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24 Hours Barcelona – The Must See Tourist Attractions




Cycling from St. Petersburg to Lisbon with the Trans-Europa Bicycle Expedition may be one of the hardest tasks anybody could set themselves in their life, but it will also be the most memorable. If you get your plans right you can see plenty of major sites. Here, we will explore stopping over in Barcelona for 24 hours and what you can do there in this time.

And luckily, Trans-Europa riders will enjoy 2 rest days in this amazing city!



Sagrada Familia This stunning large Roman Catholic Church in Barcelona is technically a building that was never complete even though the ‘project’ started back in 1882. The building, which is now a world heritage site, only passed the half way point (in development) back in 2010, and it is expected that the building will not be completed until 2026.



Las Ramblas Las Ramblas is one of the most popular streets in Europe. Stretching for just under three-quarters of a mile, this street is full of culture, animals, kiosks, souvenir shops and other free activities. The street is mostly popular with tourists, but there really is something for everybody to do on this street. The street is busy in both the day (with shoppers) and the night (with restaurants and bars.)



Park Güell If you are a fan of the outdoors, and the chances are being a cyclist you are, Park Güell is something that you have to see when in Barcelona.  This beautiful park was constructed over 14 years and is now a world heritage site. The main terrace of this park is stunning, and this is one of the focus points of the park. If you have some spare time, the musical fountain show (Fountain of Montjuic) is something that you should see when it is in action. The fountain was developed by over 3000 people back in the twenties, and was a popular tourist point in the 1992 summer Olympics.

Relaxation If you need to take a break from riding and want to spend the day relaxing, then Barcelona is a great city for this. Barcelona has what many consider the finest city beach in the world, which you should visit if you want to soak up the sun. If you are feeling a bit tight, maybe a massage is what you need. You should consider a Thai massage, which will relieve all the pressures on the body.

Eating Depending on how much you want to spend, here are two great options:

El Quim, which is situated on the Boqueria market, offers something different for budget diners. This family-owned restaurant is a stall rather than a sit-down restaurant, but some of the food available is amazing. Even the locals say that the tapas you find here is some of the best you will find in the city.

If you have a bit more in the budget, then you have to try Arola. This restaurant is found on the second floor of the Hotel Arts. With over 900 wines to choose from this restaurant has been designed amazingly. Furthermore, you will also find all the local dishes you would expect to find anywhere else.

Make sure you try tapas for one meal in Barcelona because the selection of foods that you get with this meal is amazing and is a fantastic memory for your Spanish holiday stop. Tapas are an ideal meal for lunch with other cyclists and you are bound to find something that you enjoy eating.

If you are in Barcelona for 24 hours, you have to take advantage of all the sites. In this guide, you have seen just a few things you can try, but the great thing about the city is there is so much more to do there.

Martin loves to travel in Spain, and is a writer for the Low Cost Airline Guide website. Anyone not on the Trans-Europa cycle tour will certainly appreciate the useful information they provide on low cost flights to Barcelona.  


Images:

Sagrada Família Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/53501950@N02/6018783767/
Direct link: http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6133/6018783767_86f05ef544_d.jpg  
 
Las Ramblas Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oh-barcelona/6400038007/in/set-72157628147087381/ Direct link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6400038007_7fdfc1864c_d.jpg

Posted February 02, 2012 by Guest Author
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Pierogis, Hot Beer & Trams : Explore Krakow




There's a courtyard inside Collegium Iuridicum, one of the buildings belonging to Jagiellonian University in which stands, in my opinion, one of Krakow's most beautiful sculptures. The city is littered with art, from the giant heads of Rynek Glowny (Market Square) to the gargoyles leering from the tops of the absurdly old buildings that make up most of the city centre.
 
But this little courtyard, through a big studded oak door which opens on to one of the busiest roads in the city, holds a simple sculpture of a face half completed but at peace, standing on a small plinth. The public can visit it, but they seldom do because there's no way of knowing that it's there unless you have a good guide.
 
But that's the nature of Krakow. A city straddling centuries, cultures and political histories, you could (as I did) spend nearly three months wandering the streets and continue to find areas and sights that astound you. I was working on a documentary project centred around Nowa Huta, the old Soviet-built suburb which was made as a model of Communist living in which legions of workers were housed in Le Corbuiser-inspired apartment blocks lining vast avenues.
 
