Dali and Gala

The terrace at Gala's castle.

The long lonely road to the fort.

Depending on how you look at it. Lincoln or a naked Gala?

The entrance to Dali's museum. A car where it rains inside the motor. Who is the voluptuos woman on top?

Figueres is not a place one would naturally detour too unless they know of Dali. Our stay in a nearby farmhouse meant we could cycle into town and enjoy all that the city had to offer.

It was not the most leisurely journey to town. Playing chicken or dare at traffic lights and roundabouts with juggernauts and boy racers was a stomach churning way to begin and end the day but all part of the fun. The 5 daughters all opted for a day lounging by the pool and at the farmhouse and left us to our dose of culture.

Sausages anyone?

Despite the heavy decision over where to park the bikes, the day proved to be so worthwhile. We managed to fit in lunch, a tour of the city taking in Dali's old haunts, entry to his musuem/theatre, perusual of his art and gems finishing off with a steep climb to an isolated and desolate fort. Yet again all for a canny vista of the town. I cycled my way up in gears of 1/1 looking like I was auditioining for the circus. Throughout the trip this became known as "doing the Coco" as in the clown. My legs could barely pedal to move that bike up the hill. I was further hindered by my own laughter.

Another day we cycled to Gala's castle in Pubol, easily my favourite side trip. The colours of the hills, the soft breeze and this mini castle located in the middle of nowhere held me entranced. The terrace and pool exude peace and tranquility. One can imagine Gala reading a note from Dali requesting permission to visit her. Somewhat old fashioned when you consider they were married but surely what kept the flame lit after so many years.

They certainly had an unconventional relationship. A women who left her husband in the 1930's would have found herself the subject of much ridicule and judgement. I some how doubt that Dali even considered what others may have thought of him and if he did I am sure he could not care less!

Undulating Umbria

I have been meaning to post all my thoughts on our recent trip to Italy but as usual time has run away from me. I only hope I can recall all those aromas, scents, scenery and hills and do them justice.
We spent 8 days cycling through Umbria and staying at 4 different "Country Houses".This was a very different holiday for us, one with a purpose other than lazing poolside and stuffing our faces; well there was still some of that but as a reward rather than a daily occurence. We flew to Rome, took a short train ride to the city centre, changed trains and headed to Foligno. I have to say growing rather jaded with air travel, train rides hold the element of something undiscovered as in the scenery and the destination. We arrived late afternoon and took a dip in the pool and came away a little sheepish when the pool nazi upbraided us for not wearing our bathing caps!!!. We had to borrow them from reception and we looked like a techincolour bunch of Ail G impersonators! We ate a fabulous meal which included the local speciality of Stringozzi (unsure of spelling)picante pasta. We felt the need to carb up for the first sortie on our bikes.
We cylced and rested alternate days and stayed in each "hotel" 2 nights. We averaged 20 miles on our cycling days. The company gave us great route notes and we set off with panniers full of water, snacks and sunblock. The compnay collected our bags and moved them for us to the next destination. How do I begin to describe the scenery. If my chicas are reading this they will upbraid me for resorting to comparatives. I felt as if I was cycling across a virtual Van Gogh canvas. Yes I know he is Dutch and we were in Italy but those sunflowers and fields of wheat were so entrancing. The photographs I took did a poor job of capturing the colours. We stopped in Assisi, Spoleto, Spelo, Perugia, Bevagna, Montefalco, San Giacomo all medieval towns with spectacular architecture,gelato, ambiance, pizza, fountains, pasta, plazas, chuches on every street, more gelato and too many hills.
This cycling holiday became more of a culinary and cat tour. As we stopped to eat and drink whenever possible and the girls insisted on petting every cat along the way.
Each hotel was unique and family run and our meals were included and I did not eat one bad meal. I even manged to eat pannacotta for lunch and dinner in one day. We started every evening with a glass of Prosecco and dined on terraces with panoramic vistas of the Umbrian valley. Think vineyards, olive groves, church spires,turrets, fields of sunflowers, green hills and a warm ochre glow. Why do tomatoes taste so sweet in Italy? Is it the sun? One remembers why they are indeed a fruit.
The rides were at times challenging and our team leader(aka Cracker)had to leave his bike on many a peak and trapse back down to aid the ailing and wailing females!
We were all suitable attired in hats, fingerless, gloves and padded shorts. A group promise was made not to take any pictures below the waist as none of us wanted to be immortalized in pixel wearing black lycra with what looks like a nappy wedged in the back. Each day saw only a little chafing and many an application of Butt Butter.
We finshed our trip hot ( heatwave temps)happy and feeling relativly fit. I think we may try it again in another country perhaps coastal.
Check this website if you want an idea of what we did. I am now looking at a cycle tour in Chile for November.
http://www.headwater.com/