Day 138 - 27/01/2014 : Bonaigua Hotel view

Some years ago, we decided to enjoy the Catalan summer. We had been turning around mountain shires of Catalonia but until then we didn't realized how much fantastic the seaside was.

We started to look for beautiful beaches and we found among the best were in Empordà shire's, then it was the destination.

One of our first Empordà accommodations was Bonaigua Hotel, in Fornells, one of the coves of the best known town of Begur.

During the next days we'll look into Begur and their beaches, take a seat !

Day 137 - 26/01/2014 : L'Estartit beach with Medes Islands opposite

L'Estartit is a town from the Baix Empordà shire and belonging to the main town Torroella de Montgrí. We could say L'Estatit is the beach town of Torroella but i think people from L'Estarit would be angry reading these words.

Anuway, it's a very beautiful town, with a large and clean beach where we can see the best front views from Medes islands, a really sea paradise. If you rent a hammock you should rest all the day looking into the sky and count the number of little boats coming to the islands.

Really, a beach to taste at least one time !

Day 136 - 25/01/2014 : Fireworks in Vilassar de Mar

Undoubtedly, the best season to celebrate the biggest town festival is on summer. Here in Catalonia these days are called 'Festa Major' and talking about Vilassar there is a special day, the 24th of june, when the witches have met the night before in a magical ceremony around the fire.

'Festa Major' in Vilassar is closed with a fantastic firework event which can be seen over all the shire !!!
We usually climb to our terrace and see them quietly with a cold beer in our hand, anyone know a best way to see off our 'Festa Major'?

Fireworks !!!!

Day 135 - 24/01/2014 : Full moon in Vilassar de Mar

Vilassar is neither Calella de Palafrugell nor Tossa nor Begur... but this town are giving the life we had ever dreams.

A comfortable life, watching the sea and the mountains every day and giving us the possibility to have romantic nights in our terrace such as we had a few summers ago.

In a full moon night we climbed to the terrace and stayed seeing it quietly, looking for the stars in the sky. Is there anything better?

Vilassar style of life.

Day 134 - 23/01/2014 : Seafood in Empuriabrava

In our first visit to Empuriabrava we were received by a great seafood plat, we were lucky because the high season wasn't came yet, therefore we were comfortably served in the restaurant.

We don't remember where we stayed, but it was on the shopping and food business street, S.Mori street.

It's need to point out that we don't find this town as attractive as other ones in Emporda, however I think it deserves a visit.

Would you like to come next summer?

Day 133 - 22/01/2014 : Cadaqués from Des Pianc beach

This is the typical picture from D'es Pianch beach in Cadaques. You should take the path on the left hand in the bay and walk carefully by the edge of the rocks, you could get into the water !!!

The shores will show us clean and fresh waters ready to be tasted but pay attention, the water in Costa Brava sometimes is too cold, you're advised !

Continuing to the north a light climb starts to give the chance to take the most known picture of Cadaqués with all the bay spreed out from left to right.

Definitely, it's a town you will come back.

Day 132 - 21/01/2014 : Splendid view of Cadaqués from St. Maria church

St Maria Church is governing all the Cadaques pictures.

To reach their doors a lovely walk should be issued from the narrow and steeped streets of the town, seeing painted white houses with their Catalan symbols and little and interesting shops to buy some handmade craft.

From the esplanade of the church the view of the town is impressive.

Come and check yourself  !!

Day 128 - 17/01/2014 : Creus cape from the sea

We are finishing our round trip in Gala boat, therefore we are opposite of the lighthouse and restaurant in Creus Cape.

The sea is calm then the boat stopped to allow the passengers enjoy with unforgettable moments: the most oriental land of Catalonia above us.

Definitely it's a way to explore Creus Cape to be considered, the beauty of the caves and coves we could look into is a key factor to say this.

Now, it's time to come back to Port Lligat, see you soon Costa Brava !

Day 127 - 16/01/2014 : Entering S'Infern cave

Here Gala boat entering S'Infern cave, it's an exciting moment !

The name of this cave is given due to the color of the water inside when the sun is rising similar to the gates of Hell. People likes to swim on this moment to see this curious phenomena, but isn't easy to access the cave therefore you must to be careful.

The cave has been created due to the erosion of sea water causing modeling the rocks to achieve their special form.

Incredible !

Day 126 - 15/01/2014 : Lovely Pisto, RIP

Today we are going to have a break in Costa Brava landscapes to pay tribute to our lovely first cat Pisto.

Unfortunately we had to sleep Pisto yesterday because after he felt ill on Thursday and got him to the vet on Friday, they diagnosed him a fatal disease.

Pisto has given us the best moments of their life, plenty of tricks and love even when a intruder like Stark came to the house, finally they were the best friends in the world.

We won't never forget lovely cat !

