Costa Brava

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Ok so I definitely couldn’t get up for long for sunrise this morning, but I was bound and determined to make it happen one way or the other. Sooooo…I got up for a half hour, took some pics and went back to bed. I would love to get up again tomorrow, but my days are so filled with activity that I can hardly walk back to the hostel at the end of the day and tomorrow I’m travelling to Milan. The sunrise was really pretty. Definitely worth getting up for a half hour and off-setting the start to my day just a bit.

After I arose for the second time, I got ready and went down for breakfast and since there wasn’t any chocolate cereal this time, I used the chocolate soy milk (soy joy) for less than 2E. I don’t know why it’s so cheap but I’m NOT complaining. I added yogurt to the mix as well. Then I headed out for the meeting place at the bar (Stoke) for the trip to Costa Brava. There were 20 or 21 of us plus a couple of guides. I’m pretty sure that the countries we represented were the US, Canada and Australia. One of the guides was from England. I’m from New York and he’s from Old York. :P

The trip up took about an hour and a half and the bus ride was a wee bit difficult to take but we managed. It dropped us off right on the beach and we proceeded to get ready to kayak out to the reefs where we snorkeled. My partner, Luke, was from Melbourne (Australia). I really wished I could have brought my camera out. It was amazing. The first bit of the coast we kayaked to had a cave and I found a hermit crab…I tried to play but it would have none of it. There were tons of fish looking at me but they too didn’t want to play. My favorites—don’t know the names of them off the top of my head—were the ones that stuck close to the plants of the reef and were of many colors. At one point I was playing hide and seek with one red one. (Second spot we kayaked to). It kept coming out of its hole to look at me and if I stuck my finger down by it, it went in just far enough that I couldn’t touch it unless I shoved my finger down (which I wasn’t going to do), then it’d come right back out. I was the first one to get bored and move on. I did a good job avoiding the sea urchins…didn’t want to go home with a “boo-boo”. The sea anemones were really neat and I found something that I can’t remember the name of, but the girl with me took a photo so maybe I’ll get to see it again on FB! (The leaders wanted us to share photos on their page). I wanted to see an octopus. Unfortunately my group did not get to. 😞 (The other group found a giant one!).

The second place we kayaked to had another cave but larger and a nice little area between the rocks where we parked the kayaks. The water was so buoyant that I hardly had to swim to keep myself afloat. It actually was difficult to try and go too far below the water fast enough to swim with the fish so I generally stuck to the top. My mask was a little big so it was taking in water so going any further under made it worse. Kinda wanted to see what was below!—which brings me to another point. THE WATER IS SOOOOO BLUE!!!! SO CLEAR!!! The guide said that unfortunately, the countries surrounding the Mediterranean do not fish responsibly (or shall I say people from those countries and it’s not enforced?) so there is a lot less in the way of fish life now than there used to be and unless something changes, it’ll only get worse and then it won’t be interesting to snorkel there anymore! We were eventually too chilly to do any more snorkeling, so we headed back to shore for melon, pineapple and bocadillos de jamón y queso. Since it’s relatively early in the season, the water is a bit chilly, but on the plus side, the beach was a lot less populated! Apparently at the end? of the season last year, there was a big storm that brought in really cold water that made the guides finish the season because it was not tolerable. It was chilly today, but there were warmer currents and we got out on the rocks for a bit to warm up a few times. Just really hard to get back IN the water! I contemplated not snorkeling the second time and just looking from above but I reminded myself…when are you going to have this opportunity again!? I froze myself. Está bien. I’m still here. 😉

After returning, the group went to Stoke to get beers and I made a bee line for the Catedral de Barcelona since it was on the way and was open for about 15 more minutes and my stint in the am kept me from getting up early enough (the second time) to visit before Costa Brava. They are doing a bit of restoration work, so there was a lot of scaffolding around. Interesting factoid: People do not pay taxes on Churches that are not finished. The cathedral was very pretty on the inside and I could have spent more time admiring it but they were closing so I had to leave. After seeing so many recently, I do not feel the need to go back…especially after seeing Sagrada Familia. THAT was impressive. I’d go back and see that again…except I have very little time left tomorrow and I want to see Montjuic! There’s also a free walking tour. I like to see what the guides have to say as opposed to going to see things on my own. Not sure if I’ll have enough time or not.

I managed to find the bar again after the Catedral and one of the guys who works? in there convinced me that going to see his ghost tour would be a good idea. I actually intended to go but they had already left the designated meeting spot by the time I found where that spot was. Boo. I really wanted to go on it too!! …he’s been on GMA and ghost hunter shows apparently. I’m going to have to settle for watching it on the computer. I’m still disappointed that I didn’t get there fast enough. I would have liked to explore the Gothic quarter and its secrets…while I’m still here!!! Sigh. I meandered a bit, found candy, and when I could hardly walk another step (and it was getting dark), I headed back to the metro and dragged myself back to the hostel to rearrange my stuff and pack it…and I hate to say it, but I think I’m going to have to check my backpack because the darn meds take up too much room and make it too bulky. Do yourself a favor and if you plan to backpack, don’t get asthma or your meds might take up too much room.

So in any case, I’m hoping to cap off tomorrow with a view of the castle and some beach time and then head to Milan. Eek! I’m excited and at the same time sad because I can’t use my Spanish for the rest of the trip. 😞 So sad. It has come to an end. Almost. Though I will not miss having to hug my bag in pick-pocket central!

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Photos

Costa Brava
One of the places we snorkeled.

Costa Brava
Sign for the place we were at.

Puppy outside of Stoke.
Soooo cute and friendly!

Comments

[AshleyWard]

Love the photographs!
Looks like it was worth getting up early for that beautiful sunset! You take great photographs.

[Sunnyskate]

Sunrise
Yes! It was! Wish I did more than once but I love these photos! Thanks!