Contributing Writer Catalonia is a jewel-like country filled with a rich history, breathtaking scenery and friendly inhabitants. For the motorcyclist searching for a mix of culture, scenery, great food and twisting roads, it may just be a dream come true. Founded in the ninth century by the Franks as Marca Hispancia, Catalonia's history, culture and architecture have since been influenced by several societies, including Roman and Greek. Such a diverse and lengthy background has created a unique population, as well as a fascinating variety of architectual styles. Even more enjoyable is the huge assortment of culinary dishes.
Most villages proudly offer forth meals native to their region.
Barcelona makes an excellent starting point for a tour of Catalonia, so that's were we began our journey. By heading north on secondary road A19 we avoided the highway's monotony and instead treated ourselves to a fun stretch of winding asphalt aboard a Yamaha TDM850. From there we took NII to enjoy the charming villages of the Mediterranean Costa Brava region. One of our more memorable stops was in Lloret de Mar, which dazzled us with its intensive night life. An afternoon on Tossa de Mar's sun-drenched beaches was richly satisfying as we savored the opportunity to relax and bask in the sun.