We had a lazy Sunday morning watching the canal boats do their thing
along the Canal du Midi. This canal is 240km long and was built in
the17th century to enable cargo vessels to sail from the Atlantic to
the Mediterranean without needing to go around Spain.
Although we were still a couple of hours from the border - it didn't
take alot of driving to feel that we had left France behind, and
entered into a drier Spanish landscape. To be accurate, we were
actually in the Catalan speaking area known as Catalonia - split
between two countries in 1659 when a treaty between Spain & France
agreed on their borders by spliting Catalonia down through the
Pyrenees.
Through Perpignan, then on to some very windy, scenic coastal roads.
Olive trees and vineyards were planted on terraces which must have
been built several hundreds of years ago. The views of the blue
Mediterranean were fantastic, but the damm flies were a complete pain
in neck!! Lets hope they are not like this everywhere in this part of
the world.
Finally, over yet another hill looking over the sea, we were in Spain,
where our gamble had paid off - gas prices were alot cheaper than in
France!! After filling up, we headed for the small seaside town of
Cadaques. We have been tempted by the lonely planet's discription of
Costa Brava (Rugged Coast) with its picturesque inlets and coves where
beaches are small and scattered and Cadaqués "the most picturesque of
all Spanish resorts".
We negotiated the narrow streets, avoiding those that threatened a
€150 fine to any campervans, to Cadaquès Camping. Our guide book
promised "soul satisfying mountain views and easy shore access".
After checking in went for a walk to Port Lligat to check out Savador
Dali's (the surrealist painter) house and then to the Cadaqués town.
Thiswas indeed pictureque and looking lovely with the harbour and
buildings all lit up.
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