That small area alone would be enough for a fascinating holiday, visiting the small workingmen's clubs and Soviet-chic cafes scattered throughout a landscape that feels halfway between the townhouses of Vienna and the crescents of Bath. But the centre of Krakow, much of it dating back a minimum of four hundred years, holds delights of its own. The churches (and boy, are there a lot of churches) are monuments to religious devotion but also to the excesses of the believers.


 
Draped in gold and silver and swaddled in velvet accumulated across the ages, these aircraft hangar-like buildings still buzz with the prayers of the faithful. Pope John Paul II was born not far from the city and it became his adopted home, and his memory is still both a central pin of the city's identity and one of its biggest tourist draws. Catholics from across the globe come to visit, light candles and stare at paintings of him (there's one in the window of the presbytery he used to stay in, at the window from which he used to lean out and cause traffic jams by addressing the crowds of visitors).
 
Just outside of the main square of the city is Wawel castle, built on an outcrop overlooking the River Wisla (Vistula). This castle was started in the 14th century (though this is by no means the oldest thing in town!), but successive dynasties kept adding on bits to the initial foundation, and the current incarnation of the castle is a punchbowl of different architectural styles and tastes, with open courtyards, gilded domes, chapels and walkways. Wandering below the outer walls on the town side it's worth peering up and imagining being an attacker. An imposing prospect indeed.


 
But if you've just arrived by bicycle there's one particular district of the city that should hold the most appeal for your weary limbs. Kazimierz, the old Jewish district and site of the ghetto during WWII, is in many ways the perfect patch to get a sense of the city without having to move too much. It offers a condensed view of the history and architecture, but is also famed for its excellent bars, restaurants and small shops. There's a flea market on the main square most days, selling everything from WWII knickknacks to second-hand handbags and it's always worth a browse, but leave time to go and try the hot beer in Alchemia, on the corner of the square.

 

South of Krakow are the Tatra Mountains, with their vast meadowed valleys sprinkled with villages which look like they were built copying a sight somebody once saw on a postcard. The older houses are made of logs and the gaps in the walls are filled with a clay mixture to stop draughts. If this filler is painted blue it traditionally meant that there was a daughter in the house who had reached a marriageable age, though be warned: these days it's more usually done for aesthetic reasons, and residents may not take kindly to prospective suitors knocking on the door!
 
Along the roadsides throughout the mountainous region you'll find small restaurants open for the passing trade. I put on over a stone in weight during my time in Poland, and I put most of this down to these little places. Between the golompki (stuffed cabbage leaves), the smalec (pork grease, a perfect antidote to vodka) and the pierogi (Polish dumplings), as a cyclist you should exercise caution or you'll find the hill climbs a little tough!


 
I loved my time in Krakow, with its clanking trams and droves of nuns and monks hurrying below the spires. I will return this spring for work, and I can’t wait. The Malopolska region of Poland is full of places I want to visit (and things I want to eat). To the participants in the Trans-Europa ride I will just say this: take the alleyways, and drink a glass of hot beer for me. It’s nicer than it sounds.

Thanks to Will Boase for this insight in one of Europe's hidden gems.

Read the complete article here.

Explore Krakow on our Trans-Europa Bicycle Expedition this summer.

Posted January 20, 2012 by Guest Author
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Explore Venice’s top sights, James Bond-style




Venice is renowned for being one of the world’s most beautiful cities, so it’s no surprise that it pulls in millions of visitors each year. As you explore its canals and alleyways during your Trans-Europa tour stop, you’ll be surrounded by couples enjoying romantic getaways, sightseeing backpackers and excited history buffs, all enjoying the sights and sounds of this extraordinary tourist destination.

Of course, Venice receives its get fair share of famous visitors, too. Film stars, sporting icons and politicians could be mingling in the crowd somewhere close by – and the world’s most famous MI6 agent might even be on hand. James Bond appears to be a huge fan of the city, having visited it no less than three times during the course of his movie adventures. So why not add an extra dimension to your exploration by following in the footsteps of Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Daniel Craig? Here are five of Bond’s favourite Venice attractions to explore.



1. Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square)

Given that it appears at the top of almost every “top attractions in Venice” list and is packed with tourists, you’d think Bond villains would want to avoid showdowns in Piazza San Marco. Not so. In Moonraker, the evil Drax is foolish enough to locate his mysterious glassworks just off the square, with Roger Moore’s Bond turning up to investigate in a bizarre hover-gondola which glides across the square itself. You can see the front of the glassworks for yourself, on 314 Piazzetta dei Leoni, although it’s actually just a shop rather than a full working factory. Bond’s love interest Holly Goodhead conveniently stays nearby, at the Hotel Danielo on Riva Degli Schiavoni.

For more traditional tourists, it’s worth returning to the Piazza San Marco in the evening, when many of the nearby shops close and the throngs of tourists subside somewhat. Clever lighting ensures that St Mark’s Basilica and clock tower look even more stunning that during the daytime, and live music often adds to the atmosphere.



2. Torre dell'Orologio (St Mark’s Clock Tower)

Not content with creating a scene in the Piazza, Moore’s Bond goes on to fight Drax’s henchman, Chang, behind the clock face of Torre dell'Orologio. The interior used in the movie was actually a studio set, but it’s still worth taking a guided tour to see how to the clock really works. Renovated in 2007, the tower was designed in 1496 and is one of Venice’s oldest monuments. As well as telling the time, the clock also displays the phases of the moon and the zodiac signs, and is one of the Piazza’s most-photographed attractions.



3. Rialto Bridge

The Rialto Bridge is the oldest of the four bridges that span Venice’s Grand Canal, with the current version having been completed in 1591. Its beautiful design features a central portico, adjoined by two inclined ramps. The southern walkway is typically the most crowded, but it offers the best views so it’s well worth elbowing your way to the top.

Being one of Venice’s most iconic structures, it’s no surprise that the producer’s of Daniel Craig’s first Bond outing, Casino Royale, found a way to work the bridge into the dramatic scenes that take place towards the end of the movie. It’s likely that your experience will be slightly different – there’ll be significantly more boat traffic (the filmmakers were able to temporarily halt it), and hopefully you won’t find yourself underwater following a catastrophic building collapse nearby.



4. Grand Canal

No trip to Venice would be complete without a trip down the Grand Canal, whether it’s an affordable journey on a Vaporetto (water bus) or a pricier cruise in a gondola. As well as admiring four stunning bridges, you’ll also be able to appreciate the extent of Venice’s incredible architecture as you float by. The No. 1 Vaparetto is a good option for exploring the canal – you can catch it from the railway station, in the direction of Piazza San Marco. Again, it’s much quieter in the evening, and most of the sights are floodlit.

James Bond himself has taken a number of trips down the Grand Canal, some more leisurely than others. You might like to picture Sean Connery floating by with the exotic Tatiana in From Russia with Love – or you may prefer the image of Roger Moore zipping past in a high-tempo chase sequence from Moonraker.



5. Bridge of Sighs

Looking for a fitting end to your Venice trip? Follow Connery’s lead and end your visit by seeing the Bridge of Sighs. The enclosed bridge, which has been copied in numerous other cities around the world, was built in 1602. Its original purpose is somewhat depressing – it was used to lead convicts to a prison, and the name derives from the sound they would emit on passing over it. Local folklore is somewhat more positive, though, and it’s said that if you kiss on a gondola at sunset under the bridge, you will be granted everlasting love. It may not have worked for Bond and Tatiana, but why not give it a try?

Although it can be busy, one of Venice’s best features is that many of its better attractions are free to view or enter, including several of those listed above. Who says you need millions to live like an international man of mystery?

Nick Sim is a travel fan and writer based in Ipswich, England. When he’s not watching too many bad movies, he can be found covering news and reviews from UK theme parks.

