One Great Month in L'Escala Spain During Late December 2006 and January 2007

Spain's L'Escala on the Mediterranean Coast

The GPS took us right to the doorstep of our apartment; next to a rough and windy Mediterranean...lucky for us that was the most tempestuous we ever saw the sea! We were on the top floor of a building with 8 units - a to die for view - and within walking distance to everything in town. Wow! Really the weather was clear, dry, warmish and hard to complain - especially when we got news of the rough icy, snow-packed winter in Denver.

L'Escala is a small fishing village of about 5,000 that balloons to over 50,000 with summer vacationers. This is the area of the Costa Brava where the Romans first landed in Spain and took over the peninsula from the Greeks, who had taken it over from the Celts, who had taken it over from the Iberians. It was our first experience with the Dolmens and Menhirs of the Celts which were generally all located in out of the way, scenic places that were well worth the reason for the journey.

We enjoyed all of the cultural celebrations of Christmas time with the three kings arriving by boat, protected by the Roman guards. We walked thru the Passado of Pals where biblical scenes are reenacted all through this restored medieval village a few evenings a year. On Christmas Day, when we were expecting everything to be closed, there were people out on all the streets wishing their friends well. We decided to go for coffee and pastries and walk around with everyone - a very pleasant way to spend the day.

We stayed here a month, enjoying many day trips to surrounding areas. Really we could have stayed much longer as we still seemed to have a list of interesting ideas. It was great to live as locals, and meet some locals such as Wendy and Stan. We sat next to them at lunch one day - a restaurant we went back to on paella day. We met up with them another evening for dinner and then again for a trip to Dali's wife's house for lunch. It has been fun to stay in contact with them and keep tabs on the community.

L'Escala Spain SunriseSunrise over L'Escala Spain
View from our fifth level balcony of one of the many great sunrises over the Bay of Roses on the Mediterranean.
L'Escala Area Images - Click on an image to view large version

Henry on Balcony of our new home for the month

Sunrise over the Mediterranean from our balcony

Pam near Dolmen de la d'en Cobertella

Celtic Dolmen de la d'en Cobertella

Henry at Iberian/Celtic Menhir de la Casa Cremada II

Doorway in Medieval town of Pals

Pals Living Nativity Chapel

Henry at Dolmen de les Vinyes Mortes

Pam at Dolmen near Espolla

Henry at Monestir Sant Pere de Rhodes

Pam at Jadin Botanic Mar i Murtra

Henry at Jadin Botanic Mar i Murtra

Pam enjoying the Mediterranean near Tossa de Mar

Our new friends Wendy and Stan

Pam and Henry enjoying lunch with Wendy and Stan

Sunset from our L'Escala balcony

Schedule

Itinerary Highlights.

Fun things to do.

2006 - 2007 SPAIN - FRANCE SCHEDULE
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
La Vilella Baixa - Hike to Pont Cavaloco (base of Montsant)

Torroja del Priorat, Spain

Parc Nat Delta Ebre

La Cava

Sant Carles de la Ràpita

Torroja del Priorat, Spain

Paint-Sketch stone bridge across Rio Siurana

Torroja del Priorat, Spain

Montserrat & George left for Barcelona

Hike to Barraca del Creuetes (Montsant)

Torroja del Priorat, Spain

Paint Stone Bridge

Drive to Falset (Internet), Reus (ATM), & Carrefour (groceries)

Flix & Asco on the Rio Ebro

Iberian Poblet del Roig del Roget

Torroja del Priorat, Spain

Montserrat

Helped old man with his high centered car

Girona

L'Escala, Spain

#4 Passeig Mar, L'Escala

24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Sunday Market

Toured Marina & Town

L'Escala, Spain

Christmas Day - Holiday

Walked around L'Escala

L'Escala, Spain

Three kings Festivities in Town for the kids

Listen - City Band in Square

L'Escala, Spain

Hike Parc Natural Aiguamols de l'Empordà

L'Escala, Spain

Pals Medieval town

Begur Castle Hill

Aiguablava Beach - Lunch

Ullastret Iberian Ruins

L'Escala, Spain

L'Escala anchovy & Sal Museum

Empuries Greek & Roman Town

L'Escala, Spain

Roses

Hike Megalithic Trail to Dolmens

L'Escala, Spain

31 1 January 2007 2 3 4 5 6
Hike to Empuries & Beach

L'Escala, Spain

New Years Day - Holiday

Hike Cliff South of L'Escala

Pals Living Nativity

L'Escala, Spain

Trip Planning & Relaxation

L'Escala, Spain

Tour Carcassone, France

Walk Midi Cannel

Gorges de Galamas

L'Escala, Spain

Drive to L'Estartit

Torroella de Montgrí

L'Escala, Spain

Hike to Dolmen de les Vinyes Mortes

Drive to El Port de la Selva, St Pere de Rhodes, & Cadaqués

L'Escala, Spain

Kings Day - Holiday

Hike Parc Natural Aiguamols de l'Empordà

L'Escala, Spain

7 January 2007 8 9 10 11 12 13
Jadin Botanic Mar i Murtra

Tour Blanes, Lloret de Mar, & Tossa de Mar

L'Escala, Spain

Tour Espolla

Dolmen near Espolla

L'Escala, Spain

Tour Olot

Parc Natural de la Zona Volcànica

Sant Joan les Fonts

Besalú (Ponte)

L'Escala, Spain

Poblat Iberic de Castell

Dolmen de la Cova d'en Daina

L'Escala, Spain

Day off

L'Escala, Spain

Day off

L'Escala, Spain

Collioure, France

L'Escala, Spain

14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Relax

L'Escala, Spain

Empuriabrava

L'Escala, Spain

Tour Figueres

Teatre-Museu Dalí

L'Escala, Spain

Lunch with Wendy and Stan

L'Escala, Spain

Ceramic Shopping

Re-visit Ullastret Iberian Ruins

L'Escala, Spain

Day-off & pack for France

L'Escala, Spain

Drive to France

Pont du Gard

Les Arcs, France

1 Rue du Four

83460 Les Arcs / Argens

Happy Travels,

Pam and Henry