Vies Verdes Bike Trail

We just wrapped up a 4-day holiday weekend here in Girona. I debated going somewhere, but in the end we stayed close to home and enjoyed beach days and biking and hiking. The perfect long weekend in my book.

My kids love to go for bike rides. Any time, any weather...they just love to be outdoors. We are lucky enough to have a wonderful trail system in the Girona area called the Vies Verdes. This trail system was once a railroad track that meandered through Catalunya from the Pyrenees to the coast, but over time it became obsolete as the automobile grew in popularity. In the early 90's the Catalan government used the old railways to form this trail system and it is truly spectacular as one can walk or ride from the beach to the mountains (maybe not in one day...). The website is full of route ideas and detailed maps:

http://www.viesverdes.cat/ES/1/home.html

We can follow the trail in one of two ways: towards the coast or towards the mountains. We enjoy both directions for different reasons, but on Monday we were on a search for blackberries, so we headed towards the coast. Our favorite blackberry area is about 9km from Girona and we spent the morning filling up the containers we had brought with us. 

 The trail is packed dirt and is suitable for most any type of bike. I have even ridden my road bike on this trail without issue, so it is a great option if you want to stay away from the roads.

The trail is popular in and around the small towns, but it tends to be a peacefully silent once you are out in the countryside. There are several towns where you can stop for a drink or a snack, so this is always good when you are riding with kids.

There are various spots to camp or stay in a hotel on the trail system. Eston's dream is to ride 50km in one direction to a hotel and then stay overnight and ride home the next day. 100km in two days is quite the goal, but we will see how we end up by the end of the summer!

Summer Stroll...La Muralla and Jardi dels Alemanys

Sunday morning is the perfect time to wander through Girona. People tend to sleep in a bit, so often one can find the streets fairly empty until quite late in the morning. I took the kids for a walk on the city wall (La Muralla) and we ended up in one of our favorite spots, the Jardi dels Alemanys.

We usually start the wall walk near the playground just south of Plaza Catalunya. The playground is on the corner of Carrer del Carme and Pujada de les Pedredes and the stairs to the wall are next to the playground. I suggest leaving the prams/strollers and scooters at home as there are several sets of narrow stairs. My kids have been doing this walk for many years and though I had to help them with the stairs when they were very young, it is the prefect walk for all ages.

The views from the wall are spectacular and kids will enjoy running down the narrow path and climbing the stairs to the various tower outlooks. The views allow you to really get a sense of the entire city and lay of the land.

Building of the wall began in 1B.C. and the walls were changed and remodeled throughout the centuries. The walls protected the city of Girona and saw countless battles over the years. It is easy for children to imagine why a wall of this size and stature would have been important for the protection of the city and they love peeking through the small openings in the rock. 

 There are several towers along the walk and we always climb all of them. The tallest tower, Torre de Sant Domenec, offers fantastic views of the city and the mountains in the distance and my kids always love looking at the rooftops and private gardens below. 

 I always have my kids imagine what it would have been like for the soldiers and residents of Girona whose job it was to be on the look out for intruders. 

 The path along the wall eventually leads you to one of our favorite spots in Girona, the Jardi dels Alemanys. The gardens contain the remains of the barracks built for German soldiers in the 17th century. Girona was under constant attack from France and barracks were needed to house the troops who defended the area. Most of it is ruins, but the facades of the main buildings still remain. 

 This area is the perfect spot for kids to run around. More often than not they are fairly deserted and kids can play hide-and-go-seek or just roam around the grounds while parents take a break. This past Sunday there was a beautiful violin player and we just sat and listened to the music. It is a great place to bring a small picnic and relax in the shade of the trees. 

A Trip to Rupit

Rupit is located about an hour drive from Girona and it is one of our favorite places to visit. This medieval town dates back to the year 955 and it is the perfect day trip. The drive from Girona is incredibly picturesque with gorgeous views of the valley as you make your way up the mountain. There are several places to stop and take photos, so be sure to do just that!

Rupit is a small village with buildings made of stone from the local area. It sounds so simple, but the construction of these houses and shops will take your breath away as you wander around town. Kids love the bridge that connects the parking area to the town. The bridge was built by locals in 1945 and be aware---only 10 people on the bridge at a time! Your feet will creak on the wooden beams as you cross over the river and my kids always think this is great fun. 

 The natural stone forms stairs throughout the village.

 Families will enjoy ambling around town and peeking in the shops. There are several good bakeries with treats and shops that sell local ratafia. 

Wandering around this beautiful village is fun, but most people come enjoy this area for the hiking. There are loads of great trails right from the village, but there are several that tend to be most popular with families.

