The spirit of Girona
The special spirit of Girona made my day. I had planned for a quiet day-off from cycling. Maybe walking a bit, reading on shale gas and hydraulic fracturing, visiting the cathedral, being alone. But no, it was not to be. Luckily.
First, in the early morning, when I was having my morning coffer, the Girona 10 km run passed my table. Some of the people from the club ride were running, Anna even calling "Hi Matti" while passing my table. Suddenly, I did not feel that lonely anymore. It is always nice to know someone in the city one is touristing in.
I did visit the cathedral, though they did not let me in. I did some reading in part. The book "cold, hungry and dark" is very interesting, but so far from Girona. Here it is not cold or dark. Nor hungry.
Second, I got invited to lunch with Anna and others. The lunch would be El Jardins De Merce, which turned out to be a lovely garden restaurant, a place of the kind ex-patriates tend to frequent worldwide.
And ex-pats there were. Not the kind of expats I was used to in China (nerds and some odd business persons). No, this bunch of ex-pats is made of pilots, air hostesses, pro cyclists, ex-pro cyclists, cycling pro team personnel, investment bankers, bike shop owners and a local policeman-triatholonist. And mostly like some others of varied professions.
Everyone was really nice, full of laughter, superbly fit, active and welcoming. There must be something in the air of Girona? How can such a group of people have found each other? I was told that the group is actually much larger, but not everyone could make it today. Even though it was Luke's birthday.
What a nice day! I wish I can find a way, a profession, a job, anything, to move to Girona. Not only is weather fine, cycling routes exceptional, but the people would be a good enough reason to move here.
Luckily, I still have one week left in Girona.
First, in the early morning, when I was having my morning coffer, the Girona 10 km run passed my table. Some of the people from the club ride were running, Anna even calling "Hi Matti" while passing my table. Suddenly, I did not feel that lonely anymore. It is always nice to know someone in the city one is touristing in.
I did visit the cathedral, though they did not let me in. I did some reading in part. The book "cold, hungry and dark" is very interesting, but so far from Girona. Here it is not cold or dark. Nor hungry.
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| The spirit of Girona embodied |
Second, I got invited to lunch with Anna and others. The lunch would be El Jardins De Merce, which turned out to be a lovely garden restaurant, a place of the kind ex-patriates tend to frequent worldwide.
And ex-pats there were. Not the kind of expats I was used to in China (nerds and some odd business persons). No, this bunch of ex-pats is made of pilots, air hostesses, pro cyclists, ex-pro cyclists, cycling pro team personnel, investment bankers, bike shop owners and a local policeman-triatholonist. And mostly like some others of varied professions.
Everyone was really nice, full of laughter, superbly fit, active and welcoming. There must be something in the air of Girona? How can such a group of people have found each other? I was told that the group is actually much larger, but not everyone could make it today. Even though it was Luke's birthday.
What a nice day! I wish I can find a way, a profession, a job, anything, to move to Girona. Not only is weather fine, cycling routes exceptional, but the people would be a good enough reason to move here.
Luckily, I still have one week left in Girona.
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