Costa Brava

It’s early morning. The ocean air floats through an open window. The quaint fisherman town of Costa Brava waits outside. Her lover still sleeps under the white sheets. She feels a sudden surge of inspiration and leaps to her feet. An empty bottle of Rioja sits atop the bistro table on the terrace. She slides it aside and sets up her canvas to paint. The first difficult decision of the day; what to paint? The scene outside her window offers too much for the eye. Should she paint the terra-cotta roof tiles that roll to the sea, the jagged cliffs, the woman across the street fixing her ebony hair? The beauty is boundless and consuming. Staring out at the golden, medieval fortress that embraces the sea, she grabs a brush soaking inside a wine glass. She pulls every glimmer of light out of the water and pours it onto the canvas. A pair of gulls glide across the lingering clouds. She watches, then follows on the heels of freedom and strolls the cobblestone streets. Finding the right fit to dine alfresco is not an easy choice. The archaic stone walls of ‘Por Babor’ beckon her with the promise of inspiration. However she had another kind of inspiration in mind that’s only achieved through the tongue. The burgundy awning brandishing the name ‘El Galeo’ hovers over a few silver tables covered by white cloth. She stops, comforting herself with spontaneity, and sits. In the absence of distraction, lost memories and inspirations come rushing in. She welcomes a glass of Cava and watches the happy people walk by. The effervescent language rolls around her as easily as the bubbles in here drink. The warm breeze, alive with the scent of tapas, catches her hair. She inhales deeply like an asthmatic would their inhaler. A passing waiter brushes her shoulder and she smiles. She’s carefree and finding that look in her eyes. A look that’s absorbed in the luxury of absentmindedness. This is bliss.

I close my eyes and this is what I see. Costa Brava, not the barren highways of Toronto as the world and my inspiration seems to shrink away.

Inside the region of Catalonia you’ll find an artist’s haven called Costa Brava or in English; Brave Coast. An aptly named town as a port stronghold for it’s mother; Spain. I believe bravery is a concept that beckons the artist. Walking in the footsteps of those who defended the ideals of a people strokes something in the artist’s soul. At least my own, anyway. The artist is the mirror of life. They will spend their own communicating those ideals inside that sliver in time. Costa Brava embraces the artist in it’s warm arms and whispers of possibilities.

Costa Brava is a quiet hub between attractive day trips. Barely over the hour and you’ll find yourself in beautiful Barcelona. An artistic and architectural paradise. The iconic La Sagrada church waits to be explored by your eager feet. The Park Guell and Casa Mila fire the imagination with bursts of technicolor and whimsy. Stepping outside of the quiet and into the vibrant culture of a city like Barcelona, breathes life into the unaware. You can’t be aware of the pale colour in your cheeks until you step onto the lively streets of a major Spanish city. It’s here that a community comes together to create an experience. Culture explodes from every nook and cranny seemingly just for you. Barcelona draws you in to dine on the purpose of life.

Taking a breath, we’re ready to slow down. It’s time to explore a glorious moment in time for the written word. We hop into a cherry red convertible and head north to Palamos to stroll in the footsteps of Truman Capote during his time writing ‘In Cold Blood.’ Stopping in at the Hotel Trias for lunch is nothing if not necessary. We’ll dine on Palamos prawns fresh from the sea, just as he did and enjoy the aperitif of wandering the halls of the hotel, treating room 705 as a shrine to artistic innovation. Then the coupe de grace of historical gawking; the Salvador Dali home and museum. Heading east for the short trip to the white plaster home. To be able to look in on the father of surrealism is a rare grace in this world and not to be taken lightly.

It’s as if there’s something in the air of the Spanish coast. It’s a place for the romantic soul to blossom like a rose.This is a place for the artist to find their voice. This is a place for lovers to embrace. In fact I’m counting on it. My partner and I have been together for over ten years. He has the ring but we decided to make the proposal a moment not soon forgot. After ten years it has to be the culmination of the passion we feel for each other. Once the looming threat of the pandemic lifts, we will soar into eternity and surrender to love in Costa Brava.