Girona
I frist read about Girona in Henrik Orre's Velochef in Europe. Since then, the new cycling heaven has been on the top of my list. After ISMRM 2018 Paris, we finally made our way to the city on the river Onyar.
We stayed at Girona old town. The Airbnb was an old stone house built about 1000 years ago. Our already off-chart expectation got further bolstered up through the the spiral stairs leading up to the loft. We dropped off the luggages and went straight to the old town. The stair street felt quiet and desolate yet it was a hot summer night. Pebbles and bricks garnished with green ivy, illuminated by the dusky road lights, vanishing along with the shallow street at the corner not far away. The historical atomsphere was certainly a atrtraction to every tourist.
The City Wall of Girona was built in the 9th Century during Carolingian Dynasty in the Medieval. It was surreal for us to find out the existence of this ancient wall. To us Girona was a town known as a cycling shrine and that was all. The second day early morning, we got up before the sunrise, climbed onto the wall and witnessed the first beam of sunshine shed onto the old city. Early birds were just starting to tweet. The whole Castle was only with us two, we ran on the wall and felt thankful for the moment. And the city began to wake up just then.
This is the Cathedral in King's Landing from Game of Thrones. The grand staircase and the main façade locates at the south side of the city wall and sits in front of the Castle. It has been the main attraction of the city since Season 6 of the show came air. Girona then became a dilight detour from the fashion capital Barcelona. Tourists take a 50 min train there and back to appreciate the old town's Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architectural style, in contrast with Gaudí's one-of-a-kind Catalan Modernism.
Between the city wall and the Cathdral there conceals a whole castle. The walk into the castle was an off the beaten track experience. Probably it was still too early to the European town, there were very few people except elder ones reading newspaper on stone benches. The sun was still low and projected long shawdows of us onto the ivy on the wall. Although spectacular, the antique look and silent ambience only emphsized decadence.
The city eventually felt more cheerful after we got on bikes. Girona has a whole eco-system for cycling. Especially, it has been a base for American pro cyclists to prepare for the racing season in Europe from spring to fall. Lance Armstrong once lived here and it was then became a destination for both pro athletes as well as enthusiasts like us. We instantly embraced its fame: the climb, the coast-line, the pro peloton riding around, and of course the cobblestones in the old town. Cobblestones always has a special place in my heart since it represents some of the most prestigious racing events during spring season. We rode through the stone gate in the antique street, passed by the jamón ibérico shop and espresso bars. We could not ask for more.
My instant impression of the city is that its local economy largely dependents on movie and sports tourism. Small business is at every corner for the tourists. I could be judgmental but the residents are generally joyful, easygoing and with good hospitality. However, the yellow ribbon attached to the road lights were like ruffles in the old town's placid atmosphere. The breeze rippled the lake was the Catalan independence movement. I certainly have no grounded knowledge or place to tell the people's will here, but the bright ribbon indeed was crying out loud a strong voice.