DAY 1: ON THE WAY
There have been so many changes to the Costa Brava since my first visit with Shay 50 years ago – Lloret de Mar was our resort of choice then and it was just beginning to develop as a tourist attraction for the Irish holidaymaker. Sun, sea and sangria was the order of the day and we indulged in all.
The itinerary was slightly(?) different this time round with a variety of train trips into Pyrenees the focus of our visit. The sun split the blue, blue skies most days but UV Filter creams meant exposure to the rays was far more wisely done; the sea was too cold to even dip the toes so instead we promenaded along the esplanade building up our ‘steps’; we accompanied meals with some nice red wines rather than all night ‘booze-fests’.
The first and last days were mainly travelling days- the very early starts necessitated some recovery both days, although we did get a chance to do some exploring around the resort on our arrival.
We found a lovely restaurant close to the Hotel Monterey where we indulged in Tapas. Our hotel had hints of Fawlty towers, but the staff was lovely, including the handyman who had a few visits to make to us.
There was an emphasis on fish dishes in the dining room which suited us. Our fellow travelers were great craic so there was lots of laughing and chatting at table, in the bar and on trips.
DAY 2: CAP DE CREUZ NATURAL PARK ON THE ROSES EXPRESS
This train journey began in the town where we got the opportunity to see why Spanish residents are becoming increasingly concerned with the influx of tourists, concerns that stem from rising housing costs, strains on infrastructure, and the perception that tourism is not always sustainable or beneficial for local communities.
Roses was once a small fishing village has become a large conglomerate of hotels and villas all along the sea front and now extending into the adjoining hills.
The Cap de Creuz Park provides a barrier to the development. It is the first maritime-terrestrial natural park in Catalonia, encompassing both land and sea areas. Although not a trip for the faint-hearted as the train wound its way up and down narrow shale paths, it provided an ideal opportunity to see the wild ruggedness of the landscape and panoramic views of the Bay of Roses, seemingly the largest bay in Europe.
This Puig Alt route which we took, brought us around the reserve culminating with wine and biscuits at the highest point.
We took the local bus to Roses in the afternoon and found an amazing restaurant, Las Tablas, on a little back street. The tapas selection here was amazing – although the portion size meant our eyes were bigger than our stomachs – but delicious.
