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One month later and I’m still on the phone with insurance. As I alluded to in previous posts, my sojourns in Spain were distrusted by a bit of an automobile accident. My rental was wrecked by a semi-truck just outside of Barcelona at the start of what was to be a four-day road-trip through the Costa Brava region. While no one was hurt, we had to alter our plans, opting to explore a smaller section of the region by public transportation instead.
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While initially a bummer — we had quite a packed itinerary of things to see which were only accessible by car — the whole incident turned out to be a blessing in disguise. We had been operating on a high gear from the moment we set foot in Spain with not much time to rest and reflect.
Arriving at Calella de Palafrugell, a former fishing village about two hours north of Barcelona, we had no choice but to do just that. The scenery — crisp white painted fishermen’s houses, sharp rocks peaking out from glimmering turquoise waters, a prism of parasols dotting pebbly beaches — served as a big STOP sign for us. Chill, babies. Go for a swim. Read Asterix & Obelix on your beach towel with a jamón sandwich at your side. This is what most of the world wants when they’re on holiday — why do you have to be different?
The photos below were shot on my Olympus XA 35mm camera on either expired Fuji 200, expired Kodak 200, or fresh Portra 400 film stock. They show various scenes of this beach reprieve as well as the nearby cities of Tarragona and Girona. My suggestion is to put on some relaxing ocean waves sounds on YouTube and dive in.
Tarragona, then Tarraco, was the largest and most important Roman city in Spain. The current city is built around several important Roman ruins including an amphitheater, a circus, and the ancient city walls. Here is a small but still impressive section of Roman construction at the site of Tarraco’s forum.
The quiet streets of Tarragona outside the cathedral.
The Tarragona Cathedral was closed when we visited, but the sculpture work on the facade was stunning.
The bridge between the Plaça dels Jurats and the Sant Pere de Galligants Abbey in Girona, It’s a neat bridge. Game of Thrones fans know it and other sites in Girona as Braavos. The Pride month-appropriate rainbow was a happy accident.
Girona’s Arab Baths, another Game of Thrones filming location. This site was a former Roman bath complex that was also used by the city’s Jewish community.
Girona’s Museum of Jewish History, located in the city’s historic Jewish quarter or “El Call.” In the Middle Ages, Girona’s Jewish population was second only to Barcelona. While the Jews were expelled from all of Spain in 1492, Girona’s Jewish quarter remains remarkably well-preserved. The museum does an excellent job telling these forgotten stories.
Calella de Palafrugell at sunset. I mean, come on.
Port Bo and the old fisherman shacks-turned-restaurants.
The flag of Catalonia or Senyera is the only national flag you will see displayed in this region. To many, Spain is a distant and often hostile neighbor.
Calella de Palafrugell.
A few days in Llafranc, Calella’s livelier sister-city. Llafranc has more tourist infrastructure and is therefore a bit more crowded. Still beautiful, especially in the shoulder season, with quaint snapshot-ready corners.
El Far, the lighthouse turned sushi restaurant which stands watch over Llafranc. Take the Camí de Ronda hiking path from Calella to the lighthouse then continue on to see a medieval lookout tower and a prehistoric Iberian settlement.
What wonderful photos! Thanks for this mini vacation. I did recognize the bath house from GOT. Again, loved these photos!