Wednesday 1 August 2007

Barcelona




Just to confirm that yesterday I completed the GR11. It took 44 days, although my book suggests 46, others have done it much faster with light loads. I had to walk 2 hours to Cadaques to get a bus to Figereus, and got a connecting train the Barcelona.

After writing my last blog I ate in the hotel which played the theme from Titanic on pan-pipes continually, so I ate up and paid my bill smartish as I had another early start. The room was baking hot, and the bed about 3 inches shorter than my body. With this and a mixture of excitement I hardly slept and left around 5.30. I had to wake the owners to retrieve my passport, and they were not at all happy. Ha! I had achieved my revenge ;-)

The walk was still tough, the path having been re-routed several times over the years so confusing and overgrown. Cacti now helped the thorn bushes take their piece of me, however sunrise over the ocean was a sight to remember. The weather again was sunny, clear visibility down the coast and rather warm. I met no other walkers all day. There is a cafe next to the lighthouse at the end, and I drank firstly a beer, then a coffee, and then a coke.

The additional day has allowed me to have a look around Barcelona. I can hardly express the massive culture shock this is after so many days wandering in the wilderness. So I have left my pack in the room, and rather than walk, I behaved like a proper tourist and took the tour bus around town.