Picturesque Begur is a medieval village built on a hill rising from the Mediterranean Sea and topped by an imposing castle.  Last evening Begur was lively – a band played in the square while people danced and restaurants did a booming business.  This morning it fairly vibrated with excitement with the first running of the Annual Begur Soapbox Derby!

An eleven-hour flight from San Francisco followed by two hours in Zurich and a second short flight brought us Saturday evening to Barcelona.  We rented a Skoda lift back car – a Volkswagen in disguise – and drove about an hour to Begur.  Young Alistair was a trouper throughout even when we dined at the fashionably late – 11:30 pm – Spanish time.  Dancing in the square added to the relaxed feeling of the evening.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/64513024@N07/21576158666/in/datetaken/

How lucky were we to arrive in Begur for the running of the soapbox derby!  Crowds congregated along the hilly race track which was lined with large hay bales to soften crashes into light poles and other barriers.  Children and adults alike drove their buggies down the track to cheers and exhortations from the crowd to stay on course.

This afternoon we hit the first of several Begur area beaches.  How civilized it was – we brought our lunch of bread and sausage and fruit with wine for Gillian and me, beer for Derek and a nice sippy-cup of milk for Alistair.

It is now evening as I write here at a small cafe, sipping a beer while my family wander and amuse themselves in this very Spanish village.  A great start to a family vacation.