Day 125 - 14/01/2014 : S'Infern cave

We are seeing one of the best landscapes from Costa Brava : S'Infern cave.

This cave is located between Cala Jugadora cove Bona and cove Sa Fredrosa, just before reaching the lighthouse of Creus cape.

Sailing with Gala boat from Port Lligat or taking a walk from the lighthouse using a path to reach it only in 10 minutes.

Undoubtedly, a must if you come to Cadaques or Creus cape.

Day 124 - 13/01/2014 : Cala Jugadora

After we saw the fishermen working Gala boat went to the open say and we could see the beauty f Cala Jugadora.

On the left side a splendid place to swim quietly, on the right side we could already see Creus Cape. The excursion were close to finish and Gala were near to turn back to Port Lligat, but before that we advanced to see the Creus Cape lighthouse and some special place, come on to show you.

Definitely, a trip to remember !!!

Day 123 - 12/01/2014 : Fishermen in Costa Brava

The sea is synonym of fishermen around and Costa Brava isn't an exception. The fact is in this case the special land to try fish : the rough rock in Cala Jugadora, close to Creus Cape.

It seems this place is a big deal for fishermen because we saw a few in our Gala boat excursion, why are they not looking for a more comfortable place?

We don't know, it may be a good place to fish and the views aren't bad too.

Do you like fish? Come to Catalonia too, you won't be disappointed.

Day 122 - 11/01/2014 : Gull in Cala Bona

The same gull we talked two days ago is following us. We caught her in Cala Bona, near the sea. We assumed she was waiting for some delicious fish to eat it.

The gull moved agile doing little jumps between rocks and looked with curiosity a yellow boat approaching.

We left Cala Bona and the continued looking for lunch, did she success? We think so.

Day 121 - 10/01/2014 : Catalonia ads

Nowadays it's common traveling into Catalonia and see ads about our desire of freedom and independence. But, it's normal see theses ads in Costa Brava rocks?

The answer is YES. Why not? We can't realize how the painter was been able to bring the paint cans to the steeped rocks, but he did.

Anyway, we think the nature can't be disturbed with political events and even if this draw is beautiful nobody like their house could be painted, isn't?

Visca Catalunya !

Day 120 - 09/01/2014 : Gull watching !

We were shipping quite with Gala boat when we saw this gull watching their territory. Is she waiting to us to raise an attack?

Definitely we can say not, she was only looking to the sea watching for a fish to be hunted and eaten. We don't know if she achieved their goal but it was other history in our Gala trip.

Wait for a days and you will discover other ones !

Day 119 - 08/01/2014 : Leaving Port Lligat

We are leaving Port Lligat within Gala boat. On the left side Gali House, impossible not to say. On the left side we left Port Lligat dock and Calina Hotel.

The trip will be amazing, we'll ship into beautiful coves before reaching Creus Cape and come back to Port Lligat.

The Captain wasn't a very speaker men, basically he drove the boat but it doesn't matter, we only had to keep seat in our places and see the beauty of Costa Brava.

Definitely, a trip to consider !

Day 118 - 07/01/2014 : Gala boat

Other sight you should think to do if you come to Port Lligat is go shipping with Gala boat. It's very easy to find this peculiar boat : is the yellow one just leaving Dali house and goes to the dock on the right side.

The price for the excursion isn't much expensive, 15-20 euros per person, and you will stay during 1 hour and a half sailing into the Costa Brava until you'll reach the Creus Cape.

You shouldn't expect to sail too much fast, but this help to admire the beauty of Costa Brava.

Anybody want to take a trip?

Day 117 - 06/01/2014 : Port LLigat, Dali House

Have you been good boys and The Kings bring you a lot of gifts?

Anyway, Catalonia itself bring you a permanent gift visiting their sights. Between Cadaqués and Creus Cape we will find the little town of Port Lligat with a relevant sight : Dali House.

Port Lligat isn't entirely a town, it belongs to Cadaqués, we may consider it as a district or cove from their main town.

The house of Dali was the only stable house of the artist, it's the land where lived and worked regularly until 1982, when Gala died, then he changed their home from Pubol Castle.

You have to visit the house if you come to Cadaqués, booking is necessary. Don't forget that !

Day 116 - 05/01/2014 : Looking to the North

As I said in the first day of our trip in Creus Cape, we've a 360º panoramic view wherever we stay in the park.

Looking into the North, we'll see the Pyrenees and our neighbor country: France. The day was a little foggy but not enough to see the beauty of Costa Brava North with their steep sea border.

After Creus Cape we will find the town of Port de la Selva, Llançà, Colera and finally Port Bou, the last Catalan village after the border with France. The narrow and panoramic road N-260 across the sea will give you fantastic view to the sea and the cliffs.

Enjoy the route !

