Europe
Photo Essay from around Costa Brava
There is more delicious food and stunning scenery in Costa Brava than you can shake a Pimientos de Padrón at. We present a photo essay of Costa Brava.
We love to capture our travel adventures in words. We like to put you in the moment with us as we tear around the Tuscan countryside on our scooter. Or we want you to live vicariously through us as we face our own fears when we are deep underground caving in Budapest.
However, sometimes it is just easier to paint a picture in your head with photos rather than words…
Costa Brava in Photos
If you want a place to base yourself in Costa Brava, then start in Girona. Colourful houses, cute bridges criss-cross the winding river, and enough scrumptious food to keep any foodie in heaven. Or a food coma.
Apparently 1 in 10 of these delicious salty Pimientos de Padrón (tiny green peppers an inch or two long) are a hiding a secret spiciness waiting to unleash on the unsuspecting pinxtos eater. Luckily, even though I ate a tonne, I never hit a spicy one.
When we were not eating, we were on a cycling tour along endless tracks with not a soul in sight.
And being shown incredible secret spots like this secluded waterfall by our local cycling guides. I just wish I had my swimming togs.
Costa Brava runs along the northeast coastline of Spain, so there are empty stretches of beaches like this one near the town of Palamos just waiting to be explored. Wouldn’t be a bad place to live and launch your rowing boat through your castle wall.
Sant Feliu de GuÃxols Monastery.
One of just the many gorgeous sunsets we watched to finish off our incredible days during our biking adventures.
I personally couldn’t think of a better view in Costa Brava.
Disclaimer: Cole was a guest of the Costa Brava tourism board for 3 days. And although I can’t claim that I made the Spanish food and countryside look even more beautiful, my opinions and my photos are always my own.
Laurence
October 4, 2012 at 4:32 PM
Some spectacular photos here! Love what you did with the shot of the church at the end – really funky stuff 😀
Cole Burmester
October 4, 2012 at 5:07 PM
Cheers mate. Someone showed me a trick or two recently 😉
Laurence
October 4, 2012 at 5:08 PM
Well, when you’re world famous and touring the world with your camera.. just remember us 😉
Cole Burmester
October 4, 2012 at 5:10 PM
I will probably need someone to carry my tripod for me. Will ask Vera next time haha.
Andrea
October 4, 2012 at 4:40 PM
Stunning photos Cole! Glad we got to hang out in Costa Brava for a couple of days. See you (and Adela?) at WTM. 🙂
Cole Burmester
October 4, 2012 at 5:07 PM
Haha she does exist and will be at WTM! Always fun catching up with you and looking forward to it again.
[email protected] Green Global Travel
October 4, 2012 at 4:41 PM
WHOA! Those Lightroom tips from Laurence are clearly paying off! The first and last shots are especially cool. Keep up the good work…
Cole Burmester
October 4, 2012 at 5:08 PM
Thanks Bret. Can’t take all the credit, considering how beautiful Costa Brava is 😉
BackPackerSteve
October 4, 2012 at 4:58 PM
Awesome pictures, Cole – especially the HDR!
Cole Burmester
October 4, 2012 at 5:08 PM
Cheers Steve. Now if only I could find the time to put together all our video footage from that bike trip…
Pingback: It’s a Wrap: TBEX Europe in Girona, Spain
Vegemitevix
October 4, 2012 at 5:36 PM
Awesome photos Cole, shame I missed TBEX but hopefully will catch up with you and Adela at WTM! Vix x
Cole Burmester
October 5, 2012 at 9:02 AM
Yup we will be at WTM so see you there! Looking forward to it.
Karen @ Trans-Americas Journey
October 4, 2012 at 6:59 PM
Lovely!
Cole Burmester
October 5, 2012 at 9:02 AM
Thanks Karen.
Christina
October 4, 2012 at 11:06 PM
Ah wow, that picture of the waterfall – it looks so un-Spanish, at least in my vision of Spain. Makes me think I really haven’t seen much of Spain yet! Love that scene. Great to hear you had such a fab time!
Cole Burmester
October 5, 2012 at 9:03 AM
On our bike tour there are all these little secret spots hidden away that they guide you to. Well worth the uphill effort 😉
Just One Boomer (Suzanne)
October 5, 2012 at 3:49 AM
You earned your “show and tell” by the Costa Brava Tourism Board. One photo is indeed worth a thousand words (well, some photos, like these, anyway). I now have a good excuse for returning to Spain since we never made it to the Costa Brava.
