Treviso is an ancient Italian walled town that is unexplored due to it’s proximity to Venice. There are some wonderful sites including the ancient walls, a Last Supper fresco and a statue lactating wine on special occasions.
Vigo
A small city in the north west of Spain with a population of 300,000. The city was occupied by the British for 10 days in 1719 as a Jacobite fleet to invade Scotland set off from here. Otherwise not much of note happened in the city. Nearly the entire fish quota for Wales is sold to Vigo and all the fishermen in Wales come from Vigo. The boat to look out for in the harbour is the Armaven Uno. There is a large pedestrianised area in the city centre.
Transport
From Vigo airport there is a public bus the L9A that takes you to the main train station and then through the centre of town for €1.35.
The main train station can be difficult to find as it is underground with car parking on top. It has airport style scanners for bags.
Accommodation
There are quite a few decent hotels and they at fairly decent prices. Hotel Axis Vigo, Rúa María de Berdiales, 22, 36203 Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain http://hotelaxisvigo.com/ is good and has a pool on top.
Restaurants and Bars
Burrito bar is cheap and a nice difference to a kebab. http://www.burritosbar.es/a-nosa-carta/
El Pasillo, Rúa Gamboa, 4, 36202 Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
Bar Princesa, Praza da Constitución, 5, 36202 Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
Bavaria, Av. da Florida, 21, 36210 Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
El Castro, 2 10, Paseo de Alfonso XII, 36202 Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
Taberna a Mino, Rúa San Vicente, 8, 36202 Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
Porto Santo, Rúa de García Barbón, 45, 36201 Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
El mono Vintage Bar, https://www.facebook.com/ELMONOVINTAGE Rúa Velázquez Moreno, 37, 36202 Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
Taberna A Pedra Rúa Cesteiros, 2, 36202 Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
Picadillo http://www.picadillo.eu/ Rúa Fermín Penzol, 10, 36202 Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
La Cantina del Puerto http://www.lacantinadelpuerto.es/ Puerto de Vigo, Virgen del Carmen Dársena, s/n, 36202 Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
A Tapa do Barril Rúa López Mora, 63, 36211 Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
Shopping
Rua de Principe is the main pedestrian shopping street with C & A and other brand shops not seen in the UK anymore.
Things to Do
Galician Museum of the Sea, Avda Atlántida, 160, Vigo. Telephone number: 986 247 750 Web: http://www.museodomar.com
Jules Verne Statue in the Monteros Rias gardens is worth a look. A chapter of 20,000 leagues under the sea book was set in Vigo.
Marco Museum – on main street.
Map of Key Locations
Lucca 2018
Some routes some of which require trains to and from the start points.
Pisa to Empoli
Lucca Return
Massa Pietrosanta Viareggio
Pisa Marina
Lucca Circuit
Valencia
Spains’ third largest city built on the street plan of the Roman original. Each day we will do a cycle according to wind direction so cycles on each day may change according to the weather. All routes have a train option nearby in case of accident or tiredness.
Here are the rules for bikes on Spanish trains. Here are the rules for bikes on the metro.
Thursday 11th Jan
Meet at airport 7:30 ish in Wetherspoons airside. Flight FR1071 takes off at 09:30 arriving in Valencia at 13:25. The airport is close to the town by metro to Xàtiva station. €4 for ticket plus €1 for travel card that we load each time.
Our accommodation, Sorolla House Apartments, is set in Valencia’s popular Carmen district, a 5-minute walk from the Cathedral. All apartments have free Wi-Fi, a large flat-screen TV and a DVD player, a kitchenette, with a fridge for beer and microwave. There is air conditioning.
The building is next to the main market for Valencia where we can buy fresh produce and is also surrounded by 100’s of bars and restaurants. The Botanical Gardens and the Jardines del Real are within a 10-minute walk. The Torres de Quart, part of the old city wall, is also nearby. Xativa Station is just 900 yards away.
The bike rental shop is on the same street but we will go to the other branch tomorrow for premium bikes.
Visit the Valencia Biopark where animals live together with vegetation from their natural habitat.
Friday 12th Jan ( 25 miles)
Walk to bike rental shop for premium bikes at Carrer de la Corretgeria, 4. Metro line L2 direction Llíria to Benagusil in the north-west. Cycle back (downhill). The route is here.
We go to Valencia Cathedral to see the Holy Chalice from 25 BC and legend has it is the Holy Grail drunk from at the Last Supper. La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia – the silk exchange built between 1482 and 1533. Finally, we visit Europe’s biggest Oceanarium which is open until 18:00.
Saturday 13th Jan ( 25 miles)
The Valencia football camp is at Oliva Nova with a pitch viewable through a fence despite it being “closed door”. Get train towards Gandia at 08:41 and get off at Xeraco. The train is every hour and here is Valencia Gandia train timetable. Cycle beach side , riverside then greenway ( no traffic) to Oliva for lunch. We eat at Restaurante El Lloc in Oliva with menu del dia, tapas, pizza. Five-mile cycle to the football ground. The confirmed time of the game is 15:30 for Nuremberg v Hearts. It’s 10 miles by bike from the ground to railway station in Gandia which takes us home on the 7pm train.
