From Pamplona to a hilltop in Tiana near Barcelona

Good evening

Well, we have made it to Barcelona, actually a little town, Tiana, just north on the coast. From our bedroom window (our home away from home in the hills above Tiana---shot from the soccer fields) we can see downtown Barcelona... a zoo of turistas. Today, we took a day of "rest". Went to a kids soccer game down the hill and across the valley at the Tiana recreation play/pool. Fun to watch the 8 years (see photos) preparing for their later years on Barcelona's soccer time.

Our B and B in the center of photo

Future Barcelona team players--- 2032.

Oops!

Barcelona in the smoggy distance.

Well more about Barcelona later. Let's catchup with our wanderings. Let off in St. Jean Pied de Port, Atlantic Pyrennes.  We spent early last week in Pamplona after searching for our Hotel Navarra for an hour in busy Pamplona... What an adventure. We covered the same ground 4 times only to discover that the hotel as right where we began the search. Lest we appear to be "less that bright", Pamplona has lots of pedestrian only streets and it is a challenge to access a hotel. BUT,  alas, Leslie looked up and there it was! Nice little place in  the center of old town and lots within easy walking distance. Here are a few photos the " the path of the running of the bulls" (series of photos to the corrida).

Believe it or not, it actually all starts in this small parking lot at the bottom of the hill. Each morning, 30 bulls await the signal, the gates open and up the street the go.... Stomping and goring crazy runners along the way.

Up the street and passed the officials

Through the streets that today are quiet.

Into the corrida and crowds of thousands... As you can see the streets were quiet to day but July 8th-July 15th you can just image......

Mural at the Corrida de Toros, Pamplona honoring the runners.

Bronze memorial of runners in the pedestrian walkway. Beautiful bronze piece.




 Gene's 65th birthday dinner at Hemingway's old haunt "La Iruna" raising a glass with his "senorita" and a cup of Rioja with the "old man of the sea".

The big 65th with the best looking lady in the bar.

The boys at the bar...... This bronze is actually at the bar seat that Hemingway used to "hold court" and spend those "wild and crazy drinking nights while in Pamplona.  The walls are covered with amazing original photos of Ernest and his compadres partying the nights away.  To many people, he is still alive and well at La Iruna.

OFF TO RIOJA AND WINE COUNTRY

The next day we headed to the Rioja Alvesa (upper Rioja Valley near Laguardia) to visit wineries and see the area. It is much more than expected. In the valley (much like the Napa Valley in size but a bit bigger) there are 1800 wineries with 108 in the La Guardia area alone. Here are a few photos to give you "a taste".

Altar in a side chapel-- Church of Our Lady of Assumption @ Villaurelta

Beautify eyes on an amazing wall mosaic (1300's)

A Roman bridge along the way.

AND THE RIOJA VALLEY

Cantabrian Mountains

A village in the Rioja

The vines of tempranillo

100 year old vines

The Ysios Winery....Beautiful architecture

Leslie and the wine cart---- note the rearview mirror shot.

Streets of Laguardia, the heart of the Rioja

In the underground caves of the Carlos Pedro Viniperra wine cellar.
(over 50 wine cellar caves in Laguardia with four used today).

Clock in the town plaza.

Red peppers and other verduras

The fruit of the vine.... this was an amazing wine.

 And so we headed back to Pamplona and then off the next day to Zaragoza and east to Barcelona..... the next chapter in a few days. Hope all is well. Enjoy.