Making ourselves at home

Our home for the best part of a week

Tine & Daniel trying to escape?

Daniel photobombing Tine & Nicole

What a view from the toilet...

...the living room...

...and the kitchen area!!

Yes, the outdoor shower came in very useful with solar-heated water

Our hosts in 2019...

...and in 1993: Philippe, Daniel, Jérôme, Matthieu, Fanny, Nadine, Raph, your bearded faithful blogger and Nicole.

Presumably Jérôme was taking the photo here

The 'new' marina at Portbou

Another walk down into town, this time to the new harbour...

...perfectly nestled into the small bay.

We were invited onto one of the yachts for a spot of lunch...

...with lots of takers for leftovers!

That evening there was a partial eclipse of the Moon (thanks to Nicole for the photo, mine were nowhere near this standard)!

Next day our new friends left Portbou for Saint Nazaire...

...that's a VERY long way via the Balearic Islands and Gibralta.

Walk via Portbou cemetery

One walk down into town took us through the cemetery, perched above the sea in a most idyllic setting.

Built on the cliffs, the tombs are stacked in tiers above ground

If my memory serves me correctly Maria Pedrosa de Lloveras was one of Daniel's ancestors

Within the cemetery there is a memorial to the German philosopher Walter Benjamin who ended his days in Portbou

 More information at https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/walter-benjamin-memorial

The old beach at Portbou

Another trip down Memory Lane to share with you. Back in 1993 we used to walk down a steep staircase made in the rocks, to a pebble beach where we would swim in the clear Mediterranean. Years before, this 'beach' had been where glass bottles were dumped over the cliff, the sea playing its part in making very colourful pebbles!

Tine, Philippe & Nicole making their way down the steps in 1993

Different angle, same steps today

Jérôme & Matt jumping off the rocks...

...Phil & Raph sticking to shallower water.

Raph, Daniel, Phil, Nad & Fanny back in 1993

Today there's no beach...

...and your intrepid blogger ventured into the old carpark where the glass used to be tipped (now no official access to anyone).

Apologies to Nicole if any of my information is wrong. My maxim for life: if in doubt, make it up!

A few days in Portbou

Our good friends Nicole & Daniel often spend time in Portbou in Catalonia in Daniel's old family holiday home. We last visited in 1993 so we were well up for a return visit this July.

And what a view, just as we remembered

Tine capturing the moment...

...and Daniel too?

The little harbour is new since last time...

...and looking very peaceful at dusk.

Another couple of day & dusk photos: the small town of Portbou with the old frontier to France behind the buildings top right

Who recognises Nadine & Matthieu at the house in 1993?

Nicole often comments on here so my faithful readers will be good friends with her!

Beach walk & Pete comes to stay

More of my regular walk, I'm afraid...

Nothing very exciting about the first few photos...

...but each time I do my walk I realise how much I am blessed to live in such an idyllic spot.

It's the beginning of July and there are very few people about...

...but the occasional sea-food fan doing 'pêche à pied' as it is known over here (fishing on foot literally).

I even spotted mate Dick's boat!

Your faithful blogger putting his best food forward, as always

My brother Pete came to stay for the summer, here with young Sacha at La Forge restaurant...

...and learning intricate games with the family!

Normally the albizia flowers just in time for Kate & Silv's visit. This year it flowered, but no visit!

Finally Tine modelling her latest après-swim wear. Merci Matalan!!