Sunday 14th Jan ( 22 miles)
Cycle to Sagunt along the Xurro greenway through orange groves to the northeast beach at El port de Sagunt where we eat. Train back from Sagunt a few miles inland or metro from Rafelbunyol.
The route today is here.
Levante plays RC Celta today at 12:00. We pass nearby the ground. It is possible to leave the cycle and see the game if you want.
Monday 15th Jan (33 miles, train back halfway option)
Cycle to the Albufera National Park doing 20 miles. Boat ride and lunch. Cycle back 10 miles or take the train from Sollana. The route is here. Mestalla stadium tour in afternoon
Tuesday 16th
4:30 am – leave the apartment and travel, probably by taxi, to the airport for the flight at 7am. – arrive Edinburgh 9:05.
Bologna
Wednesday 13 September
Leave for airport at 16:00, flight at 17:55 and arrives Nice 21:35. Bus 99 goes directly to Nice Ville Gare SNCF train station. Bus 98 passes along the seafront (Promenade des Anglais) via the town center and old town to Promenade des Arts. Get the 98 which departs from Terminal 2 – platform 5 & Terminal 1 – platform 1. The cost is €6 for a one-way ticket which takes about 30 minutes with connections on the urban network. Stay in Hotel Felix Nice on main pedestrian street in NIce for £64
Thursday 14 September
Local scenic trains today along the Italian Riveria, Cinque Terre, Tuscany
Train Express Regional #86013
08:30 Nice-Ville Thu 14 Sep
09:25 Ventimiglia
INTERCHANGE 32 minutes
Regionale Veloce #11345
09:57 Ventimiglia
12:25 Genova Brignole
INTERCHANGE 20 minutes
Regionale #11369
12:45 Genova Brignole
14:10 La Spezia Centrale
INTERCHANGE 1 hour, 5 minutes
Regionale #33139
15:15 La Spezia Centrale
16:12 Viareggio
INTERCHANGE 17 minutes
Regionale #11823
16:29 Viareggio
16:58 Lucca
Evening in Lucca
Friday
Go to bike shop
cycle
Saturday
cycle?
Sunday
travel to Bologna. Train journey 2 or 3 hours with change in Prato £12
Regionale #3047
09:31 Lucca
10:27 Prato Centrale
Regionale #6566
Regionale
10:38 Prato Centrale
11:42 Bologna San Vitale
Stay in Residence Cavazza. Cycle round city early evening?
Monday
cycle to Modena
Tuesday
cycle somewhere. Train back to Lucca. Return bikes.
Wednesday
Travel to Nice
Regionale #6682
08:50 Lucca Sun 17 Sep
09:15 Pisa Centrale
31 minutes interchange
Frecciabianca #35606 ticket P6WL8N
09:46 Pisa Centrale Wed 20 Sep
11:50 Genova Piazza Principe
Seat 10A, Coach 8 (Window)
Seat 9A, Coach 8 (Window)
Train:Regionale Veloce 11350 date 20/09/2017
Departure: Genova Piazza Principe (time: 13:43);
Arrival: Ventimiglia (time: 16:03)
train at 16:32 and every half hour to Nice. Takes 55 minutes.
Eat in Nice
Get bus about 7 ish. Arrive nice at airport at 20:00. Depart Nice airport 22:05 arrive Edinburgh 23:45
2004 Pyrenees to the sea
Three amigos booked up to travel to GRO. After searching the internet we came across a company called Cicloturisme i Medi Ambient who would provide the bikes and transport into the mountains to the start. We got a good price for 5 night’s accommodation in various hotels, hire of bike and transport into the mountains by minibus. £230 in 2004. The company were also on hand to give us assistance which we needed on one of the days after two flat tyres.
Day 1 Thursday 4th Nov
Leave Edinburgh on 10:30 train. Arrive Girone Airport 18:10. Lift to Ripoll from Cicloturisme. Stay in Hotel La Trobada Ripoll. Our luggage is transported to Girona hotel while we retain a small amount for travel.
Day 2 Friday 5th Nov
Cycle to Olot (35 km). the city of volcanoes (it has three).Stay in Hotel Perla.Things to see in Olot. web page of person from Olothill climb, snow, volcanoes, squid, cards
Day 3 Saturday 6th Nov
Cycle to Girone (52 km). Stay in Hotel Ultonia Downhill run, Get fireworks thrown at us in Correfoc (it’s a bull run with fireworks)
Day 4 Sunday 7th Nov
39km Cycle to Saint Feliu De Guixols (44 km) (the beach). Stay overnight in Hotel Barcarola. Nicer run, puncture, Shandy, family meet, made it to sea
Day 5 Monday 8th Nov
39 km Cycle to Girone. (44 km uphill). Stay overnight in Hotel Ultonia. Hot day, beach fun, Shandy, the finish
Day 6 Tuesday 9th
Shopping, drinking, eating. Catch bus at 5pm for Travel to airport for plane home. Arrive Prestwick at 20:30. Train at 21:19 Arrive Edinburgh 23:53.