  Image sources

Piazza San Marco.jpg – xiquinhosilva http://www.flickr.com/photos/xiquinho/3499633141/  

St Mark’s Clocktower – midnightglory http://www.flickr.com/photos/midnightglory/2318715131/  

Rialto Bridge – ZeHawk http://www.flickr.com/photos/lastgunslinger/3354205233/  

Grand Canal.jpg – Saitor http://www.flickr.com/photos/saitor/2224975903/  

Bridge of Signs – justinls http://www.flickr.com/photos/aspengull/23126267/  

Posted January 18, 2012 by Guest Author
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And the Winner is...




We recently ran a competition with Essential Travel UK –  a virtual treasure hunt called ‘Live your Dream’ where participants had to follow clues and do some research to figure out what the prize was. 

Congratulations goes to Bea Swiatkowska from Haslemere in Surrey, UK who figured it out and won the prize - a section of our Trans Europa/Amber Route tour -  Alps to Adriatics  - an incredible 9 day cycling journey from Bratislava,Slovakia to Venice, Italy.

“I’m happy, excited and totally and utterly shocked to win!” said Bea. “It is amazing feeling and makes you believe that anything is possible. Life is magical again! Thank you Essential Travel and Tour d'Afrique.”

This will be Bea’s first long-distance cycling trip and while she knows it’s going to be challenging to cover 800km in 9 days, she’s looking forward to the experience of pushing herself beyond her comfort zones.

We asked Bea what she’s most excited about seeing on this section:

 “Seeing great cities with vibrant culture such as Venice and Bratislava, and beautiful countryside. I just know that I will be overwhelmed by the scenery of those places. I am very curious about Ljubljana. I do not know much about this city as well as the country and the Slovenian people, so it will be a truly enchanting and thrilling experience.”

We look forward to welcoming Bea onto the tour in Bratislava in August and celebrating her first ever long- distance cycling achievement when she reaches Venice, Italy.

Keen to join?



There are still a few spaces available on the Trans Europa/Amber Route  tour -a  spectacular eleven week journey through twelve countries.  Our itinerary initially follows the ancient amber trade route used by the Romans, from St. Petersburg, one of the world's most beautiful cities, to the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, then onwards through Poland and Slovakia,  Hungary and Slovenia, before the tour reaches its half way point in glorious Venice, Italy.



After a short break of gondola rides, pasta, and Chianti, we will cycle across Southern Europe to the Atlantic Ocean.  En route we will ride along the Italian and French Rivieras, visiting Genoa, Monaco, Cannes and Montpellier.  Then it’s into Spain skirting the foothills of the towering Pyrenees to Barcelona where we will have 2 days to explore another of Europe's most impressive cities. From there we head west across the Iberian peninsula to the Spanish capital of Madrid, the medieval town of Caceres and finally the great Portuguese capital of Lisbon, from where explorers like ourselves set sail to discover the world.

Posted January 17, 2012 by Tour d'Afrique Ltd.
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Introducing Trans-Europa




Trans Europa Extension Description

Sometimes plans are made to be broken.  Originally our schedule for 2012 did not include any new Tours.   However, just as our clients possess, we at TDA have a wanderlust that is not easily subdued.  For this reason we are announcing the inaugural Trans-Europa Tour.

The inspiration?  We already have 2 trans-continental tours in Europe, the Amber Route and the Orient Express; but we wanted to create a tour on a more epic scale, one that allows a cyclist to cross the entire breadth of Europe in one Tour; to ride from the northern lights of St. Petersburg, Russia to the rugged Atlantic coast of Lisbon, Portugal. 

It only takes a moment looking at a map of Europe to see the wondrous line this route draws, and along that thin line we will spend 11 weeks cycling through 12 stunning countries.

To create the Trans–Europa Tour we added 2 additional sections to the Amber Route; which will be run in 2012 at the same time as it has always been scheduled, from St. Petersburg to Venice, Italy.

The Amber Route has been improved with small route alterations and changes in some accommodations, but in essence it is the same Tour offered in 2010. To complete the Trans- Europa Tour we continue from Venice along the Riviera of Italy and France before heading to Barcelona, Spain.  From there we cross the Iberian Peninsula of Spain and Portugal to finish in Lisbon.

