...to a place called Tossa de Mar. However vaguely amusing this name may be for the British (tosser has certain connotations, shall we say), the place itself was a great place to escape for the weekend.
This small Catalonian seaside village is a strange combination- package holiday come quaint village. You would walk down one street, and see Barry's pub inviting you to watch the latest footy game while eating fish and chips- then wander down another street, and find bars filled with locals. It invited strange emotions within me- all at once it reminded me of my childhood holidays, while also being very different from the typical resort towns in the Balearics and Canary Islands.
The true charm of this place was the castle, and the views from it to the village below. When everything else- the souvenir shops, the pubs, the pasty Brits on the beach- are all stripped away, Tossa de Mar is truly at its most peaceful, beautiful best. Luscious greenery, translucent turquoise sea at the bottom of dramatic rocky cliffs, Catalonian white houses working their way up the mountains...just stunning.
We stayed at a great hostel, the Mana Mana- clean, comfortable- terrible Internet, but hey ho, you can't have it all! It had the best showers I've ever seen in a hostel- I know that's a very boring thing to mention, but trust me, you really appreciate it! In terms of food, we decided to take Trip Advisor's advice and go for dinner one night in the number 1 rated 'La Lluna'. Situated in a little nook on the way up to the castle, we had to wait around 45 minutes for a table at this little tapas joint, but it was definitely worth it. The house 'vin negre' (red wine in Catalan- we're slowly picking up more and more everyday) was both delicious, and an absolute steal at 6 euros per bottle- we've gotten used to the fact that wine is cheaper than water out here, but that is still incredibly cheap. Garlic prawns, stuffed peppers...it was all delicious.
Tossa de Mar was a great introduction to the Costa Brava, and a lovely place for expats in Barcelona to escape to for the weekend.
This small Catalonian seaside village is a strange combination- package holiday come quaint village. You would walk down one street, and see Barry's pub inviting you to watch the latest footy game while eating fish and chips- then wander down another street, and find bars filled with locals. It invited strange emotions within me- all at once it reminded me of my childhood holidays, while also being very different from the typical resort towns in the Balearics and Canary Islands.
The true charm of this place was the castle, and the views from it to the village below. When everything else- the souvenir shops, the pubs, the pasty Brits on the beach- are all stripped away, Tossa de Mar is truly at its most peaceful, beautiful best. Luscious greenery, translucent turquoise sea at the bottom of dramatic rocky cliffs, Catalonian white houses working their way up the mountains...just stunning.
We stayed at a great hostel, the Mana Mana- clean, comfortable- terrible Internet, but hey ho, you can't have it all! It had the best showers I've ever seen in a hostel- I know that's a very boring thing to mention, but trust me, you really appreciate it! In terms of food, we decided to take Trip Advisor's advice and go for dinner one night in the number 1 rated 'La Lluna'. Situated in a little nook on the way up to the castle, we had to wait around 45 minutes for a table at this little tapas joint, but it was definitely worth it. The house 'vin negre' (red wine in Catalan- we're slowly picking up more and more everyday) was both delicious, and an absolute steal at 6 euros per bottle- we've gotten used to the fact that wine is cheaper than water out here, but that is still incredibly cheap. Garlic prawns, stuffed peppers...it was all delicious.
Tossa de Mar was a great introduction to the Costa Brava, and a lovely place for expats in Barcelona to escape to for the weekend.
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