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.

According to news reports Girona province was the worst affected in Catalonia and for the record books this was the most snow locally since records have been kept!

Today, day two, and so far it has been clear and sunny which means the great thaw has set in with problems switching to drains and rivers overflowing. At least 200,000 people are still without electricity and the trains are not running yet. Other obvious damage was mainly to trees where branches fell under the weight of the wet snow and electricity pylons are also down as we had high winds all night long.

My son came back from an afternoon of sledding down the steps of the Cathedral which he rated as more fun than going to a ski resort and my big regret was not taking some pictures as I only heard about it afterwards...

Like the miners strike in the UK in the 1970's when the power was cut every evening we may see a mini baby boom here in Girona although we may need a few more nights to really get in the mood!

Schools closed, shops and businesses too and Girona seems like a ghost town except for the sirens of the emergency services and kids shouting with pleasure having snowball fights. Train station and airport shut down and many people stuck in mid voyage with waiting their only option.

The forecast is for the snow to continue most of today Monday but by tomorrow the sun will be out again and this will just be a white memory, a fun one for schoolchildren and not so great one for those trying to complete trips.

All you people from countries where snow is a normal part of winter can have a laugh at how 10 cms of snow can reduce a place to complete paralysis in a few hours, meanwhile we will get even again when we are walking around in short sleeves in a few weeks time!

The works going on in Girona are to build an underground station below the current one for both the TAV (Tren de Alta Velocidad) and later on conventional trains as well. 

Set off a country road which turns into a gravel path shortly after, but in a peaceful and beautiful location next to a stream with plantain trees which offer a cool place to rest and contemplate the small church.

Currently part of La Pera diocese there are some 20 inhabitants in the few houses surrounding the church.

The village goes back to the year 971 and the present church is documented from the 11th century and is a good example of Romanesque features revealed during the restoration in 1975.

The interior is simple stone with fragments of the original murals having been transferred to the museum of Girona for safekeeping. 

The gardens are well kept and it is a nice spot to picnic if you are walking or biking in the area.  

 

It is like cycling in Holland as the roads are paved and the area is flat but you see all sorts of interesting trees and plants being grown in straight rows with irrigation and space for tractor access.