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My jacket fluttered in the cool March breeze as I swooshed down and around the tight hairpin turn. Then feathered my bicycle brakes to slow speed, leaning into the next twisty curve. I snuck a glimpse at the rippling turquoise sea below, wedged between jagged limestone mountains sprouting from sparkly water. It was eye candy for the soul and one of the many gems hidden in Mallorca, Spain.
As details jelled about my spring trip to Bordeaux, France, it became apparent that my travel-mates were set on a full wine and food exploration. Who was I to argue? But, some of my favorite trips have been cycling and sipping through wine regions around the globe and I did not want to miss out. So, I extended my visit by three-days and created Part 2: A price-friendly, DIY cycling exploration.
I felt like a stinky alien. My butt ached from sitting on the hard plastic red seat outside Ambuleta 1 in the bustling Zagreb Emergency Room. The cavernous, stark waiting area swelled with Croatian conversation and a steady stream of incoming patients. My gashed knee throbbed and I longed to hear my name. Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe I should bag the stitches and bolt.
The morning sun warmed my face. A refreshing mountain breeze rustled shiny leaves as I snipped golden clusters of plump, glistening Chardonnay grapes from their vines. They gently plopped into a circular red plastic pail held in my sticky left hand, which I dumped into a larger container.
