Friday, September 30, 2016

Lake Centenys, Girona and The Game of Thrones

 Cycling Spain's Costa Brava - Day 4 and 5

Spending the weekend in Barcelona during its biggest festival of the year was pretty wonderful, but I was ready on Day 4 to board our shuttle for the City of Girona to meet our cycle guides and commence the bicycle part of our tour.

Upon arrival we checked into our hotel and had a cava reception, history briefing followed by a tapas dinner with our guides.

Our Guides Oriol and Carlos 
Present an Overview of the Costa Brava

Girona From a Hike on the Roman Walls

A Morning Tour of Girona

Our tour of Girona began in the historic Jewish Quarter. We went on the pass the Church of St. Felix and Girona's Cathedral. The newer portions of the city are separated from the historic core by a river spanned by a metal bridge designed by Gustav Eiffel (yes, that Eiffel). It is a hub for world class bicylists to train as it has perfect training terrain, a great year round climate and is near the sea and snow skiing in winter. Lance Armstrong owned a home here when training in Europe. 

It is home to the Michelin 3 star restaurant dubbed 2015's best restaurant of the year and replaced Dubrovnik as 2015's filming location for HBO's Game of Thrones.

Girona's Jewish Quarter  

 Stairs to Girona's Cathedral

After the tour of Girona it was time to be fitted on our bikes and take a warm up ride to Lake Centenys where we ate a picnic lunch.

Lake Centenys 
(Site of the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympic Rowing Competitions) 

 Lunch at Lake Centenys

Prickly Pear Cactus Adorn a Mansion Near the Lake

My first impressions of the region fired happy on every front. Perfect weather, stunning scenery and Cactus that made a Phoenician feel right at home!

Tomorrow we begin with a tour of the castle Salvadore Dali purchased for his Russian wife Gala.

Roadboy's Travels © 2016

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