After a long, long time, I'm back! It's been quite busy months around here but hopefully (and I say this every single time) I will be able to stick around here for a while and work on the blog. The past week, after a few days spent at home, my family decided to go up to Costa Brava for the weekend. To those who have never heard of it, it's a gorgeous, mediterranean styled coast in the north of Barcelona - like 2 hours away by car.
So, long story short: Saturday 8 am we hop in the car and start driving north. The coast is located in the region of Emporda and by around 9:30 am we make it to our very first stop:
So, long story short: Saturday 8 am we hop in the car and start driving north. The coast is located in the region of Emporda and by around 9:30 am we make it to our very first stop:
DoubleTree by Hilton
Hotel & Spa Emporda
It is a charming hotel surrounded by peaceful and beautiful nature (it is found in the road between Palafrugell and Torroella de Montgri). I personally loved the sense of modernity it had, without leaving behind the rural mindset. It's a spa and golf hotel too and it is only a 10 minutes car ride to get to the beach. As for the inside, I can only say good things. Delicious and variated breakfast (the bread was literally one of the best I have had lately) and the rooms were quite nice - not too small, clean and comfortable.
Pals Beach
We left our suitcases there, as it was too early to check in, and took a walk around. Around 10:30 am we make it to the beach in Pals. It is a long sandy beach and we spent the morning there, sunbathing, playing in the sand with my little cousins and swimming. At 2:00 pm we decided to go for lunch, and right in that beach there is a chiringuito (spanish word that refers to a restaurant/bar located in the shore) which is incredibly good. We had some squids, sandwiches, sardines...
Dinner in Begur
The afternoon was pretty lay back. We went to the hotel's swimming pool, showered and at 7:15 pm we went to visit Begur, and other village in the coast, located 10 minutes away from pals. There are always many activities and nice streets and shops to stroll around in that town, so we walked there for a while, so some dancing 'Saradnes' (typical dance from catalonia) and finally, at 8:30 pm we went for dinner. It is a restaurant named Pati Blau in which we had some really good grilled fish.
Sunday adventure day!
Another day at the beach. But today, my dada and I decide to rent a kayak and row to see some of the coves (small rocky beaches) found right to Pals. However, half way through the there, we managed to get water inside the kayak so it started to be flooded. Obviously we could not keep rowing. We tried swimming dragging the kayak with us, but after 10 minutes we had moved barely two inches. Which was VERY FRUSTRATING. Luckily for us a french and really nice guy came for our rescue! He had a speedboat so we hopped in and he brought us back safely to the shore (my knee started bleeding but that was just a minor accident after all!) It was pretty nerve wracking at the time, but it is surely a funny story to tell now!
White Summer
After surely a long and curious day at the beach, we decided to go to White Summer. It is an art/music/food/fashion festival situated in Pals. They open from the 30th July to the 20th August, from 6pm to 1am and their motto is "A field for colorful minds". And it is a really fun visit. They have a bunch of food trucks: burgers, ice creams, ecological and vegan food, traditional food, experimental food... I had a waffle with nutella and it was amazing. As for fashion they also have a wide range in their offer; for man, woman and children, hippious, bussines like, shirts, dresses, shoes, accessories whatever you are looking for! They also have a stand with concerts an a million activities for kids (even pony riding!)! It is somehow the summer version to Palo Alto Market, for those who are familiar with that.
Really really really worth a visit. And by the way, entrance fee is 5 euros!
www.whitesummer.es
Really really really worth a visit. And by the way, entrance fee is 5 euros!
www.whitesummer.es
Is anyone planning to visit Costa Brava? Or has been there before? Just let me know in the comments!
Sincerely,
Vera
Sincerely,
Vera