The travel of Sergi

Indonesia

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi) — Wed, 8 Aug 2018 10:34:00 -0700

--- Versió Catalana ---
This 2018, Aida and I have done a 20-day route around some of the islands of Indonesia where we have been able to see ancient Hindu Temples near Yogyakarta, observe orangutans with semiberty on a klotok in Borneo, be amazed with some Java volcanoes, discover Bali by motorcycle and explore the Nusas Islands.

We are still preparing the post of our route, but Aida has prepared a great video summary that we hope you like it.

Video Summary

The experience of noticing up to 6 earthquakes near where we were marked the last days of the trip, although none of the places where we were was damaged, we were alerted by a tsunami on one of the Nusa Islands , and we met travelers who did suffer from experiences to forget.

Itinerary
Day 1. Arrival at Jogja (Yogyakarta)
Day 2. Play Prambanan
Day 3. Borobudur
Day 4. Tour 3D / 2N Klotoc to Borneo
Day 5. Tour 3D / 2N Klotoc to Borneo Tour 3D / 2N Klotoc to Borneo
Day 6. Tour 3D / 2N Klotoc to Borneo and Transport to Probbolingo
Day 7. Bromo
Day 8. Probbolingo
Day 9. Bali, Ubud
Day 10. Bali, Ubud
Day 11. Bali, Ubud
Day 12. Bali, Munduk
Day 13. Bali, Lovina
Day 14. Bali, Ubud
Day 15. Nusa Lembongan
Day 16. Nusa Penida
Day 18. Denpasar
Day 19. Denpasar and fly to Jakarta
Day 20. Jakarta

Route Map

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Sri Lanka

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi) — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 10:28:00 -0700

--- Versió Catalana ---

In November 2017 I visited Sri Lanka, the tear of India .... And this has been my experience.

Itinerary
Day 1. Arrival at Colombo and meet Laura
Day 2. Train to Kandy (මහනුවර) and visit to the Royal Palace
Day 3. Bus to Dambulla, visit of the Temple of the Caves of Dambulla (දඹුලු ලෙන් විහාරය), bus to Sigiriya. Climb to Pidurangala Rock (පිදුරංගල පර්වතය)
Day 4. Tuk tuk to Polonnaruwa (පොළොන්නරු) and Kaudulla National Park
Day 5. Sigiriya Rock, Dambulla and Kandy
Day 6. Kandy
Day 7. Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya and tuk tuk to Dickoya
Day 8. Adam's Peak and relax
Day 9. Train Hutton - Ella
Day 10. Little's Adam's Peak and Ella's Rock
Day 11. Tuk tuk safari to Kataragama
Day 12. Safari at Yala National Park and tuk tuk to Hiriketiya Beach
Day 13. Hiriketiya and tuk tuk to Midigama Beach
Day 14. Surf and Galle with Laura
Day 15. Beach and taxi to Negombo
Day 16. Breakfast and flight back home

Some Photos

What would I do if would return (Recommended Route)

Map of the route

Day 1. Arrival at Colombo and meet Laura

After 17 hours of plane from Barcelona with a stopover at Doha, I arrive at Colombo. I decide not to buy a local SIM to have data on my phone, but I recommend buy one ... From the airport, I take a local bus that goes from the front of the airport to the Fort railway station.

I ask about how to to take the train to Kandy for the next morning. I didn’t booked ticket, but I recommend to book a 1st class ticket, where you have assigned seat. At the information point next to the station I get a personalized Sri Lanka route, and I got asked if I want to hire a driver service. It is a good option if you want to make a route and you are 2 or more. To rent a car without a driver is more expensive than with driver.
If you want to rent a Tuk-tuk and drive around Sri Lanka by yourself, you have to validate the driver's license. It is a procedure that can take 2 or 3 days of paperwork. There are companies that can handle you before you arrive.
Afterwards, I ask how to go with public bus arroundl where I have the accommodation, which I have booked near the one Laura has reserved (a friend who comes also the same dates to surf) I go to the local bus checking where I'm with the Maps.Me app (offline map with lots of information) This app or similars has changed the way of traveling ...
I arrive at the Cool Colombo 7 Accommodation (http://www.booking.com/Share-w0PpZn) and I rest a bit .... It is a quiet neighborhood, full of embassies and residences of ambassadors.
I meet Laura and we walk around ... We see the park Vihara Malhadevi Park, and continue until the Seema Malaka Temple of the Beira Lake to end up on the beach next to the Galle Face Green Park. It's Sunday and the parks are full of families playing and spending the afternoon.

We go to have dinner at Vasanta Bhavan Pure Veg Restaurant near our lodgings and we say goodbye ... until 10 days later we have different plans.

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Day 2. Train to Kandy (මහනුවර) and visit to the Royal Palace

The next morning, I go to take the train, where at the end I can only buy 2a (unassigned seats and cars full of people). Nice train ride to Kandy.

I arrive at noon at Kandy ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandy ) at its beautiful train station.

It's an important city, it was the last capital of the era of the ancient kings of Sri Lanka. The city is in the mountainous area of the Kandy plateau, with an area of tropical plantations, mainly of tea. It is an administrative and religious city. The Temple of Dandy Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), one of the most sacred places of adoration in the Buddhist world.

I stayed at the Kandy City Hotel ( https://www.booking.com /hotel/lk/kandy-city.en.html ) .... I still have jet lag of the plane's journey and I have looked for "correct" accommodation in the center of Kandy.

I visit the Royal Palace and I walk around the Bogambara Lake. While I'm taking the walk, a giant shower of rain happen and I have to shelter myself in a bus stop for some time.

I go to the train station to see if you can book a ticket for the journey Kandy to Ella in 1 a week (I’ve been told it’s difficult to book), and yes, there is no place.
At the evening it rains and at night dilutes. So I rest.

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Day 3. Bus to Dambulla, visit of the Temple of the Caves of Dambulla (දඹුලු ලෙන් විහාරය), bus to Sigiriya. Climb to Pidurangala Rock (පිදුරංගල පර්වතය)

Next morning I take a bus ("premium") to Dambulla to visit the Temple of the Caves of Dambulla ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dambulla_cave_temple). It's about a few temples that were made taking advantage of the caves that were there in the mountain. Very spectacular. Entrance fee 1500 Rupies.

After visiting the caves, I go to the simple room that I have booked to Sigiriya
I leave the bag and I go to eat something in one of the four places to eat that there are in town. There I met Roberto (Vitoria) and Carmen (Madrid) who have also eaten something.
They have rented a Tuk Tuk for 15 days to go around Sri Lanka.
I accompany them to leave their bags in their accommodation and we go to Rock Pidurangala Rock to see the views of the Sigiriya Rock. We pay 500 rupees and we make the easy but demanding climb to the top. On the way up there is a Buddha lying under a cave. The views from the top of the area are worth it.

We went to dinner together, we come along with Roberto and Carmen very well... I still do not know what I'll do next day but we talk about the options that could be made ...

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Day 4. Tuk tuk to Polonnaruwa (පොළොන්නරු) and Kaudulla National Park

In the morning I receive a message from Roberto saying that they want to go to Polonnaruwa and that if I want to join ... I'm in! Here starts my Tuk-tuk adventure around Sri Lanka!

So, we take direction to Polonnaruwa, we pass through the entrance of the Kadula National park to get information of how to make a Safari... We hire a jeep and a guide at 3 in the afternoon (the time of entering the park in this time of the year).
And we continue our way towards Polonnaruwa.
Polonnaruwa ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polonnaruwa ), is preserved as Old royal city of the kingdom of Polonnaruwa (entrance fee 25US$). A lot of history and remains of temples and rooms very well preserved. It reminds me a lot about the Khmer style (Ankor Wat)

We visit the area faster than we would like to be able to get to the Safari on time. Some light rain has fallen.
So, as we have seen the most relevant highlights, we take the Tuk-Tuk and go to the entrance to the park.
The Kaudulla National Park ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaudulla_National_Park ) A recommendation of Colombo information office for this time of year.
Our jeep and guide are waiting for us, we pay the entrance and taxes. 3500 rupees per person (6888 Rupees of fees and 3500 Jeep + guide between 3)

We go back to Sigiriya for dinner and plan the next day ... more or less we have the same route in the head ...

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Day 5. Sigiriya Rock, Dambulla and Kandy

In the early morning we visit the Sigiriya Rock (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigiriya) after going through the entrance office ... 30 $US.
We start to climb as soon as we get there, they have warned us that it is full of chineese tourists that we would like to avoid.
During the climb, we can see some paintings on the rock with girls showing the breasts (one of them with four!)
On the way up, we find a stone sculpture of giant lion's feet that protected access to the top.

At the top, we see the views and we walk the entire perimeter, before starting to get down. During the descent, we met Diego, an Asturian living in Madrid. We visit the museum together and we get along.

We collected our bags from the accommodation with the Tuk-tuk and take direction to Kandy, we went through Dambulla (Roberto and Carmen had not visited it yet) and we continued the journey to Kandy.

We have booked an Airbnb in a family home that lives on the outskirts (Primrose Hill Residence https://www.airbnb.cat/rooms/20333911). A luxury ... a very nice family with an apartment with a washing machine included ...

We end up having dinner with the family and helping them cook ... an improvised show cooking ...

We would have stayed more nights in this place ... but they had already booked ... :(

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Day 6. Kandy

Breakfast and we packed to change the accommodation (a house on the other side of the city in the middle of a forest, Kandy Holiday Residence https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/4586821) and we have a look around the royal palace and its surroundings, we do it with Diego, who we've come across again.

We do the protocol visit to the royal palace (I stayed around visiting small temples because I had already visited it).

We buy tickets for a traditional dance show at dusk and take a walk through the streets of the center, and we arrive at the central market of Kandy that pleasantly surprises us ...

We buy tickets for a dance show in the evening.
We continue the walk to the Kandy Garrison Cemetery, lining the Bogambara lake.
The show we've chosen liked us a lot. Touristic, but it allows you to see the different types of traditional dances from Sri Lanka. Kandyan dance mallawa arachchi to the auditorium of Y.M.B.A. for 1000 rupees.

Afterwards we look a place for dinner, we end up at SAM chinese restaurant, near the Royal Palace.

Diego sleeps next to our accommodation, and we return him with the tuk-tuk.

Day 7. Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya and tuk tuk to Dickoya

After breakfast and pack up a little, we visit the royal Botanical Gardens of Peradenyina (1500 Rupies).

Afterwards, road to Dick Oya, taking a very attractive road that lets us see rice fields, immense tea plantations and villages spread across the road.

Dick Oya is where we will spend the night before climbing Adam's Peak, Princess of Dickoya (Princess of dickoya) a great recommendation from Olga ...

We contracted the taxi service for the next day to go to Adam's Peak, 5000 Rupies among the 3 to go and return.

Just when we finished eating, start raining, and we rest watching the views from the accommodation.

We have dinner early because are supposed to go to bed very soon. We have to get up next day at 1:30 a.m...!

Day 8. Adam's Peak and relax

After the journey to Delhouse, we begin the Rise to Adam's Peak. Many stairs ...

Before reaching the top, we stop to have a tea in a small shop. We reach the top by the sunrise.

The views are very beautiful, and we are there for quite some time.

After the descent, we return to have breakfast at the Princess of Dickoya and take the rest of the day to rest.

Day 9. Train Hutton - Ella
We have breakfast and pack all our staff to go to Hutton to take the train to Ella.

They say that this railway stretch is one of the most beautiful in the world, and for this reason, Roberto and Carmen already had the driver's service contracted that takes the tuk-tuk by road in this section.
The stretch of railway fascinates us, and we can sit around and go to the door ... we enjoy as children.

Before arriving at Ella, Roberto realizes that his small bag has disappeared. And the security of the train review the entire train to see if they could find it ... We think that somebody has been confused with their bag because there is a bag without an owner similar to Roberto's.
When we arrive at Ella, we have the Tuktuk again, and we go to the accommodation we have booked, The Bandarawela Bungalow ( https: / /www.airbnb.cat/rooms/2183776 ) a little away from the town, but very beautiful.
Nice dinner in town.
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Day 10. Little's Adam's peak and Ella's Rock
In the morning, we have breakfast before climbing Little Adam's Rock, where we are there for a long time ...

Then, from Kital Ella Railway Station, walk to Ella's Rock. We get some rain on the way, and this make more entertaining the route.

After trying to get gasoline everywhere (there is a state gasoline gas crisis for a few days) we go to see Rawana Ella Falls, and then have dinner ...

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Day 11. Tuk tuk safari to Kataragama

After breakfast, we take our way to Kataragama.

It's a journey of a few hours, and we have the problem that we do not have enough gas.

We stop around asking for spare gas bottles, but nothing ... from Wellawaya we take direction Buttala. We are rushing gasoline ....

In Buttala, after asking everywhere in town, a Tuktuk driver, after a few calls and agreed to a price, take me to his father shop for 5 liters. 40 minutes later I return with it! .... well done !!!!!

Luck that we have got gasoline, because the road from Buttala to Kataragama is a Safari highway! We see a lot of fauna in this stretch of road with our tuktuk!

The first elephant we are in the middle of the road ... we flip out!!!!!

After taking a tour of the accommodations in Kataragama, we end up at Samwill Holiday Resort ( http://www.samwillresort.com/ ) where we also book the Safari for the next day to Yala.

We rest in the pool until it begins to rain, and we soon have diner in the same accommodation before go to sleep.

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Day 12. Safari at Yala National Park and tuk tuk to Hiriketiya Beach

Well, at 5am, we're picking up the Jeep to go safari to Yala National Park.
We have taken the half-day safari.
The park is spectacular and although we do not see the Lleopart, enjoy all the flora and fauna found.

After the Safari, we pick all our staff and take the road to the beach !!!

We have nothing booked and we stop in a couple of beaches to have a look... But we have recommendations for Hiriketya Beach, so wel go there.

We have good fish for dinner and we go to sleep soon ....

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Day 13. Hiriketiya and tuk tuk to Midigama Beach

We get up without an alarm clock! ... breakfast on Hiriketiya beach and swim at the beach. Beach morning and walking around.

In the afternoon, we take direction Midigama, our next destination.

La Carmen and Roberto leave me at the accommodation that I have booked alongside Laura's place, Shehara Surfing View (https://www.booking.com/hotel/lk/shehara-surf-view.en.html) ... we will meet again the last day in Negomo!

I leave things at the hostel, and I go to see Laura in her super accommodation (Ebb and Flow Jungalows http://ebbandflowjungalows.com/) !!! She has invited me to dinner with his private ambrosio who cooks for her ...

The accommodation is luxurious! tastefully and very nice!
Laura is really excited about her surfing and relaxing vacations
The "Ambrosio" has prepared us a salad with shrimp and a Brownie with vanilla ice cream for dessert! And after dinner, relax and make the talk until the eyes are already ringing ...