What highlights can we expect from Venice to Lisbon?  We’ll stop in cities like Genoa, Cannes, Montpellier, Barcelona, Madrid and Caceres.  We’ll indulge in Italian fare each night as we ride the foothills heading toward the Liguria coast.  We’ll cycle the famed winding roads of the Mediterranean through Italy and France.  We’ll sleep by the white sand beaches of Northeastern Spain.  We’ll challenge ourselves cycling 6 hilly days to Madrid and we’ll toast the cold Atlantic, where the sardines practically jump from the ocean onto seaside tables in beautiful Lisbon! 



Venice to Barcelona: Along the Riviera

August 21 – September 6 - 14 Riding Days, 3 Rest Days
Rest Days in Genoa, Cannes and Montpellier 



Barcelona to Lisbon: Iberian Crossing

September 9 – 25 - 14 Riding Days, 3 Rest Days
Rest Days in Madrid (x2) and Caceres  

Pricing: 

Full Trans Europa Tour St. Petersburg to Lisbon = 10 900 Euros
Along the Riviera Venice to Barcelona = 3100 Euros  
Iberian Crossing Barcelona to Lisbon = 3100 Euros    



Posted January 16, 2012 by Tour d'Afrique Ltd.
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The Amber and Iron Routes Meet




Where in the world is Ljubljana? Travel writer Abi King asked that question recently on her travels from Istanbul to Berlin. She has embarked on a train journey for InsideTravelLab called the #IronRoute.

Here is how she describes it:

“#IronRoute is a rail trip from Istanbul to Berlin that aims to explore the theme of “east” and “west” as it used to apply to Europe, while also getting a taste of those places as they are today.”

Read more at InsideTravelLab…

The Amber Route is no stranger to the themes of ‘east’ and ‘west.’ Starting in St. Petersburg, we spend the majority of our time in the eastern Europe. The answer to Abi’s question is that Ljubljana is in Slovenia, and it’s the capital of this Eurozone nation and our last rest day before our arrival at the finish in Venice.



I remember Ljubljana well. If I were to describe it, I would call it old, yet modern, and a dynamic, yet inviting place. In our inaugural Amber Route adventure, I visited Ljubljana Castle which dates back to 1112 A.D. It has seen a lot over the centuries and now the renovated castle is a popular upscale dining spot and event hall for weddings and other celebrations – or just a great place to view the city below.



I also strolled through old town and its narrow streets, alongside its canals, and past the outdoor markets. This was our last taste of the ‘east’ as the next day we cruised downhill to the Italian coastline. East meant many different things to us along the way as we cycled through a great stretch of it from St. Petersburg. Take a moment and peruse through some of the posts from last year to see what surprises eastern Europe had for us.

Stewart recounts his harrowing first day of cycling!

Paul on exploring Estonia

Me in the Latvian Bicycle Museum

Five Things I remember about the Amber Route – Paul McManus

Posted December 12, 2011 by Shanny Hill
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Amber Route Room with a View


Information Source: Wikipedia

Our Amber Route Cycling Tour traces one of the world’s least known ancient trade routes. Like all of our Tours it holds secrets and surprises for intrepid explorers to discover, including the many architectural delights that were hidden behind the Iron Curtain and the mystical Amber Room itself.

In Roman times, the main Amber Road ran south from the Baltic Coast through the land of the Boii (modern Slovakia) to the head of the Adriatic Sea. Its purpose was the transfer of the beautiful substance that is amber, a fossilized tree resin which often contains animal and plant materials and is used as an ingredient in perfumes, as a healing agent in folk medicine, and as jewelry. The Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun had Baltic amber among his burial goods, and amber was sent from the North Sea to the temple of Apollo at Delphi as an offering. From the Black Sea, trade could continue to Asia along the Silk Road, which has inspired another of our trans-continental caravans on two wheels. 


Credit: Richard Resch

The Amber Route starts in St. Petersburg, home to the fabled Amber Room, one of the most magnificent and mysterious masterpieces in Russia. Constructed by German and Russian craftsmen in the early 18th century, the original Amber Room was a complete chamber decoration that incorporated 6 tons of amber into panels backed with gold leaf and mirrors.



