Tossa de Mar, Then and Now

This post is written by "Señor Honey".    

While our visit to Tossa was not intended as a "history tour" I should mention that I was last here fifty plus years ago.......my first trip abroad, as I was living in England then.

We have attempted to recreate photos to match the locations when I took them back in 1962; while much remains the same, many changes have occurred from what was a quiet fishing village.

                       

The most obvious difference is the change to tourism from one where most inhabitants worked in the fishing industry.

It wasn't until I was looking closely at the old photos that I realized this one of a young German girl (don't even ask!) was taken with the Hotel Diana in the background.

That is were we stayed this trip and is famous for being the hotel that Ava Gardner and her husband Frank Sinatra stayed when the movie "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman was made in Tossa de Mar in 1950.

So now you can see the before and the after.........sometimes things change or stay the same..........and so life goes!

A Lazy Day in Lloret de Mar

#LloretdeMar#Taverna de l'Abat#TossadeMar#CarmensCafe

We travelled a short distance from Tossa to Lloret following the coastline on a road with many switchback curves similar to the swinging and swirling of a Flamenco dancer's skirt.

We strolled the beach boulevard and then the town's main shopping street for a little retail therapy.

               

                     

We then settled in at a very vibrant café with great Spanish music playing.

        

  

The waitresses were dressed to the nines in their "Flamenco" costumes ... this evening they will dance and sing the night away.

                 

We returned to Tossa and found a new place for a late lunch ... at the entrance to the old Town on the Ramparts.

Delicious food, great service ... alfresco dining in the sunshine!

  

             

The View from the Top!

Today the sun was shining brightly all day ... perfect for another climb, stroll to the "Vila Vella Ramparts"!

Vila Vella or the Old Town of Tossa is the only remaining fortified medieval town on the Catalan coast.

In 1931 it was designated as an artistic-historic monument .

The original structure dates to the beginning of the 13th century.

From high above the views are amazing of the new town, the beaches and beautiful blue waters of the sea.

We discovered an easier way to get to the top than walking the winding cobblestone streets that ascend the hillside ... lucky for me, otherwise I may have missed the stunning views from the top.

We did walk up but it was not as noticeable that we were climbing ... Up, up and away we went!

We did tour the Museum while we were at the top ... which was very impressive.

            

Chagall came to Tossa de Mar in 1934, stayed the entire summer and called it "blue paradise" ... 

The only Chagall painting in Spain is on display at the museum.

After our morning of climbing and culture, our afternoon included sangria aperos, a seafood lunch, a siesta and soaking up the warmth of the sunshine.

We enjoyed some tapas ... Small fried shrimp, cod fritters and monkfish croquettes ...

Rosejat de fideos ... Noodles fried in olive oil with mussels and shrimp

Delicious food at "Can Carlus".