Bilbao, The Pyrenees and Barcelona - out of order time wise

25 Sept 2011
I staggered into Bilbao - Hostel Pension Mardones a terrific place in the old town in Calle Jardines 4 (2nd and 3rd Floors) after leaving the walk of the Camino de Santiago at Logrono - 164 kms + - I was proud of my achievement but it faded into insignificance when you talk to others who have walked from Holland or Germany and are still going on to finish the 795kms of the Camino starting in St Jean Pied de Port - many of them have done 1400 - 1500 kms walking !!! So in that light 164kms is a drop in the ocean but I was proud of it neverthe less...

Bilbao was beautiful - with an old city of winding narrow streets and a new huge one which held the main attraction for my journey there - the Guggenheim Museum....if you are interested in reading about it here is a good link http://www.guggenheim.org/bilbao - the building itself was just amazing - an architectural wonder and although the painting and installations inside were very interesting with some odd pieces, the building was just AMAZING.....
28 Sept 2011

After this I headed for a respite in a beautiful place in the Pyrenees where I walked to the Breche de Roland, standing there with Spanish Pyrenees on one side and French Pyrenees on the other was just spectacular. Then another day a hard bike riding to Cauterets then hired a car in Lourdes and drove to Col du Tourmalet (of Tour de France fame), a walk then a scenic ride up to the Pic du Midi

Pic du Midi

..After the Pyrenees started to cool - we headed for the warmth and art work of Barcelona...on 12 Oct 2011
Stayed at the Casa Gracia Hostel. 116 Passeig de Gracia - the best accomodation in the heart of Barcelona - short walk to everything including Metro and very lovely people running it.

Casa Batallo

Casa Mila balconies - nothing is as it seems..

La Sagrada Familia (front)

La Sagrada Familia (back)

Inside Casa Batallo

12 Oct 2011

AH..... Barcelona - a huge city famous for the amazing Gaudi buildings - went into the Casa Batallo - a sight to behold - nothing has a normal angle or shape - built around 1912 - he was a genius and I'm sure a little mad at times. He is said to have had his creations built and if he didn't like them he would demand they were pulled down and started again.....He had a rich benefactor Guell who he sent broke. One building he had built 5 times - I'm glad he wasn't using my money.

The Cathedral, La Sagrada Familia was started in 1883 and still not finished - they think 2020 but not sure - work still going on everyday...spectacular doesn't even begin to describe it.

A few days spare so headed for Spanish Island of Menorca, part of the Balearic Islands, staying in Mao (Mahon) - overnight ferry.  Once there hired bikes and attempted part of the Cami de Cavalls - the hardest ride I have ever done - rocky in a lot of parts and at times carried the bike, but a great achievement and I was so proud of myself after my days riding - even managed to fall over the top of the handle bars as I pulled on the front brakes much harder than the back in a time of rocky panic

Then to Turkey.....