Girona

This morning we met Elena and Lorena on the way and then drove an hour and a half (two hours with a couple bathroom breaks) to Girona.  One expects these kinds of delays when with toddlers (and Simon).  In any event, it gave us an excuse to briefly see the scenic town of Hostalric. 

We got to Girona around 11:30 and headed into the center of town.  We carried the boys on our backs and they were largely troopers today as we trudged through the heat, following the thoughtful recommendations given to us by Anna. 

Our first stop was the imposing and beautiful Cathedral, which boasts the largest knave of any cathedral in the world, took nearly 200 years to build, and was featured in Game of Thrones (Shame!)  On a hot and sunny day and after climbing the 79 or steps (depending on who is counting), we enjoyed exploring / resting in the Cathedral.  Bennett, in particular, loved the red stained glass window featuring Sant Jordi, the patron saint of Catalunya and the subject of a book that Lorena generously gifted the boys a few years ago.

After the Cathedral, we visited the Banys Arabs (Arab Baths), which are over 1,000 years old but were still well preserved.  The boys loved climbing around the area and can tell you all about the cold room, warm room, and hot room at the baths.  (And, yes, this, too, was featured in Game of Thrones.)  

All the while, we were accompanied by the soothing and mellow sounds of a busker playing the handpan instrument under a tree grove outside. 

 

We then went to lunch at Anna’s recommended König, which was fast and delicious.  Afterwards, energized by

“Bikinis” (paninis made from cheese and ham), tasty focaccias, butifarra sausage, and patatas bravas, we made it to the historic Pont de les Peixateries Velles, also known as the Eiffel Bridge as it was built by Gustave Eiffel’s company in 1876 to span the Onyar River and connect the historic and new centers of Girona.  The boys loved crossing the bridge and seeing the beautiful houses on the water.  We then darted to the Plaça Catalunya. 

Finally, we ended our tour of Girona with another delicious recommendation from Anna - the Casa Cacao and Bar Cacao, where we enjoyed coffee, tea, chocolate brownies, pain au chocolate, chocolate cheesecake, and chocolate xuixo — a Girona specialty.  

Understandably, the muppets snored loudly and napped on the drive home, happy and full of chocolate.

See you tomorrow!