104 days since selling up! David Jones recording.
It's all over! Espana is no more! I'm writing this from central France, yesterday we crossed the chaotic border between Spain and France at La Jonquera/Le Perthus. And I have to say I thought I'd had enough of Spain after three months, but now I'm missing it. All this French lark - it's so confusing, I can't stop myself saying "por favor" and "gracias" and keep getting blank looks from impatient French people! And it's already started to get cool, we drove through the beautiful Dordogne today, and although it was sunny and clear, it was distinctly less tropical. No more palm trees, no more shady squares with fountains to escape from the heat, no more Menu del Dias (although we did have a rather nice Menu Touristique in Sarlat today...)!
Anyway you left us dropping Paul's Mum and Dad off at Alicante Airport. We decided to take things easy and spend a night in Alicante before starting the long drive north. And what a good decision. Alicante's really nice, lots of shady banyan trees, wide esplanade along the marina, nice beach (sadly packed - it was 31 July) and we found the most perfect square with a fountain to have a menu del dia lunch. It was shaded by three huge banyan trees, the cafe was Morrocan influenced and served us the most delicious lamb tagine. Yum, one of my favourite lunches of the whole Spanish tour. Paul's mum and dad would have loved it, but they were too busy tucking into their EasyKiosk lunch. We just had a video call with them and were shocked to see they were browner than both of us after two weeks of Spanish sun. They look like the ones who've been away for three months!
We then moved on to Benicarlo a very Spanish seaside resort on the Costa del Azahar. We stayed in our second parador of the tour. It was like a Miami 1930's beach front hotel. A little bit faded around the edges and played gentle piped music through out the hotel. We definately felt like the golden girls but in a retirement home. Having said that it was very relaxing after our long drive.
We then moved on to Barcelona. A vibrant and exciting city. Very cosmopolitan and "trendy" but in a relaxed way. It didn't seem as Spanish as the other places we had visited, people seemed friendlier. The driving seemed polite as well. We drove straight into the city found our hotel and parked in the underground car park with no problems. We must almost be Spanish!
We visited all the tourist sights: Sagrada Familia, Ramblas, old town and cable car. One of our favourite destinations at the end of the day was the roof top pool for a quick dip and cocktails.
We also found some good restarants and had good food tapas in the old town and then tapas sitting by the marina. And I had a Starbucks!
The worst experience here was when we decided to venture to Gaudi's Park Guell. Well us and every other tourist in Barcelona decided to go on that day. It was like Trafalgar Square at lunch time without the pigeons. The queue on the escalators going up to the park was like a Universal theme park ride. Anyhow we didn't stop long, just enough time for Paul to get some quick shots. Though there were so many people you couldn't really see the architecture through the crowds. All that said we had a great time in Barcelona before moving on to our final Spanish city Girona or as Ryan Air says Girona Barcelona!
We explored the medieval streets of Girona and visited the cathedral and walked the wall. The most fun we had, was at a restaurant in a small square where we ate lunch both days. This was because the waitress that served us was very friendly, if a little bit mad! We would listen to her telling every customer that it was very busy and that might have to wait and did they really want to stay, despite the place being half empty. Anyhow we had two great menu de dias: our last of our tour. Finally whilst in Girona, Paul could not resist the temptation to kiss the lioness's bum. So the legend says if you kiss the bum you will return to Girona. I have the photograph (it's in the album) but too rude to show on this blog page!
Whilst in Spain I moaned about the heat , the driving, not knowing what time of day to eat and where, no road signs, ridiculously small underground carparks, did I say Spanish drivers. I also said I had had enough and would not need to go back for ten years. Now away from all that, those are the things I miss. So may be three or two! Don't cry for me Espana the truth is I never left you! Luego Espana!
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