Girona is a small medieval city about a 1.5-hour drive north of Barcelona. Located halfway between the majestic peaks of the Pyrenees and the rugged Costa Brava coast, the town sits on the confluence of four rivers and has a rich history that goes back to the Roman ages. Girona is quite often overlooked by [...]
Velvet Moments: travel photo – the tree
Strolling through the Dalí Theatre Museum in Figueres, I couldn’t help but stop and stare at this tree in the courtyard. Its naked and forlorn appearance tugged at my heartstrings. It could’ve been my (rather melancholic) mood that day but I stood in awe of the emotions this tree evoked. Read the accompanying post: “Being [...]
The castle of dreams
As a child, Albert Diks spent many summers camping with his family in Catalonia. Each time they went on a drive around the Catalan countryside, Albert would stare out the window, his eyes glued to every castle they passed. “At night, in my little tent on the camping, I dreamed of having my own castle.” [...]
Picnic at Terra Remota
Terra Remota is a lovely winery located in the Emporda region of Costa Brava, about a two-hour drive northeast of Barcelona. The winery consists of a modern, bunker-like main building that’s surrounded by rows of vines, olive groves and fruits orchards. You can go for some wine-tasting and a tour of the winery when you [...]
A marriage of Strambotic art and gastronomy
Art on a plate that tastes as good as it looks. For those of us who appreciate fine dining, the presentation of the dish is just as important as its taste and the aromas emanating from it. A recent dining experience opened my eyes to yet a different dimension: art on a plate that not [...]
A bird’s eye view of Costa Brava
Costa Brava, in the northern corner of Catalonia (Spain) is one of my favourite destinations in the world. Not many places combine sun, sea, nature, culture and gastronomy as effortlessly as Costa Brava. Every time I visit, there’s always something new to experience: another gastronomic highlight, an artistic wonder or a hidden panorama. A great [...]
Medieval towns in the Costa Brava
The name Costa Brava literally means ‘rugged coast’, a reference to the spectacular cliffs and hundreds of coves that line the coast. While the coast is a perennial favourite amongst many Europeans looking for sun, sand and sangria, there’s a lot more to discover starting just a few miles inland in the Baix Empordá region [...]
Culinary Journey: Cal Sastre in Santa Pau
What: Fine-dining at a small medieval village in the Garrotxa region of Catalonia. Where: Cal Sastre restaurant, Santa Pau. Notes: Santa Pau is a sleepy medieval village in the Garrotxa Volcanic region of Catalonia, north of Barcelona. The village is tiny but there are a variety of reasons that make a visit absolutely worthwhile: its [...]
Mas Perafita: a lovely retreat in the Cap de Creus
The Cap de Creus is a rugged wind-swept peninsula in the far northeastern corner of Catalonia, not far from the border with France. A large part of the peninsula is a designated national park and is famous for its nature trails and secluded coves and inlets. There is also a variety of picturesque fishing villages [...]
A relaxing holiday at Hotel Aigua Blava
The road from the town of Begur to Llafranc winds past some of the most beautiful villas on the Costa Brava. After several miles, a left turn in the direction of Fornells leads visitors to arguably one of the most charming hotels along the coast: Hotel Aigua Blava. Situated on a promontory, this family-run hotel [...]
About Keith Jenkins
I'm Keith Jenkins. In July 2008, I left my ten-year banking career to travel around the world. I've not looked back since.
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