At the risk of losing points in the Perfect Travellers Awards, we decided that we needed a day off. We haven't seen anything of the Costa Brava or the coast so we decided a day at the beach was just what we needed.
We headed for Cadaques via a one hour bus trip which showed us some of the other coastal resorts full of tourists and locals as it is still the summer holidays here.
Cadaques is in a national park and to access it we climbed through some mountains peppered with olive trees and ancient terraces until we finally emerged at sea level in a very picturesque seaside village. The idea was to climb over into the next bay where Dali had a house so we might be able to have alook alhtough it was fully booked according to the internet.
The challenge was how to get there given that walking any long distance is painful for me. The ever resourceful Ewan suggested we hire some electric pushbikes. I have to admit that I was a little dubious given that A. I have only been on an electric bike once in my life for a few minutes and B. it was a busy place full of holiday makers whom I would have to try and avoid.
But I agreed and off we went with Ewan yelling instructions to me. I have to admit that I am now a complete convert: it was fantastic! We managed to negotiate the steep hill up, and then the steep hill down, to reach Port Lligat. I did conk out at one point halfway up the hill but once I got the idea (and found the 'more power' button!) it was easy.
We couldn't get into the Dali house but we did get to wander around the Olive Garden and exterior of the house , which is as weird and wonderful as most Dali creations. See photos! Michelin men, old tyres, a lovely pool, huge entwined snakes and great views.
Then we spent the next few hours whizzing past stupid tourists, and manoeuvring past cars and motorbikes as we travelled the entire length of the boulevarde along the beach. I was in the lead at one point and chose to totally ignore the one way arrows on the grounds that I too am a stupid tourist and I didn't understand the signs. Other pushbikes were also going in the wrong direction but I wasn't sure whether we would be classified as a motor vehicle as we did have motors. But noone challenged us so it must have been fine!
We pedalled past small beaches full of boats and sunbakers. Beach is a bit of exaggeration: stones and dirt to us. But the holidaymakers lay on the beaches anyway.
Lunch was a buckwheat crepe filled in my case with lettuce, honey walnuts and a delicious chunk of fried goats cheese. Delightful.
After we returned the bikes there was a few drops of rain so we headed for shelter in an ice cream shop : what luck. This was superb ice cream : Lime sorbet with lumps of lime and Torrone ice cream filled with lumps of fudge. At least there was fruit involved?! Ewan opted for pistachio and vanilla: both delicious. Maybe I should have pedalled faster on the bike to deserve the ice cream afterwards?!
Eventually we returned to Figueres on the bus and, following aTrip Advisor recommendation, we went to a cafe restaurant called El Lloc for some fantastic tapas - by far the best we have had. The calamari was very tender and the sardines were soft and delicious.
Home to bed and a good nights sleep after a restful day
your well-rested and re-energised corrrespondent
Dianne
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