19th and 20th of February, 2019
This Tuesday is a bit cloudy, so I decide to pay a last visit to Pals and some coastal towns on the northern side. In Pals I discover hidden corners where I have never been before.
It’s not great weather for pictures, until I arrive for a late lunch in Estartit, where I can catch the sunset over the small harbour and the lighthouse on the Islas Medas. Estartit has also changed completely and it takes a while before I can find the old centre, with the small streets and tiny stores. A nice change is the walkway along the rocky shore, but in summer it must be crazy busy here with all the tourists.
I finally find the (closed) restaurant, where we used to spend many great evenings. The owner behind the piano and his son playing the drums and we danced until the late hours, after our wonderful supper. The name of the restaurant annex bar is still the same (Eden Bar and Restaurant) and when I look through the window, I realize nothing has changed inside. The piano is still there and the bar is on the same spot. If I close my eyes, I can see my father and me dancing together. Very good memories indeed……..
My last day will be a day of hiking along the coast. I start at Llafranc, a lovely fishing village, and walk via de Camí de Ronda all the way up to the 19th-century lighthouse at Sant Sebastià. From here you have a view over the coast of the Costa Brava and the hinterland. There are also some ancient Iberian remains to visit. From Llafranc there is a path along the cliffs to Tamariú. I decide to go back, as I still want to visit Calella. While walking, I am impressed with the lovely views from all around. Very carefully, the sun is coming out and I grab my camera for some last pictures of the harbour below.
It is possible to go to Calella de Palafrugell by foot, along the Aleppo pine-dotted coastline. I decide to take the car, as I want to visit Cap Roig first, known for its beautiful botanical gardens. Once I arrive high above the village of Calella, I notice the gardens are only open during the weekends! Too bad, so I drive all the way down to the centre of the village and park my car in one of the side streets. By now the sky is completely blue and the air is warming up. Although Calella also grew way too big, with too many holiday apartments, the beaches are still pristine and the fishing cottages and renovated mansions are a delight!
I treat myself on a light lunch right at the beach. Most visitors this time of the year are Spanish tourists and people from Catalunya, who come for lunch to this well-known beach town. While having my salad and sipping my wine, I dig deep in my memories…….Once we went on a warm evening in July to Calella to enjoy the Havaneres, the ‘Sea Shanties’. All visitors were sitting on the beach, while a big group of men were standing in a fishing boat, singing songs with amazing voices. We enjoyed that evening so much. It seems that nowadays, the inhabitants of Calella leave their own town on those evenings, as it is packed with people from Barcelona. They build stages and come with television crews!!! So glad we witnessed those performances in former times…….
After lunch, I walk up the cliffs to get some nice shots. Calella de Palafrugell is divided into a few small beaches and thanks to the walkways along the shore, you get a fabulous overview.
Tomorrow I will fly back to The Netherlands, so it is time to say goodbye to the Costa Brava. It is also time to say goodbye to my dad and I promise to return one day with my children.