In the time that I've been in the UK, I've asked a lot of people for advice on places to travel. I didn't expect it, but Barcelona has been by far the most recommended city.
The Bank of Spain: Closed
Building Front Covered in Misformed Pottery
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Barcelona: How Can I Forget?
On day 2 I appear to have roamed the streets of Barcelona with my camera. Sounds like something I would do. Indications are that I then walked around at night and took more photos, which still seems to be in character.
In the time that I've been in the UK, I've asked a lot of people for advice on places to travel. I didn't expect it, but Barcelona has been by far the most recommended city.
In the time that I've been in the UK, I've asked a lot of people for advice on places to travel. I didn't expect it, but Barcelona has been by far the most recommended city.
Castellfollit de la Roca
Yonks ago, I did a weekend trip to Barcelona. It's long enough ago that I have no memory of what I did there. Let's explore my photos together. I'm hoping I wrestled a bear.
I travelled by Ryanair. Because they cut every cost possible, they often use airports that are outside the cities they purport to be in. I've experienced this on a number of trips, but this one takes the cake. Girona Airport is about 200 kms from Barcelona, by bus.
Since I was nowhere near my destination, I took the opportunity to catch a bus inland to a small town on a basalt outcrop called Castellfollit de la Roca.
From there, I did a hike up onto the surrounding hills to visit an old castle (1070AD) and a religious sanctuary (1105AD).
It was a fun afternoon. The town was completely dead because it was siesta time, and I didn't see another person for the whole walk.
From there I caught a bus to Barcelona. I had printed out directions for how to get to my apartment from the bus station, but unfortunately there was a massive protest march against the austerity cuts. I had inadvertently arrived in Spain on a day of protests that have their own Wikipedia entry, as 400,000 people took to the streets of Barcelona. These protests were very prominent during my visit. The protestors are called Los Indignados. You can understand their anger. The Spanish economy actually had less debt than Germany before the credit crunch. The collapse was made worse by all the foreign investors who defaulted on building construction in Spain.
The bus dumped me at some random point in the city. A kindly Argentinian librarian on holiday helped me to find a metro station.
I travelled by Ryanair. Because they cut every cost possible, they often use airports that are outside the cities they purport to be in. I've experienced this on a number of trips, but this one takes the cake. Girona Airport is about 200 kms from Barcelona, by bus.
Since I was nowhere near my destination, I took the opportunity to catch a bus inland to a small town on a basalt outcrop called Castellfollit de la Roca.
Castellfollit de la Roca
From there, I did a hike up onto the surrounding hills to visit an old castle (1070AD) and a religious sanctuary (1105AD).
Castellfollet de la Roca is down to the right
They Lied About the Rain in Spain
It was a fun afternoon. The town was completely dead because it was siesta time, and I didn't see another person for the whole walk.
From there I caught a bus to Barcelona. I had printed out directions for how to get to my apartment from the bus station, but unfortunately there was a massive protest march against the austerity cuts. I had inadvertently arrived in Spain on a day of protests that have their own Wikipedia entry, as 400,000 people took to the streets of Barcelona. These protests were very prominent during my visit. The protestors are called Los Indignados. You can understand their anger. The Spanish economy actually had less debt than Germany before the credit crunch. The collapse was made worse by all the foreign investors who defaulted on building construction in Spain.
The bus dumped me at some random point in the city. A kindly Argentinian librarian on holiday helped me to find a metro station.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Black Forest (VI): Heidelberg
On the last day (New Year's Eve), we had to get down to the Euroairport at Mulhouse for the evening, so we didn't get to spend much time in Heidelberg. We just had time to do the tour of Heidelberg castle, a crumbling ruin that sits on a hill above the town.
To get to the castle you ride up the hill on a cable car.
Views of the Neckar valley from the castle:
Goethe once strolled around the park beside the castle. At this point, it would be easier to label all the places in Germany that he didn't stroll around. What sort of indolent swine spends years mooching around Europe, looking at whatever takes their fancy?
So, that was our trip to the Black Forest area. The people everywhere were nice (with the exception of one train conductor). The food was decent and, in a couple of cases, outstanding. It wasn't cheap, but overall, it was a top notch trip.
To get to the castle you ride up the hill on a cable car.
Views of the Neckar valley from the castle:
Goethe once strolled around the park beside the castle. At this point, it would be easier to label all the places in Germany that he didn't stroll around. What sort of indolent swine spends years mooching around Europe, looking at whatever takes their fancy?
So, that was our trip to the Black Forest area. The people everywhere were nice (with the exception of one train conductor). The food was decent and, in a couple of cases, outstanding. It wasn't cheap, but overall, it was a top notch trip.
Black Forest (V): Freiburg and Titisee
Freiburg is another old town, at about 1000 years. It was damaged in the war, but has been rebuilt based on old plans.
Freiburg has a series of gutters that run through the streets, called Bächle. God knows how many broken ankles they have caused. As for cycling in Freiburg, good luck.
We read a recommendation to ride the cable car at Freiburg. It went a small distance up a hill and there was nothing interesting at the top. We were thoroughly underwhelmed. We later found out that there's a proper cable car nearby that's the longest in Germany and climbs to the top of a mountain. It was closed for repairs when we were there.
Here is one of the old town gates. Look closely, you will shout out loud in anger:
The close-up:
From Freiburg, we caught the train to Lake Titisee. What are the odds that I'll do a joke about that name before the end of the post? *
Titisee was the only place where we saw snow, and a little bit fell while we were there.
More Black Forest cake and strudel:
A poster for the museum at Titisee?
* Pretty high.
Freiburg has a series of gutters that run through the streets, called Bächle. God knows how many broken ankles they have caused. As for cycling in Freiburg, good luck.
Pretty Crap
Here is one of the old town gates. Look closely, you will shout out loud in anger:
The close-up:
From Freiburg, we caught the train to Lake Titisee. What are the odds that I'll do a joke about that name before the end of the post? *
Titisee was the only place where we saw snow, and a little bit fell while we were there.
More Black Forest cake and strudel:
A poster for the museum at Titisee?
* Pretty high.
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