Photo of the original Amber Room, taken before WWII
Credit – Public Domain Russia

Sometimes called the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Amber Room was looted during World War II by the Nazis. Knowledge of its whereabouts was lost in the chaos at the end of the war and despite searches on the ground, underground and even underwater it was never found. The most likely theory is that it was destroyed when Königsberg Castle was burned down in April 1945. Efforts to reconstruct the Amber Room began in 1979 at Tsarskoye Selo (“Tsar’s village”) and in 2003 it was inaugurated in it’s historical home, the Catherine Palace, a former residence of the Russian imperial family and visiting nobility.
 

Catherine Palace    Credit: Ratigan

We hope you will be inspired to join us in St Petersburg this coming May as we seek to discover the many hidden treasures of the Amber Route en route to it’s finish in the resplendent city of Venice.

Posted November 10, 2011 by Brian Hoeniger
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Amber Route 2012 - Registration now open!




The warm weather is finally here in Canada but we are already thinking about next summer. July 2012 will see the return of the Amber Route Bicycle Expedition. This awesome cycling experience through some of Central Europe's most fascinating cities and some of the most undiscovered routes will be another challenging trans-continental journey for those who choose to take it on.

For inspiration, read through some of the posts from last year's tour, and start dreaming about St. Petersburg, Venice, Krakow, and Bratislava, and start learning about some lesser known gems like Tallinn, Birzai, Banska Stiavnica, and Ljubljana. More details on route, pricing and dates can be found here.

Registration is now open!

Posted June 24, 2011 by Tour d'Afrique Ltd.
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Five Things I will Remember About the Amber Route




Finishing a long distance tour, as you can imagine, comes with mixed emotions.  While you may be more than ready to be finished with sleeping in a tent surrounded by snoring, burping, farting riders and you may have grown tired of having to stick to someone else's intinerary there are always things you'll miss.  Here's a list of 5 things I will miss about the 2010 Amber Route.  

The Peleton (a.k.a. the back nine)

The back nine, as I like to call them, (though often there were 10 or 14 of them), made it their mission to arrive in camp last.  Not because they were slow (though some were) but because they truly enjoyed each others company (most of the time) and relished long cafe stops and roadside antics.  They supported each other on the tough days and had fun together whenever possible.  I loved riding with them and will miss Stewart and Janice's wit, Kendy's determination, Rick's constant smile, Don's aloof comments and the rest of the crew as well.  

Ron and Nini
 Ron Nehring, a supreme court judge from Utah joined us on tour this year only a few months after he suffered his second stroke.  His wife Nini joined him  and as a doctor she was a big help on tour not only for Ron, who she had to constantly care for but also to other members of the tour who would get injured or sick.  Ron was a constant source of inspiration.  Every day was a challenge for him (even physically getting on the bike was tough) but he never complained and never played the victim.  You could tell Ron was used to being in a position of authority because when he spoke it was very clear that you were intended to listen.  My favorite thing about Ron, aside from his determination and good humor, was his witty comments.  My favorite?  One day the route was mostly gravel but occasionally there would be 200 or 300 meters of pavement in front of a group of houses.  These short lengths of pavement would get your hopes up that the gravel was over, only to let you down as you rounded the corner to see more rough road ahead.  Ron hated rough roads.  When he arrived at lunch that day he gently put down his bike and announced loudly "I'm getting real tired of all this 'sucker pavement' today"  I still smile when I remember that moment. 

The Campsites
Camping is a critical component to a successful tour, in my opinion, for two reasons.  First, it keeps the group together.  When you stay in hotels everyone goes to their room and maybe you see them at dinner or walking around but rarely do you hang out as a group.  When you camp the group is all together and it can lead to some really fun and interesting experiences.   Like the talent show Bill and Janice organized (so popular they had to organize a second one) and the impromptu water Olympics hosted in one campsite pool.  

The second reason is that camping is a great equalizer. Rich or not so rich, young or old, great cyclist or novice, when everyone camps they all share a common experience that more often than not, brings the group together.  

Some of the campsites on the Amber Route this year were great.  Maybe not great because of their amenities, but you couldn't beat the location.  Camping in the moat of an old castle in Russia (and being woken up by a drunk Russian shouting "Amerkansky....!"),  was definitely a highlight.  Our camps along the Baltic in Estonia were beautiful and my personal favorite, camping at an old fisherman's camp in Lithuania (not to mention drinking home brewed fisherman's whiskey with the owner). 