For those with young children who want a short hike (maybe 30 minutes in total), I suggest hiking to the Ermitage--the Santa Magdalena Church. There are signs throughout town directing you towards the correct trail and the views from the church cannot be beat:

 The church was built in the early 17th century and there is plenty of space for kids to run around or enjoy a picnic.

 One of the most popular hikes in the area is walking to Salt de Sallent, the waterfall. This is a beautiful hike with lots of shady areas, so it is perfect for those warm summer months. Aurelia (age 4) is capable of walking most of this and I usually bring a pack and carry her here and there when she is fatigued. This trail is also marked from town--just follow the signs that say "Salt de Sallent."

 I apologize for not having any waterfall photographs in this post...we were crossing the rocks to sit and watch the waterfall and I managed to slip in to the water and drag Aurelia with me...whoops! Parent-of-the-year award for me! It was just a shallow pond of water, but we were both soaking wet, so I was more focused on getting her changed to dry clothes and forgot about taking my phone out for pictures. 

We did discover a colony of tadpoles after we slipped in the water, so that was super exciting and made up for the wet jeans and muddy shoes. 

We enjoyed a lovely picnic (at least our lunch was dry) near the falls and then made our way back to town:

 Yes, Aurelia is wearing my sweatshirt as that was the only dry article of clothing we had with us. She said it was a dress and didn't seem to mind.

Walking back through town is always a treat with wildflowers, beautiful views of the local gardens, succulents growing on rocks, and fun tunnels to explore!

Rupit is definitely worth a visit for anyone staying in Girona or Barcelona. Our favorite time of year would have to be summer, but I once went in February when there was a light snow and the town was completely deserted and it was amazing. 

Local Market Cooking Classes for Kids

The school year has come to an end and the kids are enjoying some time at home with me before they start casal (summer camp) in July. We have been busy doing all sorts of activities, but today was extra special. Local Market is a wonderful local company that provides catering and gastronomic experiences here in Girona. Today they offered a two-hour cooking class for children. Eston and Aurelia were thrilled as they both love to help and create in the kitchen. 

 Local Market was incredibly organized and had everything ready to go for each junior chef:

Classes for children will be held throughout the summer (check their website). On the menu today was whole wheat veggie pizza. The kids learned how to make the dough and prepped their own veggie toppings. 

What cooking class would be complete without sitting down for a meal?  Each child was able to enjoy their masterpiece for lunch and the kids were thrilled to no end about their delicious creations.

 Aurelia made a heart shaped pizza with a face made out of veggies!

Both kids loved the class and are already begging to return, so we will definitely be participating in the cooking classes this summer. Local Market also offers a variety of tours and classes in Girona, so be sure to check them out if you are a resident or visitor:

http://localmarket.cat

Having kids in the kitchen can be so much fun and there are some great cookbooks out there to help you plan meals as a family. Here are a few of the cookbooks we use in our kitchen on a regular basis:

This is a fantastic cookbook with serious recipes for kids who are really excited about learning to be in the kitchen. The recipes are sophisticated, but presented in a child-friendly way. Prior experience in the kitchen might be helpful, but all of the recipes are possible with some adult guidance.

I absolutely adore anything and everything written or cooked by Alice Waters and this book is just delightful. Some find it too wordy and the recipes too complicated, but I disagree. My children and I love reading the stories and kitchen tips and experimenting with the many recipes. There are also several simple recipes that children can make on their own. Wonderful book!

Ferran Adria is basically a god here in Catalunya, but I owned this book long before we ever moved to Girona. This is a fabulous family cookbook and older children will appreciate the careful instructions and illustrations. Fantastic recipes!

Eston received this book for his birthday a couple of years ago and it is quite the book at 416 pages. This book is full of information and tips for any cook--child or adult! Excellent recipes, though many will need adult assistance.

Also a birthday present a few years back! This book is fantastic for early readers and young cooks. My kids can peruse the pages solo and learn new information or check out recipes. Great photographs and instructions. Nothing too fancy, but a great starting point for all budding chefs.

This book is a little basic, but it was a great beginner book for Eston. Super simple recipes with easy instructions and lots of photographs. Nothing incredibly tasty or complicated, but a solid introduction to the kitchen for young children.

More adventures to come!

Semana Santa in Llafranc

Last month the kids had a week off for Semana Santa. We usually stay home in Girona, but I thought it would be fun to have a little holiday close to home. 

Llafranc is a gorgeous little beach town about 40 minutes from our house in Girona. There are only two tiny hotels, so we decided to find a holiday flat. We found the perfect 2-bedroom flat just a few minutes walk from the village of Llafranc.