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Day 14. Surf and Galle with Laura

In the morning, early morning, we go with tuk-tuk and Laura's surfboard to a beach to try to surf. I rent one and we put ourselves in the water.

This morning we see that there are waves that normally make it an easy place to surf ... we do what we can ... at least I try ...

When we return to the accommodations, we take a bus to go to Galle.

Galle, a city with an old fortified World Heritage site. The city was founded by the Portuguese in the 16th century, and reached its peak in the eighteenth century, before the arrival of the British. It is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in South and South-East Asia, where you can see the interaction of European architecture and the architectural and artistic traditions of South Asia.

We walk on the alleys of the Fort. It is full of fine restaurants, boutique hotels and fashionable clothing stores and Sri Lanka souvenirs stores. We have lunch in a very nice restaurant and then ice cream. We keep walking around the perimeter of the fortification. You still can see the effects of the Tsunami that suffered in 2004 in some abandoned buildings since then.

I would recommend that you spend the night in the old town if you have the opportunity and time.

After a quick look at the market that is outside the fort, we start to return, we see that the buses are full and we take a tuk-tuk to a bar on the beach that we had recommended halfway, the Wijaya Beach ( www.wijayabeach.com ).

We have a milkshake to see the sunset and rest.

To finish the journey, the tuk-tukeros asked us too much to go back and we stopped a bus ... it was completly bull! A good reality experience... Laura still flips out! hehe

A swim in the pool of the Laura's mansion and we have dinner at the restaurant next to our acommodations, where all the surfers goes.

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Day 15. Beach and taxi to Negombo

In the morning, I go with Laura to see her surfing in a beach next to where we sleep.
There are good waves and a few good surfers.</ div>

How are the things that the last day of surfing, at the last moment ... it breaks the insurance cable that is added to the table! Laura is lucky, and a surfer who has seen it, helps her return to the ground ...

We pick up and hope on to a taxi that will take us to Negomo. With the Surfboard is the only good option to move.

I have booked a room in the same accommodation as Carmen and Roberto (Summer Wave Guest House https://www.booking.com/hotel/lk/patrick-holiday-resort.en.html ). Laura has booked a resort a bit far from the city to take advantage of the next day, since her flight leaves in the afternoon.

I got back with Carmen and Roberto and I accompanied them to return the tuk-tuk.

In addition, we meet again with the group of 7 Spaniards that we have encountered during the trip and we have a beer with the sunset on the Negomo beach.

We all sat together and also with the Catalan friend of La Carmen, Olga, that we have been giving recommendations during the trip.

This is over ... it's time to say goodbye.
Day 16. Breakfast and return plane.

Soon, I take a dip and pick up a Tuk-tuk to the airport.

I'm waiting for a few hours of plane and stopover at Doha.

The end....

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The route I would do if I returned (Recommended Route)
Although I loved the route I ended up doing, it can always be improved. First of all you should see which parks are good to see wildlife during the trip.
At colombo, I would not come back. I did not got attracted to anything I saw. Negomo is more practical and easy.
And the route would go a bit like this ... (Changing the safaris for the relevant season)

Day 1. Arrival at Colombo and sleep in Negomo or directly travel to Sigirya. It depends on the time of arrival (night to Negomo or Sigirya.)
Day 2. (night at Sigirya.) Visit Sigirya and Safari by Kaudulla National Park
Day 3. (Night at Sigirya.) Visit to Anuradhpura / Mihintale and back to the Temple of the Caves of Dambulla (දඹුලු ලෙන් විහාරය)
Day 4. (night at Sigirya.) Visit Polonnaruwa and returning to the Pidurangala Rock at sunset.
Day 6. (Kandy) Royal Palace and Traditional dance show.
Day 7. (Night at Nuwara Eliya) Kandy Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya and direction Nuwara Eliya
Day 8. (Night at Nuwara Eliya) Visit Horton Plains National Park (end of the world's trekking), Afternoon visiting tea plantation ...
Day 9. (night to Ella) Train to Ella. Get on the Little's Adam's Peak. Nice dinner
Day 10. (night near Kataragama) Up Ella's Rock and transport to Kataragama ... Passing through the road that passes through the park (Buttala-Kataragama) ...
Day 11. (Nit Hiriketiya Beach) Safari to Yala National Park and transport to Hiriketiya Beach
Day 12. (Night to Galle) Hiriketiya and transport to Galle
Day 13. (Night to Negomo) Galle and transport to Negombo.

* You can look for Stopovers options to Maldives (to Fly Emirates, there are)
* To do much of the journey you can rent a car with a driver ... you can contract on internet.

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Some Photos

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Cavalls del Vent (Horses of the wind). The hike route that links the eight Refuges in the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park.

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi) — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 04:20:00 -0700

Veure la versió Catalana / Ver la Traducción en Castellano

The Cadí-Moixeró National Park is the largest in Catalonia and is located between the provinces of Barcelona, Girona and Lleida, areas of Berguedá, Alt Urgell and Cerdanya.

The entire route is marked with oranges marks.

All the Route takes place in altitudes between 910 meters and 2,510 meters. The total positive altitude is approximately 5200 meters and 5200 meters of total negative altitude.

We did the Route in 4 days (3 nights).

Stage 1 - Refuge Lluís Estasen - Refuge del Gresolet - Refuge Sant Jordi
19.5 kilometers - +1100 / -1200
Stage 2 - Refuge Sant Jordi - Refuge de Rebost - Refuge Niu de l'Àliga
18.58 kilometers - + 1700 / - 850
Stage 3 - Refuge Niu de l'Àliga - Refuge Serrat de las Esposes - Refuge Cortals de Ingla
18.39 kilometers - + 630 / - 1500
Stage 4 Refuge Cortals d'Ingla - Refuge Prats d'Aguiló – Refuge Lluís Estasen
23.59 kilometers - +1307 / - 1256

The Route

Stage 1 - Refuge Lluís Estasen - Refuge del Gresolet - Refuge Sant Jordi
19.5 kilometers - +1100 / -1200

We started at the Mirador de Gresolet, at 9:30 in the morning, after driving from Tarragona. We walked to the Refuge Estasen to start from there the Route. They give us all the Pack material (if you have booked at www.cavallsdelvent.com). They also give the card to seal in each shelters.

To get to the next refuge Gresolet, we have to descend a bit. And after refresh and seal the card of the crossing, we continue towards the pass of the bauma and from there we decend. We can see changes of vegetation but always lush forest.
From the refuge Vents del Cadí (outside the route), the rise of a beautiful gorge begins with the gorges and cascades of the Riu dels Empedrat. The kettle that is indicated during the route was dry.

After bathing in one of the Gorges with a cascade, at 17h we arrive at the refuge of Sant Jordi, where we seal the card and spend the night. We take a shower and rest for dinner (at 7pm).
Excellent Food and very good treatment.

Stage 2 - Refuge Sant Jordi - Refuge de Rebost - Refuge Niu de l'Àliga
18.58 kilometers - + 1700 / - 850
After breakfast, we continue towards Baga. The route is a footpaths till the neck and then it is a track to a road. A breathtaking descent but with the charm of the beech forest impressive and so beautiful that it is worth it. From the road, we climb up to the Refugi Rebost by nice footpaths (with some section of peeling track) .
At the Refuge we follow, we eat a bit. You can order food there.

After resting, we take direction to Collada de Comafloriu, the views are improving as you gain altitude.

From La Collada we are go an top until we arrive at the shelter of the Niu de l'Aliga (2537m). After sealing, showering and putting ourselves in shelter, we contemplate the views waiting for dinner.
The sunset is spectacular, and the views from the dining room of the refuge are unbeatable.

Stage 3 - Refuge Niu de l'Àliga - Refuge Serrat de las Esposes - Refuge Cortals de Ingla
18.39 kilometers - + 630 / - 1500
After breakfast, we continue the route, descending to the Altes de Moixeró rocks with great views.

After passing Moixeró, we take the classic trail of very hard descent to a track. We have marked the beginning and the end of a new alternative that goes down more easily. It goes bordering Roc Cremat and is also with oranges marks.
We continue a bit by a beautiful track until we almost reach the refuge of Serra de les Dones, where we make a bite and a soda. The descent has been hard.
We continue until the refuge Cortals de Ingla, the refuge that has stolen our hearts for its simplicity. We shower (a single shower but the best one), Rest and great food and great time!

Stage 4 Refuge Cortals d'Ingla - Refuge Prats d'Aguiló – Refuge Lluís Estasen
23.59 kilometers - +1307 / - 1256
We start with a very gentle climb to the Coll de Pendís, from there we continue to the Coll de la Moixa and swarm the Pradell peak before beginning to descend to the refuge of Prat d'Aguiló, where we have diner and refresh ourselves.

From there, we take the breathtaking climb up to Pas dels Gosolans, from where we walk throught the top to the point where it begins to descend by path until it becomes a track that descends zigzagging to the track that leads to the Estasen refuge. We took a shortcut path that goes down much more directly (which at some point is marked).
During the descent on the track, we had a rainstorm with lightning 
And we close the circle of the Route at Refuge Lluís Estasen, where they give us a certificate and we have a beer before going back to the reality .

Some Photos:
https://goo.gl/photos/xJTwMtXDN8MRPPyv5

Philippines

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Fri, 9 Dec 2016 01:11:00 -0800

--- Versió Catalana ---

In November 2016 I visited some parts of the Philippines. This has been my experience.

Itinerary

Day 0 Flight to Manila
Day 1 Manila and Night bus to Manaue
Day 2 Banaue and Batat
Days 3 y 4 Sagada and Night bus to Manila
Day 5 Flight Manila - Puerto Princesa
Day 6 Puerto Princesa
Day 7, 8, 9 and 10 El Nido
Days 11 and 12 Port Barton and bus to Puerto Princesa
Day 13 Flight Puerto Princesa - Cebu and Ferry Cebu - Taglibaran (bohol)
Days 14, 15 and 16 Alona Beach, Bohol and Buceig at Balicasag
Day 17 Boat to Siquijor
Days 18 and 19 Siquijor
Days 20, 21 and 22 Apo Isalnd
Days 23 and 24 Dumagete
Days 25 Flight Dumagete - Manila and Bus Manila - Tagaytay
Day 26 Tagaytay and bus to the Airport of Manila

Some Photos

Map of the route

Manila

After 17 hours flight from Barcelona, I arrive to Manila.

From the airport I use the GRAB service (a kind of Asian Uber).

I've book a bed in a hostel at Makati area, Z Hostel (www.zhostel.com) very charming building and beds, the only problem is the noise from the street. Makati is one of the 16 cities that form the huge Grand Manila, is the financial centre of Philippines.

And... just when I make my entrance to the lobby of the hostel, I meet Núria, one girl from Tarragona that travels a lot and we recognise instantaneously! I'm arriving to Philippines and she is going back to the catalan lands after few weeks with friends. She give her report about all the places they've visit...

Next morning, it's Sunday. I go to visit Intramuros, the oldest area of the city and it's well walled, the construction of this area start in l’any 1.590 during the colonial spanish age.

Inside the wall you can still find some colonial houses, churches, cathedral and universities. I visit Fort Santiago and the museum about José Rizal (Philippine Patriot that was executed for the Spanish authorities during the colonial age and provoke the revolution to move out the Spanish colons).

I keep walking through Rizal Parc and I visit China town.

The Asian cities are very complex and, at least for me, there are some that I love them and there are that not. Without any kind of logic, of course.

There are elements, companions and situations that makes you like more or not a city like Manila.

This first taste of Manila, has been a easy and soft experience. It didn't trapped me, but the chaos sometimes has a thing...

I decide to keep going the same night with a night bus to the Cordillera area even I had my hostel paid.

The night bus to Banaue I booked from the same hostel with Victory liner (old buses and not confortables, at least on nov. 2016). I would recomment another bus company .. Coda Lines from the HM terminal (http://www.codalinesph.com/bus-trips/) New buses with Wifi on board. All of them has the problem of the AC temperature. You have to be prepared for the worse. 10 hores trip.

^Back

Banaue and Batat

I arrive at 6 in the morning to Banaue, I have brackfast with nice views at the rice fields. I look for options to do with other travelers that are in the same point as me.

I ended up joining a polac group that wanted to visit some view points and Batat.

With an old Jeepney, we start the way to Batat, spectacular rice fields with amphitheatre shape that evolve a tiny village, lonely in the valley. We went to see the waterfalls Tappia after a tough way down. It's worth it.

The peacefulness is excellent, the ancestral way to work the fields, the stone walls,...

The tourist business is growing fast (that in part brake this peace) but still in some way this scenic visual area has the thing need to make worth the visit for the sniveller traveller.

After Batat, I thought that it was nothing left to visit... bus still we went to visit the rice fields of Banaue with the afternoon sun. Excellent!

I sleep in Batat for the next morning go to Sagada. There is no much to do in Batat, so I rest and O read a little. Later I discover that I could go to Sagada the same day. If you are in a harry, be persistence and you will get there. (I wasn't)

I got the transport to Sagada, after negotiation. Is not easy to get all the information and options for transport.

Sagada

I arrive at Sagada after a journey with spectacular views of valleys full of charming corners ascending to 1500 meters.

Sagada is a mountain touristic village with restaurants, hotels, tours and activities.

Without looking, I take the George Guest House, and with an Slovenian and a group of Philippine we visit niches hanging from Valley Echo, the underground river, a small waterfall with swim included and the next morning a "view of a non sunrise." It was cloudy ... .. and raining.

I liked much Sagada, and I would like to had more information to be able to do a nice hike.

In the afternoon the next day I take a bus (Coda Lines) to Manila.

At 2:30 I arrived in Manila, and direct to the airport terminal .... I went to the wrong terminal ... but I had a few hours margin to change terminals. My plane leaves at ..... 9 am to Puerto Princesa (Palawan Island).

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Puerto Princesa

Walking from the airport I approach the accommodation Casa Linda Inn, a small oasis in Puerto Princesa.

I sleep ..... and afternoon I give a ride to the city center. And relax.

The next day, I make a boat trip visiting three islands of Honda Bay, Starfish Island, Cowrie Island and Lu-Li Island.

A little touristy, but a fine way to do the first contact with the Philippines beaches.

I have dinner with a pair of Basques, the Roberts .. that we meet in Manaue and I crossed back in Sagada. Fortuitously they also staying at Casa Linda.

The next day I go with van to El Nido, four and a half hours with rain.

El nido

The tourist infrastructure is constantly growing in El Nido, no shortage of restaurants, hotels, guesthouses, resorts ...

Despite the overcrowding, it is not very oppressive, and it can be very pleasant.

I am staying in Ogie's Beach Hotel, a pension in front of the beach. Simple, comfortable and a common area with views of the bay very nice.

