Spanish Inspiration

Last year we learnt of the Flower Festival held every year in Girona in Northern Spain and decided that, as it's only about 4 to 5 hours 'down the road', we would go this year.

The festival is held in the old city, parts of which date from Roman times, and we managed to find a hotel (with parking) only about 3 minutes from it all.  Upon our arrival, we saw that the hotel had entered into the spirit of the occasion ...

 ...so a short walk from the hotel, over the river and we were in the old city.

The city has lots of narrow steep roads and stairs...

...but also some more impressive sites like the stairs up to the cathedral.

There were also displays in courtyards and patios ...

...but there were things for all ages and all interests.

There were also many displays in the museums, churches and historic buildings.  One of the best was in the old Arab Baths ...

... but some were hidden away like this representation of falling water (white orchids attached to streamers) which was in an old cistern.

There were a lot of people there.  It felt like all of the pensioner's clubs of Catalonia were there, as well as quite a few from over the border into France!

In the midst of all of this, there was a little time for some shopping therapy, albeit unsuccessful.

We do like a city break and this fitted the bill exactly ... the buzz of a city, inspiring artistic floristry, a lot of walking, a few tapas and a few glasses of wine.