Our first Witty Walk! November 6, 2010

What, you ask, is a "Witty Walk"? Michael Witty, a member of the local British Society of Catalunya, leads monthly walks (or hikes) throughout the Catalunyan countryside for anyone who wishes to show up at the right time and place! More info on their website:
http://www.britsoccat.com/WittyWalks
(sorry you will have to highlight the link and paste into a new window)

Since we had no plans this past weekend, we decided to join them on a seaside walk (more of an easy stroll, really) from the town of Sitges, south of Barcelona to Vilanova i la Geltru, some 7 km, much of it alongside the Renfe railway lines. See map of the area:
http://maps.google.es/maps?q=Sitges+map&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Sitges&gl=es&ei=LybYTJFMjMviBsaStJwH&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CBoQ8gEwAA

We left our house in Caldes d'Estrac about 8:45 a.m. in beautiful sunshine, armed with some snacks, water and sunscreen! We found a free parking place close to the train station where we met our group, some 60+ people in all! We walked to the coastal boardwalk through the old part of Sitges, admiring some of the architecture and homes built by rich "americanos" who made their fortune in Cuba. Apparently the person who started Bacardi rum, Don Facundo Bacardi, was born in Sitges in 1814 and you can visit Casa Bacardi to find out more about it! (Another day...)

Below are some typical houses of the 19th century in Sitges "old town" area, many of them reflect the style of Antoni Gaudi, so popular in Barcelona.


























































































The beginning of the seaside boardwalk in Sitges














We marvelled at some beautiful homes overlooking the sea, many occupied only in the summer months.















































Looking back towards Sitges centre, popular restaurants line the boardwalk.




























and ahead to a hotel, our first "meeting place" to catch up all the stragglers!














Another large hotel overlooking the sea, some ducks being fed in the river, a golf course to the left.














As mentioned, much of the walk, once we were out of the city, bordered the Renfe train tracks (both commuter and short-distance trains). We had to walk up and over the hills whereas the trains went through tunnels.














Looking ahead towards Vilanova, our destination in the distance.
























































There were many sheltered coves along the route, although the beaches were quite rocky.










































A lovely old house with a gorgeous view...except for the train tracks right at their front door!














Kathie and Pat just before entering Vilanova and a refreshing drink at a local bar/cafe followed by a typically late Spanish lunch "al fresco" in the late afternoon sunshine! The food was nothing particularly special but the company was interesting and the weather glorious!














We were told that this not typical of most Witty Walks, where far fewer people turn up! Usually they meet out in the surrounding countryside, hike up a mountain, across the top then down the other side, enjoying a picnic lunch en route or meeting in a local restaurant for lunch. We hope to join them again sometime, depending on our schedule!

Hasta luego....

A weekend in Provence October 22-24, 2010

After our visit to Monte Carlo, we drove along the coast through Nice, lunched at Antibes on the beach, then to Cannes where we rejoined the autoroute to Avignon. The countryside was far more mountainous than we had expected...where were all the fields of lavender and sunflowers that I associate with Provence?!?
We spent two nights at the quaint Hotel d'Europe in the Place Crillon, established in 1799. http://www.heurope.com/















Our room looked out onto the front courtyard














A Sunday morning bird bath!



















Narrow streets within the walls of old Avignon



















The old plane trees in the Place de l'Horloge














The entry to a restaurant inside a pretty courtyard














There are the colours of Provence!



















City Hall in the Place de l'Horloge














An old-fashioned merry-go-round, typical of small towns in Europe














Now, forgive my ignorance of French geography, but I only just realised that the Rhone River flows right through Avignon lending its name to the famous Cotes du Rhone wines of the area!














The Palais des Papes and the huge courtyard (le cours d'Honneu), built during the 14th century and intended as a fortified palace for the pope. Seven French-born Popes invested huge sums of money in building and decorating this, the largest Gothic palace in the world.































Roman ruins














OK everyone sing along now:
Sur le pont d'Avignon, l'on y danse, l'on y danse,
Sur le pont d'Avignon, l'on y danse tout en rond!

Below is the famous Pont St-Benezet, originally a 900 m wooden structure. All but four of its 22 spans were washed away in the mid 1600's.
















The famous bridge is only half there at present: it is believed to have been started in 1177 when Benezet, a pastor from Ardeche, was told in three visions to span the Rhone at any cost! Originally, the bridge straddled the island of Barthelasse, the largest island in a European river!














Getting back to wine country...not only did we discover on this trip that the Cote-du-Rhone wines were so close to Barcelona (four hours' drive), but Pat's favourite, Chateauneuf-du-Pape is located a mere 12 km to the north of Avignon! Guess where we headed after breakfast and a visit to a local wine shop for some good advice! Below are some of the Domaines/Caves we visited...there are dozens more in a small radius around the small village of CDP. Wines produced in the following villages can also be labelled as CDP wines: Caderousse, Jonquieres, Courthezon, Bedarrides and Sorgues. Likely there are "no bad wines"!


























































Scenes from the village of Chateauneuf-du-Pape




















The Church














Pat went in for a haircut "chez Philippe", cheaper than in Spain!




















The ruins of the "Chateau neuf du Pape" (the Pope's new castle)














A view of the village, Rhone River and surrounding countryside of CDP














The wine we brought back home is wonderful and is aging in our cellar below the house, aka The Garage!
No more travelling for awhile...back again soon! Hasta luego!

Monte Carlo October 20-22, 2010

A business trip to Monte Carlo for Pat turned into a first-time visit for me! We drove (about 6 hours) along the Mediterranean on the autoroutes from our home in Spain to the Marriott Hotel right on the border of France and Monaco, where we spent two nights. Crossing the Pyrenees into France is always my favourite part of this route-the mountains are so austere and rugged. Once through the pass, the land opens up into rolling hills, vineyards and "les etangs" along the sea where mussels, oysters and clams are farmed. New windmills catch the strong winds which blow from the Med (la mistral).
Below is a view of the Marriott Hotel (right side) overlooking one of the many marinas in the Monte Carlo area.














A few minutes walk towards downtown leads you through this lovely rose garden named after the late Princess Grace.




























High on a crag overlooking the sea is the Palais du Prince, the flag signifying that Prince Albert was in residence at the time. I toured the State Apartments (sorry, no photos allowed) then the Musee des Souvenirs Napoleoniens (interesting personal effects of the Emperor himself). Afterwards I caught The Changing of the Guard at precisely 11:55 a.m., a popular event with the many tourists who lined the route.





























































Construction cranes loom everywhere in this affluent city of the rich and famous!














The densely populated areas reminded me of Singapore...without hills and rocks!














In the harbour were two cruise ships for the day: the Cunard's new Queen Victoria and Oceania's Nautica. Some of the passengers joined me on a half-hour trolley ride around the city.




























The 1875 Romanesque-Byzantine Cathedrale de Monaco was oddly locked over the noon hour. It is where the late Prince Rainier and Princess Grace are buried.



















A stately home down the street from the Cathedral.














The famous Casino de Monte Carlo which costs 10 Euros just to go inside to look! (No, I didn't gamble...)














Now, when I grow up, I want to look like one of these: (our 26 ft. Wellcraft on Grand Lake)





































































Wow! Who needs to go on a cruise when you can own your own luxury yacht?!? These boats were registered anywhere from London, England and Douglas on the Isle of Man to Georgetown in the Cayman Islands. Dream on...

Hasta luego!