Girona
Let's go for a wander through Girona and start, of course, at the railway station.
and if you're dragging along kids who (like mine) might be asking what's the point?
You can turn around and show them this!
This is La Punxa or 'The Point' and is one of a pair designed by Raphael Masó - Girona's favourite architect.
The other part of the pair is La Farinera, or flour mill, and was made for entrepreneur Alfons Teixidor in 1910.
The new owner was so impressed, he even lived in this bit of it...
Masó was a founder of a group of Catalan architects who were worried that Modernism was getting a bit out of hand (and left-wing) and decided to come up with their own styles and express reassuringly conservative sentiments which coincidentally appealed to moneyed people like Alfons Teixidor. Hmm...
There's a walking tour of Masó's works, which takes you past the Masó Museum that has been set up in his old house.
This side of the river Onyar is the modern, spacious (and flat) part of Girona and has architectural treats sprinkled around.
It's also where the market (Mercat del Lleó) is located, which is a pretty good place to pick up provisions
The name of the market comes from the lion on a column outside and is the symbol of Girona.
The monument remembers the heroic resistance under siege in 1808-1809.
Over the centuries, Girona has had to withstand 25 sieges - which will help explain the look and feel of the medieval quarter, when we reach it.
But first, let's stroll through the Plaça de la lndependència.
...which contains a monument to the heroes of the 1808-1809 siege. Well, it must have been a pretty traumatic event...
The most difficult thing going on in the square these days is working out which bar or restaurant to go to.
...or choosing which bridge to take crossing the river Onyar for the best view.
If walking across the old fishmongers’ bridge gives you a vague sense of déjà vu then maybe it’s worth noting that it was made by Gustave Eiffel's company.
Our next stop is ritualistic in nature and involves puckering up the lips.
images google
In a ritual that's being going on since, well who knows when, locals and visitors alike kiss (or pat) the bottom of the La Lleona, a little lion(ess) hugging a column, which was probably put there as advertising for the inn next door in medieval times. The inn has long gone and even the La Lleona has had to be replaced with a replica due to the weathering of her nether regions by all those lips.
On this side of the river, streets start off narrow
and get narrower still as we enter El Call, or the Jewish Quarter, which became the only place Jews were permitted to live, before they were expelled in 1492.
There’s a Museum of Jewish History where you can learn more about its complex past.
The next stop is the Cathedral which has become a popular spot, thanks to a certain television series...
Game of Thrones
Old cities needed to be defended and walls were a pretty good idea... but now their main purpose is...
great views...
of the city and the countryside beyond.
If you want to get some provisions, before walking the 3 km of walls or venturing into the countryside beyond, Colmado L'estuca is a good place to get local provisions.
...and is a good place to pick something Girona is well know for - apples, but which shall we choose?
It looks like these Rosettis are the best sellers, so why not follow the locals?
In the past, locals placed apples on the tomb of St Narcis to bring good fortune. The rivers that brought prosperity to Girona have also been a source of worry from flooding, so apples were also thrown in the river - until the 1870s - probably when they realised that they were just wasting good grub. Picnic purchased, let's go into the hills.
As well as picking up some apples, sanguilla oranges, apple beer and bread, I also grabbed a xuixo (at the back on the left but scoffed before I took a closeup photo), which is a sort of custard doughnut - just much, much better.
Tummy filled, it's a short hike, OK stroll, up the gentle slope of 'Muntanya de la O'
..for some more fab views
and then wander back into town to go shopping, or at least go to a shop selling something very particular to Girona.
This smart looking shop sells little figurines that are a traditional part of the nativity scene at Christmas time.
being Catalonia, there are figurines of the Barcelona football team.
funny looking pose?
hmm...
There are figurines to suit everyone.
R2D2?
and if you have the stomach for it after that, you can also visit the nearby Casa dels Fuets, selling local cured sausages.
...or you may prefer to head back to the Plaça de la lndependència for something to nibble and a local vermut.
and if you are here for the evening, why not go back to the medieval quarter which has a whole new atmosphere.
Video tour
Here's a little video of medieval Girona by night
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