Hiking View of Aguille du Grépon (12600ft) in Chamonix, France
After marvelous Seville, wonderful Madrid, and the uplifting 200 mile Primitivo Santiago de Compestela hike, I was ready to finish off Spain with a stay in Barcelona followed by hopefully a mellow shoulder season in France: Montipellier, Grenoble, and Chamonix.
BARCELONA (3-DAYS)
In the midst of amazing drifts of fresh hot food smells, easy mass transportation, and great neighborhood walkability, I joined the tourist hordes and walked well beyond what my still blistered toes needed…
GAUDI’S LA SAGRADA FAMILIA
GAUDI’S CASA BATLLO
BARRIO GOTICO- A Gothic Quarter neighborhood dates back to Roman and medieval times.
MONTPELLIER (4-DAYS)
My toes got a break with a deep bath tub and Montpellier was slower and quieter with way fewer tourists. Lots of nice places to relax and get off my feet!
Montipellier folks have a lot of pride in their Gothic Cathedrale Sainte-Pierre, distinguished by conical towers, dating to 1364, and their SIX major academic institutions. One of the oldest Universities in the world, the University of Montpellier was founded in 1160. In 1289, when the last Crusader States and the Crusades were defeated, the oldest medical university was founded and is still in operation.
Warm and friendly locals and wonderful meals within the Spanish, Moroccan, Algerian, and Italian communities of Montpellier provided a healing respite for my tired body.
UNIVERSITY OF MONTPELLIER – Ancient surgical instruments with instruction 
GRENOBLE (3-DAYS)
At the foot of the French Alps where two major rivers (the Drac & Isere) merge, there were few tourists allowing me to embrace locals and their favorite local bars and restaurants…and especially appreciated after trail jogging with a few up in the Alps!
CHAMONIX (4-DAYS)
Even fewer tourists were evident here allowing me to hike several times to the Alps and glaciers. Unfortunately, the trolley to Mont Blanc was closed due to the weather on that mountain so I missed a great hiking opportunity. What a sweet ending to languish in a hot tub at the base of the mountains…as the weather lowered AFTER my hike!