At the late afternoon rain stops and I go out for a walk till the cemetery and inspecting the village.

I meet Blanca from Zaragoza and she has been few weeks already in El Nido.

I'm going to dinner with her and her friends.

The next day I do the tour A of the islands in the archipelago of Bacuit. We visit the Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, the Secret Lagoon, and the coast of the island of Simizu and just before returning to El Nido, Beach Entulala. Spectacular.

I celebrate it going out to dinner with friends of Blanca

Next morning I do the C tour, that begins with the Helicopter Island, Matinloc, the Secret Beach and Star Beach.

Next day I rent a Motorbike (400php) and I go to Nacpan beach, where I go up to the lookout and I lay back on the sand...

From there, I continue north until bucana, where I take a dust track to Duli beach, which is a little hanging. Coming back, I stop at the fishing village of Bucana.

To avoid to go back the same way, I continue the road (unpaved stretches) to San Fernando and Sibaltan where I eat chicken adobo in one of the small resorts that are at the beach. Lonely and very nice.

The last section until close the circle is tough, all unsurfaced road and hard lumps.

I pass through El Nido and I saw the Beach Cabañas, before going to see the sunset at Republik bar. Brutal views!

To say goodbye to El Nido, I go for dinner to eat noodles soup at Beef Stew and Grill and a reggae concert at Pukkas bar.

Port Barton

Absolute tranquillity. I arrive at Port Barton at noon. I start looking for the right accommodation to the beach ... Green View Resort is the one I find more like what I was looking.Cabin 1200php.

To the left, there are more affordable options, but the sunsets are on the right side ....

I have lunch at Gayacan, a local food restaurant in Port Barton, a delicious fish curry.

In the afternoon relax. Read, walk, beach, beer ... watching the sunset and dinner at the resort.

Next day I do a tour of islands and areas to do snorkel. I found them as the same good level as El Nido... to not say betters.

Dinner at Gayatan and rest.

The next morning I have breakfast and a walk around the village. It's clowdy and I have a bus to Puerto Princesa at one.

In Puerto Princesa I am staying again in Casa Linda Inn.

The next day I take flight to Cebu. And straight from the Cebu airport by taxi to the ferry terminal to catch one to taglibaran.

^Back

Taglibaran

The ferry takes only 2,5 hour. I'm already in Bohol island. I go to Alona beach, located 20km in the island of Panglao. I am staying at Alona Bamboo House that I have found looking for another accommodation. And I meet again the Roberts from Bilbao! Pleasant coincidence! We have dinner and drinks.The next morning I rent a motorbike along with Roberts and I we do a turn the island of Bohol. 250km in a day ... not bad! Chocolate Hills, Tarsiers, bamboo bridges of Sipatán and observation fireflies,

In the morning, we went to ask for the refresh PADI certificate (to dive) I have. I want to try here is the island of Balicasag.We chose Bohol Divers Club Dive Center, that is run by a very nice couple from Madrid, Sarah and Pelayo.

100% recommended!

Sarah did the refresh course and we do ours first two dives of the first day in Panglao.

What you see underwather is spectacular!

At night, from nowhere, Pelayo and Sara make a nice BBQ at the beach with a nice group. We are David, Paula, Maria, Judith, Robertos, Paula, Silvia, Susana, Bea...

Next morning we take the boat to Balicasag to do 2 dives. Essential!

We do the way back in the boat very excited.

With the group of the barbecue we organize a boat to go to Siquijor from Alona beach, to not having to go to catch the ferry taglibaran.

So the next morning we say goodbye to Sarah and Pelayo, and towards the sea.

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Siquijor

A boat leaves us in Siquijor 100 meters from the coast .... and we have to walk with our bags at the head and water till waist ... They leave us in the middle of the road along the island. We fit all of us in 3 Tricycles to go to the accommodation that we have been recommended, Casa Miranda.

We look for a tricycle to rent for the next day. We see the sunset and have dinner in a restaurant quite well.

On the way back to the accommodation, we hear music and see many cars and motorbikes .. we have a look, and they invite us to join them.

Birthday Party 50 years of care of Siquijor ...

Buffet, drinks pies, orchestra and karaoke!

The next day tricycle bikes and we go to see falls and waterfalls of Kawasan Falls Lugnason the Salagdoong Beach and we do the round to the island.

Next morning we take the motorbikes to visit the caves of Cantabon. Really nice! Also the village is so authentic.

We try a coconut bread spectacular!

The other day we are stumbling through the interior of the island with the bike. jointo go to Apo island a day earlier than I had thought with Robertos.

Tricycle to to Siquijor ferry, ferry to Dumangete, tricycle to the Ceres bus station and bus to Malatapay. Then ferry to Apo.

^Back

Apo

Apo is a very small island with a former fishing village (now turned into marine life guards and carriers of tourists), some beaches, two ponds, a lighthouse, many many turtles and coral.

Doing snorkel from the beach swimming surrounded by coral and green turtles.

I stayed 3 nights in Apo. I do three dives, snorkelling and beach.

It's hard to leave, but Dumaguete awaits.

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Dumaguete

The first night Dumagete to stay for dinner with the Catalan girls we went to Siquijor with.

The next day I rent a bike and I go to visit the Twin Lakes and Bais.

At the afternoon I walk through the city and I go out for dinner.

^Back

Tagaytay

Flight to Manila in the early morning.

In Manila, I take a bus to Tagaytay to view the Taal Volcano before say goodbye Philippines.

At noon next morning I take a bus to Manila.

This is how ends my first contact with Philippines. I think it wont be the last!

^Back

Myanmar (Birmania), Bangkok and Kho Chang

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Sat, 3 Oct 2015 07:27:00 -0700

This May 2015 I went for 3 weeks around Myanmar and Thailand…

Inle Lake

Itinerary

Day 0 Flight

Day 1 Contact with Bangkok

Day 2 flight to Mandalay and Mandalay Hill

Day 3 Pyin Oo Lwin and Anisakan Falls

Day 4 Train to Hsipaw for the Gokteik Viaduct

Day 5 Bikeing arround Hsipaw

Day 6 and 7 Walking/trekking arround the Shan and Palaung villages

Day 8, 9 and 10 Nyaungshwe / Inle Lake.

Day 11 and 12 Bagan

Day 13 Mt. Popa

Day 14 and 15 Mandalay and sorroundings

Day 16 Flight to Bangkok and bus to Trat

Day 17, 18 and 19 Ko Chang. Relax, Jungle and motorbike

Day 21, 22 and 23 Bangkok

Some Photos

Map of the Route

Day 0 Flight Departure This time to get to Bangkok I fly with Catar Airways stopping at Doha. One of the fastest options from Barcelona for a reasonable price ...

We arrive at Bangkok by the evening ... we take the train to Phaya Thai and from there we took taxi to the area of Khao San Road. We stayed at Wild Orchid Villa, which is not bad for a few days, and it has a swimming pool!

Day 1. Contact to Bangkok

After sleeping a lot .... We walk to Pom Pra Sumen and we visit Wat Intharawihan (the standing Buddha).

We eat something and walk up to the area of the Royal Palace (which they don't let in after 3pm) We go back by boat to Wild Orchid Villa. We have dinner on a street and then we go for a beer, and to rest to be ready to Myanmar!

Day 2. Flight to Mandalay and Mandalay Hill

We wake up very early ... We must go to Don Muang Airport (DMK). We stopped a taxi and then talk about prices ... 300 baths plus tolls. We flew with AirAsia, and offers free transportation to the city center! We arrived at noon at the accommodation we have booked , Rich Queen Gesthouse. We get a fresh drink, water and a laugh from ear to ear. Accommodation is Simple but we have great views!

Once settled, we take no particular direction to _ look for some place to eat ... an odyssey ... Walking through Mandalay is a complicated task ... and dangerous. The pavements are occupied by cars, generators, materials, etc ... Once you get used to, it's not so major, but at first shocked! After passing through a giant market that seems to have no order, we decided to eat Indian restaurant. Spicy !!! We try to get to see the sunset at Mandalay Hill by shared van. Another Odyssey! First, we were going in the wrong direction ... and then we take a van that goes fulfilled! We arrive there to see the sunset at half the mountain ...

From there you can see the wall outside the green Mandalay Palace surrounded by a huge water channel. The return way, we try to go by taxi , but we are not convinced with the price ...we walk until a a friendly motorbiker offers make a motorcycle taxi ... 3 in a motorcycle! whoop! At the guesthouse we arrange a shared taxi transport to Pyin Oo Lwin for the next day. We have dinner at a bar next door before going to sleep. We are tired!

Day 3. Pyin Oo Lwin and Anisakan Falls

The accommodations in Myanmar always include breakfast ... so after eating, we wait for the taxi and we make the way to Pyin Oo Lwin on the Shan plateau over 1000 meters. We leave the backpacks at Grace Hotel 1 , and we walk to visit the Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens in Pyin Oo Lwin. Botanical Gardens well maintained and ideal to see much of the flora and fauna of Myanmar.

After eat something, we rent a bike to go to see the waterfalls Anisakan of Dat Taw Gyaik. To reach the waterfalls is about 3 km walk down a steep path ... and then we have to climb ... that it ... .. The waterfalls are, great! The afternoon light makes the colors of the rocks are genius ...

After taking a bath, we go back to Pyin Oo Lwin. We have dinner at the local Night Market, very authentic!

Day 4. Train to Hsipaw by the Gokteik Viaduct

After breakfast at Grace Hotel 1 , they take us with the motorcar to the train station. We take the train to hsipaw. A 5-hour journey that passes through the Viaduct Gekteik of almost 700 meters long ...

Upon reaching hsipaw we stay at the Lily Guest House, and we went after eat something around the village. We ended up eating a delicious broth with vegetables and noodles fried with a cozy Chinese restaurant. With the train journey we finished with no energy ...

Day 5. Journey by Bike around Hsipaw

We want to make a trip to Palaung and Shan villages that are in hsipaw area. At the same Guest House they will ask more people to share the guidance for the next day. Today, we rent a bike and make a turn around hsiapaw, lunch in the village and in the afternoon we visit the Monastery Bamboo Buddha (Maha Nanda Kantha) and Myo Myauk (called Little Bagan). And finally before run out of energy, we go to Thein Daung Pagoda (Sunset Hill) to see the sunset.

The next morning we have a walking group!

Day 6 and 7. Hike arround Shan and Palaung villages

We chose the trek we wanted to do in two days, with two Dutch and one American with a charming gentleman called Onwe (ethnic Shan) that guide us and was responsible for all during the two days of the trek . It was very interesting to talk with him, because we spoke about the internal conflict that lives Myanmar (nobody speaks in the city for fear of finishing behind bars) and so we talked about the benefits and difficulties of the day life of the inhabitants of this peculiar country. The first day we walked eight hours uphill, crossing various ethnic Shan villages. The landscape was unfortunate; total deforestation. They cut trees to plant corn and how they had picked corn had burned straw waste to fertilize the soil, so we walked for hours wasteland. In theory we were surrounded by mountains, but it is summer in Myanmar, and the mixture of heat with humidity, smoke and pollution makes it impossible to see anything. The highlight undoubtedly the villages where we could see the locals doing their daily lives, and where we were given food (very good). The landscape was improved during the last hour and a half before reaching the town where we stopped to sleep, while preserving the forest. It was a Palaung village where there was no big thing, and that was precisely what made him special.

The second day, we woke up to see the sunrise, have breakfast and walk again ... The walk downhill now, with a beautiful landscape that was only during the first hour of the way, then desert again.

Upon reaching hsipaw we took a Shower, eat and go to catch the night bus that will lead to Lake Inle ...

Day 8, 9 and 10. Nyaungshwe / Inle lake. Walking, Biking and Boating

We spent three days at Inle, the perfect time to enjoy everything the area has to offer. The first day we did relax the second we rent a bike to explore the area on our own, and the third day we did a boat tour _ the lake. Definitely Inle Lake is a place that you can not miss if you travel to Myanmar. After hsipaw and Night bus, we made day of relaxation and meditation ...

The next day, we rent a bike for a spin around: part of the lake surrounded by bike enjoying the views of the lake and surrounding mountains. We spent Khaung Daing Natural Hot Spring, but not enter the temple there is a hill side view ... We continue to LWE Nyeint to see if we can cross by boat other side the lake. It moisturizes and wondering how we have to do .... seems too expensive and decided to return to Nyaungshwe lunch. In the afternoon we continue to paddle across the lake. We hold to the Red Mountain Estate Vineyards & Winery.

We do a wine tasting and enjoy the sunset overlooking the lake. At our Hotel we have agreed to do a tour boat on the lake the next day. Day Inle Lake by boat: Our tour began eaarly. We walk to a channel where they had the boat (canoe elongated engine) typical of the area and started the route. After traveling a few kilometers in a canal to reach the lake where fishermen fishing hoped (because tourists can take pictures ...).

We visited several places: first a local market, then the floating gardens where they grow all over the lake, later a jewelry store where they worked silver, a shop in which wove cloth with silk extracted from the lotus flower, towns whole bamboo houses built on the lake, etc.

After lunch we visit a bamboo temple and went slowly back to Nyaungshwe. With enough time to take a shower and go get the bus to Bagan.

Day 11 and 12. Bagan

The night bus leaves at 4 am in a village 20 minutes from Nyaung U. We met the Dutch couple we made the trek in hsipaw having breakfast! They also want to get to Nyaung , so we go together. So we negotiated a van for 7 and go looking of accommodation. Finally we stayed at Eden Motel. Simple, inexpensive and practical. We leave bags and rented electric bikes beside Eden, and we go to see the sunrise from a small temple near Paya Shwesandaw. A good start to stay in Bagan ...

Since we are awake, we have breakfast and continue visiting temples and other important but not so important ...: Ananda Pahto, Mingala Zedis, Manuha Temple Naga Yon Hpaya ...

We endup just tired, it is very hot at noon! We have a extended nap so we do not wake up in time to go to see the sunset, but almost ... so... We went to dinner at the street and buy some souvenirs. The next day, back to work! I get up again to see the sunrise from Shwesandaw Paya, and then return at Eden to have breakfast.

After eat , we visit the temples more remote: Sulamani Temple Dahmmayan Phaya Gyi, Pyathadar Hpaya and Dhammayazita.

When we return we visit the Shwezigon Pagoda making the time to meet the Dutch to go to some small temples to watch the sunset. The temples are Called Lay Soo Gon Group.

We negotiate the price to go see the Mt. Popa next day with them.

Day 13. Mt. Popa

Nice day trip to see some green….

On the way back we stop and see how they made sweet and liqueur with _ cane sugar ....

(+ Info what they do ....) Also randomly we stop in a village to walk the 3 blocks of land that there is .... A group of children appear out of nowhere When we take us to the temple where all the people with a Buddhist monk.

