Trips and stories Archivi - Pachiega's blog

The path to Portixol

29 September 202329 September 2023marcopac

The path to Portixol A lost beach in the wildest part of the island The north coast of Ibiza has an impressive natural landscape, where wild urbanization has not been able to settle as much as elsewhere. An environment of impressive beauty which however risks losing its pristine charm every year. The north coast of Ibiza Ibiza has a thousand nuances and as small as it is, in addition to nightclubs, private parties and dream villas, it still has an incredible natural and scenic part such as the Baia Di Albarca or Sa pedrera de Cala d’Hort. Discovering the most hidden secrets of the island is not easy. It is vitally… Read More

The road to Martorell going up the Llobregat

9 June 20239 June 2023marcopac

The road to Martorell going up the Llobregat The way to reach the devil’s bridge along an important river Intro The city of Barcelona is geographically bounded by four natural barriers. The sea to the east, mountains to the west and on the two remaining sides we find two rivers that delimit the north and south areas. These are the rivers Besòs and Llobregat. In an article I talked about the Besòs river and its cycle path, but this time I decided to explore the other river. The path that follows the Llobregat leads to the city of Martorell, famous for an ancient legend that speaks of a devil, a bridge… Read More

Barcelona – La Garriga going up the Besòs river

5 June 20235 June 2023marcopac

Barcelona – La Garriga going up the Besòs river A cycle path of about 40 km between greenery, water and urbanization Slow travel The average speed that a person travels when walking is about 4 km per hour. By making two broad calculations in one day, a distance of about 40 km can be covered. Moving at this speed is a good method against the stress and frenzy of this century that travels all too quickly between planes, cars and broadband connections. A cadence that takes us back to a primitive and ancestral state, when man had neither wheels nor animals for his long journeys. Between the manhole and the… Read More

Hike to Parc dels Talls

4 April 2023marcopac

Hike to Parc dels Talls A park where past human intervention and nature have merged to create a unique landscape Leaning against the small urban center of Vilobì del Penedes, the Park Dels Talls is an area of considerable botanical and faunal wealth. The path to reach it is easy and suitable for all ages. Away from Barcelona As with past excursions to Floresta or Turò de les Maleses, it is very easy to leave Barcelona to find yourself immersed in nature and enjoy its colours, sounds and above all its scents. This time I decide to head towards a peculiar park which attracted me by its curious story.… Read More

Free museums and fairs on the Rambla

15 December 2022marcopac

TFree museums and fairs on the Rambla Part 1. Between chaos, sangria and tapas, the most famous street in Barcelona hides some pleasant surprises La Rambla is the epicenter of the tourist frenzy. Between souvenir shops, vendors and street artists it has become the symbol of the holidays of this city. An avenue just over 1 km long that meanders dividing two famous districts of Barcelona: the Gothic and the Raval. La Rambla The history of La Rambla begins in an ancient past. A long time ago, in place of the tiles and small kiosks, the Malla torrent flowed, into which the black waters of the center flowed. In the… Read More

The gnomes hut

9 November 2022marcopac

The gnomes hut A space dedicated to fantasy and to the typical characters of fairy tales hidden in a pine forest of La Garriga A free day can offer you different possible activities: watch a series, read a book or maybe take the R3 train, which takes 45 minutes from Barcelona to La Garriga. La Garriga La Garriga is a Spanish municipality located in the Eastern Vallès of Catalonia. A small town where the surrounding landscape is characterized by mountains and pine forests. An environment with clean air and silence, very different from the chaos of the Catalan capital. Apart from the historic center, churches and ancient villas of the… Read More

The most sarcastic mailbox in Barcelona

12 December 202113 December 2021marcopac

The most sarcastic mailbox in Barcelona A detail immersed in the frenzy of the Gothic quarter The party mood and the frenetic crowding make its way the famous Christmas markets. Walking through the narrow streets can be a suffocating experience making it difficult to observe the beauty and the details hidden between the faces and the hasty legs of tourists. Everybody is busy for the Christmas shopping or distracted by the magic of the period. Fortunately, the city has its moments of respite from the hectic chaos. The shops don’t open before nine in the morning. The cold of these days has delayed even more the Christmas crowds. I walk… Read More

