We will travel again

we will travel again

Thoughts and local protocols after the confinement of Covid19 pandemic

I just want to believe that our after can’t be the same as our before, however I want to have hope and be positive to think that yes… we will travel again! Or unless we want to travel again, we want to keep exploring, and feeling new experiences.

Concerned by the revival of tourism in our country, how it say the article of @theguardian where mention Spain and Germany rules to reopening its tourism sector, both setting to extend a travel warning for all leisure trips outside the country til mid June, casting further doubt on when would-be holidaymakers will be able to venture abroad again… more info about the article clicking here.

But how are directly our local centers re-opening, orgnizing and personalizing safety protocols??

Let’s take an overview  by locations:

Northern Spain:

  • Galicia, our two centers located in Pontevedra are already open, since end of May, however all the activities tours, are under request and can be affected to confirm only private, shortest tours and some others cancelled by the moment like White water Rafting in Galicia
  • Asturias, most of them on phase 2 , it means that can be operate with large groups, however all participants need to be from the same region… hopefully end of June we can have clients from all the territory.
    Their protocol is simple :
    obligatory using mask inside our vehicles
    50% capacity inside our center and respecting 2mts distance
    And of course disinfect several times a day all the equipment vehicles and after using to prevent any contagion
  • Cantabria, same phase as Asturias and similar protocols. However re-opening expected mid June.
  • Pyrenees, expecting re-opening beginning July, but there is not a fixed date waiting to arrive on phase 3 and welcoming directly all people from all territory and hopefully international too.
  • Catalonia, area of Girona and Costa Brava, in that location all sea kayak tours are right now operating with small groups. The area of Garrotxa with Balloon Flight experience are reopening mid June, and about Barcelona: we do have biking tours available right now, we do have SUP located in la Barceloneta where they are starting now too. Vilanova i la Geltrú , 40km southern Barcelona city – re-opening beginning of July.
    Tarragona – Ebro River , this location is already working since mid May, with its Canyon experiences, Touring kayak on the Ebro river…

Southern Spain:

Sea kayak NerjaAndalucia,  most of our activities in southern Spain are also organized on private and small groups. Our tours on a sea kayak for example are respecting distances and once on the open sea, and together with your partner, there is no risk can attact you, only the joy to be involved on mother nature.
Malaga, end of June is coming phase 3 in most of our locations in Spain, so it will be easy to travel around and book Rafting trip in Cuevas Bajas, or choose for one of our excited canyons.

 

 

 

Valencia location, already ready to operate, and opening mid June in Hoces de Cabriel, and Costa Blanca, Denia and  Altea ready and working with small groups, with a very strict protocols.

Balearics and Canary Islands coming soon by the open flight traffic beginning in  July.

So,  our conclusion: we see what we want and returning back to our normal lifes is right now our desires. Our quick advantage is our joy of working in a natural environment, and right now is what we most need.

Do not hesitate to contact us, before booking your experience all what you need to know we will be more than happy to assist you.

Some additional and interested content:

Be welcoming back soon, and do not forget that… We will travel again!!!

SLOW TOURISM – how to get to the Pyrenees without a car

Slow Tourism in the Pyrenees

In front of the hard climatic change, which has many negative consequences on physical, biological and human systems, as well as other effects, there is a lot of organizations nowadays working on projects , as a new trending to be consent on how to do things better, helping the eco-system, linking to sustainable mobility and healthy in tourism.

This a new trending, and the slow tourism is right now on the top of our table… I always ask by myself, what can I do to contribute on doing things better in all sense??

Easy, give people information, content how can they be or use when they travel around the world… However, the consolidation of these products in the Pyrenees remains scant, due to its small size of international visibility.

Let’s start then giving some content on this post about how to get to the Pyrenees on a sustainable tourist model.

Step one) Are you in the city of Barcelona, with no car, and want to do your getaway to the Pyrenees – Sort (Lleida)?

You can choose among different options to get here, so you do not have excuse for not coming:

By BUS, in my opinion it can be the slower ride from Barcelona city (Barcelona Estación Nord) – to Sort it takes

about 26 stops and 4.30hrs ride. You can search the schedule in ALSA

Train and BUS – despite of the lack of railway station on the area of Sort, does not arrive Train (you can check the schedule in RENFE)– only you can reach getting of in Pobla de Segur and then take the Bus transfer that drives you for 35 minutes more to Sort –

Step two) Example of Your  Slow adventure trip:

Mr. John – Take a train in Barcelona Sants station – one day during the summer time at 9.24am – and arrives to Lleida at 10.30am make a quick transfer to the “Regional train “ up to Pyrenees to La Pobla de Segur (10.47am) – estimate arrival time to La Pobla de Segur at 12.22pm. same day.