A good experience!

Next day we take a bus to Mandalay.

Day 14 and 15. Mandalay and surroundings

After breakfast and make the trip bus. We arrived in Mandalay and we stay at Nylon Hotel, nothing fancy. We like more Rich Queen Gesthouse. We leave our staff, and we rent a motorbike to go arround ... ..we visit Ein Daw Yar Pagoda, the river walk and the Flower Market.

We went to buy tickets to see Mandalay Marionettes www.mandalaymarionettes.com, we eat something and….

Les Marionettes!

The next day we take the bike ... and we go arround. Amarapura, Snake Pagoda (Paya Hmwe) inwa, SoneOoPoneNyaShin Pagoda, Sagaing, Mandalay ending with an ice cream at Icecream Nylon.

Dinner next to the wall, and getting ready to fly to Bangkok next day.

Day 16. Flight to Bangkok and bus to Trat

Transit Day ... Flight to Bangkok Don Muang Airport (DMK), and from there a bus to go to the bus station Chatuchak Bangkok Bus Terminal to wait for the bus to take us 5 hours to Trat.

We arrive late, we find a place to stay and eat something….

Days 17, 18 and 19. Ko Chang. Relax, Jungle

After breakfast and after a walk through the market, we look for the ferry to take us to the island Koh Chang (Elephant Island). We thought of various destinations near Bangkok to relax, and we decided on Koh Chang. We took an offer of accommodation in Penny's Resort through Agoda.com. Two people with breakfast for 30 € / night. ... and relax.

The next day we take a walk through the jungle with a tour. We swam in the river, see wildlife, and enjoy the vegetation that we found so lacking in Myanmar.

Next day we rent a Motorbike and we go arround the island… Manglars, fishing villages, coconut juice,...

And more relax.

Day 21, 22 and 23. Bangkok

After breakfast we go to the ferry, and from there (after some time not knowing what to do) we take a bus to Bangkok. We booked Lamphu House . Quiet, economical and practical. We went to dinner down the street, and we do massage time... I do a Thai massage and Tere a foot Massage ... The next day we visited the Chatuchak Weekend Market with bus in the morning and in the afternoon we take the BTS (Skytrain) to go downtown.

We arrange to meet at the Jim Thompson House with Raditsachon a Tere's friend from whem she was in the UK ... We visit the Jim Thompson House , worth to see how traditional asian buildings were.

After we go to the BSK one of the biggest shopping centers in Bangkok, and then to China Town for dinner. The atmosphere that exist in the streets of China Town is spectacular! food too!

The next day we visit the the Royal Palace and Wat Rakhangkhositraram. We go to dinner and drink something with Raditshachon.

We hire transportation for the next day and sleep tired ... eaarly. The returns are always long ... We always would like to stay ... Tarragona is waiting.

Algunes Fotos
2015-03-Myanmar (MYA) / Bangkok i Koh Chang (TH) https://photos.app.goo.gl/CKX2XixsZB8FG2bq6

Costa Rica

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 10:17:00 -0800

This time I decided to visit Costa Rica!

Traveling to Costa Rica in October-November is risky, you can have rain all day... Theoretically it is still rainy, but it depends on the year is good enough to discover the country. The best is that is still low season (cheaper and accommodation without booking requirements).

As I was traveling alone I didn’t consider renting a car. The public transport system works well and is cheap.

I didn’t have a defined route, just a list of places I wanted to go and things I wanted to do:

- After a day in the PN Corcovado the Osa Peninsula.

- The summit of Cerro Chirripó Chirripó PN.

- Visit the PN Tortugero

- See animals to get tired

The route I've done:

Day 1 and 2. San Jose and Poas Volcano

Day 3 and 4. Tortugero

Day 5. La Selva Biological Reserve (Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui)

Day 6 and 7. La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano)

Day 8 and 9. Santa Elena (Monteverde)

Day 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 Puerto Jimenez and Corcovado National Park

Day 16, 17, 18 and 19. San Gerardo de Rivas and Parque Nacional Chirripó

Day 20 and 21. Orosí

Day 22 and 23. Volcan Irazu and Alajuela.

Some Photos.

I flyed from Barcelona (BCN) to San Jose (SJO) stopping at Miami (MIA) with American Airlines.

San Jose and Poas Volcano

After the first night in San Jose (for another time I would choose Alajuela insted), in the morning I walk to the parque de la Merced to catch a bus to Alajuela and from there another bus to the Volcano Poas. The road climbs up to 2708m throught a valley full of strawberries and coffee plantations ...

The Poas Volcano National Park is a well-conditioned main crater and a path through a forest to the lake in the crater nuvulos Botos.

Returning to San Jose a little stroll through the center ... I think it's not worth spending much time.

The next morning I go to the Terminal Gran Caribe to catch a bus to Cariari.

Tortugero

To get to Tortugero, or you take a small plane that takes you in a heartbeat, or you have to go by bus until Cariari, change bus to Pavone, and then take an hour and a half boat across the river Tortugero to the village Tortugero.

I had the feeling of being back in the Amazon. From the boat, you can see some wildlife ...

We eat in a Soda, Casado with chicken.

The village is small, there is a side channel of the river and the other a huge beach.

The first night I choose the cheap ccommodation (room $ 7) Cabinas Meryscar.

In the morning I went with a guide and a canoe to the Tortugero National Park (TNP).

During the ride we see alligators, Garces, iguanas and several species of monkeys, in addition to countless birds of all colors and sizes.

The second night I changed accommodation. Princesa del Mar, for $ 10 a sea front room and a cozyer place.

In the afternoon I went to walk at the PNT until dark.

I have Dinner with Lora and Dimitri at Restaurant Miss Miriam, really nice Caribbean food.

Nacional Park of Tortugero

Acomodation Princesa del Mar

Restaurant Miss Miriam (Caribbean Food)

La Selva Biological Reserve (Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui)

I take off the bus 2km before arriving in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, and I walk about 800 meters to the entrance of the La Selva Biological Reserve . Is the perfect place to observe another way birds and plants in Costa Rica. This is a private reserve, with facilities for up to 100 researchers from Universities all around the world.

I stay one night.

At the same afternoon I go for a walk to many of the trails. I have dinner with the director of the center and the 5 researchers that are these days in the facilities of the reserve.

In the morning, after breakfast, I do the sighting of birds with a guide. I see Iguanas, Canchos Monte (White-Lipped Peccary), the Ranes Blue jeans and green and black, and many birds ... Crested Pava, Motmot, toucans, Guacamayos bats ....

After this 3 hours visit, I grab my stuff and leave ... On the road I stop a taxi heading towards Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, and after pact the price I take the ride ....

La Fortuna (Arenal Volcano)

At Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui I take a bus to San Carlos de Quesada and from there another to La Fortuna.

It is a cool vilage with good views of the volcano if is not cludy (as I've found).

I go with Kiko and Laura to walk Cerro Chato, we were luky because we were in the forest when start to rain… it look like a little rain inside the forest but it was a raining cats and dogs outside. We couldn’t see uncovered the Arenal volcano from Cerro Chato.

We saw the La Fortuna Waterfall from a far viewpoint and the $ 10 of entry we saved we used to took a taxi to go to Chollito, part of a river with thermal water that is not run by springs and it’s free.

I decided to go to Santa Elena (Monteverde) the next day.

Santa Elena (Monteverde)

From la Fortuna to Santa Elena I take a bus that goes surrounding the Lake Arenal, it takes ages...

The next day I visit the Hanging Bridges of Selvatura, the Natural Reserve of Santa Elena.

After resting a little I booked the Kinkajou Night Walk, It is the perfect place to observe different species of animals such as: sloths, armadillos, porcupines, possums, coatis, bassaricyon (olingos) y kinkajous (martillas).

Puerto Jiménez and Parque Nacional Corcovado

At Puerto Jiménez I arrive at 20:30 pm ....
I'm staying at Cabinas The Corner, near the bus stop. Kiko y Laura recommend it. It's a good choice.... a quiet and close to everything in town.
I have been in touch (via Whatsapp) for the last two days with Juan Carlos, a guide that a friend from Tarragona recommended me to see he can find any group to enter at the Corcovado National Park (PNC) with them.
In the morning I meet with Juan Carlos, and he tells me the routes that can be done at this time of the year, the rates (minimum for two people)... We talk about his life, and what else I can do around Puerto Jimenez. The first thing he advise me is to make the booking for access to the park and place to sleep at Sirena station.
I go to the office of PNC and I make a reservation for 3 days and 2 nights at Sirena. The transfer must be made before 4 pm at Banco Nacional (it's like a game... no credit cards or cash..). Now I have to find at least one person or another group to share a guide. From 2014, is required to access the park with accredited guide.
I visit the village, and I eat a brilliant ceviche in a small soda - Cebicheria Marbella (100% recommended)

At the afternoon, and through Juan Carlos I meet a French couple (Charlotte and Clement) who are going into the park with another guide. They adopt me! Their guide agreed...

So I'm in!... and that's how I meet who will be our guide to the PNC, Roger Muñoz. I make the payment at the bank for the access and accommodation, buy some food and relax.

The route

Corcovado has an unusual level of biodiversity in a similar area size on the planet. The area includes about 25 ecosystems which hosted grands populations of species such as the jaguar, puma, the tapir and pig monte.

During our route I saw monkeys tern, Congo and spiders, bears or tamandúas ants, Coates, tapir, bats, toucans, frogs ....

and as far as we went out of the park ... we see Babies turtles being Born on the Beach... Baula turtle.

Guides:
Juan Carlos Araya Mesén www.corcovadodreams.com (+506) 89637092
Roger Muñoz motmotcorcovado@gmail.com (+50685156852)

When we return to Puerto Jimenez, I do a rest day.
well.... At 8 am I went to the Corcovado Park's office to see if they can help me to book a permission to go to Parque Nacional Chirripó.
Jessica rolled and lots band officially called to see if we could book directly.. no luck. She let use the phone to try make reservations .... 45 minutes trying to connect with the office's responsible for giving permission ... when we almost gave up, we connect .... and we arrange the reservations ...!
After making the payment in to the bank, I went to the Mangroves by Kayak.
And I have a Casado for dinner!

- San Gerardo de Rivas and Parque Nacional Chirripó

- Orosí

- Volcán Irazú and Alajuela.

Some Fotos:
2014-11-Costa Rica (CR) https://photos.app.goo.gl/sp13kKPfCJ4oyJ2S6

Carros de Foc (Chariots of Fire). The hike route that links the nine Refuges of the Aigüestortes National Park and Lake Sant Maurici

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Tue, 1 Jul 2014 11:43:00 -0700

After the also classic mtb route Pedals de Foc (Pedals of Fire) last year, I did the classic hike route Carros de Foc (Chariots of Fire). This time with my cousin Isabel! that we had the same holidays and desire of fresh mountains!

Before starting, and because of the rain and the forecast of rain, we postpone the starting day of the route a couple of days. At least we don’t want to start all wet! So we do some sightseeing around the Vall d’Aran (Arhan Valley) .

We visited the waterfalls of Saut deth Pish and make a walk to the Monastery of Montgarri following the river Noguera Pallaresa.

In Viehlla two sincere recommendations:

- Hotel Iori, www.iorihotel.com , charming small hotel. (There is also the option of Refuge Iori)

- Woolloomooloo, Carrer Major 8 Vielha, bar-restaurant that you can eat well at a very reasonable price.

Just before going to rent crampons and ice axes we checked at the carrosdefoc.com if the recomendation still stand… and hapily for us they tell us that is no longer nesesary! Ufff, we just save money and weight ... literally weight!
At the organization of Carrosdefoc.com they give the card to seal at the shelters, a route map, walking sticks and a technique hat. So we started Carros de Foc!!!

Access route: the route can be started from many points depending on the refuge chosen to begin/ finish the route. We have chosen the Restanca refuge, where there are 1h30m walk from the parking space accessible from Arnes. Click here to see more possible starting points.

We chose to do it with 6 days (5 nights) counterclockwise direction. The route is generally quite hard, continuous climbing hills and downhills valleys, high mountain terrain, very stony to the heights, sometimes with large blocks of granite. Normally the path is well marked with stone landmarks and wooden yellow sticks, but it is essential to bring a map.

The Route

1st Stage: Parking - Restanca Refuge - Ventosa Calvell Refuge

Steep climb to the Refuge and steep climb to Port de Rius, passing through Lake Cap de Port. A strong start of Carros de Foc.
We find everything snowy at the mountain pass, and we begin to go downhill altitude following the footsteps on the snow. The view of the semi-frozen lakes with snow white around is a very great image to see.

We arrived at the Refuge before 4pm. Rest and relaxation.
At Dinner we share a table with a group of 3 Mallorcans funny mans that they want to do the route with 3 days (machines!)

2nd Stage: Ventosa i Calvell Refuge - Estany Long Refuge

Early we have breakfast with the Mallorcans and we get ready fast because the stage is long and hard.
After just over 200metres downhill, we begin to climb altitude .... nice stretch of path sections and sections with large blocks of graphite to be overcome. We bordering sections of snow whenever we can till the only option is snow. Actually more comfortable than the big blocks ... Too get to the pass Contraix is very strong slope. We follow the footsteps doing Zigzag on the snow. We stop few times to recover and once we get to the Contraix Pass, we contemplated the views of the frozen lake Contraix down the next valley.

The descent to the lake is strong ... and everyone can slip down in the snow .... it is a fast way to get down.
We eat lunch near the Lake, and continue down a long stretch of rocky path that soon becomes more friendly path.
The change in vegetation as we descent is impressive. The last stretch to the refuge is very wooded with lots of water. The Refuge is filled to the flag. We are tired and tomorrow we expect a long period ...

3rd Stage: Estany Long Refuge - Colomina Refuge - JM Blanc Refuge

Long stage in distance and time. When we woke up it was raining, and stopped while we had breakfast and the clouds were quickly dissolved.
From the Refuge began a long climb to where it runs along the shoelace Dellui, Tiny Lakes Dellui, Lake Dellui to reach the Dellui pass. From where you have a bird's eye view of the lakes of the other valley.

From this point going down and passing by a lot of lakes, through a section of old mining roads and back up a bit to Colomina Refuge.
In Colomina we stop for lunch. The views are spectacular from the refuge. And again, up to a short but steep step up to “pas de l'ós” (path of the bear).
To descent briefly stunning scenery and then climb the Saburó pass. From the pass we descend for a while until the Refuge JM Blanc, located in Tort Paguera Lake in a magnificent setting.
The refuge is one of the best. Very practical and comfortable.

