We
spent two nights in Barcelona and I was ready to leave. Granted, we had dinner with Abbey and Emily on Saturday night, which was really fun, but I couldn’t help but spend most of my time in the city worrying if I was going to be pick-pocketed. Monday, at the Boqueria, a HUGE market, and yes, it surpasses even my beloved central market of Lancaster, was a sure treat as we said our goodbyes to Barcelona. Oh yah, and get this… Sunday we went touring for 12-hours, and as could be expected, David packed a fashionable, yet non-practical pair of sandals to wear. So after our walk, and many blisters, we needed to buy David a new pair of shoes if he was going to make it through Friday. Just outside of the shoe store in mid-conversation, David exploded and a family turned 
as hugs were passed all around. I had no idea what was happening… David and I had run into his parents friends and their children, who just HAPPENED to be in Barcelona that day, from Virginia (the wife is originally from Mallorca). We exchanged greetings and took this great photo...Ok, so back to our story, Monday, after the Boqueria we rented a car, and with spectacular foresight, Jessi suggested a drop-top. We were off and driving up the coast like we were in a movie! Wind in our hair and the sea to our side, we were elated and had no set-in-stone plan, just a map and a desire to “see the land”. We decided to travel up the coast to Tossa de Mar. I loo
k forward to showing you our route on a map soon, but again, until I have a real Internet connection, you’ll have to wait. At Tossa we secured a 4-star hotel for a fantastic price, and breakfast to boot. What a find!So we awoke and left Tossa to continue up the coast, towards a recommendation from the receptionist at our hotel, a true diamond in the ruff; Roses was the name of the town and we stayed right on the coast and enjoyed the magnificent port, the breathtaking sunset, the quiet streets, and many shops. This time dinner, hotel stay and breakfast were included, we were starting to think each stop better than the last!
Wednesday was one of the most memorable, a day-trip to France! Each day was so filled, I know I am just tipping the iceberg, but to sum it up we dipped in the Mediterranean at a quiet beach, situated right off a route in this year’s Tour de France. Well you know David, this couldn’t have been more perfect! We packed a lunch of delect
able “Capitan Mani” (Peanut Butter) and Crackers, but with the 35 degree Celsius heat, we splurged for a Banana Split to cool us off. Plus, when are we ever going to be in France again? Justified.
The remainder of our day was spent circling southwest through the beautiful mountains of France, where the temperature cut in half to a chilly 15 degrees Celsius! The snow-capped mountains made me pinch my skin, were we really at the beach, in the blistering sun just a few hours ago? Yes! Another unbelievable memory!
After dropping back into Spain, we decided to stop at a little town called Baga. It was a perfect fit for our little group! We were ready for a high-classed dinner, and this small, sleepy town included a family that served our dinner and lodging needs! You guessed it, another fabulous deal!! This meal was so spectacular I have to share it with you: Jessi and I started with a salad, while David and Chad began with squid risotto and mushrooms. The main dish was lamb and steak, served on a hot stone and we couldn’t help but finish off our meal with a brownie and ice cream. “Nio Nou” was the name of this family owned jackpot, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we return someday.
Thursday was our last day of our mainland excursion, so it was kind of a rush to get back towards the airport to find a place to stay, but we couldn’t resist stopping for a true Spanish lunch at Mont Serrat. As we approached this town we stared in awe at the magnificent mountains ahead of us. I remember questioning what the legends were about these mountains, as they could not go unnoticed. We discovered this is the place where the legendary Holy Grail was buried, from Arthurian times (or better know to me, from Monty Python and the Holy Grail… A true favorite movie!
After our delectable lunch we made our way to Sitges, a costal town where we have to admit, we couldn’t get out of!!! It was funny and a little frustrating all at the same time, and I have the video recording to prove it!!! Sitges was the most beautiful place I have seen and I would have loved to stay along these cliffs watching the surf hit the rock, walking down roads I’m surprised we survived driving along, taking photos of the white buildings of the town. The point that we couldn’t find our way out was nothing to be held lightly, and our frustration turned into thoughts of “what if we can’t find our way to the airport tomorrow from here,” so we drove a few more kilometers down the coast toward the airport to find our lodging for the night.
Our last nig
ht of our improp-trek was spent at Garaf, and would have been better had we not had to awake at the break of dawn to make it to the airport. Overall it was a fabulous trip. David and I really weren’t sure until a few hours before leaving whether or not we’d be joining Chad and Jessi for the excursion, that paired with a map and a mere idea of a plan, this certainly leads to our defined “imprompt-trek” across the mainland – and one of the greatest memories to hold and to keep!
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