Week 9

When

2.12.19 - 8-12-19

where

El Grao, Valencia, Spain

Castellon de la plana, Spain

Barcelona, Spain

Beziers, France

what

After leaving the beautiful and warm Grenada, we headed to the east coast of Spain just north of Valencia. After a quick fix to our shower tray (which I cracked after slipping over) we parked up on the coast in one of the most beautiful parks we had found yet. After a day exploring Castellon de la Plana and getting our newly floored bathroom back we stopped in a coastal town called Peniscola, about halfway between Valencia and Barcelona. Awaking the next morning around 5am to wind and rain that not even the Scottish highlands inflicted upon us, a quick check of weather warning and the radar showed that this was just the beginning and if we stayed out on our costal headland we were in for gale force wind and hail. So in the dark, pouring rain we drove through the deluge and after around an hour drove out from under the cloud (quite literally) and found ourselves in the sun again and headed for Barcelona.

The rest of the week was spent exploring the beautiful city in the glorious sunshine. We saw all the things you are meant to see; Sagrada Familia, Picasso museum, all the Gaudi buildings and Park Guell, church upon church and market upon market. The Christmas markets were pretty but not really our thing but the Picasso Museum was fantastic and something I think neither of us would have appreciated 10 years ago.

Pat got a skate in while I ventured around an insane flea market just north of the city and when we re-united we walked our way to one of the most spectacular viewpoints of any city either of us have ever seen (and free as well!). Turo De La Rivera was truly beautiful, affording us a huge panoramic view over the entire cite. That night we spent sipping on wines at the excellent Bar Selvatge (more on that here) before taking a final walk through the city to our bus back to the campsite.

After a week of excellent coffee, wine, food and culture we were satisfied that we had done all we could (within budget constraints) in this glorious city and made our way to France. We found out about a network called ‘France Passion’ which allows you to stay in vineyards and farms for free with the expectation that you will view and perhaps purchase some of their produce/products. All wine tastings are free and bottles start at 3 euro. After a little googling we found a vineyard in Beziers called Domaine Mi Cote and arrived in the early afternoon to mean Jean-Marc, the third generation winemaker and owner of the winery. He excitedly got us a map out and showed us the way into town to see the huge 12th century cathedral with its free entrance and walk up it’s 168 spiral stone staircase to 360 degreed views of the Languedoc-Roussillon region in all its glory.

Jean-Marc treated us to a free wine tasting and we of course bought a few bottles before he kindly lent us the France Passion book and a map of France for us to study overnight and return to him in the morning before we left so we could continue on our wine adventure across southern France.