Retirement planning at 27
The halfway mark is looming and the fears of not checking everything off my Spain list are setting in. I decided it was time for a spontaneous coastal weekend getaway and after a few hours of conflict as to which direction to drive, we settled on the Spanish Northeast coast.
Hola Costa Brava.
Was I dreaming? Or was I really about to set-off on a drive down the Mediterranean coastline of Spain? I could hardly believe I was about to see some of the most beautiful coastal towns on the planet. What's more is that if someone had told me six months ago what I would be doing in October, I would have simply laughed at them and politely told them to go get a brain check!
So, there I was on Friday night after work hastily tossing various pieces of clothing and pairs of shoes into a black duffle in preparation for my early morning adventure. I didn’t even bother to look at the weather forecast in my excitement-fuelled state (I’m glad to report that it was perfect). On Saturday morning, we left early to pick-up a rental car and begin our adventure (which started with learning how to drive on the opposite side of the road).
The drive began with lots of highway, which quickly evolved into mountainous windy roads. We didn’t have a clue as to which towns were a ‘must visit’ - we just knew we had a hotel booked for one night and a short timeframe to see as much of the coast as we could.
We began in Llafranc (a.k.a the place I wish to retire) - a small and stunning town of Palafrugell in the province of Girona. We spend the morning strolling along the waterfront and sipping cappuccinos. It was a beautifully sunny morning with a slight chill in the air. The waterfront was quite - locals and visitors yet to rise to begin their weekends. At midday we decided to continue our drive along and coast and before long we’d switched from cappuccinos to vinos as we sat back to take in the view of Tamariu.
After a short stopover in Begur, we finished the day with a visit to Sa Tuna not knowing what to expect. We basically stumbled upon this small cove - quite, hidden and un-crowded. It’s township consisted all of two stores: a restaurant serving the most delicious smelling paella and a tiny, dimly lit tourist shop selling wooden trinkets and other unusual items.
Due to it not being warm enough to swim, we decided to walk down a path surrounded by small colourful houses. At the end of the path was perhaps one of the most beautiful scenes. A small opening between two rows of houses with a view of the Mediterranean water crashing against the rocks of a cliff. We walked a little further and were suddenly standing on at pathway carved out in the side of a mountain overlooking the bright blue ocean. We continued to walk along the ocean cliff face until we reached a small opening with what looked like a bar, seamlessly camouflaged into the side of the cliff. The only thing that gave it away was the faint sound of Spanish music and a woman who was perched upon a stool with a glass of vino blanco. Without even a second of hesitation we too sat ourselves down to enjoy a beverage over the most incredible view (my iPhone photos really didn’t do it justice).
After more driving and an evening of eating and strolling through the town of Roses, we began our day at the break of dawn on Sunday to head over the rolling mountains until we reached Cadaques (my favourite town of the weekend). We must have visited at the perfect time - just outside of peak season. The weather still warm and the sun still shining, yet not a tourist in site.
The village of Cadaques is famously known as being Salvador Dali’s home for many years and much of his inspiration was drawn from the hinterland behind the town. Cadaques is set below a mountain facing the mediterranean which cascades down into a waterfront village, scattered with white buildings and miniature cobblestone streets. The water was calm and everything was quite (typical of anywhere in Spain at 10am on a Sunday morning). We stopped at a quaint cafe with a gorgeous terrace and feasted on croissants whilst looking over the skyline with espressos in hand. A moment of stillness that I will never forget. I felt relaxed and inspired simply from the beauty of the town.
After some time strolling around and enjoying the sea breeze, we reluctantly decided it was to slowly begin our journey home (stopping at a few more places on the way of course).
The journey home included an afternoon driving around the medieval town of Tossa de Mar and ended with a stop over in Figueres. We had an early dinner and went for a walk to see the view from an old fortress on a mountain. The Costa Brava coast left a strong lasting impression in my mind and I finished the weekend feeling refreshed, relaxed and revitalised - ready to take on the work week ahead. Costa Brava...I will be back!