A Visit to Costa Brava

"Feelings can creep up just like that."
-as heard in a very slow moving
2001 Asian film called
"In The Mood For Love"

Alan and I stayed at the Hotel Aiguaclara in Begur, Spain (the Costa Brava region) on May 31, 2009 & June 1, 2009. The owners of the Hotel (Joan and Clara) are so kind and helpful. It’s not the most expensive hotel in the area but it’s worth the quaint feeling to be near town.

I remember being impressed by the young, Salvador Dali, postcard photo I saw in the foyer. The eyes were so piercing.

The small town area reminded me of the small town depicted in the classic film ‘Cinema Paradaiso’. By the time you check-out you feel as though Joan and Clara will forever be your friends.

It’s not the easiest place to find but it’s cozy and comfortable, near some fabulous beaches like Si Riera or Temuira. The nearby Platja Castell de Cap Roig didn’t seem to have a very sophisticated crowd but it was worth lying out on this beach for some local people watching, too.

The local ‘Casa Juanita Restaurant’ is ideal for the grilled fish dinner, prepared in a wood oven stove with olive oil, fresh potatoes and onions. It was recommended to us by Joan and Clara. Delicious! The tuna tartare appetizer at the Hotel Aiguaclara Restaurant was quite good. The breakfasts they provide in the morning are ideal, too. We would definitely stay here again. We need to find a good place for paella the next time around.

Twenty-five years ago today:

June 23, 1984
Saturday

This morning we had a couple of ‘kidding around arguments’ but I hate them.

Oh yeah! Last night at ‘The Hub’ I met Danny who cuts hair at Supercuts in Walnut Creek.
“You should come in for a cut,” Danny suggested.
I just may do that.

In the morning Chris Cordellos and I went to Ole’s Waffle Shop and then over to MACY’s. I bought about $100 in shirts (a pretty good deal). We went to Emporium-Capwell in Downtown Oakland.
Chris fell in love with a vest and shorts outfit.
“I’m going to talk my mom into buying them with her credit card,” Chris announced excitedly as he proceeded to telephone her.
He did get her credit card number and ended up purchasing the same shorts and vest at Sun Valley Shopping Center in Concord.

I bought a tie and some black shoes at Grodins.

We decided to go back to his mom’s condo and we ended up having some ‘killer’ White Russian drinks. They were too “buzzingly” good!

We ended up going to The Greek Festival and hung out, eating Greek food. Then we had to drop into the “Bench and Bar” in Downtown Oakland (a gay bar). Another small argument emerged when I bumped into Bob Fadda (a co-worker). I can only guess that Chris is definitely ‘off balance’. As soon as I noticed his negative vibes I wanted to split. Chris was upset. He even hit the rear of his car on a wall and the cops pulled us over because of his radical speeding down Webster Street!

“Just take me home,” I finally said.
Chris was just happy that the cop did not give him a ticket. I was too. After that relief we decided to go to McGee’s on Park Street in Alameda where I saw Steve Gaster and his sister along with a few other friends. We sat there for a while. Vicki Wiltens (who I remember from Alameda High School) was there looking not-so-pretty. She was giving me the eye but I know she didn’t remember me from school. After the stopover at McGee’s bar we went to my place and simply slept. We were tired.