Last summer we went to Nerja in southern Spain and thoroughly enjoyed both the place and the surrounding area. This year it’s just my wife and I. We are tempted to go back to Nerja but are a little apprehensive about thinking “it’s not as good as last year”. Could you recommend a similar type of place? — Roy Crosby
It’s always taking a risk to return somewhere with intensely positive memories. For me, return visits work well with cities — so long as you stay in a different area, to generate a fresh perspective. In a small location such as Nerja, that is not so easy. So instead, allow me to recommend another intensely enjoyable Spanish seaside resort.
Cadaques is a whitewashed village on the Costa Brava in northern Spain, wedged haphazardly between the mountains and the Mediterranean on the way to nowhere, except contentment. Salvador Dalí called Cadaques home, and the surrealist’s former home is the main tourist attraction. The main pleasure, though, is wandering beside the shore or up into the hills.
Being enchantingly off the beaten track, it is therefore difficult to reach. The most straightforward route, unusually for Spain, is by train.
The 9.17am departure from London St Pancras arrives at Paris Nord at 12.47pm, giving you 80 minutes to cross the French capital to Gare de Lyon — and hopefully eat a plat du jour at Le Train Bleu, the station’s wonderful brasserie. Then board the 2.07pm TGV for the five-and-a-half-hour journey to Figueres, with bus or taxi connections to Cadaques. Alternatively, fly Ryanair to Girona and travel by train to Figueres.
Finally, for my most recent story on Cadaques, bit.ly/Cadaq is the location you need.
Email your queries to s@hols.tv
