Discover Girona

Le Train Jaune through the Pyrenees

Admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:21:38 +0000

The yellow train is a tourist institution celebrating its centenary in 2010 and is the highest train ride in France going through the Pyrenees from Villefranche de Conflent to Latour de Carol. You might well ask what does this have to do with being based in Girona for a holiday, well it is less than an hours drive to Perpignan from where you can get an ordinary train and in 45 min arrive in Villefranche where the "Train Jaune" begins.

The whole trip from one end to the other takes over three hours winding through the mountains from 400m altitude to 1,600m with spectacular scenery all the way.

The train itself is special as it is built for sightseeing all year round and taking skiers up to famous ski resorts like Font Romeu and Les Angles. The fun part is choosing a town along the route to get off and explore a bit more on foot. Mont-Louis is one option where you can discover the fortress building skills of Vauban, the foremost military engineer of the 17th century. He worked consolidating France's borders from a defensive perspective and was duly rewarded by his patron, Louis XIV, making him a Marquis.

Villefranche also has an impressive Vauban fort to walk around and these as well as 6 others have been made UNESCO world heritage sights in 2008.

Le Train Jaune is a great excursion for all the family; there is something for everybody from the train ride and scenery to all the different villages, fortresses and ski resorts to explore.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Costa Brava from the air

Admin — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 08:19:28 +0000

The very best way to see the spectacular scenery of the Costa Brava, without spending hours fighting the crowds at this time of the year, is to do it from the air.

Microlight sightseeing trips are offered in various places but the one I took is based outside l'Estartit (www.ultraligeros.net) and Javier was a perfect pilot and guide. The 15 min flight takes in a remarkable variety of scenery; from the River Ter estuary discharging into the sea; the wide beaches to Pals, and then the rocky coves of Begur, Aiguafreda (great views of the Parador) to the tiny Sa Tuna beach; back to the amazing Isles Medes (underwater national park); Estartit harbour and along to the Castle at Montgri and below the town of Torroella and finally down the river Ter and the vivid green rice fields of Pals back to land at the tiny airstrip.

On a clear day there is no better way to get a feel for the splendour of the coastline and seeing it from a very different perspective, as a seagull would, was a real treat, thank you Javier, I will be back for more!

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My favourite photographer: Jacques Henri Lartigue

Admin — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:56:04 +0000

This photographer captures movement and situations like no other, Jacques Henri Lartigue (1894-1986) was truly a master of his craft.

Combining beautiful technique with humour and thrilling subject matter (he loved fast cars, sailing, swimming, tennis and winter sports) as well as beautiful women. He realised that everything he valued such as happiness and youth, light and beauty were fleeting and so by capturing the moment on film he could preserve it forever.

Enough said, the images speak for themselves and it is amazing to think that they are almost 100 yrs old!

They are exhibited at the Caixa Forum in Barcelona until October 3rd-get there!

See the full gallery on posterous

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Nature bike ride

Admin — Mon, 24 May 2010 09:02:59 +0000

About 30 people of all ages got together last sunday morning to follow Montse around cycle paths to Sant Gregori while she stopped and explained all the wonderful plants we were seeing and their medicinal properties.

First stop was the elderberry/elderflower with large white flowers which makes a cordial or cava which we tried later on and was delicious.

From the most common plants like dandelions, poppies and nettles to flax, bindweed and borage we learnt to identify them, which parts of the plant were of interest and how to prepare an infusion or compress and what ailments it helped.

We all felt very inadequate and the common lament was how we were losing contact with our surroundings and an important part of our heritage that our grandparents took for granted.

Thank you to Montse and Mou te en Bici for organising such an interesting ride and I hope it becomes a regular event.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Strategic Hostalric

Admin — Sun, 23 May 2010 07:38:47 +0000

Hostalric is a town built on a basalt outcrop in the 12th century above the river Fogars because of its important position on the France-Barcelona trade route.

This intersection has proved both good and bad for the local residents over the centuries, encouraging investment in the form of castles and defensive structures but also attracting more than its share of sieges and sackings.

Hostalric is now on the main road and train lines with trips in under an hour to the centre of Barcelona so its strategic position has evolved somewhat to one of a dormitory town but there are plenty of local industries based here too.

It boasts easy access to the Costa Brava and also the Montseny mountains which is a protected UNESCO scenic area. The river Fogars it is the dividing line between Barcelona and Girona provinces.

