22 & 23 May - Roses and Empuiabrava

Friday morning was spent enjoying breakfast and reading out on the balcony before a stroll along the front.

The beach was looking quite quiet despite the glorious weather.

Further up towards Roses the council have been working on getting the beach ready for the start of the holiday season.

The lifeguard huts come flat packed. There was a team constructing them along the beach.

Following our lazy walk along the seafront and back, the rest of the day was spent being creative (I've started an embroidery project and have recycled some wool to knit a shawl).

Saturday morning we woke to thick fog! We delayed the start of our bike ride over to Empuiabrava until it had cleared a bit.

There is going to be a good loquat harvest this year. We haven't seen so many growing previously - lots of fruit crumble opportunities for someone 😄.

Fortunately it didn't take too long for the fog to disappear and we had a lovely cycle over the nature reserve to get there. It's a decent off road route with loads of horse riders and other cyclists about.

In Empuiabrava they have been reclaiming some of the beach to encourage the Crested Lark to nest - they build their nests on the ground. It's also got the benefit of stopping the sand from blowing across the prom there as well.

We actually managed to see one of the Crested Larks today on our cycle back across the nature reserve. We probably wouldn't have noticed it but had recognised it from the information boards on the prom.

Our weather is probably similar to the weather currently experienced in the UK this weekend. Too hot to sit out in direct sunshine but rather pleasant in the shade. We've also been closing the curtains to help keep the lounge cool as well.

Tomorrow we're off exploring to a place called Bascara that we've not been to before. I think there's going to be some human towers!

21 May - La Bisbal d'Emporda

A bright and sunny start to the day with snow still lingering on the mountains.

We'd picked a loquat (known locally as nispero) off the tree in the apartment gardens, so it was tasting time. The skin and the stone has to be removed (apparently the stone contains arsenic!!) so there was no chewing or munching on the stone!! It tasted a bit like apricot.

Today we took ourselves south to La Bisbal d'Emporda which used to be a major ceramic and terracotta centre.

It's also a medieval town which had a walking trail around to see the main sights.

The castle, which also houses the Tourist Information centre.

We had a very enjoyable potter about and visited a few of the ceramic shops, where the artists could be seen working.

Back on the balcony this afternoon I had to mend my hat again. My basic embroidery flower has now been embellished and a stalk and leaves added. I have a feeling there might be a few more added over time.

This evening was bowling night. For once I did quite well and scored over 100. The next round I wasn't so good 😄.

Tomorrow looks like it's going to be another lovely day. No plans as yet, so it's going to be a wait until tomorrow day.

19 & 20 May - Coffee Date

With not much to say about yesterday, other than we had a lovely sunny day which was ideal for our weekly washing, I decided on a double blog day today.

Today has been gorgeous and warm enough actually to have breakfast on the balcony! So it was eating strawberries and yogurt whilst watching the seagull chick. Sadly it looks like one took a dive off the roof or has been a small snack for a predator - although we haven't quite worked out the food chain of a seagull. We don't see any hawks around to swoop in on an errant chick and the other birds around (parrots, pigeons) we don't think would eat one 🤔.

After breakfast we took a walk down the prom to meet up with local friends (a Spaniard married to an English lady) for a 'coffee'. We found out what is going on locally and that the inclement weather we've been having is the once in 50 year event. They've never known snow on the mountains this late in the year! At least the reservoir is full, although they'll probably bring a a hosepipe ban soon 😄.

Following our catch up and plans for lunch next week, we took ourselves further up the prom so we had a decent walk before this afternoon's laze on the balcony.

There was an art display in the Ciutadella by students from the local college. All used recycled materials.

This is some of the exhibits being worn.

Anyway, we mozzied back down the prom.

Now those who have stayed with us know the knitting lady who sits sunbathing on her bench, in the same place everyday, surrounded by her creations and knitting away (Ian says that'll be me in years to come😂). Anyway she's quite a sizeable lady who strolls into the sea in her bikini whenever she gets a bit warm. Unfortunately we were walking past her after she had returned to her bench following a cooling plunge only to get an eyeful of ample bosoms, just about covered by a bikini top, being squeezed to get rid of excess water!! Not sure who was the most traumatised me or Ian 😂! 

Back at the apartment this afternoon Ian has been working on a bit of DIY. Handles getting a coat of paint today. The front door was varnished yesterday so all spic and span!

Tomorrow we're venturing out to do a bit of exploring to one of the local villages that we haven't been to before. It might end up being a few houses and a church but hopefully we'll find a place for a bit of light refreshment before our return 😄.