Mr. John walk three steps out of the train station and you will find  the BUS at 12.35pm and arrive to Sort not later than 1pm.

Is not great??

Ready for the Spanish lunch time, rest and do its check-in into his accommodation.

Step three) Accommodation + activities in Sort:

– Family adventure trip in Pyrenees (5 nights accommodation and 4 activities)

– Weekend in the Pyrenees ( 2 nights self catering appartment + 2 activities)

 

Nerja and the Blue Summer Tour (Malaga – ANDALUCIA)

One of the most essential beaches to visit while enjoying your holidays in Nerja (Málaga), and why??? because this place is still Blue, due the local Spanish Television (TVE) that decide to do on their eighties a legendary television show that was all the rage for a generation : VERANO AZUL and its endearing character, Chanquete have excited audiences for over thirty years after that amazing summer summer showing a gang of kids in the incomparable setting of Nerja.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prm9nc5ZFow]

Nerja is one of the most important cities in Eastern Costa del Sol and one of the most popular tourist destinations with 500m long beach with crystal and clear water, coral reefs, all kinds of fish surrounded by nature.

This gorgeous town in Malaga has a special charm, cozing from its streets, and where you can find also the most prominent monument of Prehistoric Europe, the Caves of Nerja.

And how better to discover its stunning sceneray  and see on first-hand all this legendary and beauty place, than going in a Sea kayak paddling to the cliffs of Maro, a protected area and abrupt spot whose landscape is formed by small coves separated by rocks, and the awesome waterfall where if the weather conditions are good will give us the honor to snorkeling a little bit.

Our tours are taking place from Burriana Beach – one of the important beaches around Nerja, and the one most visited to the amount of activities and services it offers. Nice walk along the promenade passing through the statue of Antonio Mercero (director of the TV show Verano Azúl)

 

From Nerja to Burriana beach there is a quite easily walk from the center, though older people or kids may find the walk a bit long and it’s preferable to drive or take a taxi. Car park in that location is not easy, there is a free parking area, or in the street, but is always crowed and hard to find a place for your car, so that’s why we recommend to come walking if you come from Nerja, or by taxi –

How to get to Burriana Beach?

[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3196.868324701513!2d-3.8705106847115354!3d36.749731579959004!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0xd722508e8689d91%3A0x235d054bee9a7cb4!2sNerja+Playa+Burriana!5e0!3m2!1sca!2ses!4v1564755316902!5m2!1sca!2ses&w=600&h=450]

And one of the cool places I would recommend to have a good paella in Burriana Beach is the Restaurant “Chiringuito Ayo” where you will enjoy fresh fish too, paying once and eating as much as you can. Fresh, super good, Mediterranean diet.

For those who love the sea, this place can be one of the greatest location in Costa del Sol.

 

 

International descent of Sella river (Asturias)

This sport has been held since 1930, one of the most important date on the international canoeing calendar in Spain, with full of music and Colour descending the friendly Sella river in Asturias.

Every summer, on the first Saturday in August (this year on the 3rd Aug 2019) canoeists from all over the world come to Asturias to take part with 15km canoe marathon in Sella river . This event is organized by the Spanish Federation of Canoeing and in order to participate you must have a valid competition license, however while canoeists get ready on the river, colourful crowds of people make their way through the streets of Arriondas to watch the race.

You can become one of them and feel the real Spanish spirit. At the end of the race, the party begins. Locals, participants, and visitors enjoy music, dancing, and food.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdRlmDHzrcE]

Race starts at 12pm and the competition is officially underway, with a stampede of canoes towards the river and the excited shouts of the spectators. On the way, the river train and the unusual motor cavalcade accompany the competitors in a joyful atmosphere.

Once at the finish line, the party transfers to the Campos de Ova, where trophies are awarded to the winners in each category and there is a huge picnic. There is food, cider, song, dance… When night comes the fun continues in Ribadesella until the early hours, with its terrace bars and open-air parties.

And do you want to know what this location offers you during the whole season? Check in our Location – Asturias, Picos de Europa.

Next stop : SORT- From the warm Mediterranean Sea to the fresh Mountains

Hello and thanks for reading my third blog post about the mountain town of Sort.

If you are in the city of Barcelona with no car, the only way to go up to the mountains is :

  1. by public transport : ALSA BUS
  2. or a local private taxi (this is a mini-van working everyday form Monday to Friday) and departures from BCN city center are between 3-4pm. But you must to book your seat in advanced, because there is only 8 seats, and usually is very busy. Contact phone: 00 34 669 499 199 Mr. Pere only spanish speaker).

