The Second Surprise, Montserrat

My second surprise for Catalunya is the range of mountains, the Montserrat. I didn't know about them, I didn't even think they existed, and the nearest I got to them previously was Montserrat Cabal the opera singer who duo'd with Freddy Mercury on Barcelona all those years ago.

But approaching from the South West the range is impressive and dominating 

There is a high level road that runs around the northern slopes, with spectacular views and big big drops over the edges.

The road is cut into the mountain and is enjoyed by thrill seeking motorcyclists and pedal cyclists alike 

The camera lies, it is more dominating than this.

Religious establishments abound, funny that.

Rock formations of the most unusual sort.

But I was heading north, this was the parting view.

And heading into this lot....Thunderstorms, sleet, driving rain and the temperature plummeted from 28 to 9 degrees is 20 miles. In fact I can still see snow on the Pyrenean mountains from here, where I type.

Barcelona

I have been beating myself up a bit for not going places I should and seeing tourist sites I aught to. Driving about Europe and just lazing in the sunshine (when I can find it) is only half what I should be doing and not getting the best out of my travels.
So, I am in Catalonia and I arranged to go to Barcelona, selected the location of a campsite in Sitges to link into the city and got on the local bus into the centre.
The following is my account of the sites I saw in the day that I was there. This was just a scouting visit really, but I walked for miles and was knackered by the end of the day.

Well, low and behold we have red double decker sightseeing buses, three in a row, but no doubt where we are. I have just got off the local Mon-Bus from Sitges, 20 miles Euro3.60.

Catalunya Square, warm and sunny with everybody just enjoying the sunshine.

I didn't know it but Barcelona in part is bisected by a wide boulevard called La Rambla. It happens to run south to the port where I had just arrived on the local bus from Catalunya Square.

But it also happens to be the domain of pickpockets, mountebanks, swindlers and thieves, hence the heavy police presence. Just look at all those innocent people enjoying a stroll in the sunshine like me, but I kept 'me-hand-on-me-halfpenny' just in case. I was approached on several occasions, 'what's the time mister?' or some other dubious invitation from a swarthy individual that was suspicious so I gave them the stiff ignoring.

Just taking the occasional detour from the main drag finds spectacular  sights like this.

But nothing like the stupendous market full of food delicacies.
La Boqueria is magic!

http://www.barcelona-tourist-travel-guide.com/la-boqueria.html

Synchronised hamming!

How they keep this lot fresh I do not know, but it looks fabulous.  There are loads of fresh fish stalls the like of which you have never seen.

Clever Marco, special marketing to jack up the return!

Locals taking advantage of the goods on offer.

And side shows for all, busy as anything.

There was an establishment of the non-local variety. It was empty at the time.  ;-}

But La Rambla continue onwards through the foodie section

to the arty section 

and finally to the Harbour.

This must be the fanciest Harbour Master's office in all the world!

But there was a fancy Yacht race going on and the contenders were arriving back in he marina.

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Trofeo-Conde-de-Godo---Azzurra-and-Quantum-share-overall-lead/97719

This bloke seems to be part of it.

But back into the old town and the old narrow streets.

Arriving at the 'Cathedral' I refuse to pay, along with loads of others  such a lot for what to me seems a bit of mundane architecture. After all, we were expecting Goudy, and his works are miles away!

But Barcelona is a big Provincial city, with pretensions of national identity for Catalunya. It is certainly energetic, dynamic and bold and has far more to offer than I show here. Maybe it would be worth several more visits to find out, who knows.

Well I never knew that!

You might be surprised that the weather has been generally bloody awful. After all, it is for me late May in South West Europe and I expect thing to get a little bit summery by this time. Do you realise it is only 4 weeks and the nights start drawing in again. Since the last 'Grey' post I have moved to Spain south of Tarragona to get some heat. Well it started well and we got some heat but in the form of the Spanish equivalent of the Mistral wind, called the Tramuntana, and it blew gustily for 4 days non-stop. Trees were blown down, some poor people had their tents smashed and caravan awnings were trashed. I took a walk along the beach and got shot blasted with sand and engulfed in sand dervishes, which is not very pleasant. That gave me some time to investigate what to do next. I was surprised what the travel books told me.

