Camprodon

We arrived in Camprodon today, after a two hour drive from the coast. The journey took us through the town of Figueres, birthplace of artist Salvador Dalí. There is a museum, dedicated to his work, but we didn't stop. The town is a difficult little place to negotiate, completely devoid of direction signs in the town centre. Once we were back on course following the N260 to Olot, the road climbs higher into the Pyrenean foothills. The scenery changes - the hills become steeper and greener, and the countryside no longer looks dry and parched.

Camprodon is situated at an elevation of 3000ft, well beneath the tree-line but feeling very much like a mountain village. The climate here is different to that on the coast. It's noticeably cooler at only 15 degrees, and its clear from the state of the ground and the local rivers, that there has been considerable rainfall recently.

The town is initially busy today with other Spanish tourists. The local shops are very popular and there is a noticeable abundance of charcouterie butchers, selling dried hams and sausages. By mid-afternoon though, most of the shops have closed, and the tourists have dispersed.

Our hotel dates from 1906, and although the rooms have been tastefully modernised, they still retain their original character. Downstairs, there is a restaurant, ballroom, and a small bar. The bar is not a lively place - more of a rest room for some of the older Spanish residents. If you're looking for something with a bit more atmosphere, the tapas bar next door is a lot more appealing. At the back of the hotel, there is a terrace overlooking the River Ter, and a bridge to the private gardens and swimming pool.

We don't have much planned tomorrow - perhaps a short drive further up the Vall de Ter, to visit some of the local villages.

Our internet connection is provided free by the local ajuntament, but is rationed at 20Mb per day. So, we will only post a few of our best photos every day on the blog, and upload the remainder to Picasa, when we get back to Montpellier on Thursday :-)

Camprodon