Memories, Bruce and a full circle.

15/5/12 – Location – Port Lligat, the home of Salvador Dali, right next door to Cadaques.

“Just down there Tan, see it? Gosh we've found it after all this time.” What we had found was a beautiful and very secluded little cove/beach where Kate and I way back in 2003 had spent a few extremely pleasant afternoons. We'd flown to Girona, hired a car and were camping in our little tent. We were enchanted by this beautiful place and treated ourselves to 3 or 4 days in the Hotel Carina right on the beach where Dali's house is.

Secluded cove and ..

 At the time we had promised ourselves we would come back. Well Menorca 'got us' in a similar way over the next few years and we never made it back to Port Lligat so I am fulfilling the promise we made. Now I am actually here, tortuous road in by the way, the beauty and the unspoiltness of the place has once again got to me. The finding of the secluded beach was a real bonus. Interesting too as the way I remembered seemed to have been closed off. I had to access it the opposite way which was a much longer walk but meant I walked past the notice indicating the whole of that bit of the coast is now designated as 'Nudista Playa'. No problem to me but I just cannot shave anymore off Tanya!!

.. suitably attired too

Tanya 'aquired' us' a good wild camping spot as well. We arrived and I parked Sadie in the big empty car park right by the 'Dali' beach and the hotel Carina. We set off for a stroll / explore / re tread happy footsteps. As we walked by one of beach cafes out came Bruce to investigate Tanya. Now Bruce was a Miniture Shcnauzer too. He was almost identical to Tanya in colour and size. Not as smartly groomed as Tanya of course and checking of passports (sniffing of bums, by the two dogs!) soon established the sex difference which turned out as a no problem area and the two got on really well together. Bruce seemed to belong to the bar and everybody knew Bruce and were fascinated to see a 'lady Bruce'. Language again seemed not to be a problem especially when 'Ougooosto' appeared from within the depths of the cafe and could speak reasonable English. Seems here in Catalan they are as happy to speak English as well as Spanish as both are regarded as second languages to Catalan. “Oh no no no! Eees no good parking. They Poleeesio a checking eeeevereeee night. You must take van to beeeg area, beeeg park opposite Camping Cadaque. Eeees good there, Poleeesio ok yooo parking there.”

He was right too. I recalled Camping Cadaque was just at the top of the hill and only 5 minutes away. I remembered it as a rather tatty campsite but with good shade. Kate and I had camped there for one or two nights I think before we treated ourselves to 'Hotel Carina'. I walked round it later and it was still tatty and for a motorhome bloody expensive too. The 'beeeg area' opposite was just the job and we soon had Sadie settled in for the night.

Two lovely afternoons were spent on the beach swimming snorkelling and remembering with happiness/fondness. Of course I was suitably attired too. Not that it made any difference as not a soul was seen all the time we were there.

The first night a Dutch couple turned up in their motorhome. This often happens with wild camping. You find a good spot, somebody sees you and pulls in alongside with a; 'well if they are there it must be OK' attitude. It usually is too as was the case with 'Hilly' and 'Yasmin'. “We're just friends that go on holiday together every now and again.” I was informed. They were an OK couple and a late night was had as we chatted away in their van with Tanya and their little dog curled up and snoring together on the floor.

I'm now back in the Coulliore area having decided to come back into France and travel westwards north of the Pyrenees. So we've done a full circle and the drive from Port Lligat along the twisty coastal road to Coullioure was really quite pleasant and with stunning 'Mediterranian mountainous coastal views'. Not much traffic so we could travel at our own slow pace to enjoy the views and pull in to let any following traffic pass. I will be back to this area. It is a lovely mixture of coastal tourism but with unspoilt parts and always the option to get right away from it all up in the mountains.