This iconic area of Girona was once the city's Jewish Quarter. Cross over the canal, away from…read moremodern downtown, and go into the historic part of the city. Known for narrow, winding streets, steep stairs, and vaulted archways, El Call looks straight out of a story book. For this reason, HBO's Game of Thrones filmed some of its city scenes here. You may recognize locations in and around El Call - notably the Catedral de Girona - as parts of the cities of King's Landing and Braavos in the show. I recommend walking the old city walls to get a good look down into the quarter or simply wandering around. Every corner can be a unique photo op. The Catedral and Basilica always provide a point of orientation, so it's hard to get lost. There's a lot of walking to do, but many restaurants and cafés to provide meals, snacks, or just a place to rest. It's a photographer's dream, but you have to be ready for a little hike! If you're interested in the centuries of Jewish history here, don't miss the museum. There are a few small museums tucked into El Call, but the Jewish History Museum is the one to prioritize. Girona is an ancient place with many layers of history, but the preservation of El Call is the crown jewel of this hidden gem.

Such a gem on the Costa Brava. L'Estartit is a small town located about 140 km North of Barcelona…read more It is primarily a resort/seasonal town and it is often associated with nearby (its kind of a suburb) Torroella de Montgrí. Like many I have a visceral reaction to resort or seasonal areas and understandably so. It typically means ridiculous fees, substandard food and the like. However, what makes L'Estartit so different is that the vast majority of the people that come here have done so for years even decades and as such there is a much greater sense of community. Getting there can be an adventure in and of itself. Barcelona is the likely suspect when coming from the US. Girona is closer, but most flights from here at least will hit BCN first. The drive is quite nice ONCE you get out of Barcelona. If its your first time driving in Europe, mind your manners, know how to drive a stick shift, get the optional insurance, prepare for alot of tolls, and for god sakes know how to use a turning circle. Girona province in many ways is the breadbasket of Spain and the landscapes can be stunning. The city itself is quite charming. We stayed in a hillside villa that is the summer residence of my Uncle and be prepared for spectacular views, friendly people, and fantastic food. The beach literally stretches for miles and is easily accessed. The water is clean and the temperature is very similar to Hawaii but a touch colder. We quickly settled into a very satisfying routine. We would roll out of bed and walk down to the Supermercat (a local chain market) grab a freshly baked baguette, get some sliced Jamon Iberico, cheese, fresh fruit, and walk back and enjoy the view and breakfast. Do an activity, like the Dali museum, go to the beach, go to the beach, have dinner, then enjoy the evening as the sun sets over the Med from our balcony. I could do that exact thing for the rest of my life. The town is a perfect spot to explore the whole area. Want to hop to the Dali Museum? no problem, Want to go hunting for Michelin Stars? Easy, we picked up 14 total, Like ceramics? the whole area is know for that. Want to hike to an ancient Castle with commanding views? Done, want to take a day trip to the South of France? Boom its only about 70 km away. But what really makes this place special is the people. Friendly and accommodating, we felt welcome wherever we went. While many simply hit up the biggest city on the map and camp out, and Barcelona is one of the great cities of the world, you really should get out to the countryside to get a real feel for a country.

So yes, while in Spain we had pizza. Those with children (or child in our case) will totally…read moreunderstand. San Marino is a lovely restaurant located right along the Carretera de Torroella (the main road through the town). Its in a mixed use block with shops on the bottom and apartments on the top. It was in agreeable walking distance from our Hillside Villa and while I'm playing it off on my son but we also liked the place enough to go back several times. The pizza was spot on. Thin crust and in a Neapolitan Style it was filling without being too heavy. Margarita: This is usually our opening move at a new pizza place. The reason is simple. Its a simple pizza. Because fo the limited ingredients and clean flavors, it is difficult to hide substandard ingredients. The crust was good. Thin and crunchy with a soft interior. The sauce was good but for our taste it could be punched up a bit, and the cheese was gooey heaven. E'Estaritit: We left off the tuna and were really happy with this one as well. The gambas were plump and juicy and the local anchovies added that salty unami flavor only anchovies can. The crust and sauce were as before. The scattered oregano added a nice herbaceous taste that balanced the fish. Salad with bacon: the greens were super fresh, and the dressing was okay. Kind of an odd ranch. I would have preferred a vinaigrette as the greens needed minimal help. The bacon looked like it had been thrown into the pizza oven so it has a nice crispness to it. The service is super friendly and the menu is in Spanish, English, and Catlan. They do have a reasonable wine list (I stuck with beer) and spending a cool July evening eating al fresco on the sidewalk was awesome.