39. The Costa Brava, Espana

Well, it's me again, still feeling miserable with my shocking hair cut, saying goodbye to Collioure and wondering how I will face up to Barcelona.  You are probably thinking a hair cut can't be that bad …. what is she on about?   Well, think again - and just believe me - it is awful.

So goodbye lovely Collioure.  This is the church ....

... and this is the fort ....

…  and the church again.

And then 70 km later it is the Costa Brava in Spain, where the Pyrenees roll down into the Mediterranean Sea.  This is really rugged terrain - windy and bleak and hot and dry.

This is the town of Cadaques (pronounced Ca-dark-ez) supposedly one of the most beautiful villages in Spain.  Well, if that's the case we are going to be very, very disappointed with whatever comes next.  Our hotel was on top of the hill, and the town centre (and the beach and the food) was at the bottom.  No car access to the town centre so we had to walk.  We went to the beach in the afternoon and then down again for dinner at night.  That is four times up and down the hill in one day. Not good!   I now have serious issues with my knee and back.

The Cadarques beach.    And below is Salvadore Dali's summer house and museum.

Very difficult access.  I was really struggling with my dickie knee and aching back from the previous day.  Very poor management of the property, so we didn't hand over our money to go in.  This house is the reason tourists come to town and yet you can only get to it if you are very good on your feet and can walk quite a long way.  There is absolutely no access for the elderly or for families with strollers or with toddlers. 

We were pretty disappointed, so we hobbled back to our car and took a bit of a drive around the point before heading for Barcelona.

I'm sure many people would find this environment beautiful, but it was far too brutal for us.

And this was our first taste of Spain.  

Unlike the French, the Spanish seem to have little regard for the beautification or maintenance of public areas.  What a contrast between Collioure and Cadarques - only about 70km between them on the same coastline - but a world apart.