Tramping & Glamping

More explorations near Girona

Based in Girona until June 9 I’ve had time to do a lot of day trips to nearby areas. The suggestions of my Airbnb host Mai continue to pan out really well so I’ve been taking her advice. She said I should check out a natural area that was formed by a now extinct volcano that features a forest of beech trees, La Fageda d’en Jordà. I walked the 10 mile trail that encircled the park, passing through a beautiful wildflower field, pastures and the forest of beech trees.

La Fageda d’en Jordà — the Jordà Beech Forest

After a couple miles I came across an inspiring wildflower field. The video below shows the full sweep of it. Apologies for my heavy breathing in the background, which was a result of the quiet and my exertion to get there.

Signs of the volcanic activity of very long ago can be seen in the photo below. The columnar shapes remind me of those that I saw in Ireland at the beginning of my trip.

Some of the beech trees silhouetted by a pasture.

Below, a post along the way of unknown meaning. The cross was about 8 feet high.

Glamping at Tossa de Mar

I had to vacate my lodging for six days so that my hosts’ daughter could visit them. To fill in the time I reserved a tent at a family camp ground near Tossa de Mar on the Mediterranean called Kampaoh. This was the most luxurious camping situation ever, including a tiny refrigerator and electrical outlets.

With just some minor rearranging and the use of a loaner single burner stove and metal pot so that I could make myself coffee every morning (thank you Mai!) I settled in to my cozy home. I am always amazed how little it takes to make a home out of an unfamiliar place.

I even had my own private deck that was snugly tucked under the trees. It was a very relaxing six days, several of which were spent walking the short distances to local beaches and the others making day trips to nearby natural areas. I met and befriended for a day a sweet young German family who provided some deeper human contact at their picnic bench over wine. Other than that, my time there was very solitary, quiet, slow-paced and contemplative.

Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park

This wetlands was a side trip I did from Kampaoh. The main feature of the six mile round trip walk to the beach was a large marsh that was a magnet for many birds, including white flamingos. I had never seen flamingos in the wild before. They did have tinges of pink in their wing tips and tail feathers. I was unable to get a good video of them due to their distance and using my phone for all my photography. But here they are nevertheless.

Back at the camping area, I found a hidden walking trail that led to a small wild beach one over. I spent several hours there on two separate days leaning against the warm boulders just watching the sea with no one else around. Something about the expanse and the lulling movement was so good for my soul.

With only eleven days left to my trip, I’m taking in what I can while also looking very much forward to returning home. This time away from life as usual has been very good for me; clarifying, allowing what is most important to percolate up into my consciousness. Family. Living somewhere peaceful. Nature close by. Connecting with people in simple ways. Safety (i.e. away from guns.) Quiet. This is what has come up for me.

I am now back at the Airbnb in Girona and have about a week until my final three days which will be spent in Barcelona. I’m not exactly sure how I’ll fill my time.

One thing I will do is vote in the European Union elections — my first time voting as a Spanish citizen. Next week I’ll be checking in at the local post office to see if the ballot I ordered has arrived. Since I reside outside the country I cannot vote at the regular polling places like most citizens. Hopefully it will arrive in time and will be a nice ending stroke to my final days in Spain.

More soon,

Signature above courtesy of one of the young German girls I befriended named Frida. To each of the four members of her family I gave one of the fused glass necklaces I made and brought along to give as gifts.