Coming up smelling of Roses (fish and garlic!)

Parillada de pescado:- enough for two!
 

 From the Barcelona Airport hotel we had a very smooth journey back to pick up Yvette. As before the shuttle bus driver dropped us off at the train station, leading to a long wait both there and at the connection, but it was quiet throughout and we could almost relax! The minibus was waiting for us and we were soon inspecting the new site for the parking lot, which is very close indeed to the airport and much tidier. Yvette was clean and shiny but was having her battery tweaked. The significance of this only became clear later! We had a chat with the staff about the move and they told us the torrential rain had caused problems. Ditto!
We spent the next three days at Roses on the Costa Brava, and thus a (mercifully) short drive. We found the hotel we had booked as soon as we entered the town, and it was clear this was a very good choice. Although not front-line and with views of only either the road or garden allotments it is a short walk through to the seafront, the parking is ideal and the rooms are quiet, spacious and comfortable.  Everything fine, then - well not quite! Bob went back to the car to bond with all the stuff we had left in it, and was gone a very long time! He couldn´t even get in! Somewhere along the line in the parking move the battery had be left draining and it was now as flat as a pancake! For the second time we had to invoke the breakdown service, and it was very efficient. A tecnico turned up in his grua and declared the battery dead. He started Yvette up and we followed him gingerly back to his workshop and parted with more money than we liked to get a new battery (with quick release.. note that parking lot people!)

After that we were back on track! Both national and Catalan TV channels were featuring the weather:- showing sunny beaches and rejoicing in this after all the rain. We had three gloriously sunny days, although the wind and evenings were cold, seeming particularly so after the Canaries! The Dali trail remains untouched - this time because the weather was too good! We cycled up and down the wide, well-maintained promenade, and Bob did a long ride inland encountering a river that could only be crossed by a ford. It is a delightful resort:- helped by lack of fear of dealing with dog owners! Take note, Corralejo! 

 

 

There are many interesting restaurants. We were so impressed with Las Palmeras that we ate there on two successive nights.

 

When we found a Chinese shop with the huge cheap wheelie bags we were looking for as replacements our joy was further enhanced and we put Roses on the list of "must return" places and set off across the Pyrenees!