4th Stage: J.M. Blanc Refuge - St. Maurici Ernest Mallafré Refuge - Amitges Refuge

After observing the spectacular reflections on the water of the mountains of the place where we spent the night ... It seems that we will have a sunny day and we have to enjoy it! We try to leave the Refuge by the Estany de la Cabana (Lake of the Hut) for not to undo the yesterdays path way, and after a small time of deviation, we achieve again the path that leads to the Monestero pass. From there begins a long descent to Lake St. Maurici through a landscape of extreme beauty and grandeur.

Let us seal by Ernest Mallafré refuge and lunch at Lake St. Maurici. To continue to Amitges the path that goes next to the lake is closed for renovations. So we take the bigger path and follow the GR11. At the height of the Ratera waterfall we go to see it... After passing Ratera Lake, the Cabana lake, and a steep ascent, we reached the Amitges Refuge
The largest one of all the Refuge, with a terrace from where you can enjoy a magnificent views.

5th Stage: Amitges Refuge - Saboredo Refuge - Colomers Refuge

From the Refuge we started the climb to Port Ratera.

At the Pass, we decided to go down a path that passes Naut Lake and Lake Maggiore to finally arrive to Saboredo .
Saboredo not seem the same that the one in the photo of the guide … they renovated and expanded the Refuge the past winter. We seal the card and continue towards the Sendrosa pass that we do without difficulty.
The slope sown is fairly hard. I guess that we have accumulated from the start has to be notice .... There is a moment that we leave the path, and not until the lake Clòto we go back to the original sender.
After a short pass, we reach Colomers Refuge where we have lunch and rest.
We spend the afternoon watching the Cirque Colomers Lakes.

6th Stage: Colomers Refuge - Restanca Refuge - Parking

We started going up to Port de Caldes from where we descend to the Caldes lake to climb up the Col de Rius, where we meditate if we raise the Montardo hill or start descent to the car as we still have a long way on the road to Tarragona
...

We descent… at Restanca we seal the last space of the card and we drink a beer to celebrate... The descent to the car it feels longer than what it is ... the fatigue I suppose ... At Arties we have a cafe and we go to pick up the shirt ofFinisher ....

Experience to repeat!

Some Photos:
2014-07 Carros de Foc (CAT) https://photos.app.goo.gl/wc8UZCeen88rzVnYA

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Catalan version

Pedals de Foc (Pedals of Fire). MTB route around the perimeter of Aigüestortes National Park and Lake Sant Maurici

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 13:18:00 -0700

This September we made the Carros de Foc (Pedals of Fire) in 4 stages , 220km and 6500m of ascent accumulated .
This is the bike version of the famous Carros de Foc (Chariots of Fire)
We have chosen the cheapest option at Pedals de Foc , that include the acomodation, dinners, breakfasts, the transportation of ours bags and the transport to the southern part of the tunnel of Vielha.

So we doing the first night Vielha, we have to be at 8 in the morning at the pick up point of the van that will take us to the southern side of the Vielha tunnel .

Route

1st stage. Conangles ( Boca South Vielha Tunnel ) - Castellars . 51km and 1637m

Perfil 1a etapa Conangles - Castellars

From Conangles we have to do 2 km on the road because since the begining of the summer the floods took away a bridge. And till Vilaller we have a couple of steep climbs .
From there stard the climb to Coll de Serreres, and the path start to be technical and sometimes we have to put the foot down. The path is marked as " Ribagorza Romantic" .
We pass Coll and once we crossed the river Noguera de Tor we climb to Iran where we eat some cannelloni at Casa Joanot . The uphill continues through Irgo and Gotarta , and then go downhill to Malpàs where we taje a paved path to where we have to sleep, Castellars .

2nd stage Castellars - Espui . 41km and 1513m

Perfil 2a etapa Castellars - Espui

We started the day climbing up until Erta and down to Les Esglesies pasing throuhgt Sas and Sentís, where we eat a snack before tackling the Coll de L’Oli. Until the final stretch we did on the bike , but the last section we had to walk.
The first part of the descent was like the last uphill stretch , so had to put the foot down few times.
Once at Aguirò we finish the stage by road till Espui where we stay at Casa Sastre .

3rd stage Espui - Son . 54km and 1753m

Perfil 3a etapa Espui - Son

After breakfast we start the dreaded Coll Triador ( 2100m ) . The views at the top is stunning ...
From there the track plans for a 20km having to overcome a couple of Colls.
We stopped to eat at a picnic area and we take a swim in the river ...
Once we reach Boi , down to the village and after a Coke, we make the way to Son where we sleep.

4th stage Son - Vielha . 61km and 1613m

Perfil 4a etapa Son - Vielha

We leave Son to enter into Bosc de Gedar (the forest raspberries), a magnificent fir forest that is not allowed passing on rhe bike, so we walk.
Between us we have a bike-hunter of mushrooms, Santi , who argues that cycling is a perfect way to hunt mushrooms ....
Once at Refugi del Gerdar we go down until Sorpe and continue to Alos d'Isil by Road and we continue on a good path that follows the river Noguera Pallaresa till the Refugi de Montgarri where we stopped to eat a sandwich .
We just have to go up and down till Beret and the downhill to Vielha.

And we finished the pedals de foc!

Very highly recommended !

Some Photos
2013-09 Pedals de Foc (CAT) https://photos.app.goo.gl/sHQUpDDu7y6cqjZJ7

Catalonia MTB Tour #Cataloniamtbtour / Catalunya MTB Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 01:35:00 -0700

In 11 Stages

Catalunya MTB Tour / Catalonia MTB Tour

I wanted to make some MTB trip near home and decide to do one route that I found at the web www.rutabike.com named Transcatalunya (I call it #Voltaacatalunya)

Beside the route of rutabike there is another similar one Transcatalunya of the bike’s centers

The route follows parts of the Camino de Santiago and covers the four provinces, and some of the most representative and charming landscapes (Tarragona, Prades, Solsona, Ripoll, Olot, Girona, Barcelona and Vilanova i la Geltrú). I re-design the second stage of Prades - Lleida and I ended up doing Prades - Ponts through Ivars i Vila-sana Pond.

1 Stage. Tarragona - Prades. 47.67 km and 1253m

You can eat at Albiol (Restaurant Albiol, 977098013)

You can sleep in Prades for 30 € (La Botiga habitacions, Pl. Major 14. 977868321). Other accommodation options

2 Stage. Prades - Ponts. 100.88 km and 925m

You can eat in many parts of the route (Borges Blanques, Puiggros, Castellserà or Agramunt)

You can sleep in Ponts for about 20 € (Pensio Ponts Passatge de Pinyola, s/n, 973460116, www.hostaljardi.com). Other accommodation options

3 Stage. Ponts - Solsona. 38.05 km and 932m

If you want to eat along the way you have to carry the food, no services during the stage.

You can sleep in Solosna for about 35 € / € 45 half-board (Hostal Crisami, Ctra. Manresa

52. 973480413, www.hostalcrisami.com). Other accommodation options

4 Stage. Solsona - Berga. 55 km and 1150m
You can eat at Montmajor (menus from € 9 in the two bars of the market place)
You can sleep in Berga for 30 € (Nuria Hostal Fonda Pl. Viladomat 17. 938222005). Other accommodation options

5 Stage Berga - Ripoll. 52.02 km and 1555m

You can eat in coll de Puigcercós (El Cobert de Puigcercós, 938239048)

You can sleep for about 29 € in Ripoll (Ca la Paula C. Pirineus, 6. 972700011). Other accommodation options

6 Stage. Ripoll - Olot. 61.92 km and 1437m

If you want to eat along the way you have to carry the food, no services during the stage.

You can sleep in Olot for about 29 € (Pensió La Vila, C/ St Roc 1. 972269807). Other accommodation options

7 Stage. Olot - Girona. 60.41 km and 1144m

You can eat at Sant Miquel de Campmajor (l’Hostal, Plaça Major, 972570712, 650133747)

You can sleep in Girona biker friend house, or other accommodation options

8 Stage. Girona - Hortsvinyà. 74 Km i 1500m
You can eat at Tordera before start the last uphill.
You can sleep at Can Pica (about 50€ half-board, 93 763 08 58, www.canpica.com) or at hostal Sant llop (35€ half-board, 937641003, www.hostalsantllop.com)

9 Stage. Hortsvinyà - Barcelona. 80 Km i 2000m
Is better if you take some food on the way just in case the restaurants are close (on week days). I ate at Santuari de Corredor.
You can sleep in a biker friend house or find some hotel.

10 Stage. Barcelona - Vilanova i la Geltrù. 70 Km and 1500m
You can eat at Begues.
I recommend Hostal Can Gatell (34€ sleep, 938930117, www.hostalcangatell.com)

11 Stage Vilanova i la Geltrú - Tarragona. 68 Km and 1186m
(here there is an alternative route with less road. 71km i 1250m)
You can eat in diferents villages along the way .
You can Sleep at home (If you live there... I do) or other acommodation options.

Some photos
2013-05-Volta a Catalunya amb BTT (CAT) https://photos.app.goo.gl/H2ftvu47nAFwLhDv5

GPS

Part of the blog Going by bike rocks

Some days in Lisbon

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Sun, 6 Jan 2013 12:46:00 -0800

Versió Catalana - Traducción Automática al Castellano
Second Part. Some days in Lisbon. (View the first Part)
Map of Lisbon

Starting the year traveling is priceless

Lisbon welcomes us with sunshine and pleasant temperatures.
Cathy works at a high-end hotel in HK, and they give a few days each year to use at the hotel chain network ... neither more and nothing less than the Four Seasons!
Backpackers at Four Seasons .... a little weird ...

We go out for dinner at The Food Temple, a small vegetarian restaurant that has mounted by Alice (that she host me doing Couchsurfing at Melbourne!).
I loved the food and I loved to see Alice again!

In the morning we buy the travelcard day (Bilhete diário Carris/Metro for 6€) that allows us to take metro, buses, trams and some elevator for 24h (24h... I just repeat that because the last day when we took the metro to the airport we were able to use the card from the day before)

We visit Belem. The tower, the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and we try the Pastéis de Belém. (Just to know. On Sundays you can go in for free at the main touristic places in Lisbon. We didn’t have sunday...)

We go at barrio alto. and we go up with the Elevador da Bica, and we look a place to eat. At the afternoon we take the 28th tram and we visit the Castelo de São Jorge.

We have dinner at Cervejaria da Trindade ofl Barrio Alto before go to sleep... we are really tired.

We rent a car.... and we visit Sintra (Palacio Nacional de Sintra and Palacio da Pena), we have lunch, and on the way to Cabo da roca we visit Santuário da Peninha. At Cabo we see the sunset...brillant!

We wake up late.... Breakfast and walk around Barrio Baixo. We visit the Igreja de São Domingos (the burn church).
With the 28th Tram from Martin Moniz till Graça, from where we descend walking till Alafama...

At the afternoon we visit FX Factory, an old industrial area with galleries, shops, coffee shops and restaurants just under the bridge 25 of April.
We contemplate the sunset at Miradouro du Santa Catalina, I cut my hair in the oldest Barbershop of europe and we finally listen some fado while we have dinner at barrio Alto...

Next morning we take the flight back to barcelona where after lunch we visit the Gòtic area, we see the Three Kings Parade and japanese restaurant for dinner...

The last day of holidays for Cathy and me... we have family lunch (of the kings day) and we packed the bag before go to watch the football mach Barça - Espanyol with friends.

Somos Photos
2013-01-Lisboa (POR) https://photos.app.goo.gl/SJSpkJGp3ZYcimVo7

Rediscovering Catalonia and Lisbon with Cathy

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Sun, 6 Jan 2013 05:34:00 -0800

Versió Catalana - Traducción Automática al Castellano

On Boxing Day (Sant Esteve) has arrive direcly from Honk Kong my friend Cathy that I met at Hong Kong and we coincide again at the New Years Eve in Sydney. She wanted to come for hollidays around, and we finally end up visiting a bit of Catalonia and Lisbon.

1st part. Rediscovering the Catalonia I know.... (See 2n part)
Tarragona
Visit the city that you live as a tourist it's okay once in a while, especially if the city has so much history like Tarragona.
The first days of the we visit the Roman ruins of the Roman Praetorium, the Circus, the Amphitheatre, the Roman City Walls , the aqueduct an we also go to tuch iron (Tocar ferro) at the end of the Rambla.

Curiosities of life when we were walking by the walls coincide with three tourists from Hong Kong ... They join us to come to see the Aqueduct us.

From here, a couple of days on the road ... We could put this headline:
Tour around Catalonia in 2 days
Day 1
We visit the Monastery of Montserrat. We ascend with zipper and we go to see the Moreneta. We heading towards to Olot by la Fageda d'en Jordà. (a great beech forest) We visit Besalu while lit lamps that illuminate the fortified bridge and we sleep in Figueres.

Day 2
After breakfast we visit the spectacular Teatre-Museu Dalí (that has been a wile I haven't visit ) and we go to eat at Cadaques. And to end we visit must Girona (I love Girona!)

On December 30 we join The 1st Silvestre of Renau (running and walking race), that have been organized for some friends. A good way to end the year
We also go to visit the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Montserrat of Montferri and Santes Creus before going to lunch at my mother's house.

To end the year we walk along the coast of Tarragona. We go to Tamarit and Altafulla. Lunch at the Serrallo and prepare the bags for Lisbon.

We had dinner with friends in Renau, we do the bells with 12 grapes, and we threw fireworks in the town square until they finish! And we play the characters and movies in English ... so much fun!

A really good end of the year

Some Pothos
2012-12-Catalunya (CAT) https://photos.app.goo.gl/Rhous5s6MfFNBxbg7

See the 2n part

Mallorca to do the Pedra en Sec Hike route GR221

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 09:17:00 -0700

Versió Catalana - Traducción Automática al Castellano
I’m going to walk through the Serra deTramuntana (a mountain range in Mallorca) folowing the GR221!

This is my first time I visit the Balearic Islands ... and I live very close!

Coincides with the first anniversary of the end of my around the world trip ... already a year!

At the airport Anna came to pick me up. She is a cousin that lives in Mallorca ... and accompanied me to the center, showing me the old town of Palma, where she does her live during the week.

We haven’t seen each other for a while and we have a good conversation.
I’m with her till lunch time. She have to go outside Palma. I spent the first night in Central Palma, a modern hostel very central and welcoming.

Night-time walk through the center, rucula pizza to eat, a little reading and head off to bed to wake up early in the morning.

I have breackfast at Can Joan s'Aigo, chocolate with ensaimada (shaped pastry), a good recommendation from Anna and give me energie to gather strength for the first stage.

From the Estació Intermodal (Central Station) I catch a bus to Valldemossa (Route 210).