Cofete, the border with the end of the world

26 October 202112 December 2021marcopac

Cofete, the border with the end of the world Between a raging ocean and austere mountains lies a small village In the previous article, the bay of Albarca left me speechless with its extravagantly shaped rocks. But the world is full of similar places, where nature is sovereign and man can only bow down to it. This time I am in Fuerteventura where an immense beach and a mountain range of volcanic origin leave room just to hold your breath at its sight. Fuerteventura With a history of almost 20 million years and less than 100 km from the African coast lies Fuerteventura, an island in the archipelago of the… Read More

Trekking to the bay of Albarca

9 October 20219 October 2021marcopac

Trekking to the bay of Albarca Lost on the north coast, an ancient path bears witness to the simple life of yesteryear In the previous article I told of the surprise in admiring the bay of Albarca with its extravagant shapes exposed to the force of the elements. There are no beaches here, just rocks and cliffs overlooking the sea. My curiosity, however, does not end in front of the magnificent stone bridge, but pushes me to explore its entire coastline. So I decide to make my way between the rocks and the few shrubs to reach and skirt them where the sea breaks its waves on the rocks. Trekking… Read More

The immense landscape of Cala d’Albarca

9 October 20219 October 2021marcopac

The immense landscape of Cala d’Albarca A corner of the island where the forces of the wind and the sea bring you back to a prehistoric past. Ibiza In the last article I talked about the Ibizan quarry of Sa pedrera de Cala d’Hort. An area to the west of the island, now converted into a special site for lovers of the sun and posture. Unlike the other areas, the north one turns out to be very different from the stereotypes we are used to. There are no bars, chiriguitos, discos or umbrellas to shelter from the scorching summer sun. This part of the coast is a succession of… Read More

Atlantis, the wild and fascinating Ibizan quarry

1 April 20212 April 2021marcopac

Atlantis, the wild and fascinating Ibizan quarry A unique place rich in history where you can contemplate the magic of the island Ibiza is a relatively small island, which however hides precious corners and many glimpses with views of incredible beauty such as Cala Llentia or the north coast. An ancient story In the sixteenth century, the Ottoman fleet and pirate ships constantly threatened the whole Mediterranean with countless attacks and cannon looting on the Spanish coasts, including those of Ibiza. This made it necessary to redesign the fortification of its historic center. The new military project carried out by the engineer Giovan Battista Calvi, involved the creation of several… Read More

The public fountain of Portaferrissa

1 February 20212 February 2021marcopac

The public fountain of Portaferrissa Life near one of Barcelona’s most famous entrances The city where I live is full of stories and curiosities but it is not always easy to dwell on details. This article focuses on some corners often unnoticed by the distracted eye of passers-by. The public fountain of Portaferrissa is the first of a short series of stories centered on the public fountains present in the center, witnesses of an ancient past. A corner on the sidelines The low turnout of tourists no longer crowds the streets of the center and the space between passersby gives breath to those places in the city that are often… Read More

Hotel Casino la Rabassada

9 January 20212 February 2021marcopac

Hotel Casino la Rabassada The ruins of a majestic Hotel Casino bear witness to a troubled history and macabre legends To rearrange a bit my ideas of this year that has just begun, I decide to stroll through Barcelona’s Olympic Port. I absentmindedly step in front of the famous Casino Barcelona, located just below the luxurious Hotel Arts. A real temptation for those who love to challenge fate or simply savor the thrill of gambling. A modern structure, which, as I continue the walk, gives me a doubt. Could it be the only casino that ever existed in Barcelona? The following days my investigation over texts and web… Read More

Mysterious numbers in Barcelona

29 November 20202 February 2021marcopac

Mysterious numbers in Barcelona An artistic work that contains the fundamentals of nature Walking along the Paseo de Joan Borbò, on the side of the Barceloneta district, the view is difficult to distract from the luxurious moored yachts, the palm trees and the recently reopened restaurants. The smell of the sea leaves no room for other thoughts except to reach the beach and relax in the sun. Few tourists finally give space to enjoy the surrounding environment. Suddenly my eyes are drawn to a strange detail on the ground. A square with a number inside, a large one, 6765. Pausing to look the shape, I notice another a little… Read More

