What’s next up for Grown-up Travel Guide, I pretend to hear you ask?
Catalonia, that’s what! In two days time, to be precise.
Yes, just a week or so after returning from a wonderful three weeks in Spain I received an invitation to return. After checking the dates and discussing the programme of activities that the tourist board had planned for this trip it didn’t take me long to decide to accept. This is a press trip with only three other participants, two of whom I know from previous travels – Keith Jenkins of Velvet Escape and Mariana Calleja of MyTravelThirst.
The third is an extremely talented filmmaker, Emiliano Bechi, and he will be making a video of this trip focusing on the coast to complement the sterling work he did on promoting the Costa Brava Pyrenees. Seriously – click on that link and just watch.
I’m hoping to get some tips from this guy as he’s using the same camera as I have been experimenting with – the Panasonic GH4. Let’s hope some of that magic rubs off on my future videos…
But the main reason I cannot wait to get back to Spain is that this trip will take us to many places we missed in July. You’ll be able to keep track of all the action (and superb food, no doubt) using the hashtag #InCostaBrava and all the content we produce will be showcased on a dedicated page of the Costa Brava tourist board: http://en.costabrava.org/enjoy/with-other-eyes
And obviously I’ll be posting content on the usual Grown-up Travel Guide social media channels and right here on the site too.
Here’s the highlights from the itinerary:
Friday 4 September:
Fly Trondheim – Oslo – Barcelona
Transfer to Blanes for lunch
On to Lloret de Mar – this was the first place I ever went on a package tour, back in 1977 (I think). I am expecting it to have changed somewhat…
Visit Santa Clotilde’s Botanical Gardens, Lloret de Mar
Dinner in Restaurant Sant Pere del Bosc, Lloret de Mar
Stay at Hotel Guitart Monterrey, Lloret de Mar
Saturday 5th September
Photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/54943216@N08/6198489166″>Recinte emmurallat i Castell de Tossa, o Vila Vella de Tossa de Mar i platja gran.</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/”>(license)</a>
Visit Marimurtra gardens, Blanes
Boat trip to Tossa de Mar (above)
Lunch, Tossa de Mar
Guided visit Tossa de Mar
Tapas’ tour in Palamós
Stay at Hotel Trias, Palamós
Sunday 6th September
Walking the coastal path to S’Alguer
Lunch & Show cooking by Espai del Peix in a fisherman’s hut
Indians Fair in Begur
Dinner at Restaurant Aiguablava
Stay at Hotel Sant Roc, Calella de Palafrugell
Monday 7th September
Hot air balloon ride over the Empordà area
Short walk in a Medieval village: Pals
Snorkel at Medes Islands
A short walk next to the sea: Coastal Path (Camí de ronda)
Dinner in hotel Sant Roc
Stay at Hotel Sant Roc, Calella de Palafrugell
Tuesday 8th September
Riding an electric bike (Burricleta) around medieval towns
Lunch at Le Bistrot, Girona
Guided visit to Girona’s Jewish quarter and city center + Rocambolesc ice-cream
Human Towers training – Marrecs de Salt
Dinner at Hotel Carlemany, Girona
Stay at Hotel Carlemany, Girona
Wednesday 9th September
Visit Dali Museum, Figueres
Lunch at Hotel Duran, Figueres
Dinner at Cal Sagristà, Peralada
Stay at Hotel Peralada Wine Spa & Golf
Thursday 10th September
A surprise activity that I’m keeping to myself for the moment
Visit the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes and lunch
Visit and medieval dinner (Land of Trobadours festival) in
Castelló d’Empúries
Stay at Hotel Terraza, Roses
Friday 11th September (National Day of Catalonia)
Visit organic wine cellars in the Natural Parc of Cap de Creus
Cadaqués
Transfer to Roses
Stay at Hotel Terraza, Roses
Saturday 12th September
Fly Barcelona – Trondheim
It’s a busy week, but I think I should be able to cope 🙂
