• Janice Guimond
  • Janice Guimond

Spain 2025

Since I had to cut my Patagonia trip short, my wanderlust ramped back up. I chose the Catalonia/Costa Brava, Menorca, and Barcelona regions of Spain for this trip, saving Andalucia and Mallorca for a 2026 trip that Tom & I hope to take together. Read more
  • Trip start
    May 11, 2025

    Made it to Girona!

    May 12 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    Planes, Trains, and Automobiles complete! Nice to have the travel overwith. I was pleasantly surprised to arrive in Girona to the sights and smells of flowers...everywhere! Turns out it is their annual 8-day Festival of Flowers this week -- so fun! Reminds me of the Dayton's annual flowers show in downtown Minneapolis, but spread out across a whole town and with a historic backdrop. 💐🌸🌹Read more

  • More Girona pics 😊

    May 12 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    Lots of photos ops here in Girona. I love colorful street paintings, but this was the first time I got to meet the artist. 'Blazy' was adding his signature block to his work when I was there. He said it's not quite finished but I love the colors. After dinner I took advantage of the long daylight hours to walk more of the city -- still busy but a few less people 🙂.Read more

  • Girona Day 2

    May 13 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F

    Whew...the old bones are sore today! I am not used to all of the stairs and walking on cobbled/stone streets. Plus, my elevator-less apartment is five flights up a tiny narrow stairwell, and it took me a while to get up to it yesterday with my luggage! Another gorgeous morning and early afternoon, then a late afternoon shower. I wonder if that's how it typically rolls in this area? Even more crowded with Flower Festival tourists today, most arriving by tour bus. I checked out more of the Flower stuff, but then skedadled to the outskirts of town to walk, away from the throngs 😊.Read more

  • Last day in Girona, Day 1 of Cycle Tour

    May 14 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    Today I checked out of my Girona apartment and checked in to the cycle tour hotel ("Hotel Historic"). What a unique and beautiful stone building with a mix of old stone and new technology (e.g. the shower was controlled with a touchpad, not faucet handles!) -- loved it. Had some free time before meeting the group, so got the last of my Flower Festival fix, and enjoyed a chocolate croissant (something I never eat, except for a treat when in Europe). Met the group and ExperiencePlus! guides at 2pm for bike fitting and a test ride. There are 11 fellow riders -- a good group of folks -- and three guides. We are using a mix of bikes, between traditional road & hybrid, vs eRoad & eHybrid. I chose a regular hybrid for this tour, foregoing an eBike. A group meeting and snacks preceded our Welcome Dinner at a Michelin restaurant -- yum! A late night (Spanish dinner starts at 8 or 8:30pm), but very fun.Read more

  • Costa Brava Cycle Tour - Day 2

    May 15 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    Stoked to get back in the saddle, today's ride did not disappoint! We started right from the cobbled streets of our hotel, made our way to the countryside, climbed switchbacks to the highest point in the region, and descended down to the craggy wild coast. The last third of the route once the sea came into view was gorgeous and memorable. I was proud to do the 38 miles (with >3,000' of elevation gain) without an eBike. Felt great after a few days without cycling.Read more

  • Cycle Tour Day 3

    May 16 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Ooh another excellent day. It was an easier 30-mile ride today (~1,600' elevation) but with many beautiful stops -- so I was out for over six hours. The first part along the coast was so beautiful, on another brilliant sunny day. Hated to head inland, but that brought some pretty villages to explore. I had a great cultural interaction while resting on a bench on the main square in Palafrugell. I met an 82-year old local -- a retired physician who spoke decent English -- and we chatted for about 20 minutes. Too much to post here, but it was a very interesting conversation and a fortunate experience. Pretty countryside followed, and we ended up in a quiet medieval village. Really an excellent day on the bike! Fun group dinner that included a little farm museum, wine, and olive oil tasting. Our group is really meshing well. So fun talking with all of these folks, and our guides too. Still working on an elusive group photo 😉.Read more

