A memorable weekend...

We heard the noises as soon as we got up. A big group, chatting and just enjoying being together. Kids playing,  parents talking, dogs running around. We had to find out more. What a delightful choice! For the next  3 days- a long weekend- we shared our adventure with 7 Spanish families who got together via ACPasion. Absolutely loved their company, their laughs, the paella "competition", the very long table with so much yummy food, their generosity, their openness , the very cold night at the markets, the furious bike ride, the gym in the morning, the uphill walk to the church.  Not enough time to get to know each one of them and their stories. Just a glimpse, sufficient to want more . They fed our bodies and lift our spirits. They reminded us of another time, when we holidayed with our kids. It was great to be part of a "family" again. They asked " do you open up to different people when you know you will lose them straight away?" The answer: absolutely! We value these moments so much. They are precious to us. We grab them with gusto.  We are getting better at the "after they leave" (not really!!) It is not easy but it is totally worthy.. Perhaps we can get lucky again and meet them another time, another place?

Spain
28 November

Tossa del Mar is  a very cute little town with a great castle on the cliff was our first place in the costa brava. But all is shut down so half of the fun is not there....

We weren't going to go to Barcelona; we had been there before and we knew it wasn't going to be a nice place to go with SalSolcito. But we were so close! We took the opportunity of a Sunday free parking and we walked though the old city on a heavy rain....and we even managed to get into the Picasso museum!

We promised to come back here- by train- and staying in a city hotel for 3 days next time

Love coastal drives!!

1 and 2 December

Sitges is a another one of my "two months" place to live. A gorgeous promenade, a church on a cliff by the sea, a "happening" place even though it is very off season. We slept looking at the beach and the only difficult has been- once again!- dealing with the telephone companies....I said to Hector that I could write a "horror story" book with all the experiences (all terrible!) that we had in each country about this issue. And the weather which is not helping at all. It was the first really cold night and it has been raining for days now....

4 December:

I am writing this entry on our home, parked on the beach, near Tarragona. As I always wanted, on the sand. I am looking at a green/brown ocean. While la costa brava reminded us to Sydney- rocky, uneven and wild; this cost (which I think is called " costa blanca"  reminds us of the Atlantic coast in  Argentina; flat- long and open space

                                                       

5 December
On our route to Valencia, we spotted this neat place for a great bike ride- from Benicasim to  the port of Castellon. The promenade deserves a double tick  for a great, safe and fun ride along the beach- including some boardwalks.

And we slept in a beautiful park along the beach!

27 November

After 2 weeks in Fontes- including back and forward to Lyon to do minor repairs in Sal Solcito- we are ready to continue our journey.

Second leg: crossing through the south of Spain to Morocco! We have mixed feelings about this. We had been in Morocco 5 years ago- in Marrakech- and it did blow us away. But we were staying in riads (very exquisite french houses made into hotels) and it was wonderful. The colours, the weather, the culture- so so different. This time it is with our motorhome and issues such as safety and services for our motor  living has become a priority.


I like surprises and Collioure  was certainly one. A beautiful  castle/forte on the water and the yellow and oranges houses made a very impressive view.

 The water was furious! A pity that the whole village is "close"; there are plenty of restaurants/shops/coffee houses. I  have a clear sense of a busting and thriving town in summer. They told me that 3.000 people live here but 15.000 come down  in summer! What was so pretty was all the little ins and outs inside the castle used  as artisanal shops....and they were decorated in Christmas theme!

Bye Bye France!!!