The whole trip from one end to the other takes over three hours winding through the mountains from 400m altitude to 1,600m with spectacular scenery all the way. 

The train itself is special as it is built for sightseeing all year round and taking skiers up to famous ski resorts like Font Romeu and Les Angles. The fun part is choosing a town along the route to get off and explore a bit more on foot. Mont-Louis is one option where you can discover the fortress building skills of Vauban, the foremost military engineer of the 17th century. He worked consolidating France's borders from a defensive perspective and was duly rewarded by his patron, Louis XIV, making him a Marquis.

Villefranche also has an impressive Vauban fort to walk around and these as well as 6 others have been made UNESCO world heritage sights in 2008.

Le Train Jaune is a great excursion for all the family; there is something for everybody from the train ride and scenery to all the different villages, fortresses and ski resorts to explore.

Microlight sightseeing trips are offered in various places but the one I took is based outside l'Estartit (www.ultraligeros.net) and Javier was a perfect pilot and guide. The 15 min flight takes in a remarkable variety of scenery; from the River Ter estuary discharging into the sea; the wide beaches to Pals, and then the rocky coves of Begur, Aiguafreda (great views of the Parador) to the tiny Sa Tuna beach; back to the amazing Isles Medes (underwater national park); Estartit harbour and along to the Castle at Montgri and below the town of Torroella and finally down the river Ter and the vivid green rice fields of Pals back to land at the tiny airstrip. 

On a clear day there is no better way to get a feel for the splendour of the coastline and seeing it from a very different perspective, as a seagull would, was a real treat, thank you Javier, I will be back for more!

Combining beautiful technique with humour and thrilling subject matter (he loved fast cars, sailing, swimming, tennis and winter sports) as well as beautiful women. He realised that everything he valued such as happiness and youth, light and beauty were fleeting and so by capturing the moment on film he could preserve it forever.

Enough said, the images speak for themselves and it is amazing to think that they are almost 100 yrs old!

They are exhibited at the Caixa Forum in Barcelona until October 3rd-get there!

 

First stop was the elderberry/elderflower with large white flowers which makes a cordial or cava which we tried later on and was delicious.

From the most common plants like dandelions, poppies and nettles to flax, bindweed and borage we learnt to identify them, which parts of the plant were of interest and how to prepare an infusion or compress and what ailments it helped.

We all felt very inadequate and the common lament was how we were losing contact with our surroundings and an important part of our heritage that our grandparents took for granted.

Thank you to Montse and Mou te en Bici for organising such an interesting ride and I hope it becomes a regular event.

Miró was a creative genius in several formats and here we see him working on painting windows for a temporary exhibition, other creations made into massive wall hangings or cast into 1,000 kilo bronze sculptures. 

His work is a pleasure to view as there is always something unexpected to be discovered. As an aside, one of his largest wall hangings was on display in the foyer of the twin towers on fateful sep 11,2001 and he refused to make another.

Portabella captures these creative sessions perfectly, usually letting the craftsmen themselves express the process or just standing back for us to enjoy what could be a wonderful theatrical set.

Impressive in scale and ambitious in intent this exhibition is a treat, filmmaking as visual art, literally. 

On from May 6th to August 29th 2010.

Road running is very popular here, and like the professional cyclists have discovered, Girona is a perfect place for most sports in terms of weather and interesting terrain. All ages join in these runs with many schools and clubs participating which makes for a wonderful atmosphere both along the streets and between the participants.

Todays half marathon was won in a time of 1hour 4min 34 by Mohamed Ben Barka of Barcelona which was just outside the course record.

Several thousand people are feeling tired but happy as they head off for lunch with their families and friends this sunday, well done everyone!

Girona Flower Festival 8-16 th may

The Old Town of Girona is decorated with flowers including patios and gardens never usually open to the public  as well as important buildings, churches and of course the Cathedral steps and cloister. 

Even local businesses join in the spirit and include flowers in their displays or shop fronts.

Some displays are subtle and visually provoking, others a bit obvious and garish but there is plenty for everyone of all ages to enjoy and the atmosphere in town is truly festive so come and join in!

If the sun shines this is a glorious time to wander around the countryside as everything is growing furiously and the shades of new green are startlingly vivid. After all this activity, or maybe in spite of it, a glass of cool white or rosado wine does wonders for looking at life in a more positive vein. Follow this with a selection of reds, some young and fruity and some with oak ageing and by the time it comes to taste the dessert wines things are positively wonderful.

Having activated the taste buds and got the saliva flowing the only possible follow up is a wonderful meal at a nearby restaurant with fresh fish and lamb with wild herbs dishes that seem to be particularily appreciated, washed down with a choice of wines, of course.

By now it is completely normal to feel a bit satisfied and even drowsy so either another walk is needed to explore some of the prehistoric burial sites which dot the area or it's time to have a doze in the back of the van for the ride back to Girona. Either way it's a day of pampering oneself with tastes, flavours and experiences that make visiting this part of Spain a fantastic experience.

Day tours to wineries in the Empordà inc all transport, tastings and lunch cost 125€/person, groups of 4-8 people.

Contact: gironaj@gmail.com for more info or to book.

Graham is from Vancouver, Canada and uses the forests around there to capture the process which transforms objects (mainly natural objects like trees) from mere representations to autonomous images using flash illumination at night.

Another transformation is an old typewriter which is filmed being covered with snow, symbolising how words have been silenced and also that both the typewriter and the old projector displaying the scene are both obsolete technologies.

It is an interesting and thought provoking exhibition and in addition there are works by John Baldessari, another contemporary artist on display in the same building.

This year, although space reserved by exhibitors is down sharply, the numbers visiting seem to be holding up. It does mean that everything is in one place instead of spread between the old World Fair site at Plaza España and the new purpose built halls in Hospitalet which is far better for all involved.

Some interesting products and trends are emerging here such as alcohol free wines (like with beer convenience displaces taste) and an emphasis on better presentation as well as healthier foods to combat increasing obesity levels worldwide.

Watermelons carved in the shape of a rose and hiring some human statues from the Ramblas to promote your stand is one successful way of attracting attention this year.

Spanish gastronomic tradition is alive and well with pata negra hams, seafood, cavas, wonderful cheeses, olive oils and of course wines of all styles and regions are what makes a trip to Alimentaria a true Spanish fair with flair!