, the donation page can be located by clicking here.
5. Wyclef Jean’s Yéle Haiti Organization is another organization that is collecting public money in order to bring aid into the country; for Earthquake Specific Donations – please click here.
What makes this tragedy even more upsetting is that the Haitian government after years of coups and turmoil had taken prominent step towards stabilizing this country on the island in Hispañola, and had attempted to reinstate a proper democratic government, curb drug trafficking from South America, and forecasts indicated that one of the poorest countries in the world had the worst behind it.
With this quake all the work that had been put into the stabilization of Haiti has been effectively rendered moot.
For more information on Haiti, please head over to the country’s Wikipedia page.
A-List Adventures – Arctic Marathons
- Images by Polar Running Adventures
In this week’s A-List Adventure, we take you from the blistering sun of the Sahara to the Earth’s Polar Regions for a bit of a run, and by run we mean a marathon.
Founded in 2002 by Richard Donovan, Polar Running Adventures gives runners the possibility of partaking in two distinct Arctic marathons, the Annual North Pole Marathon running since 2003 and the Antarctic Ice Marathon following suit a few years later.
For obvious reasons each marathon takes place during the hemisphere’s summer months – but that is not to say that the marathon runner can expect warm temperatures. Weather conditions are often windy and the air temperate fluctuates between -10 F (14 F) to -20 C (-4 F), and a marathon low of -37 C (-34.6 F) runners can expect a bone chilling experience.
If you do decide to embark on this type of adventure, there are a couple of things that you must take into consideration, the underfoot conditions are not those of say the New York Marathon, and while the arctic regions are still thankfully free from potholes, other risks are most definitely there. These include soft and loose snow, ice, deep snow, as well as uneven and unpredictable surfaces. For those who have ran marathons you’ll know that setting a rhythm is key, this is difficult to accomplish in arctic terrain.
Notwithstanding, should you opt out for the Antarctic race, which is also the only footrace within the Antarctic Circle, you’ll also have the chance to participate in the 100K instead of the marathon.
That said, to participate in this competition – like near anything that has to do with arctic tourism, it’s not cheap.
The Antarctic race will set you back a whopping 11,000 € (£9,800 / $16,500 US) and the North Pole Race is even more expensive at 11,900 € (£10,600 / $17,800 US). Now mind you, if you just want an arctic expedition there are much cheaper options out there, but if you want to push yourself, and tell your friends and family that you’ve ran a marathon in the polar regions, this is the way to do it.
Either way, twenty-four hour daylight, cold, and the adrenalin rush of pitting yourself against other die hard runners and nature will inevitably be worth it.
For more information on the runs – click the appropriate links – Arctic Run – Antarctic Run
Additionally, we would like to add that Polar Running Adventures is an environmentally conscious operator, making sure that each get away is effectively carbon neutral, well done.
A-List Adventures – The Great African Run
Starting this week – we will be bringing you an all new ten week Adventure Series called A-List Adventures. We’ll be picking ten trips that will be sure to get you telling stories of what transpired until your golden years, and if you’re one of the lucky few to go on any of these trips – well… we assume your grandkids will thank you one day.
That being said, we start of this week’s A-List Adventure with the Budapest-Bamako Rally. Up to 100 teams compete in the rally whose guiding principle is simply: Anyone, By Anything, In Any Way. To add to the whole trip, the rally is not only a touring competition but also a charitable event, where each team is encouraged to bring direct aid, or volunteer in a local development project – meaning your adventure doesn’t necessarily has to stop after you’ve completed the run.
Originally styled on the concept of the Paris-Dakar, which offered its early participants a sense of adventure, and a certain romance of Africa, the Budapest-Bamako is sure to satisfy the most jaded of adventurers, and with Dakar’s departure from Africa in 2008 it’s the only thing of this sort you can get involved in.
The rally offers two types of driving categories, the Racing category for those looking to test their wits against the desert, and an Adventure category for those adventurers who are more interested in the cultural aspects of the regions that the run passes through. It should also be noted that the race version of the run is also more expensive.
Don’t worry though, the run won’t clean you out, Budapest-Bamako is cheap in comparison to say the Dakar, at most it will set you back €1600 + 550 for each person, compare that to the minimum €12800 for its north African predecessor, it’s a bargain.
TOP TIPS
- Typically the run takes place in from the 2nd week of January and runs on average 14 days.
- Contestants pass through the following countries – Hungary, Slovenia or Austria, Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali
- Aside from the track being safe, there is still a fair level of risk and danger. Prior participants have been incarcerated in Africa, and while well organized the event cannot be held responsible for corrupt border officials and other irritants that happen with general bush driving and crossing borders.
- Natural dangers are also quite prevalent, these include sandstorms, landslides, floods, and to a lesser degree quicksand.
- Registration for the 2011 rally should begin towards the end of February of 2010.
Not Your Everyday Backpacker
BY JACINTO VIDRÓ
It is undeniable that there is something specifically magical about Barcelona; be it the city’s flavour, its strong collection of famous works of art from Miró to Picasso. Or perhaps it is its beaches, famous nightlife and laid back attitude. All of which serves to make Barcelona a special place that fills the heart with warmness.
However, there is one particular gem, a Hostel named InOut, located in Baixador de Vallvidrera. It is on the doorstep of the Collserola Park with 25 hectares of gardens, forests, and sports fields. Although a good distance from the city centre, the good thing about Barcelona is that it’s public transport system is amazingly well connected and the Hostel is only 500 meters from the underground. That means only fifteen minutes to the Plaça Catalunya.
Surrounded by natural beauty and possessing an amazing mountain view of the city and surrounding area, this would in itself make this hostel exceptional. But this is combined with incredibly friendly staff that work to make the hostel feel like a home away from home.
Run as a non-profit foundation, InOut Hostel has pioneered a new concept in hostelling and it is the first of its kind in Europe. Based on a belief that disabled individuals can become self-sufficient and become part of functional society, it is the first tourist complex completely managed by disabled people. Ninety percent of the professional staff having some kind of disability.
Working in collaboration with the Ajuntament de Barcelona and receiving sponsorship from various well known Spanish institutions such as Caja Madrid, the hostel has risen in years to be loved not only for the social good it promotes but also by the people who stay there.
Don’t come here looking for nightlife and wild parties. This is the place to stay for nature, relaxation, and a truly great hostel experience that you will love.
Prices range from €13.90 for under 25s during low season to €25.35 for those over 25 years of age during high season per night. Private rooms of 80 m2 running you a rate of €100 per diem.
The best way to get to and from the location is via the FGC – Ferrocariles Catalanes – one ride will cost you €1.30. However, we highly recommend that if you’re going to be in Barna (as called by the locals) you pick up a T-10, or ten ride pass for €7.10 – and remember, that while the metro may close at 2:00am on weekdays, it opens up again at 5:00 am and runs 24h on Saturdays.
Hostel InOut
Major del Rectoret, 2 Barcelona 08017 España
Tel: +34 93 280 09 85
Web: www.inoutalberg.com
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