Where in the world should I go? I knew I wanted to revisit Europe this year but was unsure about my next adventure’s destination. The reason for returning to Europe this fall was to celebrate. My sons are in college, and I finally finished paying alimony to my ex-wife. Hallelujah! Bottom line – I had the time and money to take an extra trip this year. It was my first fall fun adventure, a new kind of trip. Little did I know that I would spend a savory week in Catalonia.
I decided to explore Catalonia.
I initially thought that going to Oktoberfest in Bavaria would be a fun way to celebrate. But it is expensive, and I have been all over Southern Germany already. I wanted to visit somewhere new. After a fair amount of research, I decided on Catalonia. My girlfriend had to work and care for her kids, so it would be a solo adventure.
My parents were skeptical about the idea.
I told my parents about my idea. I was excited. My father did not pull any punches. “Let me get this straight. You don’t speak the language, have never been there before, and are going alone”. Exactly, I responded. It’s a solo ranger adventure. What could go wrong?
I always plan for my adventures.
I am a big fan of planning before leaving on an adventure. This trip was no different. I researched and devised a detailed plan for my trip to Catalonia. I wanted to see many sites and get a real sense of the area. That is precisely what I did…and I had a lot of fun along the way. Below are the top ten reasons my adventure in Catalonia was extraordinary. They are somewhat in order of importance.
Reason #1 – The Catalonia capital city of Barcelona
Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is a hugely popular tourist destination. Having spent a few days there – I can see why. There are many sites to visit. The Gothic Quarter, El Born neighborhood, Picasso Museum, Gaudi architecture, and Montjuic to name a few. I took a tapas, taverns, and history tour while there. It was an excellent way to learn a little, eat a lot, and experience the culture firsthand. I did not see everything in my two days there, so I hope to return to experience the rest of this beautiful city.
Reason #2 – FC Barcelona, Catalonia Soccer Team
Barcelona is home to what some consider the best soccer teams in the world. Lionel Messi, one of the greatest soccer players of all time, plays for FC Barcelona. When I visited, the team was in town, so I went to their game. It’s a bucket list item for me. I was more than a little excited. The game was thrilling. Messi scored the fourth and final goal. The place went nuts. Even though my seats were in the nosebleed section – I had a great time.
Reason #3 – Weather
Catalonia is on the Mediterranean Sea. Based on my research, I learned that October is an ideal time to visit. The weather while I was there was perfect. It was around 70 degrees and sunny every single day, and it rained just a bit. Some of my pictures from the trip turned out great simply because of the clear skies in the background.
Reason #4 – Tapas and Pintxos
I enjoy eating a good meal, especially while on vacation. Catalonia is known for Tapas. Small plate samples of various foods. They also serve Pintxos which is simply a tapa with a toothpick in it. I love both. It is an effective way to sample many local choices without breaking the bank. I ate Tapas and/or Pintxos almost every single day. My tour guide taught us that you immediately ordered patatas bravas (potatoes), so I did that everywhere. I ate like a King the entire trip and had the extra five pounds to prove it.
Reason #5 – Towns by the Sea, Catalonia beaches
Catalonia borders the Med. It is famous for the Costa Brava area, with beaches on the Med. I did not visit that part but did have the opportunity to visit three seaside towns – Cadaques, Tarragona, and Sitges. All three were beautiful. Cadaques is a quaint harbor town made famous by Salvador Dali. Tarragona is an ancient Roman city on the water that includes several beaches. I did not know much about it before going and was pleasantly surprised. Sitges is a resort beach town not far from Barcelona. It’s a beautiful place to end my adventure.
Reason #6 – Game of Throne City of Girona
I am a Game of Thrones fan. My girlfriend, Kim, is a huge fan. She and I watched the entire series together. It was fun touring the city of Girona in Catalonia. Several scenes in GoT were filmed here. I can see why. It has many fascinating medieval sites including its huge Cathedral, epic walls, and many bridges. I was blown away by how fantastic this city was. This is one of the highlights of the trip. I hope to take Kim there someday. She would love it.
Reason #7 – Montserrat, the heart of Catalonia
Montserrat (Catalan for serrated mountain) is the highest mountain in Catalonia. It is home to one of the most impressive pilgrimage sites I have visited. I put it right up there with Mont St. Michel. I spent almost a day touring the Basilica, touching the Black Madonna statue relic, and hiking in the mountains. It was a moving experience that I highly recommend to anyone who visits Catalonia. They say that Montserrat is the heart of the area. I believe them now that I have stayed there. Solo Deo!
Reason #8 – Medieval Villages near Girona
The Girona region is home to many medieval villages. The pictures I found online looked quite appealing, but I did not know what to expect. On one whirlwind day, I toured five of them—Peratallada, Pals, Begur, Pals-Sator, and Ullastret. I was impressed by what I found. All of them were unbelievably wonderful. I took a ton of pictures that day. You need a car to see them, but it is worth investing time.
Reason #9 – Salvador Dali’s art
I am not a huge Salvador Dali fan. He is from this area, so I decided to see the Dali sites one day. There are three of them. Poblet – a castle home he bought his wife. The Dali museum is in Figures, and his home is near Cadaques. I enjoyed all three sites, and his home was my favorite. Three things I learned about Dali. One – he was one weird dude. Two – he was a hugely talented artist. Three – he did things his way. I particularly appreciated the last item as I walked through his home – a true reflection of who he was.
Reason #10 – Unique accommodations in Catalonia
I was able to stay in two unique places during my adventure to Catalonia – a hilltop castle, and a monastery. I spent one night at Cardona Castle. It includes a four-star hotel. Excellent place to stay. Reasonable prices, panoramic views, fantastic food, and how often do you get to sleep in a castle? The next night, I stayed in Poblet Monastery. Once again – a truly unique experience. I am really glad I went out of my way to spend a night in Cardona and Poblet. I have lovely memories of both places.
Bonus Reason – reasonable costs
I will finish this post by sharing that my adventure in Catalonia did not cost me an arm and a leg. Barcelona was somewhat expensive, as you would expect, but all the other places I went to were reasonably priced. Some of the best meals I ate along the way cost me $20 or less. It was surprising how much value I could squeeze out of this vacation.
In conclusion – Catalonia is awesome.
I was not sure what to expect when I left for Catalonia. I heard good things from many about Barcelona, but the rest was a mystery. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised—ten days of fun and adventure. If you are looking for a fantastic place to visit in the Fall or Spring, I highly recommend Catalonia. I have to admit that I would avoid this area in summer. The heat alone is probably unbearable, much less the tourist crowds. Perhaps I will run into you the next time I am there.
