10/31 – Off to Girona

We made it! Through the Barcelona airport, passport control a breeze! All they need is the locator form now, and we just happened to walk up right when they opened a new line, so we skipped right through to baggage claim before most of the rest of the plane arrived.

The bags showed up – always a relief – we walked right out and found the rental car agency easily. Checked in for the car, with the sweetest rental car agent. He was just amazed we were as awake and happy as we were after our flights. He said he had another passenger from the US and he was….(insert shaking of the head here)…too funny. We’re just so excited to finally be here!

In the car, we’re out of the garage and on our way through Barcelona – only one wrong turn which was easily corrected (I swear I feel like we live here!) – and one hour and 20 minutes later we are in Girona!

Our apartment host’s sister, Imma, is waiting for us on the doorstep, she shows us up to the apartment (4^th floor walk up, lugging the suitcase, that’s our exercise for the day!) and give us the overview of everything – keys, door code, etc. Then she hands us off to the friend from whom we are renting a garage space, who hops in our car (with another friend of his – all masked, btw) and directs us to the other side of the river and this typically teeny garage space. Oh boy – this will be fun to get in and out of! Not only is there a key for the front door of the apartment in which the garage is located, there is also a key for the garage door from the elevator, a key card to get in and out of the garage with the car, and 2 separate entrances we must navigate. This will be fun.

We walk back to the apartment – 3 minutes – and begin to get settled, going out onto the tiny balcony that overlooks the walls of the city. A spectacular view, one we will definitely be enjoying daily! After organizing (it’s a 3 bedroom apartment – perfect for suitcases in a separate room, living room and nice kitchen space), we strike out to explore. It is Sunday, The Day of the Dead, and we are a little fearful of what restaurants will or will not be open. In addition, a huge bonus is that the town of Girona is celebrating their patron saint, Saint Narcis this weekend. There are tons and tons of activities, markets and shows going on all over town. Our plans are to make the most of the next 2 days in Girona and see as much of the festival and sights as possible.

But for now, we are just orienting ourselves. First we hit the grocery store located about 3 blocks from us for supplies. Beer, wine, lunches – including the ever favorite esparragus blanco – oh how we love Spanish white asparagus! You can’t find it anywhere in the states, well at least not reasonably priced, and we gorge ourselves on it whenever we are here. Then we strike off into town, finding the main pedestrian street easily enough – it’s literally a block from our apartment. Wandering through the 95% masked crowds (sigh, what a refreshing sight!), we find vendors (one of which has Spanish Limoncello – what? And it’s really good – so, yes, we buy a bottle, probably shouldn’t have, but it was really, really, good – and to be honest? Better than the Italian version, so…. We have an aperitif now!) and human statues – these guys were the best we’ve ever seen! As well as displays for the annual event and just lots and lots of activity.

It’s so nice to just wander the cobblestones, getting a feel for the area and what is around us – and restaurants we may consider for this evening.

Back at the apartment, we toast our first trip with wine and beer on the balcony overlooking the city walls.

Soon it is time for dinner – although not in Spanish time – but in our time! We actually chose a little restaurant a block away from us because they are open until 8:30 and serve continuously – as opposed to a lot of the other establishments that close at 4 and then don’t reopen again until 8 or 8:30. That’s just too late for us, particularly today of all days when we’ve been flying overnight. Thus, it is El Pessic for us – and it is a winner. The waiter is adorable, and the food….well, the food! I had eyed this bread – sort of like flat bread – with warm goat cheese and zucchini on it – and I couldn’t resist. Ed has the same bread, but with butifarra sausage on it, plus, he’s good and has a salad, which of course I take nibbles of too. Excellent! As it turns out, these breads are typically Andalusian – called Coca de Recapte – and served everywhere here. We’ll end up seeing them every day, in every town and restaurant we pass.