Where in the world should I go? I knew I wanted to visit Europe again this year but was not sure about the destination for my next adventure. The reason for returning to Europe this fall was to celebrate. Both 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 for me. Little did I know that I would spend a savory week in Catalonia.
I decided to explore Catalonia
My initial thought was 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 someplace new. After a fair amount of research, I decided on Catalonia. My girlfriend had to work and take care of her kids, so that meant 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 you are going alone”. Exactly I responded. 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 did plenty of research and came up with a detailed plan for my trip to Catalonia. I wanted to see a ton of sites and get a real sense of the area. That is exactly what I did…and had a lot of fun along the way. Below are the top ten reasons my adventure in Catalonia was awesome. 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 see. 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 the two days I was there, so I hope to return to experience the rest of this wonderful 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 all-time all-time, plays for FC Barcelona. The team was in town when I visited, so I went to their game. 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. 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 a bunch of local choices without breaking the bank. I ate Tapas and/or Pintxos almost every single day. My tour guide taught us that you order patatas bravas (potatoes) right away, so I did that everywhere I went. I ate like a King the entire trip, and have 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 – 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 wonderful. 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. 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 a ton of fascinating medieval sites including its huge Cathedral, epic walls, and many bridges. I was blown away by how awesome this city was. One of the highlights from 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 all of 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 an entire day touring the Basilica, touching the relic Black Madonna statue, 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 visited there. Solo Deo!
Reason #8 – Medieval Villages near Girona
The Girona region is home to many medieval villages. They looked quite appealing in the pictures I found online, but I did not know what to expect. I toured five of them – Peratallada, Pals, Begur, Pals-Sator, and Ullastret in one whirlwind day. 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 well worth the time investment.
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 in Figures, and his home 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. Good prices, panoramic views, wonderful 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 wonderful 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. 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 was able to 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 an awesome 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.
