We went to Spain for a month every summer while we lived in the Netherlands (such is the liberal vacation leave policy in Europe)!
We would camp (looking for rural farm camping sites through France) on the one-way 950-mile journey. It was always a relaxing, beautiful, memory-making time. One of my favorite places in the whole world is Playa de Fenals, Spain – a sparkling little jewel about 60 miles north of Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast.
Fenals, with its beautiful beaches and forest walks above the coastline, lies next to the slightly more bustling Lloret de Mar with its elegant seafront boulevard and Medieval-inspired castle overlooking the bay (actually built this century by a Barcelona businessman).
One of the most criticized churches in the world can be found in Lloret de Mar – Saint Roma – due to its multi-colored roof tiles! St. Christine is the Patron Saint of fishermen and a hermitage honoring her looks out to sea. St. Christine was an Italian martyr killed by an arrow and thrown into the sea with a stone attached. Her body was found by a fisherman many months later, still intact.
A short day trip from Lloret is the capital of the Costa Brava – Girona. Dominated by Romanesque and Gothic buildings which survived repeated attacks and sieges in Spain’s numerous wars. The Old City on the east of the River Onyar is characterized by its narrow cobble-stoned streets and Baroque facade Cathedral. It has Europe’s widest Gothic nave.
Esglesia de Saint Felix is the second great church in Girona. It is thought to stand over a catacomb where the 4th century St Narcissus was martyred during a secret mass.
A very twisty-turny, narrow road winds north along the coast to Tossa de Mar (if you are prone to car sickness or not traveling with the dog go by ferry from the beach off Fenals or Lloret). Vila Vella is the 12th-14th century old town surrounded by stone walls and fortified canons which protected the town against marauding pirates.
We thought Barcelona too busy, big, and bustling for Spike – but definitely worth a trip while the dog enjoys a siesta at home base.
Thoughts and Things
Take an extended vacation. We tend to work too much. If you can work remotely move somewhere and work from there for a month or two. Exploring new places, learning about new cultures, doing things you don’t do on a regular basis – it is renewing for the soul. it might not be as difficult as you think. Look into it. And take the dog!
Lonely Planet was our friend all through Europe. Lonely Planet’s Guide to Spain was and is invaluable.