A Taste of Costa Brava

Costa Brava, which literally translates into "rugged coast," is in the northeasternmost part of Spain, bordering France. It has everything that I love--- a serious food culture, fresh seafood, charming vineyards, the Dali Triangle, quaint Medieval towns and an appreciation for la dolce vita.

GIRONA

 

Basking in the sunshine in front of the Girona Cathedral.

 

The Cathedral facade at night.

Looking back from the top of the stairs. They were very steep.

The Cathedral was surrounded by a maze of Medieval, cobble-stoned alleys, which were eerily deserted in the dead of the night.

And here was where I got bit by Dracula.

Those not bitten by Dracula were bitten by the love bug.

 

 This scene briefly reminded me of Florence.

 

Driving through the narrow streets of Girona was an adventure itself.

THE DALI TRIANGLE

 

Port Lligat, where the Dali House Museum is located. Port Lligat is right next to Cadaqués, a very small coastal town that served as a secluded get-away and source of inspiration for the likes of Salvador Dali, Joan Miro and Pablo Picasso.

The first thing that greeted me at the Dali House Museum was this real, stuffed bear. Dali loved taxidermy.

 

Originals of Dali's last finished art works.

Every corner of his house was decorated with artistic treasures.

His house was constructed by combining several fishing huts, which explains the haphazard layout. His creative use of space was ingenious though.

Bedroom.

One of the buildings in the garden.

The view from the roof, overlooking a cove.

Yay, the Michelin man.

The Dali Theatre and Museum in Figueres, the most important and visited museum in Catalonia. The museum itself is a piece of art, designed by Dali personally, to house his best creations and showcase the school of surrealism.

Besides stuffed animals, Dali loved eggs as well.

  

These are not poop! They are supposed to be lumps of bread (another of Dali's fascinations) organized into triangles (representing the Dali Triangle).

What's Abe doing in there?

Dali's largest painting ever.

 

As the day progresses, the projection of the glass dome moves along the walls of the atrium, as though the sun were resolving around us. Galileo was wrong and he did the right thing by repenting.

A melting, disfigured Jesus Christ.

On the ground level, these looked like random pieces of furniture.

But after climbing a flight of stairs and looking though a reverse telescope... It's all about the perspective!

Dali was a bit weird to say the least. Plus Chucky was featured in several of his works! Hm...

 

Not exactly sure what Dali was trying to convey through these statues, but I liked the color combination of gold, bronze and white. 

 

The Dali Castle at Pubol. Dali bought an entire Medieval castle, restored it and gave it to his wife as her private residence--- he wouldn't even enter the premise unless she invited him. What a rich, bad ass romantic.

 

The view of the surrounding village from the castle.

  

Intricate details on the bathroom tiles.

 

 Roar! More real, stuffed animals.

 

A stuffed white horse. Was Dali a prince?

Looking out into the peaceful Spanish countryside.

ROSES 

 

Roses was the last stop on our slow crawl along the Costa Brava towards El Bulli. Being only a stone's throw away from the food mecca, I could no longer rein in my excitement!

The Mediterranean Sea.

 

Roses, not unlike other coastal towns, lives and dies by its seafood.

One of the sun patios in our hotel at Roses. Magnificent view right? It came with every breakfast, lunch and dinner we had there. See those lounge chairs? I slept in one of them overnight.

Tapas for lunch by the sea.

Prawns.

Clams.

Squids.

Peseado frito.

Crema Catalana. It tasted like a cross between creme brulee and panna cotta. Compared to the French creme brulee, crema Catalana was lighter and more floral.

BEYOND ROSES

 

Winding roads tested our driving prowess.

 

This looked as though we were driving off the cliff into the great beyond.

As we were driving around, we came across town after town, all tugged away safely and sleepily in the nooks and crannies of the Mediterranean coast.

It was fairly common to see Medieval castles and homes converted to modern-day hotels.

I am a sucker for anything Medieval. (Disclaimer: I never played D&D.) But how can one's heart not be warmed by such charming small towns?

Gateway to another gateway to yet another gateway... Such is life.

 

Most of the Medieval town-centers were very well preserved.

At the top of hill was a church, which I entered being the good Catholic boy that I am.