Cole Burmester
October 5, 2012 at 9:05 AM
Thanks Suzanne! Costa Brava is definitely one of the best spots in Spain, although to be fair we haven’t been right down South yet. Get in touch with the Tourism Board if you ever get to go. They will tell you all the best places to visit.
(P.S. Glad to have you back again) 🙂
Samantha Bangayan
October 5, 2012 at 8:22 AM
Wow! These are absolutely gorgeous photos! My favorite is the one of the secluded waterfall, which looks like an HDR image. Somehow, those very places that not all tourists see are the most special.
Cole Burmester
October 5, 2012 at 9:06 AM
It was edited a little to look HDR but really was more beautiful in person 🙂 These “secret” spots you can really only access if they tell you where they are personally. That’s why I loved it so much.
Shamis @ Gawaya Travel Blog
October 5, 2012 at 8:50 AM
Beautiful photos, Cole! Love the waterfall. I wouldn’t miss to take a dip there. It just so amazing.
Cole Burmester
October 5, 2012 at 9:11 AM
I only had my underwear unfortunately and didn’t want to strip off in front of the group of strangers haha. No need to terrorise them 😉
sasha the traveller
October 5, 2012 at 10:53 AM
You certainly have the photographer’s eye…absolutely stunning pictures. I hope you have printed some out and framed them on your wall as they need to be shown!
Cole Burmester
October 5, 2012 at 6:04 PM
We will once we settle down and have somewhere to hang them 😉
Jeremy Branham
October 5, 2012 at 3:41 PM
What a beautiful area! I’ve been to Barcelona but not the Costa Brava area. Jealous that you got to go to TBEX. Hope you had a great time but I know you enjoyed the views!
Cole Burmester
October 5, 2012 at 6:07 PM
Was a great event and would like to get to the North American TBEX sometime in the future. Bit far for us though.
laini
October 5, 2012 at 4:29 PM
Wow, beautiful shots! Your colors are exquisite!
Cole Burmester
October 5, 2012 at 6:07 PM
Thanks Laini 🙂 Not hard to take good photos with a landscape like that!
Jenna
October 5, 2012 at 5:06 PM
I am really looking forward to taking a long trip to Spain one of these days, and these photos inspire me to visit Costa Brava. Looks like such a great mix of history, natural beauty, and culture.
Cole Burmester
October 5, 2012 at 6:08 PM
We have spent 4 weeks there now and cannot get enough. Need to head further south on our next visit I think! See ya there 😉
Jeff Titelius
October 5, 2012 at 5:41 PM
Such a vibrant tour through Costa Brava my friend. Gorgeous pics! I would have loved to visit the Sant Feliu de GuÃxols Monastery pictured above. And relieved to hear that you never hit a spicy Pimientos de Padrón! Great post!
Cole Burmester
October 5, 2012 at 6:09 PM
I kind of wanted to eat a spicy one to see what all the fuss is about… But glad I didn’t haha. You definitely would have loved the architecture around some of the Spanish villages we visited.
Sharon Glanville at BeBetsy
October 5, 2012 at 5:45 PM
I love reading travel blogs-fun places to visit. Photos are wonderful!
Cole Burmester
October 5, 2012 at 6:09 PM
Come back any time Sharon 😉
Marlys
October 5, 2012 at 5:49 PM
Great shots! Are those deep fried chilis? Were they hot! Yum!
Cole Burmester
October 5, 2012 at 6:10 PM
Definitely fried in something and quite salty. Luckily they are sweet, apart from 1 in 10 apparently.
Debbie
October 5, 2012 at 9:10 PM
Stunning, stunning photos. It looks gorgeous! The waterfall looks so inviting!
Cole Burmester
October 6, 2012 at 9:04 AM
I wanted to just dive right in Debbie!
Andy
October 5, 2012 at 10:37 PM
Really awesome pictures. They make me miss Spain a lot! Although I am a sucker for beaches, I’d have to go with picture 1 or 4 for creativity and perspective.
Cole Burmester
October 6, 2012 at 9:04 AM
I prefer the last photo but just because the ocean looks inviting and the clouds just pop!