I came here to do Dry-stone Route GR-221 a Hike that follows the GR 221.
I ended up doing from Valldemossa to Sa Calobra (the last stage had to be to Pollença and I finally change Sa Calobra).
I have booked the refuges in the booking webpage of Consell de Mallorca: Booking of refuges

1st Stage. Valldemossa - Deià, pel camí de l’Arxiduc. (12Km, 4 hores)
I start ascending making turns till the Pla des Pouet where I take a variant that passes through the viewpoint Can Costa and continues to the shelter Arxiduc.

Panoramic view of the sea at your feet. Lovely sunny day.
From Coll Son de Gallard (766 m) I take the trail of Arxiduc, very high and spectacular. The trail itself is defined by margins of Dry Stone.

Shortly after leaving the cliffs back at some milestones indicate the descent to Deià.
Heavy Descending path ending with a lush forest and later with spectacular olive groves.

I Finish at Can Boi Refuge, where I leave the backpack and go to have a swim in Cala Deià. Round the cozy and picturesque village of Deià.
Dinner and a beer at the Refuge

2n Stage. Deià - Refugi Muleta, Port de Sóller (9,3Km, 3hours)

Breakfast at the shelter and I start walking ... I thought if I arrive early at Port de Soller perhaps I can take the boat to La Calobra ...
Part of the path follows the Old way from Deia to Soller, of Moorish origin and restored in many sections. Can Prohom is a house that they build a hostel, and you also can have a coffe, orange juice or gin and tonic with a superb view

I follow up to the houses of Muleta Gran and I heading to the Muleta shelter, an old telegraph station located at the Cap Gros of Port de Sóller.
I Leave the backpack at the shelter after a cool cola looking at the views and I scroll down to Port de Sóller ...
I walk through the port, read a bit, and I decided not to take the boat and hang around around the port.

Spectacular sunset from the refuge, dinner listening the footbal mach Madrid Barça and after a chat with the other people is staying at the refuge ...sleep

3rd Stage. Refugi Muleta (Port de Sóller) - Refugi Tossals Verds (28.5 km, 7.5 hours)

I get up early to leave early. No breakfast in the shelter and I started walking watching the sunrise from behind the mountains.

In Sóller I have a good sandwich for breakfast and I continue my way.
I walk trought Binaraix and I enter into spectacular Barranc de Binaraix where I upward with cobbles to Coll de l’Orfe (Orphan's) where I see the Cuber dam at the bottom.

I got closer through the path that follows the stream Binimorat. I follow the GR221 along the Puig des Tossals verds till the Refugi with the same name. Beer with the others hikers waiting and watching for the sunset.

4rt Stage. Refugi Tossals Verds - Refugi Son Amer (Lluc). (19 Km, 6 hous)

After breakfast I start the way, today I want to make a couple of picks and better have time to go.
I rise, and before Coll des Prat I take together with a Belgian and French a diversion to the Puig Massanella.
From the top (1365) there are spectacular views.

We go down, and follow the path to the Col des Prat and Coll des Telegraph, observing a snow house (dry stone structures that had roof and filled with snow in winter to have some water in summer) and doing Puig of Galileo just before the sharp drop through the path Voltes d’en Galileu.

in the Sanctuary of Lluc a beer and relax. The refuge Son Amer is only 5 minutes away.
At Son Amer I meet a couple of Catalans that they have made the stream of Pareis in one day, from the same refuge and coming back taking the only bus going uphill (at 15h). The Torrent is dry and can be done without strip. I give thought during the dinner, and I decided to change the stage Son Amer - Pollença for the one to the Torrent.

5th Stage. Refugi Son Amer (Lluc) - Sa Calobra

The Torrent de Pareis begins at place called S'Entreforc, by the confluence of two streams: Torrent del Gorg Blau and Torrent de Lluc.
To Escorca I take parts of the path and road. I meet a German which also begins the descent to the canyon and we decided to do it together.
Some sections in the stream bed has a certain difficulty, large rocks and a pool of water. However, the route can be walked up, without special equipment.

Once we arrived at La Calobra (full of people), we take a swim and some cola time to do time for to take the bus to Port de Pollença.

I booked a cheap and cozy little hotel (Hotel Eolo) Although I have a few days in Mallorca ....
The next day I booked a kayak activity in Cala San Vicente World Adventure. I Walk back to Puerto Pollença and rest all afternoon

Next day I visit Pollença village.

At the afternoon I went to Inca to see Ana to see her place of disconnection of Palma, Sermita near Sencelles. There, I meet the whole family
We take a walk around their plot of land to the Talaiot (prehistoric structure) and a cave.

Pedro (Ana's husband) let me try and organic chamomile liqueur produced by himself (Sermita Liquor Chamomile).

I feel very comfortable

In the morning and after a super breakfast, Ana shows me some villages in the area.
And comes with me in the evening to Palma, where we have a coffee with a friend who wants to live in Australia ...

I stayed with the Albert (A friend from Sant Andreu now living in Palma) and Sheila. We go to dinner with a friend by Sheila at Santa Catalina district.
Breakfast for the second time in Can Joan de s'Aigo and walk around the center.
Lunch and towards to the airport

Mallorca has surprised me very positively.

Some Fotos
2012-09-Ruta del Cid variant Modejar en BTT (ESP) https://photos.app.goo.gl/zdfTBuD91KTVSqiw5

Camino del Cid (Burgos to Tortosa in mtb)

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 09:14:00 -0700

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Traducción Automática al Castellano
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Bike time!
Santi and I have been preparing a trip of few days with ours mountain bike and panniers. The addiction to mountain biking continues!

With the Camino del Cid as a base paths, that goes from Burgos to Valencia by a variant ending in Catalonia.
We design the trip with some routes that we have found in Wikiloc and looking for some possible ways with Google Earth. We had several alternatives into ours GPS. We did a search for accommodation prior to the villages where we intend to sleep, although we have not booked any. We carry a tent and sleeping bag if we want to camp.

We went to Burgos by bus from Tarragona stopping at Zaragoza (44 € cycling). Trains (Renfe) not support bikes on trains Intercity or trains Alvia. The only trains that support bikes are the train-hotel but arrive at Burgos at 3 in the morning!

At Burgos we stayed with Roberto (doing Couchsurfing!)

After leaving the bikes at his place, we go to visit the city with him. From the Cathedral, we walked to the ruins of the Castle to admire the view of the city.

Roberto tells a little story about Burgos ... and continue touring the city until lunchtime. We eat tapas and wine. Strong start From the tapas to the Bar El Patillas, a tavern socio-cultural mythic. After some beers and leave our voice singing loquillo andl and hits from 80’s to 90’s ... El Roberto ens explica una mica d'història sobre Burgos...i continuem recorrent la ciutat fins l’hora de menjar alguna cosa. Anem de tapas i vi. Comencem forts

De les tapes cap al Bar El Patillas, una taberna socio-cultural mitíca. Desprès d’uns quintos i deixar-nos la veu cantant Loquillo i èxits del 80 - 90...

At Burgos we will have to comeback to see the Museo de la Evolución Humana . We didn’t have enough time.

Stage 1 - Burgos - Salas de los Infantes. (65km i 744m.+)

Breakfast at Cathedral Square with the cloudy sky. We have all the bicycle full to start making our way!

We stard heading to Cortes with a track till almost the monastery San Pedro de Cardeña. Today the route is mostly very good track.
We pass Revilla del Campo, Quintanalara, Torrelara, Vega de Lara i Campolara. In Campolara we meet the forest ranger of the Sierra of demand, and after a little chat shows a place to drink some "Xispes" (Coca Cola in our biker lenguage).

Till Villaespasa we go on the local road to catch a track there. We pass Jaramillo Quemado, Barbadillo del Mercado and we arrive at La Revilla, where we drink some local cider. We deserve it. A few more kilometers left to reach Salas de los Infantes.

We have time and we look all the accommodations. Wins the Hostal Las Nubes . Bed and breakfast € 40 both.

We visit the Dinosaur Museum of the town to have dinner and sleep!

Stage 1 - Salas de los Infantes - El Burgo de Osma. (71,9km i 717m. +)

Breakfast, and we going to buy in the shops of the town to prepare sandwiches and start pedaling ...
We reach Hacinas and we climb to the viewpoint next to the church.

We pass Castrillo de la Reina and we stopped at Moncalvillo. Appeared to have been agreed all the residents living around the square to showed up all toghether. Grateful to see a town with people in the streets!
We continue on through Rebanera and Hontoria del Pinar. We stopped for lunch under a pine that we find on the way ... and we stretch a little.

The weather today is sunny and hot ... Track within a macro-out factory doors (Norma), and take the road that goes through Arganza to the start of precious Natural Park del Cañon del Rio Lobos.

Map Cañon Rio Lobos

At Ucero we do some "xispes" and continue. Valdelinares and Sotos del Burgo until the walled town of Burgo de Osma.
Today we also do Couchsurfing ... Sarah (a girl from Ainsa who works in the Town) she welcomes us to her home and shows us the town.
Even we were tired after a good shower we take a walk, eat tapas and also drink some ...

Great experience! We hope to see Sara in Tarragona!

Stage 3 - El Burgo de Osma - Medinaceli. (88km y 882m. +)

Today it is hard to get up ...
The stage is long and we have to put in motion. Breakfast in a bar on the way out of Town. We have already say goodbye to Sara.
We pedal to La Olmeda to Gormaz, and watch the spectacular fortification of Gormaz.

Leaving Gormaz go in a rocky downhill on the way to Recuerda (easy to remember, right? in spanish recuerda means remember). I spin both wheels and Santi another! Great! hehe
We fix them as good as we can ... There are three spins in each wheel!

From Recuerda we go to Cabezo Grande and then to Berlanga del Duero where we stopped for lunch in the town square. Santi spin the other wheel ... Spin day

It is very hot and we have to start moving ... stage is long and can not allowing us more distractions.

Track to Bordecodex a small town to fix another spin of Santi, we discover the amazing water source that give us some extra lives .... we put half of our bodies in the cold water!

We leave Bordecodex to start climbing up and up. The landscape changes completely. A few “xispes” in Baraona and from there the route follows a road through villages like Romanillos de Medinaceli, Yelo and Miño de Medinaceli, Medinaceli. It is nice because the sun is beginning to fall and the colors are warm ...

In Medinaceli we decided that the first accommodation we've seen is very good and we've deserve it. Hostal Cerámica. Bed and breakfast € 60 the two of us.

Tour of the town, dinner and to sleep

Stage 4 - Medinaceli - Molina de Aragón. (94km. y 1286m. de desnivell)

We got up very early ... stage is long and we not want to go against the clock. We eat what they have left prepared for breackfast. I've repair a spin before start pedaling. We went down to the station Medinaceli. And my weel seems to be not repaired .... Good thing we got up early. At Salinas de Medinaceli we find a nice village fountain perfect to repair spins!. From there we took a trail that goes up the road to find Zaragoza-Madrid Ave (fast train) and through Arbujuelo .

To reach Layna we take the secondary road from where we get to meet the N-211, cross the road to continue secondary. In Luzón we eat more breakfast and continue to Ciruelos del Pinar and Cobeta.
From there we took a trail that leads along the river to Ermita de la Virgen Montesinos, where we get to Torremocha del Pinar.

To track down through pine forests holdings to meet the Rio Gallo, who keep following the Poyo de la Peña.

We drink some “xispes” at Santuario de Nuestra Sra. de la Hoz.

The last section to Aragón Molina we do it on a secondary road.
We decided to stay in the San Francisco. € 50 to sleep two people.
Relax, go out for a walk around the village and have dinner.

Stage 5 - Molina de Aragón - Montalban. (111km. y 973m +)

Today we left the Camino del Cid (that goes till Valencia), we turn towards Tortosa.
We have breakfast hoping to fins open a bicycle repair shop. We have to buy cameras and patches. I Buy cameras with a gel (anti-spins).
We bought food for some sandwiches during the day and start pedaling.

Until Yunta we take a secondary road (no cars) and from there we take a track to Odon, where we eat a half sandwich.

There is considerable movement around the church square ... Till Bello on a road overlooking of the Laguna de Gallocanta.

The sun and heat tight, we drink some “xispes” before retaking the track that leads to the road that goes through the Collado de Santa Barbara and down to Calamocha. Rested with “xispes” and chatting with the locals, who would advise us on what route we take. We are not sure we can go on all the route that we made with google-earth ... We follow the path through a secondary road to Navarrete del Rio, Barrachina, Godos, Torrecilla Rebollar of Villanueva del Rebollar and Vivel del Rio Martin, where we take the N-211 to Montalban.

111km ... with saddle ... ufffff ...
After asking for accommodations, Cibertel Bar are offering rooms for € 20 per person. It is the Castle Square and we like it. We had dinner and take a walk around the town ... we are dead ....
We open maps to find roads or tracks for tomorrow .... In Calamocha they have advised us to continue on the N-211 ...

Stage 6 - Montalbán - Tortosa. (170 Km y 1466m. +)

We get up early, we eat what we have.
The N-211 goes to Castel de Cabra and the Puerto de las Travesias, and begins a descent with strong uphils. We go throught Gargallo, La Mata de los Olmos and Alcorisa.

At Alcorisa we buy supplies and repair a spin ... I put the camera that have gel. The N-211 to follow the Calanda, after asking for some options, we follow the paved road leading to Castelserás.
We go to find the stard point of the Via Verde. Ffrom Val de Zafran to Valjunquera we take theroad through Torrecilla Alcañiz.
The old train station is four kilometers out village ... We get there and eat a sandwich. We’ve done 78km .... We decide what we are going to do. It would be more logical to go to a town of Els Ports and stay the night there, but we want to go to Santa Tecla in Tarragona (City party week) !

Via Verda La Val de Zafràn

We started to make the greenway ... is great!
The slope is so small that you don’t know if you go up or downhill ... So we go fast.

Once we reach Cretas, we join the Via Verda Terra Alta and when we pass Pinell de Brai the Via Verda Baix Ebre.

Via Verda Terra Alta and Via Verda Baix Ebre

The views are spectacular views of the port, we are going well ... But the last train to Tarragona we do not know if we can make it ...

We notice the kilometers we have carried all the day, it’s not normal! In Jesus we see that we cannot catch up, there are 8 km and 10 minutes left. We begin to think that we should stay in the Ports, would have been a good choice ... But a group of friends on WhatsApp we see that Manuel is coming from Murcia to the festivities of Santa Tecla! We call him and Bingo! He is coming by himselft and he can take us and the bikes in the car! We arrived in Tortosa and tapas while we await Manel! Our Savior!

And road till Tarragona!

Some Photos
2012-09-Ruta del Cid variant Modejar en BTT (ESP) https://photos.app.goo.gl/zdfTBuD91KTVSqiw5

Pedales de Léon. Léon Pedals. Peaks of Europe

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 12:34:00 -0700

New experience on the bike! This time in Leon (North Spain)!

Jordi, Santi and I have decide to do the circular mountain bike route Pedales de León (Leon Pedals).

