It was short of unplanned vacation for we weren't really sure if we can go, for my daughter has an audition that she's been waiting for and we aren't sure of the exact date yet. So we decided to wait for the call and it came at the end of the month of July and as expected her audition is on the 27th of August which leaves us 5 free days before the said audition. So planning the vacation is a little bit rushed. The best hotels and apartels (apartment-hotel) are fully booked by the time I started looking for it. Which left us with no choice but to book whatever we can find. I always use Booking.com when finding hotels because I already tested the services for almost five years now and happy to say, that we always get the best services through it. Enough of the intro, I want to introduce to you to the best 5 days on my life this year.
THE RIDE
It is a 9 hour drive (non-stop) from Paris, France. But of course, our family really loves sight seeing that's the first reason why we want to do it by car. To stop every now and then and admire what we see. And on the way, we saw and experienced these:
L'ESTARTIT, SPAIN
Well, a little background about Estartit. It's a part of the Girona province of Spain. Just a little off the borders of France. And it is in the coast called Costa Brava. One of the famous inexpensive tourist destination in Europe.
What attracts me here is the proximity to the beach and to the mountain. It is in between the Mediterranean sea and foothill of the Montgri Massif. In every vacation that we do, we always finds comfort in trekking or hiking and swimming. So it is essential for us to have both element.
This is the first time we went snorkeling as a family. (Except for my husband and eldest.) So I would describe the experience as, should I say, scary and liberating at the same time. I have a fear of the unknown. (Most of us do) But in my case, the fear of the unknown is in any body of water. (Swimming pool included). If my foot don't touch the surface, I can have panic attacks. And my usual logical self will lose it's logic and do stupid things. I was scared even more for our youngest. She's barely 5. So we thought that she won't handle it, yet she was braver than I was. She jumped from the boat towards the open sea without hesitation. While me on the other hand was hesitant. I spent a few minutes before I jumped. But I did it! Heart pumping and all I was absorbing this experience while I was in the water. And it was liberating just thinking about it. I was glad I did it. And will do it again, even if it scare the h_ll out of me! Still have that fear though, I guess it wouldn't go, back I will be overcoming it little by little.
After snorkeling, we cool up our dizzy head with ice cream our family's food for the soul. And it was artisans, so it tastes so good! Not much like the artisans of an Italian Gelato but they are good in their own rights as well.
THE HIKE
Normally it only takes three hours to and fro to our destination but since we have a 4 1/2 years old kid we need to stop once in a while so it took us four hours and a half the entire walk. Although our three kids are used to hiking with us no matter how long and how far, they wouldn't quit just like us. Good thing about hiking in Estartit is the directions that you can see, so all you have to follow it, but loosing yourself from time to time is allowed to, for you can see wonderful things allow the way and that makes up for the lost time that you spent being lost.
Tired after our long walk, we beat the heat again by our food for the soul, ice cream. But this time, trying the different flavors.
Food is cheap as well. There are restaurants that serves a non-expensive home cook meal as well. And if you were in Spain, it's right to say that you should not leave without tasting their paella. Whatever kind it is! Seafood, chicken, mixed and others.
TAMARIU
Tamariu, Spain is a bonus is this year vacation. We discovered it by chance. Internet provides a lot of list of beaches that you can discover near Estartit and doing the usual "ini-mini-miny-mo" selection that I happen to chose this beach. So here we are, one of the greatest hidden beach of Costa Brava. It's child friendly and considered beach for families with younger kids. Luckily, my finger pointed me to the right direction....errr, beach, should I say.
Well, I enjoy every minute of it. So I hope you enjoy the photos too. (And the video of my husband diving). Have a nice summer, or what left of it, or whatever season you are in right now.
