When we came off the motorway, we stopped at the first village we passed through, Verges. There we found a choice of restaurants and chose one with a garden.
The menu was all in Catalan, but we managed to decode it with the help of a very friendly waiter. We didn't make the best choices, but did enjoy our meal. We then wandered around Verges before setting off for our hotel. It was a small village with a stream that powered a water wheel.
We had decided to try a hotel that we had spotted on our January visit to the Costa Brava, the Sant Roc at Calella de Palafruell. The Sant Roc has a wonderful position high on the rocks on the edge of the village and was offering special rates for the over 60s. At the beginning of May, everything is open but while there are tourists around there is space in the hotels and restaurants.
The hotel is very impressive on the outside, looking like a five star establishment, but as with other spanish hotels we have stayed in, the grand edifice does not necessarily reflect the interior. The rooms were very comfortable, but breakfasts were not inspiring and the restaurant did not get good reviews so we ate elsewhere. However, the views for the terrace were stunning.
We spent the first evening wandering along the shore. The village is made up of many small bays each with its own name.
We ate just near the small fishing boats in a well positioned but not very good restaurant.
The next day, we walked through Calella and on to the next big bay, Llfranc. We had visited Llfranc in February and thought that there were some good restaurants to try. The coastal walk there is really scenic and we were taking the same photos as in February.
We found a small family restaurant just off the sea front where we had a very good meal.
In the evening we walked in the opposite direction along the coastal path, the GR92 which is a coastal path from Portbou on the French/Spanish Mediterranean border down past Barcelona and beyond. The path is not hard walking, but there are scary bits and magnificent scenery.
We then went off to eat and found a lovely tapas bar in Calella, called Calau.
As well as the tapas on the counter, staff came round with just-cooked hot tapas to tempt us; they succeeded! We never had time to help ourselves at the counter as we struck up interesting conversations with an Irish couple and a Belgian couple.
The next day, we set off for home, intending to call in at several other bays on the way. Our first stop was Fournells which appeared to be an upmarket village with a hotel and private harbour.
From here, we could join another part of the GR92 along the coast, discovering the rocky coastline and empty beaches.
We stopped at this beach for a cup of tea before turning back to the car. Above the beach was the posh Parador Hotel of Aiguabrava.
Our next stop was Tamariu: a small resort with a beach, three hotels and several restaurants. We walked around the bay and then along another part of the Gr92 before it was time for lunch.
We had a good lunch with a bottle of rosé and decided to stay the night.
The following day, we again set out for home, this time via Begus, a small, busy town with a 'fort'.
When we reached the 'fort', we discovered that it was really a rocky outcrop with some very small walls around it.
From the top, you can see Bégur in the foreground, Lestartit with its rocks and islands and Rosas in the distance. In another direction you could see the sea and high-rise blocks of Palamos and Platja D'Aro.
Bégur nestles between three hills
So then it was time for home and a meal with friends in Maraussan, a village not far from here. Now we are preparing for our next trip to the UK by car to help look after Ernie while Helen returns to work.
Pat and John on tour