Just as we were getting settled in Torremolinos, Kenny and I decided to take a quick road trip to meet up with my cousins in Lloret de Mar (near
Barcelona). This is our first time in Spain, so we were very excited to get to see a bit more of it and drive along the coast. It had also been more than six years since I had seen my cousins! We rented a car, downloaded maps and hit the
road:
One for the road! There's a churro shop on the way to the train station, we stopped in for a quick to-go churro treatment.
Every time we have rented a car I have secretly wished for a Fiat 500. Not only did I get my Fiat, but I got a shiny blue Fiat to show off for the cousins! Off to a good start...
Spain is Beautiful! Driving up the coast (and further inland at times) was incredible. Fertile valleys with every kind of delicious thing growing (we saw artichokes, grapes, olives, oranges, lemons, all manner of colorful lettuce, and blossoming trees).
Blossoming trees!! Spotted from a random pull-off along the motor way. A wonderful treat for a stop-and-stretch, their scent perfumed a cool breeze which was pleasant in the warm sun.
We booked an apartment for a night to break up the 10(ish) hour drive into two days. When we arrived, the woman at the front desk seemed very excited about the one waiting for us. We rode the elevator to the top floor and opened the door to a two story penthouse! See below:

Such a penthouse! Huge kitchen and living area, two (!) balconies, one of them overlooked a bull fighting arena. What luck!
KITTY! He and his buddy were napping in the sun at a rest stop. They were not as friendly as other Spanish cats. Or at least not as interested in collecting a scratch as payment for modeling.
We went to the beach and found some equipment. I instructed Denise to reel in a boat for us but I don't believe she was serious about the task.
The castle of Lloret! It's actually a private residence, built between 1935-1940.

Cousins! We spent the afternoon drinking mate, catching up and then made a feast. Notice me showing off the blog in the picture on the left. Cast of characters (bottom right, clockwise from left): Cloe, Mane, Maria Laura, me.

Kenny tends to take a lot of pictures. This series captures the occasionally resulting subject fatigue.
Tossa! Just a bit up the coast from Lloret, comes with actual historic castle. Well, actually a lookout/wall combo but equally historical to a castle. Not faked by some eccentric industrialist.
I was held up taking pictures of the street (above) while Denise and Maria Laura went through a secret hole in the wall to a nice view. There was a dog in the opening to greet me and show the way, but the first picture I took was on the wrong setting and got overexposed. So here is a picture of Dog's butt instead.

ALFAJOR!! The cousins were kind enough to share some of their coveted "Havanna" brand alfajores with me. Thank you cousins!!

I tried to be helpful in the kitchen until I realized that I would have to stick my hand in the oven to turn it on... seems like a good way to get burned. I'd better just watch.
We stopped by Granada on the way back. Unfortunately this was just about as much as we got to see of La Alhambra...we didn't make it before siesta and didn't have time to wait for it to reopen.