Costa Brava in Black and White

A few unpublished pics from our time in Costa Brava and one from France. Again, these pics seemed to work best in black and white.

Some happy, drunk or crazy soul in Begur, Catalonia.

Me in the Med. I love salt water...

Playing pirates at De Begur Castle, Catalonia.

Peter as King of Catalonia--the flag is yellow and red.

Peter 

Me on the Costa Brava.

Peter at La Reira.

Inside Queribus Castle, France.

Sa Riera, Costa Brava

Sa Riera--the Mediterranean water was quite warm today. Sa Riera is another beach very close to the town of Begur. We like to try out a new beach each day.

Rocky islands in the distance, off of the coast of Sa Riera

Me on the rocks over looking the secret cove we found

Peter at Sa Riera--he burnt the bottom of his tender tootsies walking across the hot sand ;)

We found a secret cove beside Sa Riera

Me, swimming in the cove

Peter, refreshed after his swim

Peter, swimming in the cove

Peter about to swim in the cove

Me, after a swim in the cove's refreshing water

A Sail boat on the Mediterranean

Happy Anniversary to us

Lovely Sa Riera

Historic Building of Begur, Catalonia

I never tire of the beautiful buildings in Begur. The homes are decorated with details: mosaic tiles in the entrance and terrace, fresco wall murals on the outside of the homes, antique white lace trimmed, cotton, white curtains. If one is lucky enough and has a chance to peek in an open window, the home is usually very neatly organized and the furniture is antique. All homes are built on top of medieval ruins and sometimes even Roman ruins beneath those. Most of the buildings in the pictures were built mid 19th C after their owners returned from Cuba after making a fortune in various trades: flour, fabric, tobacco are a few I have read about. It seems the people of Catalan sailed for Cuba to make their money and then returned home to build themselves a villa.

A family home in Begur

Street in Begur

Another home with frescos detailing pastoral scene of Cuba from mid 1800s.

Formally a Casino now the town movie theatre

Peter in the movie theatre reading about the next show, "Pirate of the Caribbean"--early show at 10:30 p.m.

Homes on a very quiet street

A lovely home with front views of the Mediterranean Sea. The enclave is where they park their car--it has a stone star inlayed on the driveway.

The original Begur school, used as the main school until 1971

A family home

Our hotel

Hotel Aiguaclara

The street our hotel is situated on, with a view of the castell above

Aiguablava, Costa Brava

This is another beach near Begur called Aiguablava: calm and beautiful. There was fairly good snorkeling along the right side under the cliff--lots of shells, some sea urchins and fish. The water is cooler than Hawaii so one gets chilled snorkeling for long periods. After staying for many hours we decided to rent a beach umbrella for 7 Euros. No burgers and fries served at the beachside restaurants here. It is always gourmet fair: much seafood, paella, pasta, pizzas and salads. Also there is also always gelatto stands, never ice cream though.

Sa Tuna, Costa Brava

At Sa Tuna--the closest beach to Begur. As exciting as Barcelona is, it is a relief to escape to a quieter place with a slower pace and much less people--Begur is just that.
Peter and I are just starting to understand Mediterranean time and diet: 8 a.m. coffee and bread. 11 a.m. more coffee and a sandwich. 2 p.m. pasta and salad. Sleep at around 5 p.m. for an hour or so. 8 p.m. cocktails or wine. 10 p.m. large supper. The movie theater's early show starts at 10:30 p.m.! So different from N. America. 

We are enjoying the topless beaches. It is refreshing to see real boobs of all shapes and sizes on the beach and women as unselfconscious as the men with bare chests. I realize now just how plastic Canada has become. Everyday in Kelowna I see fake boobs--here in Europe I never see any fake boobs.

The Mediterranean is about the same temperature as Lake Okanagan--but a lot more waves.

Sa Tuna 

Isn't Sa Tuna gorgeous?

A sea cove I discovered

The beach

A pirate tower at Sa Tuna

Fishing boats

Peter's first ever dip in the Mediterranean

More Peter

Fun on the beach

Enjoying the Mediterranean