Sitges (Latin: Blanca Subur) is a small city about 40 kilometers south west of Barcelona renowned worldwide for its Film Festival and Carnival. Between the hills and the sea, it is known for its much-frequented beaches, nightspots, and historical sites.While the roots of Sitges' artsy reputation date back to the late 19th century, when Catalan painter Santiago Rusiňol took up residence there during the summer, the town really came into its own during the 1960s, when it was the only center for the counterculture on the mainland of Spain (then still under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco), and became known as a sort of "Ibiza in miniature". Today, Sitges can be considered a dynamic cultural oasis, basing its economy on tourism and culture offering more than 4.500 hotel beds, half of them in four-star hotels. The firm commitment for quality infrastructures has converted Sitges into a first-class destination in terms of tourism of congresses, conferences, seminars and company meetings in the Mediterranean area. It is also a gay tourist town and provides a contrast from Barcelona. Mainly in July and August the town is taken over by gay men and women and the streets are packed. In September the gay community disappear and the presence of family tourism can be felt again.

An interwiev with a young artist Dalissime.

Dalissime: Everything I can tell about Sitges would be based on my own expressions and can seem quite not objective. For the rest information you should look in the net. So … The very first thoughts about Sitges are filled with curiosity, longing for relaxation and the sea, and, of course, “blue” associations.  As a comer from homophobical Lithuania, I was really impressed by all festivals. In each second step you pass a gay couples (to be precise – a homosexual couples, because there are gay-women also, but a little bit less than men). Not less charming couples are resting in the beaches and on the lawns under the shades of palm trees. There is a smile of joy in each face – no homophobia or strange sights. It’s funny to count on your fingers how many hetero’ s you meet. Heterosexuals are the minority in Sitges.

Sitges oftenly is described as an eminently cosmopolitical area. To the statistics above 35 % of inhabitants of the Sitges are emigrants from various Europian countries. What is more, this city is also reputed as one of the main tittles of gay-tourism.

Dalissime: Real Sitges wakes up at night. There are gay clubs and gay bars in every street. Tourists and locals – in no matter of sexual orientation – take few refreshing cocktails there, ‘cause being in a bar of such a kind is equal to daily shopping in the mall. The most famous discos - Trailer and Organic. It’s really hard categorizing so called “gay-clubs”, because gays are everywhere. And oppositely – hetero’ s are going everywhere too. There’s no such a big difference as it is in Lithuania. As the night falls there are some people, who are standing in the streets and giving the show cards (those “givers” are also impressive). With the eye of an expert they “evaluate” each male person, give the show card into his hand (it makes no difference if the person who gets it is with a girlfriend, and if it happens so that the lucky one seems surprised, the misunderstood ends with a friendly smile). “

One late evening I was sitting till the midnight at one outdoor café. There was a gay bar in front of it. All of it’ s audience were outdoors also. Lots of homosexuals, travesty. Spectacular Drag Queens and one night “strangers” were appearing from time to time. Other “dark side” of gay life came out at the beach. I was sitting on the rocks. There is one very dangerous place. If you put your feet get there accidentally the sea would swallow you.

So Gays are hiding behind those rocks or in other privy corner of the beach (for ex. – among palm trees) and taking drugs. Or taking around cocaine. Cannabis, marihuana is smoked with no bans, so I’m simply even not talking about it.

What is about the prostitution… It’s easy to see who’s selling himself. Some of them are doing it in the streets; some of them are doing it at the bars or in the beach. I’ve seen (not once) how a courtesan-boy takes out his client. After the five minutes the courtesan-boy comes back, and after five minutes more he appeared already with a new client. That’s what their life is like. Reminds the rainbow, doesn’t it? The flash of white and suddenly it’s black, the flash of blue or after this - the flash of yellow…

In winter Sitges becomes different. Tourists – gays are leaving, locals are coming back to their daily routine. In summer the life is by the sea and in cafes. It is worth to see the old town, the church, and the food is the same gorgeous as in all over the Spain ( you can try fish dishes, various kinds of paella, other traditional Catalonian and not only Catalonian meals. You will decide and choose the café you like very easily – by the smell.

There is one hotel (super-expensive), where gays can use any facilities they need to and want to.

Sitges is worldwide known for its annual traditional carnival.After this wild week of joy the net is full of photoes, videos, short messages that shine out the heat and vivid color. What it feels like to get there, at the Carnival of Sitges ?

Dalissime: Carnival? It is more carnival inside of the carnival, because it is held about the time of the Eastern and gay shows are coincident with (or becomes a part of) the traditional shows at the streets. You can find all photos of those gorgeous Drag Queens costumes in the net. For me it is unreal feeling. It seems you stand in front of an alien. “Cause all of the clothing and make-up turns them into absolutely other kind of being. Others (NON-gays and NON-travesty) take part in the carnival also. They wear antique costumes; dress up a la Dali and other celebrities. It reminds the feeling after seeing film of Fellini.Fiesta of absolute FREEDOM, no taboo or bans.

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