Day 8: Girona of Game of Thrones, Parking Please, Colourful Casas, & The Two Towers

Thursday 6 January 2022

Alight, time to drive again. For some reason, I was able to make the same mistake twice. Do you still remember what I did wrong last time?

Exactly, the hand brake. I looked like a Fool of a Took when the car died on me, again. Were there any witnesses? Of course, this stuff always happens with people around.

I’m so used to driving a scooter, that I was sure that it was already time to tank. I drove to the gas station and realized my car was facing the wrong side when it stood still. Immediately my skills were put to the test. I was able to turn the car around at the tiny gas station. Now I had the tank on the right side, but when I got out of the car, I saw it was the pump for diesel.

“That can’t be right,” I said, “Perdón, disculpa!” I screamed to the girl from the gas station.

She walked towards me. I was the only customer, so I didn’t feel bad to bother her.

“I don’t know what to put in this car, not diesel right?” I asked, the rookie I am.

“No, who told you to put diesel in?” She asked. Thank god her English was good.

“Nobody, I don’t know what to put in,” I said.

“You have to be at that pump,” she said and pointed at a different pump.

“Alright, I’ll move the car,” I said.

When I entered the car I noticed that I didn’t know how to put the car in reverse. I had to be at the pump behind me. A fuck it, I will just drive in a tiny circle. I managed to get it almost exactly in the right spot. When I got out, she changed her mind.

“No, sorry, eh, that one I mean,” and she pointed at a different pump again.

“Alright,” I said laughing and moved the car again.

Now, finally, the car was with the right side at the right pump. I got out and the girl helped me to put the gas in. Almost immediately the flow of gasoline stopped. The girl was holding the pump and didn’t understand what was going on.

“Just my stupidity, that’s all,” I said smiling.

Tanking with a full tank. That’s a new low for me. How wasn’t I able to figure out that I didn’t need to tank? Well, to be honest, I didn’t understand how to read it on the dashboard. I was wondering where the arrow was.

Now, I see that you have to count the number of stripes. Not that obvious if they still have all stripes. 

At least I know the right pump now. It was the dress rehearsal for the time I’d really need gas.

I fixed the internet on my phone and had directions for the first time. Google Maps led me straight through the village, into the pedestrian streets, dangerous corners with the possibility of hitting houses, children, all to come back at the same tank station. “What?!” My god, never blindly follow Google maps. That woman doesn’t know what she’s talking about. 

I left Tossa de Mar and went through the mountains to the North. When I got out of the mountains, I was high enough to see the Pyrenees appear right in front of me, far in the distance. White teeth stand up to the sky, like the open mouth of a gigantic shark. My mouth was also wide open, screaming out of joy. I should have stopped to take a picture, but it wasn’t safe. Google maps can’t help me out this time, because the pictures are made in summer, so no white peaks.

It was quite a drive through Middle-Earth. It had everything you want on a road trip, including the coast, mountains, countryside, and tiny villages where you suddenly have to drive really slowly, oops!

Maybe most exciting was the cathedral of Girona, which was already visible from far away. You could see it appear, towering above the impressive landscape, like its Queen. Welcome, you are close.

I was drawn to the massive cathedral like a wild catholic. Maria, my second name and my religious alter ego, took over. First, I needed to get rid of the car and backpack, second, take me to church!

I drove into the city. Soon you come at a huge canal that cuts the city in half. My hotel, Erba by Pillow, appeared quickly, but I couldn’t find a place to park. There were underground parking lots distributed all over the place, but I wanted a free parking spot. I circled around the hotel, increasing my search area bit by bit, it was impossible!

They hadn’t incorporated parking space into the design of the streets, most were absent of parking places. The places that existed were already taken by other cars. Until I finally found one that was free. Yes! I got a spot. Relieved I parked the car between the green lines. Green lines must mean free parking right? Right?

