Train to Girona

April 13. 

The short walk from our hotel in Paris took just about a block or so to the Gare de Lyon where we could catch our train to Spain.

The Gare was jam-packed with travelers going every which way, a somewhat chaotic ebb and flow of humanity it seemed to us. Anyway, Susie spied the big board with our train platform location and before long we found ourselves searching for car no. 11 and our reserved seats. Once aboard and seated we discovered, much to our chagrin, that we were in fact in car 12! A quick seat change which fortunately did not require moving our bags and we settled in for the 6-hour journey to Girona in Catalonia, Spain.  

The train was full and one can see why reservations are required. Anyway, the seats were comfortable with plenty of legroom and the passing scenery remarkable (once we were out of the industrial part of south Paris). We did get to see BOTH the Alps and the Pyrenees, albeit at a distance of course! Still to see both mountain ranges - still with snow -- in one day was nothing short of remarkable. But then I'm easily impressed. . . 

The train dropped us off on time in Girona and we walked the short distance to our hotel. The map made it seem farther than it actually was. 

We checked in, dropped our bags and made our way back out in search of a glass of wine and something to snack on before dinner.

The Hotel Gran Ultonia.

From our hotel it was a very short walk to Plaça de la Independència, which seemed to be one of several happening spots on a Saturday evening.

the Enjoy It bar under the back portico

dedicated to the defenders of Girona 1808-1809

one of several student tour groups waiting for their tour guides apparently

We opted to sit outside at the Enjoy It bar and grab something light to eat and a glass of wine. We opted for two glasses of cool, crisp verdejo and ordered artichoke confit with a scrumptious red sauce, cabrales cheese croquettes as well as a foccacia-like bread with tomatoes. 

After dinner we left the plaça and joined the throngs of folks out for the evening passegiata (that's what the Italians would call this evening stroll). 

After stopping in a a couple of shops to pick up a few of things (sweets, a digestif and socks) we made our way to one of the classic sights in Girona, the Red Bridge over the Riu (river) Onyar.

this was one serious-looking Paris Brest

view of the Girona cathedral, which we hope to visit tomorrow

We returned to our passegiata and soon found ourselves crossing another bridge, this one much older and wider with serious art vendors.

Leaving the river and its lovely views we wended our way back toward our hotel looking for a place to eat. Just around the corner from our hotel was L'Argada Bala, la braseria de Girona and it looked promising. It was just 8:00pm (20:00) and had just opened its doors so in we went. 

We settled in and with the recommendation of our server -- born and raised in nearby Costa Brava -- we ordered a couple glasses of red wine. Susie chose a baked cod with peppers and tomato and I opted for a Paul Christopher specialty, entrecote avec frites (steak and fries). Both dinners were delicious and when Susie asked about the sauce, our server returned with a large slice of toasted bread for us to help us get the most out of the dish. And when we asked about a local digestif, she gave us each a tasting of the Catalonia specialty, ratafia. She did warn us that there were several but the one they carried was very hard to find. Coincidentally, we had bought a bottle of ratafia earlier that evening! It turned out to be a different brand, but still. . . 

Next: Our first full day in Catalonia.