Wanna stop in Girona?

Girona along the river.

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The train to Figueres also stops in Girona, and wanting to be savvy, four of us decided to stop there before going back to Barcelona to save the euros  we would need in order to take the trip up again. We were tired, but we didn't have anything to lose . . . . so, off to Girona! It was a fun stop - we got lost at first leaving the train station, but luckily one of my friends that I've made here speaks fluent Spanish (her mom is Colombian), plus we're all beginning to grasp asking questions fairly well. A river runs through Girona, and apparently in the Roman days there was a large road, Via Augusta, that connected the city with the southern part of Spain. We finally came across the old part of the city, full of winding little paths to secret places. The cathedral came out of nowhere, rising up above a set of stairs that my friends looked at and said, "No way." I decided I wanted to conquer the stairs and peak into the cathedral, since I doubted I would ever be in Girona again in my whole life, and since I realized that even if I DID want to return in my ripe old age, the climb to the cathedral would kill me. I also thought about how Spanish cathedrals in general are not very handicap-friendly, and how do they get all the elderly people into this 11th- century church on Sundays? For some questions, there are no answers ;)

In front of the cathedral

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The cathedral was unquestionably worth the walk, having the largest nave of any church in Europe. The outside facade was deceptive of the enormous inside. Needless to say, I got the other girls to make the climb and see it as well.

On our way back to the train station we passed the old Jewish quarter, walked by little shops, crossed the river, bought some bread . . . . we were exhausted, but it was a nice little side trip. I have also noticed a change in the way I travel . . . when I was younger I used to be interested in shopping, and making sure I would get to walk into the little stores and look at everything, finding the shopping district, looking at STUFF, buying . . . but I have noticed a lot more in the last year or so that I do not really look for those kinds of things as much anymore. Which is good, I think - the things I do buy mean a lot to me and the things I choose not to buy . . . . more euros for more trips and things to do! I am keeping a scrapbook while I'm here as well . . . which is already making for a fun keepsake as I look back and some of things I have collected so far.

Falling off the cathedral steps! AHHHH!!

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Back on the train, back in Barcelona . . . . and another week of school (until the next trip, of course  . . . . )

:)