However the weather did pick up and for 2 days the sun came out and it warmed up nicely.

But I will tell you about my first discovery (The second will wait for a further post).

Well we all know about Sparkling Wine and it is usually known by the 'C' word which I won't say for reasons you will find out. Well it turns out that the Spanish equivalent, called Cava, which apparently is made in the same way as 'C' is produced in a region of spain called the Penedes. I never knew that. What I didn't realise that I was in the Penedes region and I didn't know it. So my 'Lonely Planet' guide recommends a vineyard tour so where better than the most famous of all Spanish Cavas:

So its famous. but if you want to know how to pronounce it Google has endless advice....

Enter the coordinates into TomTom and you arrive here!

There is an outrageous series of vehicles connived to look like , well bits of marketing nonsense!

More interesting are the old bits of heroic machinery still retained. Makes you wonder what got thrown away.

The best machinery of its type. Is it the blue coolvan or the mechanical screw press?

Gawd knows what the PC crowd these days would make of this. Little red riding boy.......no, no I am not going anywhere in that direction

Another fine bronze in the foyer, looking all pissed and silly. Is it a he or a she? and is that a knee?
Hey, a fabulous piece of sculpture....

But here we go, down into the depths. All the time there is a pervading smell of alcohol and wine. But under the fine edifice building there are endless depths and darkness. It is interesting to note that what nature produces on earth in the wind, rain and glorious sunshine Man captures and creates something more but in darkness, stillness and coolness of these caves in the earth.

Well it must be the good stuff! the barrels are painted blue!

But the regular stuff, wine set down for maturation sleeps quietly alongside, waiting.

Simple stock management...we all understand that!

I'm not going to explain the production process, you can look that up for yourself. But  in days of yore it meant  squillions of bottles stacked up by hand in dark holes in the ground, just like this.
In present day accountancy methods, this is, by having your stock tied up like this, commercial suicide.

But the whole operation is a professional success. We were a small group of English speaking visitors and our guide could not have been better. Ines (please forgive the lack of acute accent) was our guide. We were treated to a tour of enthusiasm, vitality and professionalism that was a delight and involving for everybody. The questions raised during the tour and afterwards were answered with honesty and sincerity, the debate about the wines and products was thoughtful and considered, and a genuine mutual respect was greatly appreciated.

We had a small discussion about the use of 'C' instead of Cava, especially at the recent F1 GP in Barcelona. Maybe sometime in the future.

Meanwhile, we can just contemplate that whilst we go about our busy lives, dashing about, flying all over the world, charging up and down motorways, down below, in the cool depths, the wine is developing year on year.
Just what were you doing in 1982, hmm, let me think.....

But we were having a little chat Ines and me. After a while she said she had something special to show me, just me she said, come along, this way,....well I was up for that!
Here we are, the biggest fermentation tanks you've ever seen, 65000 litres each!

Nice one,  I am particularly looking forward to the Malvasia 2001 I bought in the factory shop, along with other Cavas of the drier kind.

Ps,

On the same guided tour were a party of 4 American visitors. I didn't out of politeness, ask names and details but I explained at the time I did work for General Motors for many years. 

Hello! hope you enjoyed your holiday in Europe.

In the souvenir shop afterwards I heard  'if you want it, you carry it' homily.  Brilliant!

End of post

What a Grey Day

We were off to a promising start in March, with sunshine and warm weather but April and early May has been so bloody awful that I have delayed my departure for Europe for several weeks. But taking the bull by the horns I set off for the SW coast of France and crossed the Channel on the 15th May.

Dover again, wet and miserable.

The theme continues, this time at a small village in SW France. I have been keen to get as far south as possible in the shortest time but even here, close to Biarritz it is still cold and wet.

St Jean de Luz, oh how grey!

Even the fecking crocodiles are grey!

Hendaye, a beautiful place, but still a bit grey today!

Driving up into the Pyrenees and it was even worse!

Not many people taking pictures of the view!

But I have cut my losses. No more Atlantic Coast and grey cold weather. I am writing this post now from the Med, just south of Barcelona and it is completely different. I have made the effort to get away from that dreadful weather zone in western Europe, and just as I drove past Zaragoza the temperature shot up from 12 deg to 29 deg in just a few miles. Stand by for the next edition!