The effort and tradition of “La Tratta”

2 June 20202 February 2021marcopac

The effort and tradition of “La Tratta” An ancient method of fishing now in disuse continues to survive June 2020, the fight against covid-19, its restrictions and rules, continues. As in the previous article, memories and feelings of when there was no social distance, masks, the diffidence of contagion, and of being infected, come back to mind. This is one of those stories. A different dawn On a July morning a multitude of people poured out on the shore of the Adriatic Sea, calm and silent, of Marotta. Men and women have come not only to admire the imminent dawn, but to witness a hundreds of years old tradition.… Read More

The melancholy of the “Camì dels Monjos” and the Mola

2 June 20202 June 2020marcopac

The melancholy of the “Camì dels Monjos” and the Mola The curious rock formation carries with it a legend of the monks of Sant Cugat del Valles On May 25, 2020 Barcelona will finally move on to the long-awaited Phase 1. However, we are on the alert for the Covid-19 pandemic. A historical event that has changed and will change the way we live and socialize. Waiting for the next steps necessary to return to normality, if we can say so, past images and sensations of my excursions resurface. This is one of those. The city of Terrassa Beyond the Collserola massif extends a vast plain el Vallès Occidental which… Read More

THE CYCLIC MEMORY OF CANTAMAGGIO

15 May 20202 February 2021marcopac

THE CYCLIC MEMORY OF CANTAMAGGIO The tradition of fertility and the warm season in the time of covid-19 The official start of spring between March 21 and 23 is called the equinox. However, May is the month that most of all shows the beauty of nature that is reborn. Since ancient times man has always been impressed by the mysterious force of nature generated by the heat of our sun. Every year is always a beautiful surprise. Everything is reborn. The flora and fauna return to being luxuriant, the days get longer and the nights become milder and shorter. PAGAN TRADITIONS It is no coincidence that throughout Europe between 28… Read More

The hidden nativity scenes of Castiglioni

26 November 20192 February 2021marcopac

The hidden nativity scenes of Castiglioni A small village where you can discover a tradition rich in art and manual skills After flying from Ibiza to Thailand it’s time to stop and relax a bit in Italy. More precisely in the Marche region. I have already written an article about the undiscovered beauties of this region. Like that of the village of Elcito or Cacciano. The region is a treasure chest that contains beautiful villages and castles perched on hills or gentle hills. A fairy-tale landscape that inspired my project Lands. But back to us, this time I want to tell you about the hidden nativity scenes of Castiglioni di… Read More

Loi Krathong Festival of Sukhothai

20 November 20192 February 2021marcopac

LOI KRATONG FESTIVAL OF SUKOTHAI A ritual of gratitude to water following the lunar cycles which has its roots in the past Loi Krathong, have you heard of it? If any of you went to Asia, yes. This is a special event, which lasts about a week, in which the Thais make small boats that are decorated and leave floating on the rivers of all Thailand. A bit of history The origin of Loi Kratong, once called Chong Pa Rieng, is not well defined. The treaty of Chula Luck tells that the ceremony originated in Sukhothai, the first capital of Thailand, about 700 years ago. At that time… Read More

PAREIDOLIA TO IBIZA

8 August 20192 February 2021marcopac

PAREIDOLIA TO IBIZA The face of ancient Indian guarding a submerged treasure The adventure of Ibiza continues. In the previous article I spoke of an Ibizan Stonehenge, this time we traveling a little more with the imagination. The north coast Ibiza is a continuous wild landscape. Hidden beaches, very little urbanization and even the mobile phone often doesn’t work thankfully! By kayaking you can enjoy even more the impressive landscape that the island in its silence gives you. At some point, just past an arch of rock you can see the austere face of an Indian. The shape is giant! It almost looks like a guardian of a treasure, which… Read More