Cadaques to Cap de Creus

We, or rather Thibault, had decided we should do this coastal walk between the somewhat touristy town of Cadaques on the Costa Brava up to the lighthouse at Cap de Crus. 

Have to say it was the perfect day for such a walk - about 20C and sunny with a breeze.

In the distance were the snow capped mountains of the Pyrenees

But down in the town it was blue skies and blue seas.

We left the car in a car park in the centre of town (which we shortly discovered was a mistake - there ere free parking areas along the trail which would have both saved us money and a bit of the more boring part of the walk) and set out through the town and up into the countryside.

Below us was the Dali Museum.

The walk was a moderately strenuous one - a lot of going up and then down again on a stoney trail. But the views were to die for.

Eventually our target came into sight, but up the biggest climb of the trail, to the lighthouse at Cap de Creus.

There were three restaurants up at the Lighthouse. We picked the first, and inadvertently picked the most expensive thing on the menu, a baked turbot. (Inadvertently in that it was just under a heading of fish of the day) It was good but not amazing. The views however were. We could have sat outside to enjoy them, but only if prepared to be buffeted by an astonishingly strong wind up at the top. It was windy I struggled to even hold my camera.

Thibault and Clarissa looking like they were dressed for winter. Back to t-shirts a little further down the path and out of the wind

Girona

I won't go into how I ended up being invited along to a Bank Holiday weekend trip to Girona in Northern Spain. Just suffice to say I did and count myself very lucky. This was a terrific weekend break. Would recommend this city to anyone.

The bad news is we travelled out on a late evening Ryanair flight from Luton. Let's just say Ryanair's reputation for customer service is not undeserved. Added to which the small child behind me on the flight had decided to see if he/she could break the world record for the most number of times one could shout "Mama" in two hours. I suspect he/she smashed it. With some to spare.

Girona airport at around midnight is not the liveliest of places. Nor well signposted. We managed to find a kiosk selling coach tickets for the last bus into town. it was just us and the cabin crew. From the bus station we got a taxi to the hotel. It was a late night.

But the hotel, Hotel Costablanca, was very nice and good value. Gave us an excellent base. Modern, clean and a shortish walk into town to pick up our hire car. 

Now we went to the Coast on our first day, which will form a separate entry. But here I wil pick up with some photos of the centre of town in the evening.

This is really the classic image of the City - the river with its jumble of buildings sited hard up to the riverfront

It also has a reputation as a foodie sort of lace (and that is a good reputation to have in my books!) which was entirely justified from our experience. Spanish meal first night

And having gorged ourselves on a Spanish meal relatively early in the evening we wanted to go somewhere for wine. And maybe something to nibble. Instead we ended up getting a bottle of port and a very impressive cheeseboard. 10 cheeses. Gorgeous. But let us just say that I wasn't at my best early next morning!