Spain | Barcelona: Blanes (9)

After a day of rest in central Barcelona, we decided on a change of scenery today, taking the little coastal train to Blanes and Tossa de Mar. Gazing out at the sea along the way was so relaxing, and we were full of anticipation for the surprises these two Mediterranean towns might have in store.

On the little train hugging the coast to Blanes, we ran into a group of kids on their way to school. Honestly, even though they were heading to school, every one of them had happiness written all over their face. Watching them joke and mess around, with that stretch of sea outside the window, I couldn’t help feeling that the pace of life here really was something to envy.

A little over an hour later, we arrived at the botanical garden in Blanes. There really was an impressive variety of plants, with separate subtropical, temperate, and Mediterranean garden areas. Honestly, seeing so many plants from different climate zones in one place was quite an eye-opener. It felt well worth making the trip.

Halfway through the botanical garden, I realized the plants might just be the decoration—the real showstopper was that bay. Honestly, this was absolutely the most stunning sea view I’d ever seen, with water so clear it hardly looked real. That incredible clarity really made me feel the trip was worth every bit of effort.

There were quite a few people paddling out on the water, and against that clear blue, the scene was picture-perfect. Sitting up above and watching them, I couldn’t help marveling: how blissfully luxurious must it feel to paddle on water like this?

After taking in the breathtaking scenery in Blanes, we switched to a bus at midday and set off for Tossa de Mar. Honestly, the sea in Blanes had already been so stunning that we were even more eager to see what scenery awaited us at the next stop. This kind of trip, where every stop is a surprise waiting to be unwrapped, really kept us excited to keep going.