This route is for 3 to 6 stages (according to preparation and desire to enjoy the scenery and places) to the mountainous eastern part Leonesa. A total of about 220 km and accumulated about +6500 m. The organization Pedales de León apart of organizes the accommodation bookings and informarte you about the route, they take your backpack between the accommodations.

To Leon we go by the super van of Santi! A long journey to begin to disconnecting ...

On the way we found the remains of Monegros Festival, wine from Rioja and much much lonely lanscape ....

Cistierna is the starting point of the route. As soon as we arrived we went to visit Eduardo, who is one of those whom organize the route.
He gives us some tips for dealing with the stages, a map and a roadbook just in case the batteries of the gps goes off .

The first night we stay at Hotel Rio Esla

The route starts!

Stage 1: Cistierna - Crémenes
Distance: 31,84 km, 19,7 miles. By the Romana path of Esla way
Accumulated rise: 902 m.
Villatges: Cistierna, Yugueros, Olleros de Sabero, Sabero, Valdoré and Crémenes.

Once we are on bikes, we cross the river Esla and climb to Yugueros, where begins uphill , strong rises that take us to the Collado de la Cerra from where we do a demanding descent one. To get to Sabero, we went through a path next to Olleros and Saelices where we can see old mining facilities.

Go back to rise to the Collada de los Carriellos. What a climb! We met a forest ranger that is walking . He explains some wildlife that are in the area and we chat.

We descend to Valdore and take a variant that has recommended Eduardo, the Roman path, much more straightforward than the original route and beautiful.

At Crémenes we arrive for lunch. We have made the first stage!
Lunch and at mid afternoon we go to the swimming pool and we do a swim to relax. The Center for Rural Tourism The Sabinar invite us.
when we have enough of regeton music at the pool bar, we decide to do a tour of the town ..
For dinner Cecina, cheese of Valdeón and wine of Posada del Bierzo.

Stage 2: Crémenes - Soto de Sajambre
Distance: 65,03 km, 40,40 miles. By the Viego way
Accumulated rise: 2.567 m.
Villatges: Crémenes, Corniero, Primajas, Viego, Valbuena del Roblo, Lois, Liegos, Lario, Polvoredo, Pío de Sajambre, Oseja de Sajambre y Soto de Sajambre.

In the morning they make us a big breakfast.
After passing through Corniero we begin raising the Collado of the Caperas for then come down to Primajas. It's hot and we are lucky that there are delighfull fresh water sources in each village we pass.

We take the alternative A of pedal of Leon, which passes through Viego . We raised up until the collado de Viego to descend to the Valbuena del Roblo where we take a small road to reach the beautiful Lois. At Lois we visit the church of classical style white marble stone and we have a drink.

We way up to Liegos and we eat lunch menu at Lario. From Polvoredo we started a long climb Zalambral Gate. At half of the way up starts raining, rains and it stops . We got wet, but not much ...
At the Gate Zalambral we have to get off the bike to not degrade the area. It's been a while that we have entered the Picos de Europa National Park and this point is critical.

We pass through a majestic forest where we see a couple of deer from oak, beech, ginger, heather and yews.

Until an hydroelectric Power plant Pio we descent in the middle of a road sickle stones and water .... lots of water.
when we have we go out of the forest we visited the plant and continue down to Pio by unsalted road. Now we have to rise to Oseja de Sajambre, and a bit more to Soto de Sajambre.
We clean the bikes, take a shower and drink a cider.

The village is very neat and you can do many routes from here. If we could stay another night we would climb the Peña Santa.

Stage 3: Soto de Sajambre - Villafrea de la Reina
Distance: 56,01 km, 34,08 miles.
Accumulated rise: 1.819 m.
Villatges: Soto de Sajambre, Posada de Valdeón, Prada de Valdeón, Santa Marina de Valdeón, Portilla de la Reina, Barniedo de la Reina, Los Espejos de la Reina y Villafrea de la Reina.

We have breakfast and we descent to to Oseja of Sajambre along a trail that follows the GR-201.
The ascent to Puerto Panderrueda along the GR-201 is brutal. It is very hard and demanding (dismounted), but the scenery you pass with the bike, is worth it.

Once we have reached the harbor, we go to the viewpoint Piedrashitas.

Brutal descent to Posada Valdeón. I really enjoyed
At La Pensión Begoña we have lunch (too much food) and we recover to face what's left of stage.
Valdeón cheese for dessert! Of course!

The ascent to Puerto Pandetrave (1557) is very hard. We ate too much and we have not begun to digest it.

Slowly, step by step, we go up. I remember a phrase of Sonia ( Biciwink ) at II Congress of bloggers around the world Problems? Will pass throught, as the flower next to the road while you pedal.

At the Collado we admire the view and the clouds that are growing, threatening us.

We descend to Barniedo de la Reina by road and trail to find Boca de Huergano Where we look for the Hotel Tierra de la Reina.
We clean the bikes and after a well deserved shower we fix a broken radius of Jordi and Change brake pads from Santi.

Beer and relax.

Stage 4: Villafrea de la Reina - La Mata de Monteagudo
Distance: 52,94 km, 32,8 miles.
Accumulated rise: 1.575 m.
Villatges: Villafrea de la Reina, Valverde de la Sierra, Besande, Priodo, La Red de Valdetuejar, Ferreras del Puerto y La Mata de Monteagudo (Virgen de la Velilla).

We start raising strong. Leaving the mist behind and gaining altitude to Collado de Varazón and start descend to Valverde de la Sierra and Besade where we take the Alternative B by Priodo. At Besade We raised by road to Puerto Monteviejo and we descent a very dangerous path to Priodo.

We wait for the person who carries the bread to bar and we eat a sandwich.
From here there is maintly a ciclable path up and down .

We visited the Santuario de the Virgen de la Velilla. They say that One neighbor in 1470 found in the small field the image of the Virgin.

We are staying next to the Santuario, at Centro de Turismo Rural La Velilla.

Stage 5: La Mata de Monteagudo - Cistierna
Distance: 25,77 km, 16,01 miles.
Accumulated rise: 623 m.
Villatges: La Mata de Monteagudo (Virgen de la Velilla), El Otero de Valdetuejar, Quintana de la Peña, Sorriba del Esla y Cistierna.

Good breakfast for the last stage.
As Eduardo said, this stage is a trick. It seems easy but it's hard.

We go bordering Peña Corado with strong and long rises. Showed up the four days on the bike.

We arrive at Quintana de la Peña abandoned villatge and we continue decline to the railway crossing Cistierna León - Bilbao.
At 5km from Cistierna Jordi breaks the reel (bushing) of the rear wheel. We are lucky that is close to finish the stage

When we arrive, the first thing we do is buy cheese and Cecina.

Then we go to Esla Rio Hotel to take a shower and go to your spa to celebrate that we have finished!

After lunch, we meet up with Eduardo, who gives the Maillot and a gift

The places we have seen for its majesty and for its flora and fauna so diverse.
we haven't seen bears or wolves, but we saw some deer and oak, beech, ginger, heather and yews.
And road back to Tarragona

Some Fotos
2012-07- Pedales de León. Picos de Europa (ESP) https://photos.app.goo.gl/1XFQVtsmXMqNNEhC7

II Congress of bloggers Around the World

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:18:00 -0700

This Saturday I was with 28 bloggers and 400 attendees at the Second Congress of Bloggers Around the World Tour at Alexandra Teatre ... Organized by Travel Club (Marc and Mireia)

8 hours of lectures on information from countries, routes, quotes, blogs, experiences, problems, new friends ... but also about dreams, challenges and life projects.

I met three travelers who I had met while I was traveling! Bruno, Karen and Jordi... and I meet many new ones!

My speech was about places you pleasantly surprised. With a little nervous and embarrassed I tried to explained the surprise of some places that surprised me most of my trip...

When I prepared my presentation, I choose a place on every continent where I was:

- Road to Shangri-La (Yunnan) to Litang (Sichuan), China
- Southern Japan, Kagoshima, Yakushima and Kirishima-yaku national park
- Magnetic Island, Australia
- Bolivia. March was even less

And, what I was trying to explain on my presentation is that the valuation of the places you visit , depends on many things ... previous expectations, with whom you are with, the weather...
And if you let the high expectations with a drawer, you might also enjoy the trip!

The beer post-conference and dinner ended up making the day such as flies round the world!
Talking to other passengers (who have vaulted or flying around or who have surrounded around and want to continue ...) it's a therapy.

Thanks to all and see you soon!
Sergi

Merry Christmas and better 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 00:35:00 -0800

Now from Tarragona ...
happy days!

Pedales de Lava. Pedals of Lava Lanzarote in a pure state.

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:50:00 -0700

After a fast week in Tarragona, I return to the backpack live. This time I travel with three friends and an objective ... Make the route with mountain bike Pedals of lava, which covers the island ofLanzarote and La Graciosa.

The route of Pedales Lava is by a type of terrain that makes hard route, but with the greatsvolcanic landscapes of the island's at the background.

This trip I've already planned before returning to Tarragona. Santi and Jordi were plotting to do this trip, and I arrange the dates to go with them and convince David for joining us ... I am super happy to go one week trip with my friends!

We have coordinated all with www.pedalesdelava.com who have been great. (Nowadays is www.vulcanbike.com/)

We do the route in 5 stages:1- Puerto del Carmen - Orzola. 66km i 390m asc.acumul.
2- La Graciosa. 31 km i 300m asc. acuml.
3- Orzola - Caleta de Famara. 53km i 1300m asc. acumul.
4- Caleta de Famara - Playa Blanca. 71km i 750m asc. acumul.
5- Playa Balnca - Puerto del Carmen. 34km i 700m asc. acumul.

1st Stage:
First day, 66km after more than two months of not touching a bike (and was to do downhill only ...). The terrain seems quite flatter, we have little wind and not very sun. The first part is promenades, but once finished, start the paths full of rocky with some points where the sand makes you do acrobatics for not stop at every two meters. At Arieta we stop to eat and we continue to arrive in Orzola where we catch the ferry to the island of Graciosa. And fresh fish for dinner at Caleta de Sebo with Adolfo (a guy from Jaca which also do the route).

2nd Stage:
Day to enjoy the island of Graciosa that is a pearl. The cyclable part of the island is quite flatas we go around the volcants. We stop at idyllic beaches like Playa de Las Conchas and Jordi and Santi go to climb the Montaña Amarilla with cycling shoes (what guys!).
And when we got back at Caleta de Sebo, tranquility, swimming in a natural swimming pools and good food accompanied by wine.
La Graciosa! What magical place!

3rd Stage:
Stage hard. After leaving the island with a desire to stay longer, we start from Orzola climbing from sea level to 500m ... The views are worth it! From here begins a long stretch up and down until we reach the old capital of Lanzarote, Teguise. And we only need go down to the sea ... Until Caleta de Famara, the surfing beach of Lanzarote.

4th Stage:
The fourth day is the longest of all, 71km. The route lined the spectacular Timanfaya National Park ("team on fire" for us because the heat) for a small volcanic rock tracks that increases the difficulty of the terrain and with an mugginess that does suffer a bit.
The stage is long, but the legs seem that are already prepare to do this shaped .
When we arrive at Playa Blanca rest facing the last stage ... however, with swim in the pool!

5th Stage:
The last stage of Ajaches is harder than it looks ... An up and down roads filled with gravel that make it difficult to go on the bike. The creeks that we are spectacular, and the water is super good!
After completing the stage and take a shower , we collect the award jersey and we make a photo ...

The next day we make a day of touristic visits around the island (this time by car ...) We visit the Visitor Center of Timanfaya before lunch, we visit the Timanfaya National Parkand we do a small walk through the sorroundings of the park .
Later we go to the area of Geria and we do the guided tour of Bodegas Stratvs (it seems more to be a laboratory - or a nightclub than a wine cellar). The wine tasting let us very happy ...

Finally we drive around to see the sunset at the Bay of el Lago Verde, where we eat a delicious rice.

The nightlife of Puerto del Carmen we could say it is like salou ... and we do not like ...

A great week shared with friends!

Some Photos
2011-10-Lanzarote. Pedales de Lava (ESP) https://photos.app.goo.gl/c9AabwWzsJ166xwU6

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Back Home, back to Tarragona

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Fri, 7 Oct 2011 15:31:00 -0700

Whether I arrived to London in 15 minutes in advance, I arrive at Reus airport 45 minutesprematurely! So no one was waiting for me! Jordi and my mother arrives in 5 minutes ... I am at home!

After 528 days around the world I'm back in Tarragona. Here I have my family, friends and many places with many good memories.

The most striking news has been the baby boom has happen in to my closest circle of friends ... It will be hard to remember it cost me all the new names!

It has been great to make this dream I had for the past ten years. I've done in my rhythm, meeting many people along the way, doing a lot of CouchSurfing (which I will continuedoing it when I have my own house) and I knowing myself a little more each day, letting myintuition guide me.

My journey does not end here, it continues. Continues until I get tired to discover new places and new people. From now on, might be in a different way and not permanently, butI will continue making trips and telling them on my way. I hope I can do it for many years!

Sergi
October 2011

Some Photos
2011-10-Tornada a Tarragona (CAT) https://photos.app.goo.gl/pEdB9EstnRmiHAEr9

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And London when I came back too

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Wed, 5 Oct 2011 10:56:00 -0700

Low cost airlines from New York to London for 200 € means that you will have an small aircraft that has uncomfortable seats for many hours without food and making a stopover in Reykjavik for 3 hours.

I can’t complain for the price, right!

The plane arrive 15 minutes earlier at my London, a second home for me. It has been a long time since I stepped territory I known (such as 16 months and a half!)

I stay at the Yasmine's home as is now common in my visits to London.

I stay just a few days, but we have lot of time to chat about the trip with Chantal, her roommates and job friends …

I make sure that the Tate Modern is at the same place, that they have done a Bicing that works ( London Cycle Hire ), that I'm not used to drink pints of beer and that you can eat extremely well in London!

And now, I have to make the last section of the New York - London - Reus!

Some Photos
2011-10-London (UK) https://photos.app.goo.gl/wKvoDHx2JY15fkQXA

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New York and Philadelphia

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Sun, 2 Oct 2011 18:59:00 -0700

New York
Philadelphia

A month and a half ago I bought a plane ticket Bogota to New York with Sprites Airlaines (240€). I was in Iquitos and I decided to make the leap to New York because I've always been curious to know it, and why not say it, is cheaper to fly to USA and then to Europe from South America that directly.

So, my first stop is Miami (scale and do migration). I have just time todo all the controls and inspections of luggage, and there is a huge queue of people ...

At the final step controls where I have to check the suitcase to NY I realize that I don’t have my small baggage! First, Panic! And after analyzing the situation, I think I left it at the last baggage check ...

