Monday, February 27, 2012

Spain, A Perfect Day Out with the kids

We wore clothes to match the decor!
Spain is only a half an hours drive from where we live and I don't know if it's because we come from Ireland, an island, that it feels so exciting and different when we cross the border into another country. At the péage ( toll booths) we get all giggly with our Holas and Gracias, the sign posts are different, the terrain changes, the people are so friendly and relaxed, the dress sense is much more décontracté and the children get a huge welcome wherever we go. A day in Spain feels like a mini break, a real holiday and feels completely different to La France.
Off we headed with les enfants to one of the nearest beaches to us on the Costa Brava on Sunday, about 40 minutes from our house in Cabestany. Llanca is a small little fishing/tourist village with a lovely marina and a beautiful sheltered little beach where we found a fab restaurant literally with it's toes in the water.
Our private beach

While the kids cantered and foraged around the beach, we enjoyed melt in the mouth calamari and fresh urchins straight from the sea. We opted for the paella ( well, when in Spain 'n all that...) which was the best paella I've ever eaten with generous amounts of shellfish, plump mussels, scallops and clams and interestingly , artichokes. As I'm off the booze for lent ( don't ask!) , Mr Getrealfrance had half a bottle of Godeval which he oohed and ahed over. The kids licked their plates clean and with coffees and desserts for the kids, the bill came to 70euros. Excellent.
Llanca

A walk along the cliffs to discover private little beaches which we had all to ourselves finished off a perfect day. We'll be back!
A boat called after Granny Nora!





The restaurant  : Le Blau Grifeu, Platja Grifeu, Llanca, Tel: 972 380 718




5 comments:

  1. We were down your way this weekend - spent the night in Carcassonne and had a lunchtime snooze on the acres of sand at le Barcarès (which is a dump in all other respects). The sea was a glorious azure colour just like on the Cote d'Azur.

    There's a lovely paella restaurant at El Port de la Selva just down from Llanca on the port up some steps. Very deliciously yummy and freshly made.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ohh thank Sarah, we must try out that one. We drove down as far as there yesterday too , very pretty
    L'Amparo is good in Le Barcarès if you're looking for somewhere to eat there again..
    Also, Oyster farm in nearby Leucate worth a visit if you like oysters...
    Bon apps! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  3. ah Spain is so fab. Aren't we so luck to have it just on our doorstep.. Perhaps La France may catch up on providing a decent customer service (como dios manda!) like the Spanish one day.... ;) One lives in hope.. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I feel a girlie weekend coming on!!!

    ReplyDelete

You may also like

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...