Refugi Estany Llong Catalonian Pyrenees

... true. we spent all of the time in Normandy at WWII sites, as well as seeing the tapestry of Bayeux. We saw the cathedral in Nantes, took the river tour in Bordeaux, etc....so just because i focus on food and wine, does not mean the sightseeing isn't happening as well...

so as for the sightseeing today in Sahorre, we had a very nice tour of the cave (aka local wine shop) where you can get a liter of wine ...

... Just to give a very brief background, Catalunya is a region that is in northern Spain (Barcelona is very much a part of it) and southern France. There is political tension here as to whether Catalunya should be considered a part of Spain, and those sentiments are displayed throughout the city through tags and such. But there are others who think that Spain is beautiful as an integrated, diverse country, whole and complete in its long history. (I ...

WHAT THE BROCHURE SAID: This second day of riding is a big day that travels over the most feared cols in the Pyrenees,
but it is also some of the most spectacular riding. Firstly we have a nice gentle warm up to
Laruns, base camp to the stunningly beautiful Col D’Aubisque (1709m). The cafe on the top
provides a perfect ...

... for the forestry commission and was just doing his rounds of the forrest. Oh well, bit of excitement for the day, just glad I didn't call the Gendarmarie!

Oh well, onwards and upwards, literally.

Today is day 47 of the trek and there are 50 in total. I haven't had a rest day as yet and am feeling strong and fit enough to keep going. Hope to enjoy a few days on the beach before flying back on the 16th.

Love and light
Amanda

... tip). I walk to the beach, use a flight bag to cover it, lock it and use a special steel cord that I have to attach it to a parking chain, just below a bridge. Anyone with a sharp knife and intent could steal it. But, it is so large that it would be very obvious. I change clothes at the beach and spend the day walking around.

The highlight is a 12th-century walled town along the hill and the coastline. I walk along the top of the ...

65 miles

Cycling toward the Pyrenees with flip flops and an orange in my front basket which is quite loosely attatched to my failing 25 year old bike I couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. What a ridiculous task. Fortunately, the road we were on turned out to cut through the mountains and it was a ...

In order to get to get to Malta without paying an arm and a leg or having to fly for 10 hours or more via Italy we decided to take RyanAir out of Girona. Girona is a small regional airport near the beach resort of Girona which is could be called a RyanAir airport. There are many flights out of here and almost all of them with RyanAir. Our plane left at 6:40 am in the morning so so that ...

Wonderful drive on ordinary road, but not too scary over the border into Spain via Prats de Mollo, Ripoll and Vic. Fantastic views, snow still visible, highest point 1513m.

Friendly but scruffy campsite, and being Sunday evening, families were loading kids in pyjamas into their cars back to whatever city they had come from. Many caravans with awnings were obviously permanent.

Short peage trip to friends' mas just south of Perpignan. Lovely lunch then into local town late pm for Festival of the Cherries - first ripe pickings. Great crowds, so much nicer and more natural than St Trop. Visiting marching bands - very oompah.

Fierce competition among the locals to see who could spit a cherry-stone the furthest - over 9m being achieved.

... Basilica. Some stay to hear the famous Escolania boy's choir while others line up to visit Our Lady. The boy's choir sings daily at 1pm and 7pm and the Basilica is rarely anything but crowded when they start. If you don't want to line up to see the Black Virgin wait until the choir starts. You can still here them as you pass by the Virgin. Montserrat´s prize possession is hidden away ...