Costa Brava--Lunch at the Seashore

REminds me of the southern Oregon coast

After leaving the Roman town of Peratellada, we drove to the coast for lunch.  My first glimpse of the Mediterranean's incredible blue elicited the same response from me that the view in Port Ordord, Oregon does to first time visitors.  I have seen the Med before, bet never in such a "wild" setting, through the trees high above and traveling through twisting, turning narrow back roads to reach it.  I was suitably impressed, believe me.

Blue and white stripes of Tamariu

We were lunching in Tamariu--a little cove spot on the beach barely larger than a hamlet.  But it's obvious that it's a destination for playing in the water and most of all, dining on fresh catch from the waters.  

Blue and white were the theme colors of the building, awnings, umbrellas.  There's a wide terrace, a very short boardwalk and steeply wooded hills on three sides.  The Med is the fourth, but the cove is so sheltered that it's hard to eve imagine it angry in this spot. Everyone there ws dining outside, and even though it was 3:00, late for lunch even by Spanish standards, we had to wait half an hour for a table.  

Dining in the sun

I took a little walk along the path that hugs the shore line.  The town fathers have placed ceramic-tiled benches that fairly insist that you stop, sit and reflect on the color of the water, the wildness of the hillsides, that wave crashing against the rocks, but un the cove, only lapping a tht sand.  Someon left an empty cigarette package on one of the benches, the warning "Smoking Kills" prominently in view.  The French and the Spanish don't beat around the bush about the dangers of smoking.  

Cigarette package warning

One of the Med's many blues

Art on one of the rocks along the shore lune path

By the time I returned to the restaurant, our tanle was ready....and a glass of sangris seemed just he thing to have on a sunny Catalonian afternoon at the beach.  We split an appetizer of chiparones, which are deep fried baby squid.  Barbaric as that might sound, they are nonetheless delicious.  Georges and Veronica had fresh fish--sea bream and turbot, respectively, while I had a typical Catalan of chorizo and roasted green peppers (all of which I gave away) over frites, topped with two perfectly runny-yolked eggs.  I was in heaven, it really hit the spot.  I have developed a taste for Catalan sausage and the chorizo was a tad spicy but delicious.  

Tamariu

We finished dinner as the sun was setting over the ridge and the temperature dropped noticeably. It was time to head home to the apartment. Dinner that night was bread and cheese--I could not possibly have managed more after that lunch.  

Little beach in front of the board walk

 One of the things I made sure to do while I was in Palamos was to check out bus service to these places from Girona.  There's plenty and it's regular, so a car is not absolutely necessary to enjoy this Costa Brava of Spain.  I cannot wait to return.

This could be Curry County, Oregon