  • Cycle Tour Day 4

    May 17 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    We arrived at the Hotel Arcs de Monells yesterday, for two nights. So, we didn't have to pack up this morning -- yay! Set out on a beautiful morning (yes...yet again!!) and after cycling through two lovely medieval villages we stopped for a pottery experience. This was a local couple (David & Anna) who do custom ceramics for restaurants and others. They showed us the smaller of their two studios (on the ground floor of their home) and explained and demonstrated the process. I even got to make a piece using the pottery wheel, and it was really fun! We continued on and toured some ruins (kind of a snoozer), then finished the loop ride, had lunch, and relaxed a bit by the pool. After our group meeting, we had a fun wine tasting event at the hotel. Not exhausted today, as I only rode 22 miles. 😊Read more

  • Cycle Tour Day 5

    May 18 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    Today was our longest cycling day of the tour, with a 50-mile route. Full disclosure, I chose the optional shuttle at mile 42, to avoid a long climb on a narrow/curvy/busy road at the very end. Still, 42 miles was a good distance for me. The weather yet again was sunny...can't quite believe our good fortune with the weather, particularly because when I looked at the forecast a week prior to the tour start, it was full of rain and had me a bit discouraged. Our ride took us through the countryside, to some seaside Greek/Roman ruins, inland again, and then to the bustling seaside town of Cadaques. Dinner was a traditional Catalan meal, with a view.Read more

  • Cycle Tour Day 6

    May 19 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F

    Today was an optional rest day in Cadaques, particularly for the 12-day riders. For me though, I didn't need a rest, as I am doing the 8-day tour. The optional ride was short but hilly, to Cap de Creus -- the most easterly point of Spain on the Iberian Peninsula and a protected National Park. The landscape is green and full of craggy rocks. I was one of only three to do the ride, and really enjoyed it. In the afternoon (after a little nap by the pool 😉), I toured Salvador Dali's house. Not a big fan of his surrealist work, but he was renowned internationally and in his summer home of Cadaques. Also...barring the elusive group photo, I'm posting individual pics of the group, from dinner the previous night 😊.Read more

  • Cycle Tour Day 7

    May 20 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 70 °F

    We started our day with a boat ride along the coast. Expecting a ferry-style wooden boat, we were flabbergasted when a Zodiac-style showed up instead 😊. We were trying to figure out how they were going to comfortably fit all of us plus four bicycles! But we managed -- and later learned that the boat company had screwed up by double-booking 'our' boat. Unfortunately it was an overcast morning for the boat ride, so the rocks and caves weren't quite as impressive. Still, we've had such amazing weather that I cannot complain. At the end of the boat ride we started our bicycle ride -- a modest 20 miler. That gave us the afternoon to explore Figueres, and our group had a guided tour of the Salvador Dali museum. I'm not a big fan of Dali's surrealist work, nor of museums, but surprisingly I really enjoy the museum tour! Plus, the sky cleared and we had a beautiful sunny afternoon. Later, we had a drink and farewell dinner for the three of us riders (me, Mary Kay & Jim) plus Jonas (guide) who were doing the 8-day rather than 12-day tour. Sad to turn in our bikes and say goodbye to the others! Finally got a group photo though! 😊Read more

  • On to Menorca!

    May 21 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    Sad to leave the cycling group, but the adventure continues as I trade my bike saddle for hiking shoes 😊. Took the train to Barcelona and caught a quick flight to the island of Menorca. My goal was to choose a quiet, scenic place, with good views of the Mediterranean Sea. Menorca, particularly at this time of year, is poised to deliver! I reserved an apartment with a sea view (and a washing machine 😊) and a rental car to explore the island. From the rocky northern coast, to the beaches of the west and the port city in the southeast, this small island is diverse and scenic. The Cami de Cavalls ("Horse Path") is a 115-mile long hiking trail that encircles the island, following its coastline and offering impressive views without hoards of people.Read more

  • Menorca - Fornells

    May 23 in Spain ⋅ 🌬 66 °F

    Started my day by driving to the village of Fornells. The roads on the island are good. The main roads are two-way traffic, but plenty wide. The secondary roads are narrower and curvy, with a speed limit of 30 Kilometers (about 18 MPH). It's sometimes hard to drive that slow 😉. I spent almost three hours in Fornells, as I found it quite scenic.Read more

