Barcelona has a population of 1.7 million (city), 6 million (metro area). AKA more than Wales. It’s influence spreads far. As soon as we leave the Tossa behind we start to get into bigger roads, traffics and industry.
Most of it is light industry in well spaced units. The heavy industry isn’t until we reach 10km from Barcelona where we’re greeted with a concrete factory. With people living cheek by jowl beside it.
A lot of the day is on the hard shoulder of a larger road. The drivers were excellent, and gave us plenty of space. It seemed the tossas waited to emerge nearer to Barcelona to practice what one can assume was Spanish verbal abuse. Amateurs I thought – you’ll have to try harder if you call that abuse.
We casually pass through some older places with their 10/11/12 C castles. Not grand enough for UNESCO it seemed – or maybe they had been adapted so normal people lived there. Can’t have everyone doing that can we?
And then to a great cycle path 12 km from Barcelona, Eurovelo 8. Such an easy way to enter a city. Great new art being put in place. Only 2 main turns to make, what can go wrong? Always fun to retrace your steps: gives a different perspective.
2 rest days in Barcelona. The poster “Tourist go home, refugees welcome” is making a point. Luckily we’re cyclists so it doesn’t apply to us.
Travelling reflections 