Today, I want to know something from you, dear readers. How do you treat yourself when you have accomplished a big life project of yours? Your life dream even? The glorious end of my #WritersRetreat in #LaBelleFrance, crafting the essence of “The Creative Traveler’s Handbook“, my first ever book soon to appear on the market of international travel literature ..?
Well. I guess you just continue doing what you love: A sea tapas tasting trip kayaking #InCostaBrava! Never heard of that? Neither did I. Until I fell in love with a sweet little place called Llançà …
Llançà, about an hour south of Perpignan in northern Cataluña’s Costa Brava region, is a small seaside town with all the classic charm of a typical Mediterranean holiday destination: Sunshine, beach life, tapas, siesta, sailing boats, sea breeze and the beautiful backdrop of the Pyrenees mountains to the Northwest. I thought: What better place to come to and relax after learning more about the shared food, culture & language identity embracing France to the south and Spain to the north – Catalan & Cataluña, that is?
Seaside Llançà …
… at the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains & Cap de Creus peninsula …
… welcomes me to the charm of its lovely youth hostel, l’Alberg Costa Brava …
… a former convent turned accommodation & chillaxed lifestyle for travellers.
“L’Alberg Costa Brava“, one in four top youth hostels in the Northern Costa Brava region, has optimum connections with one of the most outstanding creative foodie travel experiences I have ever done: Learning how to taste algae while kayaking on the Mediterranean Sea!
“Elena, you must talk with Pau … He is amazing at what he does. Always on the lookout for new opportunities, and ever so helpful. I am sure you two would get along really well!” That’s my dear friend Marc, of Alberg Costa Brava speaking: His friend Pau, it turns out, runs a company called SK Kayak and is indeed happy for me to try out their newest invention – a seaside love affair with kayaks and … algae.
Tasting local plants and algae in an attempt to understand more about the native Cap de Creus & Costa Brava flora, all the way to their use in Celler de Can Roca, the world’s leading restaurant in Girona? Yes please! Evarist March, a local botanist turned nature guide, lives to tell the tale and joins us on our kayak trip.
Being the naturally curious, foodlover traveller I am, I find myself all ears in front of Evarist’s and Pau’s fascinating knowledge. What an exciting way to explore northern Costa Brava in an activity called “Herbokayak Tapas Marinas” – tasting our way through land and sea on kayaks just out of Llançà.
Off we go preparing our kayaks …
… revising Pau’s initial safety demonstrations on water …
… while I turn to look at my co-navegator, dear Evarist himself, an ideal kayak companion for the day.
Have I mentioned that I just looove kayaking?! The silence and beauty of gliding across the sea seemingly without effort gets to me …
… as much as Evarist’s ensuing interpretation of the local plant life on this small beach near Llançà.
Tiny little flowers, he explains, are used in top cuisine, such as Celler de Can Roca, not only for their aesthetic but also for their nutritional and health values …
… I just love the open-air “classroom” setting and nature walk on land …
… as a welcome addition to our kayak trip out on the sea …
… overall, just a place to fall in love with: Beautiful Llançà in the distance overlooking Cap de Creus peninsula.
The algae tasting that marks the highlight of our kayak excursion is nothing short of extraordinary. After a comfortable stroll on the beach and some two hours spent kayaking, we find ourselves in a tiny little bay that Evarist deems perfect for … diving for algae. Two more volunteers of our group eagerly join him, all helping to prepare a seafood platter of a kind. Welcoming the wait in my kayak, I find myself gently balanced by the tidal waves hugging the bay on this northern stretch of the Costa Brava coast. It is peaceful here; no other tourists are around. Once again, I am reminded that spending your time with the local people is just the best way to go in order to explore the world around us.
Dear Pau, of SK Kayak, is passionate about what he does, frequently stopping on our way along the coast in order to explain more about the local, maritime wildlife.
Meanwhile, I have taken to love my kayak …
… confident enough to take a Selfie or two on the trip!
A little later, Evarist and Pau have us stop in this rocky bay just north of Llançà …
… where the clear waters are perfect for harvesting algae in order to prepare a “tapas marinas” tasting of a kind!
Some algae, I must say, look and taste a bit like (salted) lettuce …
… others are less easy to tell and require careful, sensory probing …
… despite their apparent odd shapes …
… so what’s the verdict there, dear Nadine?
Whatever your individual preference, the group vibe really gets us going, with all of us tasting away happily …
… as Evarist dishes up more and more of those famous Costa Brava / Llançà algae!
Thank you, my dear group, for a wonderful creative foodie afternoon spent together here #InCostaBrava!
Sunset easily is my preferred hour of the day … and even more magical when you are out on sea in a kayak. I already look forward to coming back again soon!
Disclaimer: I have been invited by SK Kayak for a taste of their Herbokayak Tapas Marinas trip. All opinions are my own.