Changes

'''Perpignan''' is a nice little city cozy town that connects [[France]] with [[Barcelona]]. Not There isn't much to see, but if you happen to end up there, it's is well worth a visit before going . It is the first bigger town when entering France from Spain, and so a useful place to Barcelona or into Francechange vehicles.

[[ImageFile:Perpignan_bridgeoveronramp.jpg|right|thumb|266px|The southward view from the bridge over the autoroute.]]

== Hitchhiking out =====Going South and North==Walking to the autoroute is a very long, but very nice morning activity. Just follow the signs for Barcelona out of the city. You'll walk for hours probably, through many roundabouts and at one point you even have to go on a sort of nature walk ([[Zac]] can't remember what prompted this, but there was an obvious reason and a clearly cut trail through the woods that passed under a bridge) a and eventually you'll get to a long, lonely but beautiful road with viniards on either side. Keep going and eventually you'll get to the autoroute onramp situated on a bridge over the A9. You can stop here if you want to try your luck, or you can go to the [[Péage]] which is visible from the bridge. Just follow the road down there and cut into the woods to get around and come out on the south side of the Péage. From there you can thumb a ride and there's even a parking area big enough for a lorry to stop for you. Note: getting to the other side of the Péage involves crossing a creek and jumping one or more fences! Attempt at your own peril (or pleasure!).=

When traveling North, it is recommended to wait by the traffic lights on [http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=42.700037,2.886615&spn=0.011591,0.022509&t=h&z=16&om=1&msid=107047389499788319963.0004367e4251f21521864 Cours Lazare Escarguel] where traffic occasionally stops. It is possible to get a lift from here to the autoroute ramp further up. Both onramps are good for traveling north and south. ==== Perpignan Nord ==== Take bus [Categoryhttp://www.sankeo.com/387-Quel-bus-dans-ma-ville-3F.html bus 13 or 14] until ''Cap Roussillon''. There go ahead to the roundabout, and to the right. Where the road makes a turn to the left, take the field way ahead. In front of the express road to the left and after 500 meters there is a tunnel, take it and walk on the other side back to the north. Follow the street and you end at the roundabout with the onramp. ==== Perpignan Sud ==== This is in the experience of [http://hitchwiki.org/members/Armoniautopia/ Armoniautopia] the best and quickest option if you are heading to the South (Girona, Barcelona) To get to the peage (pay toll) by public bus, the best is to take the line number 3, direction ''Pascot''. Get out on the last stop, then walk until the end of ''Avenue Pascot'', then go left on ''Route de Canohes'' until you see the big road (road D900). Go on right and follow this road for few hundred metres until the toll. Cars have lots of space to stop and there is usually lots of traffic. From this toll you can easily get a lift North or South. There is an international fruit and vegetable wholesale market (''Saint Charles Market'') close to this toll, many trucks that come from there enter the autoroute through this toll to go both to [[Spain]] and France.If you go to [[Toulouse]], it is best to use a sign and accept only lifts going there because 60 km North in [[Narbonne]] the motorway splits. Equally, if you want to go to [[Montpellier]], don't accept lifts that don't bring you directly to your destination. If you're going to Spain and your driver is only driving to [[Le Boulou]] (which is the last exit before Spain) avoid getting out on the last [[petrol station hitchhiking|petrol station]]called ''Village Catalan''; on the map it looks like the last best place to hitchhike but no one going to Spain stops here because petrol is cheaper on the other side of the border (as of 2008). Instead, go to Le Boulou but ask your driver to drop you off at the final ''barrières de péage'' where all the traffic will have to stop (not to mix it with a small toll barrier on the sliproad which is used only by locals to exit and leave the motorway). === South by national roads === Yet another good spot, if you're travelling South, is a roundabout 15-20 minutes on foot south of the city centre. Walk down the Boulevard Felix Mercader until and continue when it changes name to Avenue du Général Guillaut - just follow the signs for Barcelona. It's the first roundabout you meet after the road changes name and there's lots of space for cars to stop. == Public transport ==

To get == Black riding to [[Barcelona]] =={{disclaimer}}This is my personal advice and has nothing to do hitchhiking. But this is what has worked for me. Keep in mind I don't encourage anyone to break any state's laws. I just report what has been useful for me. Method: wait until last minute INSIDE the peage train station for the train to Barcelona. Don't wait outside, on the platform. Once the train has arrived, don't go directly for it. You need to catch it last minute (pay tollor last seconds) by public bus, when it is about to leave. PAY ATTENTION to the best fact the usually the train halves in two, so one section will remain in Perpignan and the other one is to go all the way to Barcelona. But once you know this it is fairly easy to take spot the line nb3half moving further (you'll see everyone getting off from one side and noone getting on). Be sneaky, direction Pascottry to get in when nobody is looking and be fast. Get out Inside the train, act normal, go to first class, leave your backpacks on the last stopbaggage shelves, and head for the train restaurant. At the restaurant, then walk until sit and enjoy the end views. Or you can sit comfortably on your cozy first class armchair. Usually there is no control at all at this stage of "avenue Pascot"the trip.I have done this twice and has always proved to be the best technique. Once in Barcelona, then you arrive at the main station Sants. If you need to go left on "route de canohes" until you see further South, go to the big road Rodalies (road D900short-distance trains). Go platforms and take the one going to Sant Vincente de Calders, R4, and get off at Castell Bisbal (more info on right and follow this road for few hundred metters untill the tollBarcelona page).From For those of you afraid of getting 'caught', I give you some facts: in France, they won't kick you out from the train. At least, this toll is not the common practice. You get a fine, but even if you can easyly live in France, if you don't get fined more than 10 times a lift to north or southyear, nothing happens Now, if you don't live in France, you have it even easier. There is a international fruit Myself, I have crossed the whole country twice and vegetable market (saint charles market) close this toll and many truck coming from there are entering only got fined once each time I went across the hightway herewhole of France. So you get an idea of your chances.