Travelled down, via beaches near to Beziers, to Perpignan but decided not to have another city night so carried on to the resort of Argeles-sur-Mere. As well as the only east facing French resort – check it out, it’s true – it was heaving. Found a bed in an hotel with a balcony overlooking the sea and later a good value, local fare restaurant, so we were content.
The hotel felt a bit like Fourcroft: it was clean, everything worked but the entire package wasn’t really contemporary; they even had an extensive dining area, now only used for breakfasts. And very friendly staff. A swimming pool at the rear was metal-fenced off. It felt like it needed substantial money to refind its former glory…..
The next morning we drove for about an hour, partly retracing our steps, to medieval Villefranche-de-Conflent, about 500 metres up at the fringe of the Pyrenees. There we picked up le Petit Train Jaune.
A beautiful little electric train (the other side is graffiti-free) scampers up, well into the mountains. About 1,550 metres worth. We went up inside one of the normal cars and came down in its special open car. Felt like being on a fairground ride that lasted 60 minutes. All with stunning views. Brilliant experience.
And then off to Gerona, via one of those glorious motorways that soar over the Pyrenees. And G G Gerona is indeed mighty. A beautiful walled town dating in parts from the Roman occupation, with many medieval buildings leading down to the river Ter. And you can walk the old walls, well most of them, high up over the city. Great squares and cobbled and paved streets, all unfriendly to cars, very friendly to people. Below, the famous photo of the river-facing buildings in their yellows, reds and, occasionally, other colours. The cathedral overlooks the city somewhat imperiously.
There are at least five different flags used here. The yellow and red horizontal stripes version is from the Kingdom of Aragon and celebrates all things Catalonian. The version with a blue (pro-independence) or red (pro-independence, socialists and communists) star are everywhere. Then there are versions of the yellow graphic ‘scarf’, which is a sign of support for the prison threatened or actual in prison separatists. This logo is illegal. And also prevalent.
We have our “B” and they have their independence aspirations. Theirs are not new, just think the ETA Basques freedom movement, but for the time being it seems their emotions are fluttering with their flags, whilst ours have run out of puff.
Spain is blue skies hot, their wines ridiculous value, even in comparison to the local French we’ve just left behind. And tomorrow we go to Tarragona, one night’s stop away from our destination.
Chris & Kath's Travel Time 