Pubblicato: 10.11.2023
We've been in Spain for almost a week now!
What can I say? It like it very much!
This is due to so many factors, so I'll start with: Our current location has many advantages because we can just start walking, we don't have to plan.In addition, Loki is well occupied by the farm dog lady...
The hikes nearby have been REALLY COOL so far!
In addition to the landscape between the sea and the mountains, I can also mention other facts.
We experienced Spanish hospitality. First at the monastery ruins of Sant Quirze with gigantic portions and nice hospitality, then in Gariguella with the local farmers' cooperative, where I was able to test my previously poor Spanish.
(I'm currently working with 2 apps!!! so I can quickly fix the problem!)Christian found this campsite, more like a parking space, by chance. If I had known what the driveway meant, I probably wouldn't have continued...
NOT TRUE! I made a decision and then pulled the caravan over a track where others would have said NO when approaching. I don't know how we'll get down...
The space is rather alternative, but we already know the idea of not filling the tank with toilet paper from Greece, and the shared kitchen doesn't put us off either...
The farm dog, who is currently 7 months old and still growing, is funny, the "little one", Pequenta, is a challenge for Loki, who now has his own mannerisms mirrored and has to endure it.
What can I say about Spain?
We were there 11 years ago, back then it was Mallorca, now it is the easternmost tip of the Pyrenees and a climate that is directly influenced by climate change. Our host Alex had a farm that he had to give up due to a lack of water. That's terrible enough, but when he then describes that the autumn months themselves used to be the rainy season for his fields, which is now completely missing, it's just shocking!
We only see the mild temperatures, the little rain and feel happy because we are far away from snow and ice. The other side of the coin is that Alex and his family have lost a large part of their income, i.e. their livelihood, apart from the campsite.
I'm too much of a tourist here, because so far we've only had a great experience in Spain, the weather is good, see climate change, and at the same time the temperatures are mild. I know single-digit temperatures and constant rain in November, which don't happen here, but at what cost????? I don't want anyone to lose their livelihood...
I have problems with Catalan, which is the FIRST language everywhere here, people fall into standard Spanish when they realize I don't understand anything, but it's just different, my apps don't prepare me for that. I also speak more Italian, which doesn't help much. YET I always see the desire for communication, even my poor Spanish is simply accepted because people are happy that I try it.
We have the extremes here, the tourist town of Roses and the hinterland of La Jonquera, the border region with mountains. I like it, I feel comfortable here. It's so wild, so nice on the coast and so rough inland.
We went on several great hikes, we went to Greco-Roman Empurio and other places, we filled up our dog food on site and had great encounters.
I am impressed by the calmness of the Catalans, because they could always give us the cold shoulder, but they NEVER do it!
When we arrived at the former monastery of Sant Quirze, at first there were only the German tourists with motorhomes, then the gourmet French people and the Spaniards themselves came. It was worth the trip, the cuisine is GREAT!
Only then did we discover the farmers' cooperative in Garrigeulla, which also offers regional products in addition to opening hours on Sundays. That was great, but it was topped by the fact that you could also eat and drink with them.
HERE a whole new horizon has opened up. Because when we ordered a "glass of red wine" we got a bottle delivered to the table. It was a young wine, but the cooperative didn't even charge us for it! CRAZY!
The food was great, I can only recommend the cooperative! There is more than just a gas station for wine here.
As a history teacher, the excavation from the Greek period, Empuria, of course had its own charm. We were there at the same time as two school classes, I felt for every second with the accompanying teachers...
IT WAS GREAT!
I enjoyed history and at the same time had to stop the god of practical jokes from desecrating other shrines... HE DID:...
I like the mix of maccia, wine, olive trees and fields, it's beautiful here.
Hopefully I'll learn the language too, because I'm currently planning a "transplant!" not to think......