“Girona m’enamora! !!!” – “Such picturesque, and unforgettable moments.” – “Costa Brava still has so much for us to discover. Many, I believe, have not put it on their radar yet – the ‘wild coast’ north of Barcelona.”
You are right, my dear readers. Reading through your feedback on my Social Media posts, I am reminded of the happiness of being #InCostaBrava. 🙂 After a first glimpse of the enchanting small town of Llançà and its picturesque surroundings, I knew I had to come back soon. To explore more. To feel more. To enjoy tasting the sweet sense of local hospitality that the Catalan people know to provide so well. And why not start your visit with a stroll around Girona, the capital city of Costa Brava less than an hour north of Barcelona boasting a tasteful array of flavours and colours to celebrate your stay?
The city of Girona is well-known for its colour house facades right by the river Onyar …
… its old town district beckoning a charming walk as well as many places for a beer and a tapa …
… “Salut” – Cheers from Girona! …
… local Marc showing me the “smallest square” of Girona (yes, this tiny space is classified as ‘Plaça dels Raims’!), and possibly, the world …
… as we cross the river again on one of the city’s many bridges …
… we take a walk up to one of the city’s churches, the building on the right now serving as a modern institute and university building …
… ending the day at the local bar & restaurant “La Vedette”, eating tasty crêpes with a Catalan twist.!
Just a few charming towns away from Girona, you can reach the picturesque “anchovy capital” of Costa Brava: Sweet seaside L’Escala. A place with some of the most stunning sunset views I have enjoyed in my whole life!
“Let’s take it slow …!” Marc next to me in the car looks at me and smiles. “I prefer taking you through some of the small towns and villages on the way from Girona to L’Escala. And once we reach L’Escala, you will see why it is easily one of the most beautiful towns around …!” He smiles even more, and laughs. The pride Marc feels for his home town is palpable all the way through, and I cannot help but fall for the magic he describes.
“Can you really grow up here and call this place home?”, I keep wondering. After all, how does ‘normality’ ever catch up with you in a place as magical as this?!
I am, to this day, still wondering … 😉
Let’s take a look at some of the magic of seaside L’Escala, located in the beautiful Golf de Roses in northern Costa Brava.
Magical L’Escala has its way to enchant me, overlooking Montgó beach from the top of the hill, “El Mirador del Punta de Montgó” …
… then later, as the sun sets, the magic of the beautiful coast line clearly unfolds …
… with views travelling almost endlessly, stretching all the way across the Golf de Roses and Cap de Creus peninsula to the north, the north-eastern most point of the Iberian peninsula …
… I love the sunset at Montgó beach! You?
And more so when it’s time to taste the local delicacies: Olives filled with “real” anchovies – yum !!!
Or how about a local “Fideua”, the Catalan version of Paella replacing rice with noodles? Really tasty, that one I must say, and a great first time for a food lover traveller like me!
For some more tasty insights into Girona & L’Escala #InCostaBrava, head over to my Flickr photo page here:
See you #InCostaBrava! 🙂