I love this beach for kids--calm water, nice sand, plenty of restaurants and such nearby., etc. It does get crowded in the summer, but during the rest of the year it is a beautiful spot to visit. The Hotel Llafranc is right on the beach and a perfect place for lunch or drinks. Salvador Dali frequented this village during his time on the Costa Brava. Hemingway also came here for many years, so the local bars are full of stories about both of these legends.

There are some great hikes between Llafranc and Tamariu. We started hiking from El Far and wandered around for a couple of hours before heading back towards Llafranc. You can also walk to Calella de Palagrugell, though we chose to head the opposite direction on this hike. 

Sant Jordi Day!

Yesterday was Sant Jordi Day!! Our favorite day full of roses and books! Having Sant Jordi Day on a Saturday meant town was a...mess. There were so many people everywhere and it was crazy, but the kids wanted to go out and buy books. We found the booths of our favorite local book stores and I let the kids pick out a favorite. They wasted no time in finding a place to plop down and read.

 I heard about these books ages ago and have been searching for copies in English. I mananged to find them yesterday and it made my day. Friends brought me roses, so I had a wonderful day.

 We had a beautiful morning, but then it began to rain later in the evening. The light was so beautiful, so I tried to capture it from our backyard.

This morning we headed out for our Sunday walk! I love that we have been able to do this two weekends in a row because it is so nice to relax and explore our amazing city.

Fall Bike Rides

Many years ago there were railway lines throughout Catalunya. These lines were built in the 1890's and were heavily used throughout the region for nearly 100 years-- until the 1970's and 80's. In the early 90's the Catalan government decided to turn the unused railways into paths for cycling and running/walking. Genius. Now there are various trails that wind their way from the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean Sea. The old train depots have been revitalized and now hold restrooms, maps of the trails, water fountains, bicycle pumps, etc. It is such an amazing system and one of these days I want to ride the entire trail with the kids (with overnight stops along the way, of course). The trail goes through Girona, so we have the option of heading towards the coast or the mountains.

Last Sunday we decided to head towards the mountains. We wanted to make it to the old train depot in the town of Bescano, which is a little over 10km from our house. 

Eston has been studying plants and trees at school, so he was keen to explain the bark on this particular tree. He knew the words in Catalan and had to translate them to English, which was fine with the exception of the word "bark." He could not remember this word in English, but he told me in Catalan and then I reminded him that the word was "bark."

 The morning was a bit chilly, but we quickly warmed up and began to shed our layers.

 At the old train depot in Bescano!

 Aurelia enjoying the ride:

The weather has been really lovely as of late--low 70's during the day, which is perfect in my book. The other day I rode up to the sanctuary on Els Angels. It is one of my favorite rides and things are so peaceful up here.

The holidays are around the corner and I am proud to say that I am done shopping for everyone. Honestly, I approached this Christmas a bit differently. Our kids have a lot and I think it is time for them to reflect on that and really think about what is needed and not needed. Eston made his list and I encouraged him to think about what things he needed versus what he wanted. Of course, Christmas is meant to be fun and a mix of needs and wants and I certainly don't want to shut him down completely. I just wanted him to consider what things were important. He came up with some solid needs--underwear, socks and pajamas. I am embarrassed to say he is in desperate need of all of these items. His wants: a black marker like mine (Sharpie), a few books, a new soccer ball, and art supplies. In years past I would fulfill these wishes and a few more, but this year I am keeping it a bit more basic. I bought him a few markers, more than a few books and plenty of art supplies. I am tired of having toys they don't play with, so we are keeping our favorites and getting rid of the things they no longer play with. Let me tell you, it feels so great to do this. We spend most of our time outside and when we are inside the kids just want to cook or do art projects. They do love puzzles and board games, but they rarely play with other toys. Aurelia loves her dollhouse (it was Eston's), but they have simple needs. I don't need to overdo it at Christmas simply because things look fun. They made a list for my parents with a few more "wants" but other than that, we are done. I encourage everyone to think about what they really need and want this holiday season, especially in light of recent world events.

My children love jumping off the stairs in our yard. They set up obstacles and have the best time. See?! We don't need more random stuff!

 Charlotte and I have been enjoying some incredible hikes:

 I am trying to be patient as I wait for my new bike, but I am loving the beautiful fall weather on these Catalan roads:

Happy Thanksgiving to those in the USA. It is a holiday that we pretty much forget about here. We talk about what we are grateful for on a weekly basis and the history of Thanksgiving is kind of a sham, so we skip the over eating and just enjoy a normal day. :-)