Ahhh yes, glorious Costa Brava! Wispy clouds, foggy afternoons, blissful sunsets, and green valleys abound. The area got the term Costa Brava as it means ‘rough coast’.
Costa Brava is not an official government province, it’s simply the name for the coastal region of northeastern Spain, consisting of Alt Empordà, Baix Empordà and Selva, in the province of Girona. Not only did it serve as a muse for artist Salvador Dali, but it’s an area where the Pyrenees and the coast collide which means it’s beautiful, and also great for hiking!
I spent two weeks enjoying the luxury lifestyle staying in Costa Brava in a villa in Cadaques where I hung with private chefs and did wine tastings. I also stayed in a luxury farm house at Mas de Torrent Hotel, visited the up and coming wineries in Emporda, and ate at some of the best restaurants. I even did a quick hop over to the country of Andorra – a 3 hour (very picturesque) drive away from the coast.
This trip to Spain reminded me of just how much Spain has gotten under my skin during the last few times I visited. It felt great to be back there for a month, soaking up the humble hospitality, putting on about 10 pounds thanks to delicious food, and getting a lot of sunshine and outdoor time.
Even though my body will pay for it in the morning, exploring the Spanish enclave of Lliva by horse is worth it! GIDYUP!
Fogged in #cadaques
Sending smoke signals from the Pyrenees.
Green landscapes of Costa Brava from above.
Look down alleyways – you never know what you will see. #cadaques
This is why I love Catalonia – it has a way of drawing you in like a magnetic pull whispering “explore me…” in your ear.
The sun sets over Girona illuminating the bell tower of the Cathedral as seen from the old city wall. The perfect medieval sunset.
The monastery of Ripoll #inPyrenees – quiet, dark, and cold.
Simple, colorful, in season. Dessert as it should be – from Can Borrell in Cerdanya.
Cadaques – a whitewashed gem in Costa Brava
Cap de Creus – where the Pyrenees disappear into the sea.
Sherry Ott is a refugee from corporate IT who is now a long term traveler, blogger, and photographer. She’s a co-founder of Briefcasetobackpack.com, a website offering career break travel inspiration and advice.
Additionally, she runs an around the world travel blog writing about her travel and expat adventures at Ottsworld.com.com.
