31 May – Off to Spain today! After posting the blog at McDonalds and picking up propane (gas will be a problem in Spain but with two 13kg bottles we will be fine) we drove down the coast road thru the last of France and into Spain. We found a camp site in Lloret de Mar. This is a largish town with two beaches. We cycled to the first for a look. There seems to be lost of English and Spanish on holiday here. Unlike France, they locals seem to have bowelled over all the old traditional buildings about 50 years ago and erected 5 story hotels and apartments. At the street level the shops sell either, beach gear (including blow up lilos and animals), hats, shoes, fake tattoos or takeaway food. All a bit cheap and nasty.

1 June – We cycled thru the town to the main beach which was steep and had a dumping surf. A bit like Napier with Kaiteriteri sand. Back to the smaller beach near our camp for sun and a swim.
After lunch we moved on to another camp about 20km down the coast. Here the campervans were right on the beach. Before I turned off the motor I had a pommie guy telling me how bad the Dutch and the Germans were and having a general moan!!
The beach at this camp was much nicer.

2 June – We drove the 50kms to Barcelona. We are in an “Aires” here called park and ride. The area is just a parking area in between motorways with security 24 hours a day but the tram leaves from outside the gate. We purchased a 10 ride ticket which is good for all transport and headed of to explore. After some transfers we arrived in the centre of the city. We decided to buy a 2 day pass on the hop on hop off open air tourist bus. This is a great way to see the sights and you don’t miss anything important.
Barcelona was modernised for the 1992 Olympics. It is a beautiful city with wide tree lined avenues and a mix of old and new buildings.

3 June – Back into the city for the other hop on hop off route. A really great trip and we hopped off several times. Antoni Gardi has had a big influence on some of the buildings in Barcelona. He designed in the art nouveau style. The buildings are very weird with bits everywhere. His most famous work is the Sagrada Familia which is a huge church which is still not finished. I think he was having everyone on just to see how outrageous he could be!!
Back to “Lefty” in our park. We could easily lean out and touch the campers either side of us, but it is a great place to stay so close to the centre of the city.

4 June – Off down the coast south again. We stopped off not far from Barcelona at a nice beach camp.(Vendrell Platja) The beach was great and just over the road. Low rise apartments on the beachfront which would have been at least 10kms long. In the evening we road about half its length. Put the duvet away and hope it will not be out until we are Scotland. Even bought a sun umbrella for the beach!!

5 June – Off south again following the coast. Camped again right on the beach at Els Prats. Another different beach. More like an NZ beach with trees along the beach without a high rise building in site. Several swims and sun bathing again. Our site is next to the camp beach restaurant where, as I write this, the band is pounding out Frank Sinatra songs.
We will stop for another couple of nights before hitting Valencia.
I have not mentioned the weather. That’s because there is nothing to say. It’s the same every day. We wake up with sun and about 20 degrees. It is sunny all day topping at 28 degrees.