Tavira
A trip in eastern Algarve staying in a 3 floor house in central Tavira. Chance of rain at this time of year and a westerly wind. Trip directions and itinerary may change according to weather.
Prices – £35 bike hire, £34 airport transfer and all trains and ferries
Tuesday 17th January
Meet at Edinburgh airport bar through security at 14:45. Ryanair Flight 6827 at 16:45 to Faro arriving 20:00. Taxi to Tavira with YellowfishTransfers organised so should be there about 21:30. Stay in 3 floor house in central Tavira with a room each for £19 per night. drinks and tapas?
Wednesday 18th January – 15 miles
Pick bikes up from Abilio Bikes. We have confort type with many gears and lights. We will cycle to Montegordo today and get train back from Villa Real. Singer on at 21:00
Thursday 29th January- 20 miles
Cycle to Olhao.
Friday 20th January – 20 miles
Cycle circular route today and back early. Special mystery night out and we have to be ready to leave the house at just after 16:30. Meal booked for 19:00
Saturday 21st January – 20 miles
Taxi to Faro at 11. Flight is 13:45 FR6827 arriving Edinburgh 17:05
Monte Gordo
A trip in eastern Algarve staying in a four start hotel in Monte Gordo and easy access to restaurants. Chance of rain at this time of year and a westerly wind. Trip directions and itinerary may change according to weather.
Prices – £35 bike hire, £76 4 nights 4 star Spa accommodation with own room and breakfast, £34 airport transfer and all trains and ferries
Friday 22nd January
Meet at Edinburgh airport at 12 noon. Ryanair Flight 817 at 14:10 to Dublin arriving 15:15 Dublin. Flight FR7032 at 17:20 to Faro arriving 20:15. Taxi to train station and train to Monte Gordo at 21:06 arriving 1 hour later. Last train is 21:46. Stay in Monte Gordo Hortel Apartamentos & Spa with a room each for £19 per night. Price includes breakfast.
Saturday 23rd January – 15 miles
Pick bikes up from Angela Pestana at Rua Digo Cão Edificio Arenilha tlef. 00351 967457602. at 9:30. Cycle to Tavira for curry.
Sunday 24th January- 20 miles
Cycle north to lake 20 miles. Hearts game on at 12:30.
Monday 25th January – 20 miles
Ferry to Spain, change time on watches, and cycle east in circuit
Tuesday 26th January
Get 9:12 train arriving 10:17 in Faro. Taxi to airport. Flight Faro to Edinburgh 12:55 arriving 16:15
Bratislava
The capital city of Slovakia with it’s 5 breweries and picturesque castle on the Danube.
Day 1 Wednesday 26th October
Pickup at 5am, flight at 7am and arrive 10:40. Get number 61 bus which comes every 10 minutes to Račianske mýto and then change to tram 7 for 2 stops or walk 1km. Tickets cost 120 cents last 60 minutes and must be validated on entering bus. There are ticket inspectors in plain clothes that give instant fines to tourists. Stay in Apartmán Mickiewiczova, Mickiewiczova 14, Stare Mesto, 811 07 Bratislava, Slovakia
Do shopping, walking tour of old town. Eat and drink in Starosloviensky Pivovar Vysoká 4260/15, 811 06 Bratislava sells a great selection of beers and Slovak food at a good price.
Day 2 Thursday 27th October (40km)
Cycle the Danube to Devin Castle , the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula castle. Continue to Schlosshof. Eat in Gasthaus Prinz Eugen. Train available from Marchegg Bahnhof every hour at 15:02, 16:02 or cycle back.
Perhaps eat in Hostinec Richtar Jakub, Moskovská 2652/16, 811 08 Bratislava tonight. Possible curry or pizza tonight.
Day 3 Friday 28th October (49km)
Cycle in circuit to Hainburg in Austria where we have lunch in elpirata for €6.50.
Day 4 Saturday 29th October (51km)
Cycle to Hungry. Option of ferry home or cycle along Danube. Ferry at 16:00
Visit this beer garden with meats on a spit – Bratislavský Meštiansky Pivovar, Drevená 575/8 811 06 Bratislava
Day 5 Sunday 30th October
Get 61 bus at 9 Flight at 11:55 arrives Edinburgh at 13:40
Olhao
Cycling Portugal with Gibraltar Scotland game included. We stay in a Portuguese fishing town where we buy food and fish from the market every morning as described here.
Wednesday 7th Oct
10:40 – 12:00 Ryanair Flight Edinburgh to Stansted £18.99, wait 7 hours, 19:15 – 22:10 Ryanair flight to Faro £74 return. Transfer and stay in Olhao in this apartment next to the station for £316.
Thursday 8th Oct
Cycle to Tavira, Scotland v Poland tonight.
Friday 9th Oct
cycle Faro salt flats
Sat 10th Oct
cycle to Spain, ferry over
Sun 11th Oct
Scotland game
Mon 12 th Oct
freeday
Tues 13th Oct
Ryanair flight 15:55 FAO –18:50 STN, 90 min gap then 20:30 – 21:50 Stansted to Edinburgh