After waking up early in the morning and getting onto the bus we drove for about 2 hours through the spanish countryside and another 2 hours through the mountains, we finally arrived in Sort.

The First thing you’ll notice entering Sort are the Pyrenees Mountains looming over you, it does make you feel pretty small but snaking its way beside the street you take to Sort will be the Noguera Pallaresa.

This river is was the main focus for me and the many other people coming to Sort since it was going to be the location of  World Championship in Freestyle Kayaking.

See last year video promo on pre-worlds to give you an idea on how super cool was the event –

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMJ2opvXgWM]

When I arrived in Sort all the construction was already done, seeing the transformed river was great from the wave they had built in to the rushing clear water, from what i’ve heard 25 different countries were competing with over 230 contestants wanting to claim the prize and the tittle of best in the world.

The event takes place from June 29th til July 6th

The Competition is only one of many reasons to visit Sort, from the old architecture to the wonderful restaurants I really feels like the mountain village version of Villanova.

Kayaking isn’t the only thing you can do here, descend Canyoning, hiking in the National park of Aigues Tortes & Sant Maurici lake, River Open kayak or Canoeing, and White water Rafting are all great tourist activities for you and friends and family. So my final veredict is that even if there isn’t a huge Championship going on Sort is definitely a place to be.

I think I will spend more days that I thought, a great event is coming up! I will keep you updated 😉

 

What can be next when you are in Barcelona city?

Hello there and thanks for reading my second post about traveling Spain.

While Barcelona was nice I can’t really stay in one place for too long, so after a few days of experiencing the big city I took a train (Renfe – Cercanías) to the nearby town of Villanova.

While very similar to Barcelona, Villanova i la Geltrú has more of an old world flare to it, most of the houses are ancient and the streets of downtown are paved in m

 

arbel looking stone giving you the feeling of going back in time, but the Architecture isn’t the reason I was here, for me it was the food and sea kayaking. Villanova has a huge variety in food, more so than other large towns, you can get anything from fresh seafood to german bratwurst. It is really a place where you can spend hours on end just sitting at town square enjoying a coffee or maybe some tasty tapas.

This blend of old and new is really the best reason to visit Villanova but if you are hoping for something more exciting then you won’t be disappointed.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNkxLETn7zw]

After a quick look around and a talk with Paddle in Spain I was put into a group with a guide and given all the necessary equipment, and get ready for a Half day Sea kayak trip in Vilanova i la Geltrú.

We started at the beach of Ribes Roges and ended at the cliffs of Garraf, the trip itself was breathtaking from the waves crashing against the cliff side and warm light blue water, but if a group is to much for you and you have a bit of experience you can just go out by yourself or with friends or family.

 

 

 

 

After that long trip I finally settled in for the night I started making plans to visit Sort, in the Pyrenees –  the location of the World Championship in Freestyle Kayaking.

How Spain Embrace You

SPAIN , BARCELONA

Barcelona will be shock for most people traveling from the north, the heat.
Well it was the first I noticed coming from the Bavarian Forest, Hello my name is Konrad and I will be living in Spain for the next few months.

For me Barcelona is the Los Angeles of Europe, Warm weather, big city, and wonderful beaches it should be one of the first places you visit when touring through the EU.

First thing I have to mention about Spain must be the food, you see the people here have breakfast around 9 am, lunch at 2.30 pm and dinner around 9 pm, now to most of the world this is pretty late but not here. For most people lunch is a rushed affair but most Spaniards this a time to chat and relax, luckily the food is delicious, healthy… extremely healthy.

After Lunch I walked around the town center admiring the beautiful architecture of churches, the fine work of the old stone street and the great modernity of the skyscrapers old really does meet new.

Once I wanna feel more active, I can walk to “la Barceloneta” , there is many bars and “chiringuitos” cozy restaurants in front of the beach were you can eat really good fried fish, paellas, where all smell super nice.

But before that, I can see lying on the sand a couple of SUP boards, and I realize that for only 45€ (about 50 US Dolars) if I am joining a group I can do a Sunset Sup experience – that is awesome!!!

Ending a journey walking safe, being active in the water doing kind of sport, and finishing with a nice “Mojito” in a cool terrace in front of the beach, wearing my flip-flops, shorts, t-shirt, there is no price enough to pay how happy I feel!

Another vital stop where German people likes to visit (of course if you like football) is the famous Barça Stadium

 

Days are longer now, but time go fast so, I guess during my stay in here I would live a lot of experiences, .. Next stop: Vilanova I la Geltrú (only 45 min away from the big city and if you do not have a car, directly from Barcelona “Paseo de Gracia” you can catch the train (RENFE) and stop directly to Vilanova I la Geltrú City center.