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Sports Unlimited tours Europe |
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By DYAN CASTILLEJO I’m visiting some of the most historical and beautiful cities in Europe! Hop on our Sports Unlimited traveling magic carpet and take this trip with me! Europe, here I come!
It’s summer time in Europe during the months of June, July and August. When the sun is out, the people in Rome rejoice. I spent a few days in Rome and tried to get and see as many of the most famous places there. Victorino monument Today, thousands of people walk through the square especially on Sundays when the Pope gives his blessing to all who come. The Basilica was built by Emperor Constantine over the grave of St. Peter in the year 326 A.D. The main altar of the church lies directly over the grave. It is overwhelming once you are inside St. Peter's because it has a standing capacity of 60,000 people. There are several chapels inside the Basilica. Most seen is the Pieta, Michaelangelo’s famous work, which he made when he was only 24 years old. It shows the sorrow of Madonna holding his dead son and accepting the will of God. The statue of St. Peter is a favorite spot for photos. The feet of the statue are worn out because of the millions that pass by and offer kisses. The Pantheon Piazza Nabono I met some Filipinos from all over the world, who just like myself, were enjoying the city of Rome. Time goes by easily when you’re having so much fun. Soon, I had to leave Italy for my next destination. *** Barcelona has one of the busiest airports in the world. Every year, 70 million tourists visit Spain and more than half of the number come in the summer. There are flights from everywhere. Calduc is a huge farm property with an 18th-century home remodeled for modern use. This was my home base while in Spain. Staying in Calduc was an adventure. There are numerous coves along the Costa Brava area. All of them were within a 30-minute driving distance from where I was staying. A sunny day was an opportunity to visit one. The tuna beach in Begur was a different scene. It was a small private cove full of beautiful surroundings. The water was clear. Just about 30 meters from the beach were a row of restaurants so you can actually just sit and eat and stay dry and go into the water whenever you want to. For parents with kids in the water, it was nice to be able to monitor the children from a comfortable distance. Lots of boats in different sizes were on the water. On both sides of the hills were pretty homes, which were rented out for the summer. Small hotels were also set on higher areas. Le France Le France is very popular among the Germans, French and Scandinavians. The water is irresistible, the sand is very refined and everyone had his or her own beach toy to play with. Beach tennis is a very popular game in Spain. In Le France, it is common for many women to go topless, regardless of age and body form. In Europe, it is also common for the girls to go topless since it is more comfortable and it makes one’s skin color even when sunbathing. Europeans worship the sun because winter is a main season for them. They take in as much Vitamin D as they can during the months of July, August and September. I myself enjoyed the sun but also took dips in the refreshing water to cool off. My son Matthew, who just turned four in Spain, loved swimming in the waters of Costa Brava. Que rico! Aguablava Aguablava is another small and picturesque cove. The water in the area is clear but not as warm as what we have in the Philippines. For Europeans, the beach is a place for summer. During the rest of the year, it is Le Estartit On the way back home from Aguablava, I passed by a little quaint town called Le Estartit. It was a hot day and everyone who came from the water spent some time in this shopping town. Shops sold attractive beach items: bathing suits, accessories, shoes and bandanas. Spain is also known for its delicious food and every beach town has all kinds of restaurants -- Spanish, Italian, Greek, German, you name it they have it. The ice cream shop, which has over 30 flavors of gelato is the most popular. But this cooler comes at a price, two euros or P150 per small scoop. Lake Banyoles Lake Banyoles was very near to where I was staying. It is a huge lake that I often stopped at to go for run or have a quiet time. Rowers and swimmers use this lake for training. Some national rowing and swimming competitions are held here as well as triathlons. It is also a very popular place for joggers and walkers. They usually go around the entire lake running or walking for two hours, depending on their pace of course. But even if you just stroll a portion around the lake, you could already see that it is very picturesque and refreshing. Lake Banyoles is worth a visit! Calduc I can’t leave Spain without telling you about my very memorable home base. It is not too often you get to stay in a place like this. One of the best things about this 18th-century farm home is the space it has. You know me, I love to run. The beautiful surroundings are a special treat. I would go uphill and downhill in a fantastic time.
Often times, I would spend an hour or so just being around the trees of Calduc. I also chilled out on benches along the park. Calduc had a very inviting pool with the sun blaring as soon as you get up. Matthew and I spent many wonderful moments in this pool. |
A 14-hour plane ride from Manila would take you to Rome, one of the most fascinating cities in Europe.
St. Peter's Square and Basilica 
What a beautiful beach! It was a long, wide one with lots of action happening. There was something for everyone. There were these boats that had mini-slides on them that you could rent for about the equivalent of P1,000 per hour. It was great for the kids. There were also umbrellas and beach beds you could rent for the equivalent of P200 an hour. Ice cream was a hit because of the temperature that went as high as 40 degrees. The gelato stand never ran out of business. If you got tired of the sand, you could go to the grassy shady area just 50 meters from the shore. Hungry? There were also lots of restaurants. An old church sat on top of the hill waiting for all who wanted to have some quiet time with God.
way too cold to visit. In Aguablava, restaurants are a walking distance from the beach. I caught a couple of tourists enjoying a drink of coconut juice that sold for five euros. That’s about P350 in the Philippines. It’s expensive for a tropical drink.
Now whoever built this place obviously loved to be outdoors. This mini-gym gave me a place to do some toning exercises such as push-ups, pull-ups and some abdominal work.