Unravelling A Rich Tapestry of Experiences In Catalonia

A few days into a trip around Catalonia and it’s fair to say that the expectations I had beforehand have not only been exceeded, they’ve been smashed to smithereens. I reckoned on finding good food, enchanting scenery and proud traditions. What has had me reeling like an ecstatic drunk has been a thriller of an F1 experience; Barcelona’s version of The Italian Job, ice covered lakes, a squabbling squadron of vultures and lots of quaffable wine in a location where the term idyllic simply seems too mundane.

Here’s a Catalan taster to snack on.

The Spanish F1


Formula one cars screaming around the Barcelona track so fast that they could make your head spin (literally) is a big enough buzz as it is, but the warp-speed pit changes were something else. By the time you raised your camera, the cars are in, wheels changed and gone, baby, gone. The ultimate in team effort.

La Boqueria Market


You’ve just got to visit Barcelona’s most famous market. It’s simply a foodie’s paradise even if there’s a danger of entering as a size M and exiting as a size L.

Gaudí’s Barcelona


Gaudí’s architectural masterpieces have a feel-good quality that bring out a childlike wonder in me. Maybe I should be enjoying their artistic qualities but exploring the roof top labyrinth of ancient warriors’ helmets at Casa La Perdera is a lot of fun and the late afternoon light just adds to the magic.

Vulture’s in Catalonia


Catalonia’s version of bird-watching courtesy of Photo Logistics is more like a mix of an extreme sport and a Steven Spielberg flick. Huge shadows of a hungry, circling army create a delicious feeling of nervous anticipation that is completely nuked when the vultures decide to descend as one. You may expect something like this in Africa but in Catalonia… WOW.

Barcelona Maritime Museum


Located on a great old boat with oodles of character and a surprising amount of below deck space. Viewing Barcelona from the sea lends the city a different perspective – not something that is common for the floating museum as it’s normally moored up in the harbour.

Wine & Dine in Catalonia


The countryside around Lleida is spellbinding at the best of times, viewed from the organic Castell d’Encus with a selection of their finest wines accompanied by the best of local products it’s a miracle tonic for the soul… and the taste-buds. Describing hospitality as merely generous when you have four different drinks in front of you just doesn’t cut the mustard.

Peaks & Pines in the Pyrenees


Aigüestortes I Estany de Sant Maurici National Park in the Pyrenees. SIGH – I already wish I was back there hoofing it up and down trails whilst high as a kite on a scenery overdose.

About Jack 799 Articles
Jack is co-editor, writer and photographer for BuzzTrips and the Real Tenerife series of travel websites as well as a Slow Travel consultant and a contributor to online travel sites and travel magazines. Follow Jack on Facebook for more travel photos and snippets.

1 Trackback / Pingback

  1. Al teu gust, aliments del Pallars acull el blogtrip Catalunya Experience « Projecte "Al teu gust", Productes i productors del Pallars

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*


This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.