The Talent Show, part two
Unfortunately I was not around for Talent Show part one, but part two was awesome.  I was so impressed by the energy and creativity of the group.  It takes a lot of courage to get up in front of a group, even a group of friends, and a lot of credit goes to Bill and Janice for organizing our two talent shows.  Ralph emceed and was surprisingly funny as he introduced each act.  Shanny and Bonnie's puppet like skit was a highlight, as was the peleton's 'Group Winge", something I think should be added to any group's' coping strategy.  Dubious and nervous when Kendy first approached me to do a skit about alligator wrestling, I still agreed and had a blast acting it out with her an Svend on stage.  

Of course, the Riding. 
I hadn't ridden my bike in 5 months when I joined the Amber Route.  Those first few days back on the bike were painful but soon enough my legs came back and I could really enjoy the route.  Cycling along the baltic, thru small villages with twisting narrow streets, up the slopes of the lesser Tatra mountains was a lot of fun.  The distance on the Amber Route were shorter than I was used to from our other tours and first I didn't think I'd like it.  But I soon realized that a short distance meant plenty of opportunity to stop for cakes and coffee!  Hurray!  It also allowed plenty of time for socializing andlaughing with other riders which is best reasons for doing any cycle tour.  

Of course there are a lot of other things I'll remember:  St. Petersburg was beautiful and the salt mine in Krakow was unique. All the old cities and castles and sunsets and hill top views were great.  And of course Venice was a great city to finish in.  I'll always remember attending Sunday mass at the San Marco Basilica.  But like most things in life I guess it's the people that make things truly unique and worthwhile.  

This was my fourth tour working for the Tour d'Afrique and one of my favorites.  I'll remember all the riders fondly and hope to see them again, on the bike or off.  

Paul

Posted August 25, 2010 by Paul McManus
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Rainy Night




There is nothing quite like waking up in the middle of the night to the sounds and actions of a fierce thunderstorm.  At first you're groggy and confused.  Then as you realize what is happening and why the side of your tents seems to be collapsing inward you begin the slow, internal process of deciding what to do.  The water puddling under your tent is a bt disconcerting but you trust you tents waterproof floor, or do you?  

Obviously you should get up and stake your tent out better but that means getting wet and you're so comfortable in your nice warm, dry sleeping bag.  How long can the storm last really?  My solution was to put my feet into two corners of my tent and my arms into the other two in order to reinforce the walls against the battering wind.  It's quite difficult to sleep in this 'upside down turtle' position but at them time it seemed better than getting wet.  

Next you being to hear, through the storm, the excited conversation of other riders whose tents have obviously flooded or who have done an even poorer job of staking out their fly than you have.  Now a second debate begins.  Do you get out of your tent and help them?   This also involves getting wet but these are your friends after all and wouldn't you really appreciate help if your tent was flooding?  I decided to play the wait and see game.  I waited a few minutes to see if someone else would get up before I could. I was in luck.  I heard Ross shouting over the rain, asking if everyone was OK, if anyone needed help.  Everyone seemed to have everything under control and 30 minutes later the storm passed.  

The last two nights in Slovenia have brought unexpected storms. Two nights ago a storm even flooded the entire camping area, leaving 2" of water standing on the ground (and in some peoples tents).  This put a bit of a damper on the mood of the group the last few days.  But today, all that changed.  

Last night was dry and restful.  Todays ride was sunny and short.  We rode through some beautiful hills and nice little villages (I'm getting addicted to ice coffee from all these cafe stops).  The highlight of the day for me was riding through the fields of hops that are grown in this region.  I've never seen how hops are grown (they grow on vines that hang from high wires suspended 15 feet off the ground) but I love the smell of hops and the tall fields of vines offered some nice shade along the road.  As I write this no one is hiding in their tent or solemnly trying to dry out their clothes as they have in the past couple of days. Everyone is at a big table at the campsites bar, laughing and joking and of course having a few drinks. What a difference a day can make on a tour with the TdA. 

Posted August 16, 2010 by Paul McManus
Slovenia | Tour Update 		Btn_share_twitter Btn_share_facebook