Destination: Costa Brava
Barcelona is captivating with its seaside, architecture, tapas and bars. But the city was just a meeting point for the three of us arriving from various origins in Berlin, Mallorca and New York. After a quick dip in the sea and simple tapas for a late lunch we started on our road trip up the Costa Brava.
The first night we stayed near Lloret de Mar and enjoyed the local catalan cuisine in a charming garden restaurant. The next morning we set back out on our drive up the coast and stopped to enjoy the sea on the way to Tossa de Mar where Marc Chagall vacationed and coined it "blue paradise". There, while sunning, we planned our evening's stay near Calella de Palafrugell, a small fishing village further up the coast.
The next morning after exploring the local charm and still unspoiled beaches and fishing docks of Calella de Palafrugell, we set out towards L'Escala which we'd heard was worth the stop just for its divine anchovies. The local fishermen apparently keep these little treasures for themselves at home instead of shipping them to the market. This local delicacy can be enjoyed in any of the restaurants in town over a slice of crisp toast dripping with olive oil and of course accompanied by a glass of chilled white wine.
On the way to our final destination, we drove through the famed Gulf of Roses where the remains from the old Greek, Roman and medieval cities of Roses are still visible despite the booming seaside tourism. Our sights were set on Cadaques however for the next two nights - the birth place of Salvador Dali and where Pablo Picasso spent his final years. Cadaques can only be reached by one snaking road which helps it remain unspoiled and one of the loveliest towns of the coast. The village is a labyrinth of pebble stone streets and white washed houses busy with small galleries and shops that bring to life the bohemian energy of the region. In the evening, the streets come to life with people having sundowners at the village center followed by dinner in quaint restaurants with the most perfect sidewalk tables or balconies to enjoy the late summer evening.
