So, it's been a while and I have to catch up on what I've been up to lately. Lots of fun, summery things because summer doesn't last forever and we have to take advantage while we can, right? After all it is almost September...
I put up lots of pics from some hiking, boating, and biking we've been doing. But most importantly is our trip to Spain! Yes, my hubby took me to Spain for our 4 month wedding anniversary. Damn, he is spoiling me; I mean if every 4 months of marriage I get to go on an amazing trip like that, I'll be a happy camper! Neither of us had been to Spain and since it's only a 5 hour drive from Marseille we had to go. We didn't exactly know where to go, but looking at a map we saw the Coasta Brava coastline must be beautiful. A quick Google image search confirmed this, so we bought a new tent packed up the car and headed out in the morning. 5 hours later we found ourselves checking into our grand hotel with an ocean view: The Moby Dick Campgrounds. Hey, for 20 Euros a night, you can't beat it. Our site was nice and flat and did have amazing views. You can't say we exactly had a lot of privacy, but the bathroom facilities were stunning; clean, bright, hot water, and open all night.
We ended up in a small coastal town called Calella de Parafrugell, which turned out to be very charming. We used that as our base camp, if you will, and we explored the towns along the coast north and south of Calella. Some of the ones we loved were: Tamariu, Cap Roig, and Begur. We tried to seek out the quietest beaches, which are always the ones that are more difficult to get to. So, we would pack up all our snorkeling gear, beach stuff, and lunch and hike to small beaches. The first day we managed to find a little cove beach that we were all alone at for most of the day, until the afternoon when 2 guys came. We were snorkeling in crystal clear water, between two cliffs that plunged into the water and formed little passageways we swam through. Although there wasn't the bright coral you see in the Carribean, there was lots of fish and other life in the water. We could see this was the case as we got lunch that day at a restaurant in Tamariu: everything on the menu was fresh seafood caught locally. Yum, yum, Spanish food is totally amazing. We ate some kind of seafood everyday for lunch and dinner. The highlight was coming back to the camp site in the early evening after a full day of fun and sun and showering, getting all dressed up and going to dinner. It was my perfect vacation; mixing 'roughing it' with 'wining and dining'.
We ate at some incredible restaurants for surprisingly little, as compared to what dining out in France costs. We ate at Mas Olives and shared a real spanish Paella, loaded with prawns, mussels, squid, and tiny lamb ribs. It is accompanied with rice cooked with roasted veggies and saffron. This all eaten with a great Spanish red, gaspacho, crispy hot bread, and clams. Our last night was spent at an unforgettable restaurant, which was called El Cau, located in Esclanya. Here is the description from the restaurant guide: " The Costa Brava's best kept secret. A perfect village square, chilled Spainish wine, fresh fish and seafood and seasonal cooking. A friendly welcome and informal atmosphere to relax in. Dine under the stars in a medieval village below the church towers. "
It was truly an amazing meal from start to finish: I had an avocado and shrimp salad to start and Yann had Spanish style escargo. My main was Turbot roasted in the oven with onions, tomatoes, and potatoes, and Yann had mixed grilled fish, which was incredible. They served it with house made chips and two sauces, and garden peas with onions. It was such simple, straightforward food, that was done so well. For dessert, Yann had a Catalan Custard, a local dessert, and I had a roulade of light cake filled with an espresso chocolate mousse and drizzeled with a carmel sauce. Just writing this, I am reliving this meal, which is such a great memory. (If you haven't noticed yet, I'm a total dorky foodie) All that with a very unique Spanish white, which was gone completely at the end of the meal. No doubt, I will be back at this restaurant someday.
On our way out of Spain, heading back to France we stopped in Figures, Spain to see the Salvador Dali Museum, which was definitely worth the stop. Luckily, we arrived early before most of the crowds. As, we were leaving the museum we saw the line had tripled in size since our arrival. Dali, who was a freak and a genius, is buried in a crypt under the museum. The museum is an old theater that was partly destroyed and Dali moved in to rehab it and make it his for showing his art and instillations. This was after his wife, Gala died, and he was crushed emotionally. (He had an obsession with Gala. She is the subject of many of his works.) He was living alone in their 'castle' elsewhere in Spain and after a fire there, he moved to Figures to work on the theatre. He ended up living right next to it for the rest of his life. The theatre is an amazing structure in itself. The work inside ranges to famous Dali masterpieces to lesser known works and bizarre art instillations/optical illusions. It kind of felt like being in a fun- house at a weird carnival. Yann had never heard of Dali, so he was quite impressed seeing all this man's art.
We are back in France and we decided to stay put in Marseille for the next few months to give our bank account a rest. Just going to enjoy the rest of the summer and wait for my work visa to come through. We've sent in all the papers and they said in Mid-September it should come through. We are buying plane tickets to go back to Sarasota for Christmas; does anyone want to come and meet my husband??
Pictures:
Inside the Salvador Dali Museum, Figures, Spain
Dali's Self-Portrait
Yann is thoroughly enjoying his Spanish Red...
My favorite salad from El Cau Restaurant: avocado, squid, shrimp, salad, olive oil.
Snorkel Dorks
Loungin' at our private beach.
The background is actually fake; it's really not that beautiful in Spain.
We stuffed our faces the entire trip. I had a dulce de leche gelato for dessert at this cafe that was unforgettable. I almost want to drive the 5 hour trip again just to have a giant bowl of it.
After Biking in Marseille
We went out on the boat with Matthew & Bert., we anchored off the cliffs in this little cove and went snorkeling. OMG, the water was so cold even with full wetsuits. Our only company was a naked French cliff dweller. Not kidding people; I took a picture to prove it. Not only did this dude not mind sunning his naked self on a rock in plain view, but he also proceeded to swim in the freezing water naked. (shrinkage factor,hello!??) And have you ever see a naked rock climber? Because unfortunately now I can say I have. Welcome to the South of France. (Pic of naked man below; luckily from a distance so he is very small.)
Bert. shreddin' it
Captain Yann
Laila, Mark and I hiking to the Calanque in Cassis, right outside of Marseille. Beautiful day with snorkeling, sunning, and hanging with my American/Canadian buddies. Laila thought this hike was 'easy'; she is an IronWoman.
Swimming at the calanques has to be the most refreshing thing I've done. You feel so full of energy when you get out of the water. Which is a good thing because you need it for the long hike straight up.
