CATALONIA SPAIN
Catalonia, Some Memories
By: Peter News
Clearly, Catalans have a special attraction to mountains. I
discovered this one winter weekend a 100 kilometers (60
miles) north of Barcelona in the Pyrenees when I visited La
Molina, the oldest ski resort in Spain, with a peak rising
2,537 meters (8,320 feet). The train ride, through vistas
worthy of the Alps, was noisy with teenagers plucking guitars
and singing.
I skied with Pedro Pereira, a Barcelona paper salesman who
moonlights as a ski instructor. Pedro took me up to 2,300
meters and showed me snowfields where we broke our own
trails. Later Pedro bantered with friends crowded around a
table in a cafe, as we banqueted on rounds of fresh bread
smeared with tomatoes, olive oil and garlic.
The next day I drove toward south of Tarragona. Trafic
packed the road, and I could see that the lure of finding a
quiet place in the sun had set thousands of Catalans on the
move. When I stopped in the village of San Carlos de la
Rapita, I guessed I had hit land's end. Shipwrecks cluttered
the harbor. The town smelled of salt hay and shellfish.
All the action centered on the fish auction-until a helicopter
swooped in for a landing. Then I saw beyond the mask of
the fishing fleet. On the other side of the harbor sat three
oil-rig service vessels, whole fields of drilling supplies and a
squadron of choppers. I began making preparations for
leaving this "paradise lost".
But someting made me stay: first, just a cup of coffee; then,
the spirited dancing of the cafe waitresses; later, some of
the biggest snails I've ever eaten; and finally, a table of
fhisermen who passed a wineskin. So it was one of those
nights-eating paella and trying to fathom rough-spoken
Catalan. I learned two things: Fishing remained the big
business here, and the oilmen were welcome.
About the Author:
Peter News is webmaster of ALKYONE. Internet-Design since the very first days of
Internet (1997). He likes traveling and gathering travel experiences around the
world.
Catalonia, Some Memories
By: Peter News
Clearly, Catalans have a special attraction to mountains. I
discovered this one winter weekend a 100 kilometers (60
miles) north of Barcelona in the Pyrenees when I visited La
Molina, the oldest ski resort in Spain, with a peak rising
2,537 meters (8,320 feet). The train ride, through vistas
worthy of the Alps, was noisy with teenagers plucking guitars
and singing.
I skied with Pedro Pereira, a Barcelona paper salesman who
moonlights as a ski instructor. Pedro took me up to 2,300
meters and showed me snowfields where we broke our own
trails. Later Pedro bantered with friends crowded around a
table in a cafe, as we banqueted on rounds of fresh bread
smeared with tomatoes, olive oil and garlic.
The next day I drove toward south of Tarragona. Trafic
packed the road, and I could see that the lure of finding a
quiet place in the sun had set thousands of Catalans on the
move. When I stopped in the village of San Carlos de la
Rapita, I guessed I had hit land's end. Shipwrecks cluttered
the harbor. The town smelled of salt hay and shellfish.
All the action centered on the fish auction-until a helicopter
swooped in for a landing. Then I saw beyond the mask of
the fishing fleet. On the other side of the harbor sat three
oil-rig service vessels, whole fields of drilling supplies and a
squadron of choppers. I began making preparations for
leaving this "paradise lost".
But someting made me stay: first, just a cup of coffee; then,
the spirited dancing of the cafe waitresses; later, some of
the biggest snails I've ever eaten; and finally, a table of
fhisermen who passed a wineskin. So it was one of those
nights-eating paella and trying to fathom rough-spoken
Catalan. I learned two things: Fishing remained the big
business here, and the oilmen were welcome.
About the Author:
Peter News is webmaster of ALKYONE. Internet-Design since the very first days of
Internet (1997). He likes traveling and gathering travel experiences around the
world.
 | |  | |  | |  |
FAMILY TRAVEL FUN.COM
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |