In Cadaques, A Gathering of Guides

Dave Bowden

By our very nature Butterfield & Robinson is an assemblage of inveterate travellers driven by a deep love of exploring the world, experiencing the new and always planning the next great adventure. Naturally, our most visible and vocal proponents of slowing down to see the world are our guides, a varied and dynamic group of go-getters who by their very character defy a common description, other than being professionals of all stripes who hail from countries all over the globe. B&R guides do not simply ‘lead bike tours’, they animate your travel experience with knowledge, passion and humour.

Imagine, then, the scene when a few dozen of them recently got together for a season ending weekend in Cadaqués, Spain to debrief on the successes of the 2012 guiding season and discuss our upcoming itinerary of trips for 2013. Of the 92 guides on our roster, 20 guides and 20 staff, including George and Martha Butterfield, gathered for a weekend at the Hotel Rocamar in Cadaqués, a beautifully situated retreat on the Cap de Creus Peninsula on Spain’s southern coast. Travel in the Catalonia region of Spain is always fantastic but Cadaqués is arguably one of the Costa Brava’s best spots.

“By our very nature B&R is an assemblage of inveterate travellers driven by a deep love of exploring the world.”

This town is famed for drawing the likes of Picasso and Dali in its day and it became a renowned meeting place for the western avant-garde painters and artists who were obviously as enamoured with the stunning landscape and architecture in this town as we are. Equally inspired by the surroundings, we devoted a few days to share in our stories, plan for the upcoming season, hike our way through the area, dine on fabulous regional cuisine and get properly ridiculous with a costume party on our final evening.

These annual sessions continue to help us refine our trips and strengthen our ties with friends and colleagues who are forever leading the way in some other far off destination. Given the range of nationalities who all work under the B&R banner, it’s a joy to take some time to convene our own version of the United Nations and, as this slide show reveals, celebrate the road travelled so far and anticipate the many great explorations to come.