I've included the relief map on the left from
Fodor's excellent guidebook to give you an idea
of Len's challenge: driving in the
Pyrenees---and mine: being a passenger on
those snaky roads with motorcyclists, bicyclists,
hikers, and drivers taking their half out of the
middle. What an experience! But such beauty!
Jan and Len's Sojourn in Spain: Around Catalonia
September 6 - 20, 2007
Peaks in Fog at Montserrat, Home of The Black Virgin,
and Catalonia's Most Holy Place;
Censors in the Basilica
La Seu d'Urgell (Don't bother to go to Andorra)
Above: Bamboo Decor at our Parador and Apartment Building Facade in La Seu
The Pyrenees were awesome, if you could take your eyes off the
curvy road. Len drove well, but my hair is surely white under the
blond! I borrowed the photo from Leslie Hsu at
www.geo.arizona.edu. I shot these prickly pears
from the car.
Perpignan, France
No photos. Pleasant dinner downtown; got a good night's sleep!
Pyrenees En Route to Perpignan
The most hair-raising ride of my life!
Cadaques
When Dali and his wife Galatea needed a serene getaway, this is where they loved to go.
We were ecstatic to get here after another scary drive through the mountains! We checked into our hotel
and stayed there, safe and sound!
Sant Feliu de Guixols
To get from Cadaques to drive along the Costa Brava, you must return to Figueres across the mountains,
alas, then cross them again to get to the Costa Brava. But we did it and we're here to tell the story. This
seagull was making a lot of racket on hotel roof.
Rain didn't stop one intrepid beachcomber. Olives, close-up.
Sant Feliu de Guixols
To get from Cadaques to drive along the Costa Brava, you must return to Figueres across the mountains,
alas, then cross them again to get to the Costa Brava. But we did it and we're here to tell the story. This
seagull was making a lot of racket on hotel roof.
Rain didn't stop one intrepid beachcomber. Olives, close-up.
Catalonia is truly a different world.
But go to southern Spain first!
Tossa del Mar

Having seen and
clambered
through several
castles, we opted
to view this one
from our sidewalk
cafe. We loved
Tossa, shopping
in its narrow
streets, enjoying
margaritas and
magnificent food,
and walking along
the beach. Yes,
this is a rose
covered in water
and yucca,
close-up.

We called Tossa
"Our Last Hurrah."

Fun coincidence:
Upon our return, I
went to the
library. At the
door were books
being given away.
My eyes
immediately went
to The Last
Hurrah, by Edwin
O'Connor, a book
which I've never
read.
Figueres: Salvador
Dali Museum
Back off from the screen
to see Lincoln in the
painting on left. Dali
admired this American
president. In center of
painting is Dali's wife and
model, Galatea.