I check in the large suitcase and go to see how I can get to last checkpoint, is banned and we say that I go with someone of the company ... Employees say the company or juice accompany me and that I have to do a claim to them to receive by mail my luggage ... Fuck!

I try to access the checkpoint again, and I speak with police, who want to HELP. Accompanies me to the checkpoint ... and my suitcase is there! At the end of the tape ... Ufff.

So I take the plane to New York La Guardia Airoport ...

In New York I stayed with Jong Dae (South Korea), a friend I made at the Walk in Huaraz (Peru) , and has some friends that can host me in Queens ...

So the first thing I do to get to New York is calling it. Is 11:30 at night and the phone has given me doesn’t exist! Ouch what day that I have!

I make time at Airport. I connect to the Internet through computers for some coins that aren’t very quick to leave a message ... there isn’t free Wifi

I stay the night at the airport. There are many people that are waiting to cach a flight at 6 am, ...

In the morning ... 7am ... still have not answered from DJ (Dae Jong), so I decided to go to Manhattan to find accommodation. At 8 am already in the Hostelling International ... Very expensive! 50 U.S. $ per night for a shared room! I left my baggage there.
New York
I go for a walk through Central Park which is two hundred meters from the Hostel. I walk until I find the Solomon R. Guggengeim Museum. There is a small cue, is not open yet. And as if it is a signal, starts to rain lightly. So, I visit the museum! I like the building and the main display of conceited Lee: Marking Infinity. I spend many hours inside the museum.

Outside is still raining when I leave. I go back to the hostel and check mail ... DJ had given the wrong number! And I had been waiting till late waiting! Was 304 instead of 403... At last I talk to him, and as happened in Bogota, I don’t sleep in the hostel that I’ve already paid ... I meet with DJ with to take me to his friends at home ... And this time we do meet! Great! We go to Northern Station Blv. In Queens, a residential area half-hour from downtown Manhattan. His friends have gone on vacation ... one in Korea and one for USA. So they let me stay at the apartment alone! That rocks!

From here, I relax and I start to discover the city without stress or planning ... I simply choose the direction I believe at the time and let the luck for find the tourist attractions that all know from the films and series. Is the way I like to know the city, and is how I did it in New York ...walking and repeating the very places that I like.
I like The market in Madison Square Park on Saturday and the Festival of San Gennaro in Little Italy.

I see DJ working in the restaurant Ramen two days a week, and I try the Ramen ...like the ones I had in Japan, spectacular! And on Sunday he invite me for typical Korean meal lunch at his house made by his roommates at Forest Hills in Queens.

Philadelphia
One of the things that I thought I want to visit is Philadelphia and Washington DC. Are close to NY and are U.S. history.
Tuesday I take the bus to Philadelphia (bus with wifi!) And I visit the historics buildings where the constitution and independence of the USA was developed, then I walk to China Town and the Avenue of Museums Art Museum with the stairs of the fictional character Rocky Balboa just his training sessions ...

I have arranged to meet Makoto (Japan - Philadelphia) that I met in Guilin (China) a year ago along with Joseph ... And he is working in Philly ...

We had a beer before going to dinner in China Town ... of course! Chinese for dinner! After over a year we share the Chinese dinner ...

I stay at his magnificent apartment with an overlooking of the bridge that connects New Jersey with Philly ... I decided to stay in Philly instead of going to Washington DC ...

After a coffee we walk near his home to Italian Market. One of the most authentic and original of the city.

We make another coffee before going to prove typical of Gino's Cheese Steak ... And once I return to NY, I continuous discovering parts of the city.

With DJ we go to see a Korean film at the MOMA and left me a MOMA membership card to visit it one day...

I liked New York, neighborhoods and parks are what one expects from a big city. The population is varied and the English could not say that is the language used ...

Now, I want to go back to europe...

Some photos
2011-09-New York (USA) https://photos.app.goo.gl/fvMrdxmSQNyofnSx8

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Villa de Leyva and Bogotà

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 02:07:00 -0700

And... I’m back in Bogotá! After a long trip from Salento... At Pereira Greta and I take diferents directions.

At Bogotá Mauricio and Carlos are specting me. We’ve arranged to go to Villa de Leyva next day...
I sleep a lot, do laundry and watch a movie ...

And at the afternoon Alex and Stella collect me with Carlos to go on the road. The Muricio was with Natalia and Gladys. We are a good bunch!

Three hours to arrive in this charming town of Villa de Leyva, known for its cobblestone streets, colonial houses, restaurants and its location within the valley. First, look for accommodation and leave the baggage. Under a light rain we find la Española Hotel, a cozy hotel close to the huge and pleasant Plaza Mayor. And to have some Margarita’s at the Plaza!

Once we eat breakfast, we go to discover the town, shops and hidden corners ...

And before lunch, we rent a horse to go to Pozo Azul, a fresh water pools amidst a dry landscape ... in Mauricio and I swim. The water is very good and clean …

At the village we have a great meal! I’m very surprised of the Colombian food quality and quantity. The variety of traditional dishes is extensive and it is difficult to choose ...
After a nap we went to take a few margaritas again ... Great atmosphere there on Saturday night ... half of Bogota is here or what?

Sunday we do a bit more of bed and walk around before taking our bags and go to visit the Santo Ecce Homo Convent on the outskirts of Villa de Leyva. The Convent is one of the first that settled in Colombia and is very well preserved.

For lunch stop on the way to Bogota and we eat sausage ... A great long weekend with friends!

On Monday, rest, laze and start balancing things for my next stop, New York.

I've been told I can not leave without visiting Bogota Gold Museum and climb to Cerro de Monserrate. So I go with Rocio, a friend of Mauricio and Ana Milena that I met the day I met Mauricio and Carlos. I find the Gold Museum amazing! Very well organized and material to stop a train. You can see the different ways of working with the gold of different indigenous groups prior to arrival and the plundering of the Spanish Crown

And from the gold to the Esmeralda, The International Museum of the Esmeralda to be specific. Rocio knows the director of the museum and invites us to visit the museum of the green stone. Colombia is the country with the most expensive and most beautiful esmeralda in the world ...

After so many museums have to aerate us ... cable car to climb the Cerro de Monserrate. Monserrate = Montserrat tell, right? I don’t know ... All I know is that as the main image of the crucified Jesus is pilgrimage. But, on one side I see the Black Madonna of Montserrat accompanied by Catalan and Colombian flags. What joy!

The views are tremendous from Bogota here .... and valleys are untouched mountain on the other hand we make you want to explore them.

We eat at Rocio’s home. Her mother have prepared a spectacular dish of chicken ...
I go to meet Mauricio at the office and we pick up Carlos to climb to Mirador Via La Calera dinner and watch the big night of Bogota.

I decided to make a morning trip to the Alameda Vieja de la Quebrada. I have been recommended to do it as early as I can, because there are more people walking and it’s more secure. 100% recommended!

What wood forest and whats views of the mountains and the city! There is some people doing the walk every morning before going to work. at the top of the mountain I meet Tatiana, Bogotenya and a photographer who has traveled throughout South America. We talk down the mountain and we have breakfast in a street market of the Wednesdays from organic products.

And I take a walk for the Candelaria, making a coffee and discovering nice corners.

I prepare a Fideuà for the last dinner...

I've been very happy here in Bogota.

After 250 days (8 months and one week) at South America, I jump at North America...

Some photos
2011-09-Bogota i Villa de Leyva (COL) https://photos.app.goo.gl/PRMqnWWs7KMCcGiC8
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Medellin and the Eje Cafetero

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 01:41:00 -0700

At the bus station in Medellin I say goodbye to Greg and Marie.

Medellin is a good city.

After a walk through the center and the highest neighborhood (with the highest underground cable), I watch a movie The arnacoeur (Heartbreaker, Pascal Chaumeil 2010) at Center Colombo Americano. A comedy that made me laugh and think a little too ...

Next morning I visiting the zone near the hostel where I stayed, the Poblado, and I decide yo go to Manizales, the capital of el eje cafetero.

I’m luky! in Manizales there is a theatre festival on, Manizales International Theatre Festival and as the day is Fair and not wanting clear up, I see some advantage to know the city works. There are many people everywhere ... incredible!

The next stop is more rural ... vilaging is what I like the most. On the way to Salento to do CouchSurfing, I make a stop in Chinchina to visit the coffee village of Palestine.

And then Pereira to take a bus to Salento... At this bus I meet Agata (Germany) another couchsurfer in salento.

The couchsurfer we are staying is in The La Rosa de los Vientos (Natural Reserve of Civil Society) of Margarita. Is about three kilometers from the village. A reserve that she is beeing taking care the last 18 years. Now she rent rooms and let camping people …

I like the way it is Margarita ... she always say interestings things that surprises people ... This woman has been everywhere at all times!

With Greta we went to visit Salento. The objective is to find a good coffee. We find it, and what coffe we get!

Returning "home" we meet Roland and Steffi (Germany), htey are also couchsurfers ... a whole group! We xat with Margarita until we have wanted to sleep.

In the morning we get up early to go for a walk through the valley of Cocora ... From Salento aboard a Jeep to the entrance of the valley, and we walk the spectacular valley, magical and mesmerizing ...

Back in Salento, we repeated the magnificent coffee and buy food for dinner. Margarita has left the city and has not returned ... ohhh

It feels like we all need a relaxing day ... And I partly do. Until lunchtime I read, we swim in the river, I look at the plants, fall asleep in the hammock ...
And as I start to feel hungry, with all the troop of CS we going to make a menu in a restaurant shaded road that makes it full. We are so full that we bought Aguardiente to put down the food...
We visit the viewpoint at the top of Salento and we have a coffee ...

Margarita didn’t comeback from the city ... In the morning I make my way back to Bogota.

Some photos
2011-09-Medellin y el Eje cafetero (COL) https://photos.app.goo.gl/p9YDHaBFGAKBgTvG8

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Cartagena and Playa Blanca

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Wed, 7 Sep 2011 13:04:00 -0700

When we arrive in Cartagena we look for accommodation with Greg and Marie, near the walled city. We find what we look for, economic and well-located.

In the morning I take a walk around the walled center. I love it! Narrow streets and colonial houses with well-preserved courtyards, cafes, shops and walls ... although be very different, the rhythm is similar to the inside walls of Tarragona.

For lunch, I meet with Greg and Marie. We eat fish and we go to have a Tinto (coffee) in the walled city. And as we are doing a tinto in a square, the weather change and begins to rain very hard! The refuge we found is the music school, with a lovely courtyard.

At night I wanted to meet Ana Milena. We went to eat a pizza with her friend Maria, Greg and Marie.

The city is beautiful at night!

When I wake up I prepare a small bag and after meet with Greg and Marie, we go to Playa Blanca in the Baru island. White sand beach and sea with turquoise water ... a delightful place.

I camped under a shed to protect the tent from the sun, and straight into the water! great! We enjoy the good weather that we are having.

In the evening we drink a Coco loco and we chat ...

At night is not easy to sleep the heat is so heavy!

In the morning, we rent a pair for snorkeling ... How many fish for god!

And at the afternoon we return to Cartagena by speed boat.

I have dinner with Ana and Maria at Bocagrande and we go to drink few beers ...

In the morning, I walk around the old town again and I buy the bus ticket to Medellin and I go for lunch with Anna and Maria, this time at La Mulata ... a delightful restaurant.

And night bus again!

Some photos
2011-09-Bolivar (COL) https://photos.app.goo.gl/aQyieKvQjm3T5wKQ9

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Guajira. A few days in Cabo de la Vela

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Fri, 2 Sep 2011 03:46:00 -0700

From Santa Marta we take a bus to the last cuatrovias before Rioacha to take a Collectivetaxi till Uribia from where a transformed Pick Up to transport people and materials goes to Cabo de la Vela.

Here there aren’t many things to do besides watch the calm it exudes.

We find a family that has accommodation rooms 3 meters from the sea in a very affordable price ... the marriage is also leading the restaurant, they are friendly and great cook.

The first day, after the magnificent sunset, we eat "lobster in garlic" with a few beers from Venezuela (so close to the border, there is a lot of smuggling). Great!

A swim in turquoise water to start the day, waiting for an arepa with oats and a tinto(coffee) for breakfast.
We walk to the piles of sugar, a sacred mountain with a pretty beach and that the road is over a pond full of birds.

The sunset view from the lighthouse is only 45 minutes walk from the village.
I decide to stay a day longer than I planned. To do Not do anything besides read, sleep and swim.
Before the latest garlic lobsters for dinner, we ran to the Lighthouse with Greg and Marie ... I love it!

In the morning (5am) we take the Pick Up to get back to Santa Marta.

And after resting in Santa Marta, all the way to Cartagena …

Some photos
2011-08-Guajira (COL) https://photos.app.goo.gl/E4jELzq4RbgwJj6B6

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Magdalena. Santa Marta and Tayrona

noreply@blogger.com (Sergi Ferret) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 03:12:00 -0700

I arrive at Santa Marta and I go direct to Taganga by motorbike. Taganga us a smal village next to the beach, fisherman's and gringos. I have arrived to the Colombian Caribbean sea.

After choosing a hostel ( I choose the Ocean Reef hostel, smal and cheap) I go for lunch and also to watch the final of the European Super Cup... Barça wins!!!!

The night bus ride leave me without energyt, I rest for a bit at the hostel. When the sunlight disappears, I go for diner with three Chileans girls that stay as well at the hostel. There is some Gringo party like Salou (summer cheap holiday destination)... I have enough of Taganga.

Early morning I go to Santa Marta with an light backpack for a three days trekking in the Tayrona National Park. I buy food and water before I take the bus to the Park.

Map of a part of Parque Nacional Tayrona

This is spectacular pretty. The sea, the jungle and the mountains goes toghether and even the high number of visitors still maintain some virgin spirit.

I walk with the calm, more contemplating than walking to be honest. As I find a small creek I take off my clothes and go for a swim. Is tremendous!
I arrive till Cabo San Juan de Guia where I camp and I go to swim again...
Next morning I go to Pueblito, a ruins of an indigenous Tairones village and they are in the middle of the jungle.

Rest, beach, reading and contemplation. This is how I spend the days in the park.

When I got back at Santa Marta I stay at the centre, at Alojamiento San Jorge (Cheap, clean and comfortable). Greg and Marie recommend it to me, they arrive later from the park.

At Santa Marta apart of sleep, I walk around the city like if I'm looking for something in concret... I gess I need to eat... So, I eat a menu.

I doupt about if I do the tour of the trekking to Ciudad Perdida (Lost City). Costs 600.000COP (about 300US$) for 4 days. I decide to go to Guajira instead.
I’m going to Guajira with Greg and Marie.

Some photos
2011-08-Magdalena (COL) https://photos.app.goo.gl/K1hwjAWwxhi4JuDz9

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