  • Menorca - North Coast

    May 23 in Spain ⋅ 🌬 68 °F

    After Fornells, I drove to the parking lot of Cavalleria Beach, which also serves as a trailhead for the Cami de Cavalls (115-mile coastal hiking trail). I had to walk to the beach to catch the trail -- aw shucks 😉. Another beautiful Mediterranean beach. The coastline in this area (North part of the island) is mostly craggy/rocky. It was a beautiful hike -- I only saw hikers on this section, no bikes or horses. It would be grueling on a mountain bike (slogging through beach sand, navigating rocky hills, passing through wooden gates, and being distracted by nude sunbathers 🫣), so I'm not surprised. On my way home I stopped at the highest point on the island, which also houses a Monastery. 360° views. This is the kind of day I imagined when I booked this portion of the trip!Read more

  • Menorca - West Coast

    May 24 in Spain ⋅ 🌬 66 °F

    Today was a repeat of yesterday, but in a different area. First was the village of Cuitadella de Menorca, then a coastal hike. Ciutadella was a bit of a snoozer compared to Fornells, but the coastal hike at Cala Galdana was even better than yesterdays! The aqua color of the sea is one of my favorite colors, and with the glistening sunshine, it did not disappoint. The coastal hiking trail is very well marked and maintained, and today I saw a few mountain bikers and many hikers (this is understandably a popular area).Read more

  • So long, Menorca!

    May 25 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    After four nights in peaceful Son Bou, Menorca, I moved on. Sort of sad to leave such a comfy and scenic apartment. With a few hours of free time before my flight to Barcelona, I explored the island's capital city of Mahon. Located in the Southeast part of the island, Mahon boasts the largest port on Menorca.Read more

  • Hello, Barcelona!

    May 25 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    From Menorca, I flew back to Barcelona for the last two nights of my trip. I had one night and one full day to explore the city, and found time within that to hook back up with three of my cycle tour mates for dinner. It was fun to hear about the part of the tour that I did not join. My Barcelona apartment was small but very cute, comfy, and surprisingly quiet for being in the middle of the city.Read more

  • Barcelona - Park Güell

    May 26 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    It's amazing how these sites in Barcelona sell out well in advance. Park Güell is no exception, so it's good I purchased tickets in advance. This park was originally envisaged as a luxury housing development, but it didn't take off. Gaudi designed the funky buildings, bridges, terraces, etc. They open for public access at 9:30am (locals can use the park from 7am), and let 1,300 people in every hour. I was first in line for my entrance (one of nine) for the 9:30am slot. It really wasn't too bad, until they let the 10:30am folks in too. The park is up the hill from the city, and is a hilly park, so I got in my morning exercise 😉.Read more

  • Barcelona - Sagrada Familia

    May 26 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F

    I have sort of an issue with massive church after massive church in Europe, so I wasn't sure about this one. I was told it's more a work of art, and must go inside too, so I purchased a ticket well in advance. This is the most visited site in Barcelona. Now I understand why. While I think it is way too much, I can't deny its impressive-ness. Most of the sculpture and art is on the exterior. The interior is not sparse nor simple, but is not crazy elaborate like the outside. I like simple, light, and color, so I did enjoy touring the inside. The stained glass windows are beautiful and the play of light quite brilliant.Read more

  • So long, Spain!!

    May 27 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    Wow. I feel like I packed a lot in during my 18-day trip. First time to Spain, and there's alot to like. My return journey had a bit of a hiccup when my flight out of Barcelona was delayed for mechanical issues. I missed my connection at JFK as a result, so spent the night in New York. Otherwise, it was such a great trip. No stray dog bites or dog issues, no crashes, no ruptured Achilles 😊. Many great memories. Many great connections. I'm closing out this trip with some of my favorite pics that summarize the journey 😊❤️🇪🇸. Thanks for your interest and encouragement, and for being with me in spirit 🤗.Read more

    Trip end
    May 28, 2025