I spent a week in Barcelona doing an intensive Spanish course, but still had some time left before I needed to be back in London so I got in touch with the Wicked people and organised a camper. I bid farewell to my friends from Spanish language school in Barcelona, bought a sleeping bag and towel from a department store, and embarked on a 10 day mission to get the Dukes of Hazard camper, General Lee, back to London.
Being early November much of the Med coast was deserted of tourists as I headed up to Roses. Consequently, a lot of campsites are closed at that time of year so I was glad to have a Lonely Planet and phoned the campgrounds ahead. I often found it difficult to find open tourist information places on the move as they where either in siesta or closed by the time I arrived at my destination.
Just above Roses on the Med is a great little town called Cadaques. Very different from the usual high rises and vacant holiday houses.
My Spanish leg of the trip took me through Andorra and over to Basque country to check out San Sebastian and Mundaka, keeper of the longest goofy foot wave I have ever seen. As you come into Andorra from Spain, you’ll immediately notice shopping malls set up to cater for Spanish customers. Be careful what you purchase and the quantity of because the French do a thorough job of inspecting your freight when you come out the other side – especially when you’re a young solo male traveller in a bright orange van. People in Andorra are generally friendly and speak a variety of languages in the shops.
Andorra was freezing! Two days before I left Barcelona I was sun baking on the beach so I had no idea I would run into thick snow on my travels.
The Bay of Biscay greeted me with windy wet weather and San Sebastian seemed deserted. I parked the car and got into town, and wandered through the old town, which was lovely. There are loads of bars crammed into the old city and every one was full to the brim with appetisers to enjoy with your drink. I would recommend going there in the summer to take in a language class and seek out some waves.