Jeff Dobbins
October 5, 2012 at 10:45 PM
Wow. Absolutely stunning. I just got home from the region Tuesday, and you make me want to turn around and head back. Sorry I didn’t meet you at TBEX, but hopefully soon.
Cole Burmester
October 6, 2012 at 9:05 AM
Unfortunately I probably only met about 25% of the people I was trying to meet up with! Would definitely be keen to catch up though Jeff if you make it to Scotland or somewhere else on our travels.
Audrey
October 6, 2012 at 2:33 PM
The cornfields look like a blast! I’d love to cycle through there. 😀
Cole Burmester
October 7, 2012 at 2:44 PM
Very relaxing cycle and such a beautiful spot to do it.
Tim @ Marginal Boundaries
October 8, 2012 at 1:36 PM
Beautiful stuff 🙂
Spain is high on my list of places to head to after I finish up in South America, and these photos only reinforce the desire. Good times, good times 🙂
Cole Burmester
October 8, 2012 at 4:41 PM
Maybe we can swap places then Tim! We want to get to South America sometime soon 🙂
Caanan @ No Vacation Required
October 8, 2012 at 1:48 PM
We completely fell in love with the Spanish coast earlier in the year. Discovering the area on a bicycle sounds especially nice.
Cole Burmester
October 8, 2012 at 4:41 PM
It is great because you can escape all the crowds you usually get in these beautiful coastal spots.
D.J. - The World of Deej
October 8, 2012 at 2:40 PM
Great pics…I definitely missed out at TBEX it seems!:)
Cole Burmester
October 8, 2012 at 4:42 PM
Try and get to the one in Toronto. Even if you buy a ticket now and have to sell it because you can’t go. Totally worth it.
Pete
October 8, 2012 at 4:55 PM
Some really nice shots Cole, I especially like the road through the corn fields. It is composed really well.
I’m really bummed we didn’t make it over for TBEX, but we’ll get to this region eventually.
Cole Burmester
October 9, 2012 at 9:23 AM
Would have been great to finally meet you guys Pete. Oh well, next time for sure!
Angela
October 8, 2012 at 5:58 PM
Beautiful pictures, it’s a stunning region!
Mariana Calleja / TravelThirst
October 8, 2012 at 6:43 PM
Great pics guys! Definitely this place is a little treasure in the whole region. I’ve been able to explore it slowly since living in Barcelona. Totally worth it! Glad you enjoyed. Cheers!
Cole Burmester
October 9, 2012 at 9:24 AM
Cheers Mariana 🙂 You are super lucky to be living in Spain!
Amanda
October 8, 2012 at 10:54 PM
It looks so gorgeous! I especially love that last photo.
Cole Burmester
October 9, 2012 at 9:25 AM
Not hard to take good photos of beautiful spots 😛
Cathy Sweeney
October 9, 2012 at 3:39 AM
Girona is so photogenic, isn’t it? Of course, so is most of Costa Brava. I loved it there. I wish I could have taken a cycling tour like you did. Looks like a great area to do that.
Cole Burmester
October 9, 2012 at 9:28 AM
Peaceful, relaxing and easy cycling. Couldn’t ask for much more than that 🙂
[email protected]
October 10, 2012 at 3:57 PM
I like your pictures of the tourist sports of Costa Brava. It is really inviting me or making me go there very soon! I appreciate the waterfalls! By the way, I must commend you for taking great captures!
Cole Burmester
October 11, 2012 at 9:49 AM
Thanks Mike. Costa Brava is one very beautiful place to visit.
crazy sexy fun traveler
October 11, 2012 at 8:56 PM
Aww, I want to go to that waterfall!
Cole Burmester
October 12, 2012 at 9:29 AM
Get on ya bike then 🙂
Mellisa Turner
October 23, 2012 at 1:24 PM
Absolutely stunning pictures there! Going through these
images leaves a lingering image of Costa Brava. It is just so fabulous. It is
amusing that not one of those green peppers turned hot and spicy 🙂
Cole Burmester
October 31, 2012 at 9:24 AM
I finally got a hot pepper! But it wasn’t in Costa Brava, was down in Vigo 🙂
PurpleTravelKate
October 26, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Love it, your pics really show a lot of the gorgeous sides of the Costa Brava. It’s like a whole bunch of reasons to go all in photos. 🙂