Day 115 - 04/01/2014 : s'Encalladora island

S'Encalladora is a little island in front of Creus Cape just close to other fantastic and known island in the Natural Park : 'El Drac del Portaló'.

So many boat excursions are offered in the villages near the Park, for example Port de la Selva, Llança or Cadaqués to explore this isolates but stunning islands, which only can be reached using this transport way.

When you are on the top of Creus Cape watching the environment and the sea is normal you saw a lots of kayak approaching the islands, it's a typical maritime activity on this place.

Would you like to go kayaking into the park?

Day 114 - 03/01/2014 : Creus Cape lighthouse

The road starting in Cadaqués that bring you into the Creus Cape Park finishes in the old lighthouse governing this special landscape.

The views from the lighthouse are unforgettable, you can see a 360º panoramic view of all the park with the coves and the sea to the north and east, with the mountains to the south and west.

Behind the lighthouse there a little bar when you can take a fresh beer if you are coming on summer season, but if you like to have a good lunch, a few meters to the south you will find the Restaurant Cap de Creus, a curious yellow building with spectacular views to the Costa Brava.

No excuses to come !!!

Day 113 - 02/01/2014 : Reaching Creus Cape from Cadaqués

We are spending some days looking around the Creus Cape, the first maritime National Park in Catalonia since 1998

Creus Cape can be reached easily from Cadaqués following to the north the road to Port Lligat. Before we entered into the park we will see fantastic views from Costa Brava as the picture shows.

This park is very rich in fauna and flora species, there are more than 800 different plants, someone of them exclusive from the land.

The sea and Tramontana effects have been built special shapes on the rocks, for example those located in Pla de Tudela.

Why don't you plan a visit? You won't be disappointed !

Day 112 - 01/01/2014 : Happy new year in Castello d'Empuries

It's easy to begin this passional year : Happy Yes-Yes new year !!!!

Catalans have a challenge this year, first of all fighting with Spanish government to confirm our referendum, and finally, on the 9th of November, go to the polls and peacefully let clarify our desire for freedom.

Our first place for this year is the magnificent church of Santa Maria located in Castelló d'Empuries, inside Alt Empordà shire.

Castelló d'Empuries is the town which Empuriabrava belongs and is located just above the Marina and below the Natural Park of The AiguaMolls de l'Empordà.

The church represents the Gothic style from the XIII century when their construction begun.

You can find more information about the town in their website  http://www.castelloempuriabrava.com

Finally, a message that some Spanish people have to take into account:

I will say (I will say), what I think (what I Think)
I will do (I will do), what I say (what I say)
When tolerance seems out of sight,
We will fight,
When liberty seems out of reach,
We'll fight for our freedom of speech.

VISCA CATALUNYA LLIURE !

Day 111 - 31/12/2013 : Empuriabrava streets

What's up? It has been a big flood in Catalonia???

Absolutely not !!! You're walking in Empuriabrava, the village into the sea. Here this kind of town are called as 'Marina' because you can leave the town and enter into the sea with your own ship, you should only start the engine and drive carefully into the channels.

The cost of this luxury isn't low as you can imagine. Normally in Empuriabrava live rich foreign people with enough money to buy one of the fantastic house available and a boat to go shipping.

Are you rich enough to afford this way of life?

Day 110 - 30/12/2013 : Empuriabrava beach

Probably it isn't the best beach in Costa Brava but Empuriabrava beach is wider than others offering the possibility to large walks over the shore while you are seeing all the Roses bay, the beach has a lenght over 1500 meters.

This has  a lot of services even adapted for handicapped people, is for that it has received the Blue Flag certificate.

The mouth of Muga river is near, this become other tips to consider visit this beach, the problem is the crowd in summer season.

Try to visit next summer !

Day 109 - 29/12/2013 : Empuriabrava harbor

Following with our walk around Empuriabrava if we continue on the north towards Roses we will reach the harbor.

From that place you will see a large amount of ships leaving and entering to Empuriabrava, it seemed a jam traffic !!!

Undoubtedly this town is needed to consider for somebody like go shipping, the problem is you must be rich to buy one of the fantastic houses you see walking or boating inside the village.

Empuriabrava, what a luxury !

Day 108 - 28/12/2013 : Dangerous fly in Empuriabrava

Let me open a new sequence of pictures related to Costa Brava, in this case talking about Costa Brava north, in Alt Empordà shire.

We are in Empuriabrava, a quirky town in Alt Emporda. In fact, it isn't a town, is a new district from Castelló d'Empuries built in the past to give the tourist the possibility to have a house with direct exit to the sea driving their boats by the narrow channels around the village has been created.

We went in a bad tempered afternoon, with a lot of rain and thunderstorm. But when the rain ceased, we enjoyed a beautiful evening in the beach a we saw a brave flyer doing skydiving. The picture of today show this fact with a view of the low Pyrenees.

Would you dare to fly on that???