Just to be sure, I googled it:

Green zone – Parking spaces for permit holders. It is therefore forbidden to park there if you do not have a permit. The car is then not only fined, but often also towed away.

No! I imagined my car being dragged away by the tow truck. I felt like I fell through my chair. I opened my LP and saw that it had a tip about free parking spaces next to a park. I followed it up. It looked completely packed, but it contained one empty spot, due to the very smart person of the white car.

 

Whoohoo! Free parking space. It cost me 40 minutes to find, but that made it feel even sweeter.

I got my stuff out of the back and walked to my hotel. It exceeded my expectations. It was more a tiny apartment instead of a hotel room, even with a desk to write, score!

 

After a cup of coffee, I went on the pilgrimage to the cathedral. It started with a lion statue, that look like a Lannister statue, straight from Game Of Thrones.

  

Then I ran into a giant oak, Weirwood, that I almost started talking to. I only missed the face in the tree that cried blood.  

    

An ugly fake Christmas tree that was obviously lost. Go back to the North where you came from!

The walk past the canal was stunning. In contrast to the mouth masks in Barcelona, in Girona everyone complied with the rule. I was walking outside, with a mouth mask on. Green parrots sat in the trees, talking loudly. They looked like the same birds you have in Amsterdam, ring-necked parakeets (halsbandparkieten). These are originally from Africa and India. They were further away from home than I was.

   

 

 

I didn’t even need a table anymore, but subconsciously I was still looking for a table in the sun. That’s what hanging out with Rhianne does to you.

 The Old Jewish quarter was gorgeous.  

The sun was too bright. I know, that doesn’t sound so horrible, and it wasn’t.

It only destroyed some of the pictures.

The closer I walked to the Cathedral, the more possessed I became. Le Cathedral de Santa Maria, no wonder Maria takes over, this Cathedral is named after her. This time the real Mary, not the bloody English queen.  

Hairs were standing straight in my neck. A cold shiver went through me. I have to watch out that Cersei doesn’t see me, I’m a Stark after all. In sneak mode, I continued to the entrance of the Cathedral.

Hallelujah!

 

When I walked down the 91 steps and looked back, I was sure I was in Game of Thrones. Creepy amazing.

Two towers peaked out of the town. Next to the cathedral, there was a church worth mentioning: Eglesia de Sant Feliu. Just look at the architecture of the Capel, that’s what I call fine Gothic art.

It’s as if Lord of the Rings meets Game of Thrones in Girona. What a wonderful city. It has a charm that anyone would adore, something prestigious and invincible. Anybody would be proud to call this their home.  

The colourful houses on the Onyar river reminded me of my mom. She also loved the houses when she visited Girona. It’s the perfect scenery to paint, you can create a colour for each house. That makes it a little easier to keep them apart. I could imagine her on the bridge, painting on an easel, hypnotized by the view.

        

I’m going to ask you a crazy question. But if you see this bridge, does it remind you of something? It’s not red, but brown.

A major statue somewhere? I will tell you the answer at the end. 

I entered the place where I would have been with Rhianne if we were together. Placa del Independencia, a square with lots of restaurants and bars. It’s the buzzing place for nightlife.

I wasn’t feeling like it. I wanted to watch a movie in bed. I looked around me, does anybody disagree with that decision? It was silent. No? Great. Movie night it is.  

Back at the hotel, I ate instant noodles and coffee. Within an hour, my hives returned massively, itching like crazy. What did I do differently today? I drank more coffee than usual and made noodles. Is something wrong with the coffee or noodles? No, because I took it from home. It’s the water I use to make coffee and noodles with. Boiled water from the tap. My advice? Drink Spanish tapwater, if you want to die of greyscale. I mean, redscale. 

 

Remember the bridge? Last clue, Paris.

It was designed by Gustav Eiffel, before it designed the Eiffel tower. It's called the Eiffel bridge, cool right? 

Tomorrow I will climb the Wall that surrounds the city, I thought right before I fell asleep, I can’t wait.