Cadaques on the Costa Brava

May 16, 2012 by Andrea 7 Comments

Cadaques is one of the more popular towns on Spain’s Costa Brava and is most well known as the home town of artist Salvador Dali. It’s a sleepy town in the off season but comes alive in the summer months with visitors looking to enjoy the great food and pristine waters. It wasn’t warm enough to swim when I was there back in February but I did get to explore the cute cobblestone streets and relax on the waterfront.

There are a few little cafes dotted around the town but I particularly like the bakery down by the water which sells the famous taps cakes which are shaped like a champagne cork or I guess I should say a cava cork.

Around Cadaques

If you are based in Cadaques for a few days there are some great things to see in the area.

Salvador Dali’s House

I am fascinated by Salvador Dali’s paintings but his house at Port Lligat is even more surreal. It’s a fun place to wander and get a peek into the artist’s life.

Cap de Creus

Cap de Creus reminded me a lot of Western Australia’s wild southern coastline and I loved it for that. There are great hiking trails and secluded coves for swimming. At the top of the hill there is a little cafe where you can sit and enjoy the view.

Visit a Winery

There are many wineries near Cadaques where you can go wine tasting or enjoy some local food. I’m not a wine buff but I did take a bit of a liking to the local cava (sparkling wine) and stocked up on a few bottles before my return to Paris. Celler Martin Faixo were great hosts and treated us like part of the family when we lunched there.

Where to Stay

I stayed in a luxury villa in Port Lligat, Cadaques as a guest of Charming Villas Catalonia. While it might be out of the budget of most travellers, including myself, if you got a group of friends together it could work out to be an affordable and unforgettable stay.

Filed Under: Spain Tagged With: cadaques, catalonia, costa brava, spain

Travel Photo: Besalu

April 25, 2012 by Andrea 2 Comments

The crooked Medieval bridge leading into Besalu, Catalonia. Besalu is an easy day trip from Barcelona.

Filed Under: Travel Photos Tagged With: besalu, catalonia, photography, spain

Travel Photo: Cadaques

April 4, 2012 by Andrea 2 Comments

Cadaques harbour, not far from Salvador Dali’s former residence in Catalonia, Spain.

Filed Under: Travel Photos Tagged With: cadaques, catalonia, photography, spain

A Sunny Afternoon in Banyoles

March 31, 2012 by Andrea 4 Comments

Banyoles is most well known for its pretty lake which is popular with rowers, kayakers and swimmers. I can’t say any of those activities are of interest to me but I was happy to stroll along the lakeside taking in the views of the snow capped Pyrenees.

It was a beautiful afternoon and I briefly contemplated hiring a bike to ride around the lake but came to my senses and stuck to the relative safety of walking and photographing the lake scenery.

Even though the highlight of Banyoles is the lake, it’s worth taking the time to wander around the old town. Plaza Mayor is a great place to sit and enjoy tapas or a drink and the side streets have plenty of little shops selling Catalan specialities.

Wandering around the town you’ll come across a number of curious water features known as recs which were created by monks in the 9th century. Erin from La Tortuga Viajera goes into a bit more detail explaining how they came to be but for me it just added a little character to the town.

If you’re feeling thirsty, help yourself to some milk from the fresh milk vending machine located just off the main square. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a vending machine like this before and I don’t know why there’s a need for one but it’s an interesting concept.

Banyoles is an easy day trip from Barcelona or Girona and a relaxing place to spend an afternoon if you’re travelling around Catalonia.

On this trip to Spain I stayed as a guest of Charming Villas Catalonia. Check out their site if you’re interested in renting a villa to use as a base to explore the region.

Filed Under: Spain Tagged With: banyoles, catalonia, lake, spain

5 Great Day Trips from Barcelona

March 5, 2012 by Andrea 3 Comments

Amazing museums, sandy beaches and delicious tapas. I think most people would agree that Barcelona is an fantastic city to visit and it’s one of my favourite big cities in Europe. Even though it can be hard to leave the capital of Catalonia, there are some great day trips from Barcelona which shouldn’t be ignored.

Day Trips from Barcelona

Girona

Girona inspires me with love. That’s the motto of Girona and it suits the city perfectly. It was love at first sight for me and for many visitors to the medieval city. Girona is known for its colourful riverfront houses which are built right on the water’s edge and are best viewed from one of the many pedestrian only bridges.