It is the perfect place to stop for a walk around following the easy routes that are marked and finish up sitting in the mulberry shaded main square sipping a cool drink and looking up at the massive fortress which still dominates the skyline above town and which now houses a restaurant.

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Miró/ Portabella art

Admin — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:40:02 +0000

This fantastic new exhibition at the Fontana d'Or in Girona shows how Miró the artist and sculptor collaborated with a young filmmaker, Portabella to illustrate the creation of some of the most emblematic pieces of art of the 20th century.

Miró was a creative genius in several formats and here we see him working on painting windows for a temporary exhibition, other creations made into massive wall hangings or cast into 1,000 kilo bronze sculptures.

His work is a pleasure to view as there is always something unexpected to be discovered. As an aside, one of his largest wall hangings was on display in the foyer of the twin towers on fateful sep 11,2001 and he refused to make another.

Portabella captures these creative sessions perfectly, usually letting the craftsmen themselves express the process or just standing back for us to enjoy what could be a wonderful theatrical set.

Impressive in scale and ambitious in intent this exhibition is a treat, filmmaking as visual art, literally.

On from May 6th to August 29th 2010.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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The Fiesta runs on…

Admin — Sun, 09 May 2010 10:12:25 +0000

This weekend is full of activities as well as the Flower festival, a more sporting event is the 10km and half marathon road races which are annual staples around the centre of Girona.

Road running is very popular here, and like the professional cyclists have discovered, Girona is a perfect place for most sports in terms of weather and interesting terrain. All ages join in these runs with many schools and clubs participating which makes for a wonderful atmosphere both along the streets and between the participants.

Todays half marathon was won in a time of 1hour 4min 34 by Mohamed Ben Barka of Barcelona which was just outside the course record.

Several thousand people are feeling tired but happy as they head off for lunch with their families and friends this sunday, well done everyone!

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Girona has Flower Power!

Admin — Sat, 08 May 2010 16:20:54 +0000

Girona Flower Festival 8-16 th may

The 55 th Temps de Flors has begun and if today's crowds are any indication, this will be the best attended yet.

The Old Town of Girona is decorated with flowers including patios and gardens never usually open to the public as well as important buildings, churches and of course the Cathedral steps and cloister.

Even local businesses join in the spirit and include flowers in their displays or shop fronts.

Some displays are subtle and visually provoking, others a bit obvious and garish but there is plenty for everyone of all ages to enjoy and the atmosphere in town is truly festive so come and join in!

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Empordà wine tour

Admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 09:27:05 +0000

Spring weather is as fickle as ever this year but a trip to visit a Bodega (winery) in the Empordà is always a good option since the worst that can happen is that you get stuck in a cellar with plenty of wines to taste while you watch the rain come down in the vineyards.

If the sun shines this is a glorious time to wander around the countryside as everything is growing furiously and the shades of new green are startlingly vivid. After all this activity, or maybe in spite of it, a glass of cool white or rosado wine does wonders for looking at life in a more positive vein. Follow this with a selection of reds, some young and fruity and some with oak ageing and by the time it comes to taste the dessert wines things are positively wonderful.

Having activated the taste buds and got the saliva flowing the only possible follow up is a wonderful meal at a nearby restaurant with fresh fish and lamb with wild herbs dishes that seem to be particularily appreciated, washed down with a choice of wines, of course.

By now it is completely normal to feel a bit satisfied and even drowsy so either another walk is needed to explore some of the prehistoric burial sites which dot the area or it's time to have a doze in the back of the van for the ride back to Girona. Either way it's a day of pampering oneself with tastes, flavours and experiences that make visiting this part of Spain a fantastic experience.

Day tours to wineries in the Empordà inc all transport, tastings and lunch cost 125€/person, groups of 4-8 people.

Contact: gironaj@gmail.com for more info or to book.

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Rodney Graham @ MACBA

Admin — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 10:33:34 +0000

This exhibition of art and film by Rodney Graham is on at tha MACBA (Museu d'art Contemporani de Barcelona) until May 18th. It shows his evolution from photography to film, music and painting and this is the perfect space to display his works.

Graham is from Vancouver, Canada and uses the forests around there to capture the process which transforms objects (mainly natural objects like trees) from mere representations to autonomous images using flash illumination at night.

Another transformation is an old typewriter which is filmed being covered with snow, symbolising how words have been silenced and also that both the typewriter and the old projector displaying the scene are both obsolete technologies.

It is an interesting and thought provoking exhibition and in addition there are works by John Baldessari, another contemporary artist on display in the same building.

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