Arrived in Llança after 28 hours of travel. Flight from Vancouver, Toronto to Barcelona. Train to Llança.
The Cathedral in Llança
Salad & pizza after a long journey.
Holly scores her first Sangria! Well, maybe she had two—jugs!!
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After our long journey and a night’s sleep we enjoyed breakfast at our hotel.
Judy dips her feet in the Mediterranean!❤️
Then the trail went thru a beautiful forested area.
Enjoying the coastal walk.
Out from the forest and back along the beach. So many varieties of flowers!
Starting off for a short hike toward Portbou and back to Llança. 11.3 kms.
So many beautiful beaches along the way.
We did not go to the nudist beach!
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Today we hike to Cadaqués. 19.4 kms. 21C Sunny.
Cadaqués in the distance.
Up, Up & Up!
A stop for coffee in El Port de La Selva.
Heading away from the coast to the mountains.
VIDEO: Long steep climb.
VIDEO—Along the beach.
VIDEO: Dolly on the downhill.
VIDEO—Holly along the Coastal walkway.
First part of the hike is along the Mediterranean.
Terrain gets very rugged.
Enjoying the stone fencing along the way.
After dinner a short stroll in Cadaqués where we see the statue of Salvador Dali who lived in this area.
Signage is very good. Following the red and white.
After breakfast at our hotel a quick stop for bread at the bakery.
Soon we will start the long, arduous downhill.
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Breakfast at the hotel and a good start just after 9:00 am. Big day with lots of climbing. 23 kms, 20C and mostly sunny.
VIDEO: More stairs up
Holly enjoying a well-deserved break.
Several descents to the beach and back up again.
VIDEO: walking out of Cadaqués
VIDEO: Start of the climb over the mountain.
VIDEO: More beach walking
Some beach walking.
VIDEO: Leaving Cadaqués and enjoying the views.
Back down to the beach.
Several more kms to our hotel.
Nearing Roses a series of stairs up and down.
Well deserved dinner. Judy likes her pizza cutting tool!
Rich ordered a seafood pasta dish. We will all sleep well tonight after a challenging day on the trail.
Seafood paella for Holly. Lots of seafood on the menu.
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After breakfast at our hotel we took a taxi to Sant Pere Pescador to pick up the hiking trail. It was an easy day. 14 Kms, 20C, sunny.
Sant Pere Pescador
Olympic statue of 1992 games in Barcelona
Walked by Roman ruins as we got close to L’Escala
Entering L’Escala
Boardwalks along the beach
Holly’s friend, Maite, who lives nearby met us for dinner. Her choice of restaurant ( La Tagliatella) was amazing and we were all thrilled with the food, presentation and service.
Beautiful view from our hotel balcony.
Holly and Maite (short for Maria Theresa)
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Delicious breakfast at our hotel. Expecting lots of rain. Some very difficult terrain. 19.6 Kms, 17C, Cloud & rain.
Wet and very happy to be at our hotel. Doubtful that things will dry by morning.
Trail very close to the edge!
Gortex on again. Raining heavily at this time.
Difficult terrain. Rocks were slippery.
Easier going here but absolutely soaked!
Arrived earlier than expected at our 1300’s hotel.
Gortex on and off several times.
Kept having to check navigation.
After 4 kms the climb started.
At times trail was close to very steep drop-offs.
Slow going. One kilometer was 34 minutes and the next 33 minutes.
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After breakfast we take one last look around Palau lo Mirador, our hotel from the 1300’s. Today we will hike to Begur, 24 kms, mostly cloudy, 19C.
Coming into Pals
After checking in to Rosa Hotel & Spa in Begur we hike up to the castle.
Enjoying the walk back to our hotel after dinner.
Enjoying a break and Cafe con Leche
Entering Palau-Sator
Great view from here. After being inland last couple of days we see the Mediterranean again.
Today we had lots of road walking. Not much traffic on roads past farmlands. Also, thru forested areas on gravel and sandy trails.
Started off with jackets in our packs hoping for better weather than yesterday. We did \240get some rain later in the day but nothing like the day before.
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Today we hiked from Begur to Palamos. 22kms, difficult sections, mostly sunny, 20C.
Leaving Begur.
Beautiful flowers
Holly pointing to her dream villa!
Palafrugell
Tunnels along the way
Narrow trail
Back in the forest
Negotiating tricky steep switchbacks
Thankful for the fence!
Beautiful views
Lovely viewpoint
Snack time
Challenging, rocky path.
Route marker near steep drop-off
More tunnels
More steep sections
Hilltop castle
Climbing again
Back to the coast.
Entering Palamos
Lovely dinner. Holly scored another Sangria!
Thru agricultural land
Steep sections
Stairs…and more stairs
More stairs!
Up from Tamariu
Well-deserved beer (coke for Judy) at our hotel in Palamos
Steep rocky path
Finding our way over the rocks
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Start of another stunning day on the trail. Palamos to Sant Feliu de Guixols. 15 kms, mostly sunny, 20C.
Most of the day was along the coast.
So many stairs!
Several sections on sandy beach. Shoes filled with sand.
