2 -3 May - Market Day & Festival of Santa Creu

It's Saturday so there's always a market somewhere. We cycled off to our closest in Empuiabrava about 30 minutes away.

There's always a vast array of different fruit and vegetables. We were on the hunt for garlic and ginger today for our dinner tonight.

We see these pots out for sale most times at this market and we always wonder what you store in them. Ian came up with the brilliant idea of sticking a loo roll inside and the knob on the top is where you can stack another 😂. If you can tell me what they're supposed to be for I'd love to know.

After our usual stop for a cuppa, sitting out in the sunshine watching the yachts racing, we cycled back for lunch.

This afternoon, after quite a warm morning, it turned a bit cooler so it was a chance to read more of my 1180 page tome - Robert Galbraith's 'The Running Grave'. Might keep me busy for a week or so!

Sunday was spent in Figueres for the Festival of the Holy Cross. I was convinced that there was a craft fair but I must've got my translation totally messed up.

We did come across the officials waiting to go into the church of Santa Pere before the festivities began.

While they were inside for the mass we had bunyoles (mini doughnuts) and fartos (sweet puff pastry fingers) at a cafe in the square.

Then it was the Polar Caminant - the walking pillar. Amazingly they walked from outside the church and down to the square.

Then it was more pillars.

Thus was 6 people high!

30 April/1 May - Staying Local

Yesterday started with a bit of repair work from winter damage. Just waiting for a replacement to be provided by Juan our caretaker.

Then on our walk down the prom we saw something new to us. We usually see dogs in prams, carriers and backpacks, the odd cat and rabbit taken for walks, but a guinea pig being taken on the beach was a whole new sight for us! It'll be mico pigs and gerbils next 😂.

Our walk at the end of the prom in Roses was all sectioned off. Bulldozers and half the beach excavated.

The council has eventually got round to sorting out the constant niff by the Roses Express stop. 

The council have even resorted to drones to sort out the beach traders. Although from the number sorting out their blanket pitches on our walk today, I don't think it's very effective yet.

This morning was time for a bit of bike maintenance after their winterisation in the apartment. All tyres inflated and chains lubricated so we're all good to go for tomorrow's ride to Empuiabrava market.

On further inspection of the excavation today, we spotted remedial action to stop the palm tree tettering on the edge of the big hole, from falling in. We'll let you know if it falls in 😄.

29 April - Arrived in Spain

Clear skies and sunshine as we left St Flour on our final leg of the journey south. 

We had a pit stop after about an hour at services looking out to the medieval town of Château de Severac. We'll have to put this on our list of places to visit on future trips.

A pretty uneventful drive down to Roses. No wide loads to navigate on this leg.

Arrived and bags carted up to the apartment by 4.30pm. Then a mega shop to start us off for our stay, before dinner in the evening sunshine. Bliss!