Finding our Storybook in Costa Brava, Spain

It seems like just yesterday that we were in Spain. And it is only now, two months later, that we are able to fully digest and appreciate everything that we experienced.

Exploration and discovery were the names of the game. We traversed Costa Brava by hiking foggy trails to majestic fortresses. We drove through medieval towns with the windows down, breeze in our hair, and the eccentric lyrics of Iggy Azalea on our lips. We caught the wind in our sails, and in our lungs, taking turns steering our ship around Medes island. We soared over the coast in ultralight planes and at a slower pace over the Pyrenees in a hot air balloon. By land, by sea, and by air, we breathed in all that Costa Brava had to offer.

We didn’t stop our exploration of Costa Brava there. We ate. Boy did we eat. There were candlelit dinners in historic castles and Michelin starred meals served with spectacles of gusto and wonder. There were nights when our bellies were so full of seafood paella and rich mushroom cannoli that we had to take dimly lit strolls through deserted medieval towns just so that we could still button our pants. There were lazy picnics under whimsical canopies surrounded by vineyards and other afternoons spent tasting every tapas dish that we laid our eyes on. We also attempted to recreate our favorite Spanish dishes under the watchful eye of a professional chef. We tasted so much of Costa Brava and left feeling more than satisfied.

We relished in the sunlight. Laughed until tears rolled down our cheeks and our bellies were sore. There were moments of frustration. Times when our GPS stopped working and we found ourselves stranded on gravel roads in the middle of beautiful nowhere. Other moments when we were so exhausted from the activities of the day that all we wanted was to fall into our hotel beds and close our eyes until the morning. And that hilariously frightening moment when an angry farmer chased our hot air balloon off of his property, causing us to precariously land in three separate fields until we found one he didn’t own. And shockingly, each time we encountered hardships, we shrugged, laughed off our small misfortune, and then continued to inhale the beauty of Costa Brava.

We explored, we laughed, we cried, and we toasted countless glasses of cava to our time in Costa Brava and to our friendship. We were intoxicated by meaningful conversations, deep exploration, and genuine camaraderie. If there’s one thing I took away from our adventure in Costa Brava, it’s that there are times when we need to construct, chase, and manifest our own story. Those two weeks in Costa Brava were like a breath of fresh air for my soul and a storybook trip like this is something that everyone should have the chance to experience at least once in their lives. Where will your story take you?

Expedia tasked us with defining and finding our storybook adventure. We partnered with our cherished friends, Kent and Caanan from No Vacation Required and were graciously hosted by the Costa Brava Tourism Board. As always, all opinions are our own.