Costa Brava: culture, excitement and a place to breathe
Coverage in Girona paper El Punt
I fear I may have jumped the gun.
On Monday I shared “My Dinner with Strambotism” – just one of the highlights of my trip to Costa Brava, Spain. But maybe some context would have been a better place to start.
I was in Costa Brava as one of six bloggers on a blog trip. This differs from a press trip in that the focus is on experiences rather than just seeing what is on offer. While there, I was interviewed for television and for El Punt, a Girona daily paper. I think I should share with you what I shared with them.
In both interviews, they wanted to know what I thought of Costa Brava. Is it special in any way? Well it is. And I noticed it even as I flew there.
From the hot air balloon - space to breathe.
I could feel Spain Approaching
To be honest, my first feelings of Costa Brava were really more about Spain in general. On my seven-hour flight, I could feel Spain approaching — or more accurately, as I neared it I could sense the open nature of Spain welcoming me. I could feel the wonders of a European country that has space to breathe. There are other large countries in Europe but the pace of life, the warmth of the people and wide open spaces allow me to breathe deeply and relax more fully in Spain.
I wondered if I would find the same in Costa Brava. I did. I found all that I wanted and much more.
View of Girona from the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Girona - a city rich with culture
Looking in the other direction, you can see that Costa Brava offers lush green forests, mountains and, if you use your imagination with this photo you'll know that it offers the sea as well.
Costa Brava from many angles.
This expansive feeling that allows me to breathe is found in a relatively small area in Costa Brava. Short drives take one from the city of Girona to the small town of La Bisbal which is famous for pottery — from flat areas good for hot air ballooning to winding mountain passes to reach Cadaqués and Dali’s house museum. Everything is close yet there is space. And more, you can stay in castles with vast views of the countryside or historical resorts with the sea at your door. Yes, that was the focus of my response to the media – that Costa Brava has culture and countryside, city and sea. And it is a place to breathe.
Below are a few photos to give you a sense of the diversity of Costa Brava. My thanks to Jaume, Dunia, Gemma and the entire team at Costa Brava tourism that made this amazing trip possible.
The Flower Festival in Girona has hundreds of creative exhibits.
I encountered the whimsy and thoughts of Dali in three different museums.
Sa Tuna - a seaside village in Costa Brava.
Drinks on a cliff side patio overlooking the Mediterranean.
I really enjoyed the exhibition in Girona of the work of famous National Geographic photographer Steven McCurry.
Hotel Castell d’Emporda - yes, my room was in a castle.
I tried pottery at the School of Ceramics in La Bisbal d’Empordà.
Five of the six bloggers on the trip - we were trying to be band-like cool. Not sure we pulled it off.
From left to right above: Melvin of Travel Dudes, me, Diego of Traveling with Diego, Angie of Angie Away and Keith of Velvet Escape.
