Back in Girona, and still takes us 2h to find the hostel (again!)
Monday 2nd November 2009
Nearly a year after mine and Olga's first trip to Cataylana region, we are back in Girona, this time with TravBuddy Ollie Tong. Ollie needed someone to help him drive and keep him company as he wanted to get to the small country of Andorra, which is in the Pyrenees mountains between France and northern Spain. So, another cheap Ryanair flight, this time from London Luton airport and arrived at Girona airport late in the afternoon. Quickly picked up a car from a car hire firm, can't remember what they called but Ollie booked it. It seemed so cheap online, but when we were told insurances and the petrol costs were extra, we were actually ripped off and were better off renting from Hertz. Wish we did now.
Ollie didn't want to drive in the dark and on the 'wrong' side of the road straight away, so he left that to me as I have done loads of European driving recently, and the last time he drove was back in Finland nearly three years ago, and that was only for 5 hours! So, in the car, drove to Girona and we had really great difficulty finding the hostel I prebooked with hostelworld.
Anyway, we parked the car up, and walked down the hill. We found the city walls and we actually walked on them and followed the path which lead us back to the square. Oh happy days, that was a quick and simple walk. Shame you need a torch as there was no lighting within the walls.
Checked into the hostel, which wasn't too bad for the price (see the review). We meet a girl called Heather from Scotland in the room who has just arrived, also from Girona airport.
Tuesday 3rd November 2009
An early start and having a great buffet breakfast in the hostel, we wanted to take a few quick photoshots of Girona in the beautiful spainish sunshine before setting off to Andorra. We walked across many bridges over the 'Riu Onyar' the main river which flows through Girona to get some great shots (and lovely ideas for future storylines if I ever write a proper book on my travels!' of the riverside apartments which overlooked the river. Some are in different colours, balconys overhanging the river, and the sun ray's making the apartments glow and stand out.
Then we walked up the city walls back towards the car where we got some amazing views over Girona, including the churches of 'Sant Pere de Galligants' and the old town. A lovely sight. I just hope the rest day would be like this. We got back in the car, once again, I was driving and I was hoping it wouldn't take two hours to drive out of Girona! We didn't, and ten minutes later we were on our way to the small country of Andorra.
Over a ten minute walk from the train and bus station, the hostel is based in the heart of the Old Town of Girona and set in Cataylana Square, next to the main river. Bars and a small supermarket is nearby.
The hostel is modern, and security is via keycards to get into the rooms. The beds are all bunk beds and its shared toilets and bathrooms, but they are clean and spacious, so I never had a problem with anything here. This is one of the better hostels I have stayed in.
I paid €15 a bed a night and included in the price is breakfast which is a variety of cereals, hot drinks, cold drinks, biscuits and bread. Just enough to fill you up for the rest of the day.
Not included in the price is blankets (€2) and towels (€3) and locks of the lockets (€2). Staff are friendly and very informative.
