Spring in the Parc del Laberint in Horta (Barcelona)

 

This park is the oldest in Barcelona , and so far my favorite between all parks I've visited here. Works began in 1791 when marquis Joan Antoni Desvalls i d'Ardena, owner of the lot, created the design of a neoclassical garden in collaboration with Italian architect Domenico Bagutti. There are huge trees, pools, water canals, a waterfall different terraces with flower beds and of course the labyrinth. You also have the sea view , and the view of Barcelona from an unusual angle. You have to pay to enter the park , but only 2,23 euros, and on Wednesdays and Sundays it is free  but they only let in 750 people a day. With the green metro line you have to take off at Mundet and walk a bit, basically the park is behind the Velodrom of Horta which also deserves a short visit I think. Secretly I can tell you that I like this park better than Park Guell, it is not so crowded and the vegetation is much nicer and mature with real trees, much more romantic.

Parts of the Camino de Ronda on the Costa Brava II.

Camino de Ronda from Sant Feliu de Guixols to Playa de Sant Pol (this is not the same as Sant Pol de Mar)

The return ticket to Sant Feliu de Guixols  is almost 30 euros, and it takes 90 minutes to get there with the bus from the Estacion Nord with the Sarbus company. Sant Feliu itself is not the prettiest little town on the Costa Brava, but the places and  beaches which surrounds it are amazing and easily can be reached by foot as well, so it is perfect base to stay even for a few days trip. To find the Camino de Ronda direction to the north, you just walk pass the port through the parking , direction to the rocks, and you will see the first little bay , the Cala Jonca, if you want to continue you just have to walk up those millions of stairs opposite to the ones  going down to the bay. From there the path will be very well signed and obvious.The walk to Sant Pol takes around an hour.  It is an easy walk although it is mainly stairs up and down . All the way there are amazing views, beautiful plants, flowers and fantastic smells. The bays are amazing all the way, if you don't like to go in the water on a little complicated way, on slippery rocks, just go almost until the Playa de Sant Pol, there will be a nice natural pool, with some steps craved into the rocks with turquoise blue water. The Playa Sant Pol is nice as well it is long sandy beach the water is quite shallow for a long while so it can be perfect with children. There is a bus which takes you back to Sant Feliu if you don't want to do the steps back again. One more thing about Sant Feliu: The market is very good and cheaper than in Barcelona, fresh and delicious fruits,vegetables and fish, don't miss that!

One ugly building in Sant Feliu which you have to pass by, on the way to the Camino

 Playa de Sant Pol

The market in Sant Feliu

Path between Vilanova i la Geltru and Sitges

Trains go from Estacion de Francia to Vilanova, it takes around 40 minutes to get there and a return ticket costs 7,20 euros. In Vilanova you have to go to the beach in oder to find the beginning of the path, just cross the beach on the sand and at the further side you'll see stairs going up to the top of the stonewall. The path runs between the train line and the sea, it is really nice though. There are a couple of bays on the way , but mostly with nudist man, although probably on a weekday they are not too popular, so it could be possible to find a bay where there is no one. the nicest parts are when the train goes into a tunnel and you have to climb a small hill, and have the view of the whole coastline.There are several points where you could decide to turn towards the hills , and follow a different path, we didn't do that this time but probably will do later, cause they looked really exciting. This walk from Vilanova to Sitges is only 6 km, so it can be done in 1,5 hours easily, but i suggest to stop and go down to one bay and have a swim, before you get back to Sitges.  When you arrive to Sitges, you will have to walk for long on the promenade by the beach which is full of luxurious  villas , and some french-riviera -like atmosphere. In Sitges there are many good restaurants, it worth to try for example La Menta, which is not far from the train station, but now i can't explain where exactly it is , better to just ask a local.This is an easy scenic walk on an unmistakable path, with perfect ending in the pretty Sitges.

 The beach of Vilanova was a perfect place to collect little trashures, for our project, which you can check out here  www.darktrashures.blogspot.com

promenade in Sitges