The narrow streets of the old town are fun to explore and the hidden away patios are evidence of the rich Jewish history dating back to the 12th century. You can also visit the ancient cathedral which was once a mosque and walk along the old city walls. Girona is only an hour by car from Barcelona and is one of the most popular day trips from the city.

Foodie Tip: Stop for a meal at the incredible Divinum restaurant in the old town.

Besalu

The inland town of Besalu was an important city back in the Middle Ages but today is a sleepy little town popular with tourists. The most notable attraction is the 12th century Romanesque bridge but the town is also known for the remains of a medieval synagogue and a Jewish purification bath hidden below ground. This bath, known as a mikveh, is one of only a few medieval Jewish bathhouses in Europe.

The adorable old town in Besalu has many little cafes and shops selling locally produced goods and for something a little different visit the Museum of Miniatures on the centre square. I never imagined that kind of museum would be interesting but the artwork you need a microscope to see was incredible.

Banyoles

Banyoles is only 20 minutes from Besalu so you could possibly visit both in the same day trip although it’s worth spending a little extra time in Banyoles to explore the lake area. You can hire a bike to ride around the lake which takes an hour or so or go kayaking or swimming in the warmer months. Fishing is also allowed on the lake although you can’t kill the fish, only catch and release. I would have thought the point of fishing was to eat what you catch but I guess not…

There are a few restaurants in the old town but I think the best eating option in Banyoles is to buy some bread, cheese and jamon and have a picnic by the water.

Montserrat

Montserrat is a stunning mountain destination just inland from Barcelona. Montserrat means ‘jagged mountain’ in Catalan and its an unusual rock formation that you won’t see elsewhere in the region. It’s great for hiking or if you prefer cultural activities you can visit Montserrat Abbey or the museum with works from Spanish artists including Picasso and Dali. If you don’t have a car, Montserrat is an easy day trip from Barcelona using public transport. Michael from Easy Hiker has a detailed post on visiting Montserrat including how to get there.

Photo: easyhiker.co.uk

Cadaques

Cadaques is a quiet seaside village known for it’s famous resident, Salvador Dali. A highlight of Cadaques is visiting Dali’s nearby house which is packed with fun surrealist artworks. The town itself is made up of narrow, hilly streets which lead to the waterfront area with its picturesque white washed houses. Cadaques is a 2 hour drive from Barcelona but if you have time and are a fan of Salvador Dali, stop by Figueres to visit the Dali Museum which houses some of his most important works.

Foodie Tip: Buy a box of taps sweets from the bakery on the waterfront. They are amazing little sugar topped cakes perfect for an afternoon snack.

Fifteen minutes from Cadaques is the wonderful, wild coastline of Cap de Creus and one of the most spectacular locations on the Costa Brava.

Of course there are many other day trips from Barcelona and it’s worth renting an apartment or villa in Barcelona if you plan on spending a while to explore the region.

Filed Under: Spain Tagged With: barcelona, catalonia, day trips, spain

Travel Photo: Costa Brava

February 23, 2012 by Andrea 5 Comments

Sunset over the beach at Sant Antoni de Calonge on the Costa Brava, Spain.

Filed Under: Travel Photos Tagged With: catalonia, costa brava, spain, sunset

A Real Egyptian Temple in Madrid

February 7, 2012 by Andrea 4 Comments

I didn’t expect to see an Egyptian temple in the middle of Madrid but sure enough, it’s there, sitting up on the hill in Parque de la Montaña.

The Temple of Debod was built in the 2nd century BC near Aswan in southern Egypt. The temple survived without too many problems until the 1960s when the creation of the Aswan High Dam threatened to flood the temple and other monuments in the region. UNESCO stepped in and found a new home for the temple in the centre of busy Madrid.

The temple was originally dedicated to the goddess Isis, the goddess of motherhood and magic. Isis married her brother Osiris and they had a child together. Osiris was later murdered but Isis was able to use her magic to resurrect him. What I like about this story is that it was later believed that the annual flooding of the Nile was caused by the tears of Isis as she cried over her lost brother/lover. How ironic that those tears lead to the end of the temple designed to worship her, at least the end of the temple in Egypt.

Filed Under: Spain Tagged With: madrid, spain, unesco