Several climbs
Back to beach walking
Lots of stairs
Some selfie stations along the way. Strategically placed holder for your phone.
Our 1898 hotel for the night
Passed thru many tunnels
More beach walking
Boardwalks
Lunch break
Views of the sea were so beautiful
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Starting out after breakfast at our hotel. Weather is unpredictable so our rain gear is in our pack. Sant Feliu de Guixols to Tossa de Mar, 21.6 Kms, sun & cloud, few drops of rain. Mostly inland over mountainous terrain. Thru park area, rocky & steep sections, long downhill ending back at sea level.
Not sure what this is but appreciated the signage along the way
A little walkabout after dinner.
More climbing
Our destination is in sight
Long 6 km downhill
Archaeological site
Hiking over big rocks
Vila Vella (Old Town). We will walk up there tomorrow.
Heavily eroded section of the trail
White wine for Holly at the first bar we got to as we entered Tossa de Mar
Steep climbs
Can see the Mediterranean again
Steep downhill here
Rich & I shared a salad and wood fired pizza
A beautiful grilled vegetable plate for Judy
Lobster ravioli for Holly
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Our last day \240on Cami de Ronda and second night in Tossa de Mar. Started with a visit to Vela Villa (Old Town) and then trail toward Lloret de Mar. 8 kms out and back, sunny, 20C. Total for Cami de Ronda—180 kms.
Statue of Ava Gardner who filmed, ‘Pandora and the Flying Dutchman’ with Frank Sinatra in 1950 and fell in love with Tossa de Mar.
Rich is happy with the Tagliatelle
Almost back to Tossa de Mar
Minestrone soup for me
Lots of stairs!
On the trail
Beautiful views of the city and Mediterranean
Great food, great service! Bus to Barcelona in the morning!
Judy’s huge salad with egg & tuna
Steak and potatoes for Holly
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Bus from Tossa de Mar to Barcelona 1 hr 20 min. Arrived at our hotel early so left our luggage and set off to explore, have lunch, and back to the hotel at 2:00 to check-in.
Arc de Triomf. Walking from bus station to our hotel, 2 kms.
Saying is that if you drink from this fountain on the Ramblas you will return to Barcelona
Tapas & pizza for dinner
Royal palace
Columbus monument
Barcelona Cathedral
View from Holly & Judy’s room on the 5th floor
Off to explore
Roman Temple of Augustus
Port Authority Building
Frederic Soler
Martyrs’ monument
El Corte Ingles Department Store
Theatre
Inside the Betlem Church
Our tour guide—following the white head!
Rooftop Happy Hour
Bisbe bridge
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Last day in Barcelona then train to Madrid.
Left our hotel after breakfast and walked 2.9 kms to the Sagrada Familia where we had tickets for 9:30.
Caesar Salad with chicken for Holly
Judy had a Green Salad
My lunch was a delicious Smoked Salmon with Roquefort Cheese.
Train station in Madrid is huge
Strolled thru the Boqueria Market
Betlem Church
Sagrada Familia designed by Gaudi was started in 1882. It is still under construction. When completed it will be the tallest Christian church in the world.
Casa Batllo, also designed by Gaudi and is considered one of his masterpieces.
Train to Madrid—2 hrs 45 minutes. Up to 300 kph!
Enjoyed a fabulous lunch. Rich had Tuna Salad
Holly & Judy joined us for Happy Hour in our room. Excited for a full day in Madrid tomorrow!
Our last visit to Madrid was in 1971.
After our visit we enjoyed a walk to find Casa Batllo.
Judy’s first glance at the Sagrada
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Started our day with a walking tour courtesy of Rich. Puerta del Sol plaza.
VIDEO: Evening stroll to the Puerta del Sol.
Cinema
Former town hall. Plaza de la Villa.
Lovely ambience
Royal Palace.
Inside the Cathedral.
Judy had Tricolore Pizza
Almudena Cathedral.
King Philip IV
Monument to Miguel de Cervantes
Mercado de San Miguel
Admiral Don Alvaro de Bazan who defeated the Turkish Ottomas in 1571. Height of Spain’s empire.
Opera House
Plaza Mayor.
King Charles III
We had tickets to visit the palace
Oldest door in Madrid, Circa 1480
Royal Palace entrance
I had Rigatoni with Calabrese
Assassination Attemp Memorial. Attempt to assassinate King Alfonso XIII and his bride. Instead killed 28 civilians.
Holly had Pappardelle with Marbonara
Dinner at La Tagliatella. Rich had Tagliatelle with Ragu Antico
Church and Covenant of Corpus Christi
Judy’s souvenirs of Spain
Casa Gallardo
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Thoroughly enjoyed our last day in Madrid. Our hotel was perfectly located and we could walk everywhere.
Constantly amazed by the stunning architecture surrounding us.
Churros & Chocolate!
Enjoyed our visit to The Prado!
Many of the crosswalk symbols show 2 men or 2 women hand in hand to commemorate Pride Day implemented in 2017.
Celebrated our last night in Madrid hitting up two bars for Tapas & Beer, (white wine for Holly, water for Judy!)
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