Join Outdoor Rec in Spain’s Lloret de Mar

Shake out the winter blahs on the Costa Brava

Story and photos by Marie DeLopez

414th Base Support Battalion Marketing Office

In the southernmost tip of the Costa Brava and only 70 kilometers from Barcelona lies Lloret de Mar, a broken coastal relief with cliffs more than 100 meters high. Granite rocks descending into the Mediterranean Sea form coves with the most incredible opportunities for diving and other water sports.

Situated in La Selva County, the Costa Brava landscape is dominated by dense pinewoods that stretch out to the coastline.

With a history dating back to the third and second centuries B.C. Lloret de Mar, despite being a modern and dynamic tourist town, has retained its own personality and managed to preserve the identity and tradition of bygone centuries.

Lloret de Mar is considered to be the most important tourist resort in Spain featuring a myriad of sporting facilities and an extensive variety of shopping, leisure and culinary opportunities added to the cultural, scenic and architectural delights the town has to offer. During the day tourists can enjoy the beaches and water sports such as swimming, scuba diving, boating or practicing paragliding.

The interesting network of narrow shopping streets, full of colorful gift-shops and boutiques offer the perfect opportunity to shop for handcrafted or designer items at  reasonable prices.

Many restaurants offer gala events or dinner shows with flamenco and medieval acts included as standard entertainment.

To try the conventional flavors of Catalonian cuisine such as arroz negro (black rice flavored with squid’s ink), suquet (fish and potatoes) or crema catalana (similar to the French creme caramel) it is strongly recommended to venture into the back streets and taste the local cuisine where fish and shellfish add their flavor to game and to products from the fields. Broad beans, peas, cod salad (“esqueixada”) or cold roast aubergines, onions and peppers (“escalivada”) are some starters not to be missed. Chicken or rabbit with seafood, sea bass, gilt-head bream or prawns make up interesting second courses. Cold meats with “pa amb tomaquet” (bread with tomato), very typical from the region, round off any menu.

Among the most traditional desserts, seasonal fruits such as strawberries, peaches, oranges or watermelon make their way to every table. And, of course, in Spain it is said that nothing brings out the flavor of a delicious meal better than wine. Lloret de Mar is no exception, with a great variety of fine wines from which to choose.

Exciting nightlife

Exciting nightlife is everywhere as soon as the sun goes down, with lots of late-night bars, restaurants, nightclubs, flamenco shows, a casino and, of course, the famous Gran Palace Cabaret. Lloret de Mar features a host of all-night discos offering everything from karaoke to flamenco.

The entire city is constantly bursting with late night music bars, discos and nightclubs. Two dance floors discos, multiple bar establishments and impressive laser shows all set in themed surroundings are just about the norm in this Costa Brava resort.

Big name DJs make their home at Lloret de Mar bringing the newest themes of house, mellow, trance, swing, hip hop and retro. Some very exotic discos feature glass dance floors with an aquarium underneath your feet and decorated with exotic birds, large palm trees and bamboo cabins.

In addition to the broad range of entertainment, there are also plenty of cultural, architectural and natural attractions. The Santa Clotilde Gardens and the Parish Church top the list of must-see sights while in Lloret de Mar. The Santa Clotilde Gardens were planted in an area of spectacular beauty atop a cliff with breathtaking views over the sea, in the spirit of the Noucentista movement in Catalonia. The peaceful waters of the nymph’s pond and running water in the countless fountains and spouts create an endless gallery of rain. The gardens offer a soothing experience after having spent hours sightseeing and strolling.

Another must see is the gothic Parish Church built between 1509 and 1522. The church’s Chapel of the Holy Sacrament built in 1916 features seven large paintings representing scenes from the Passion of Christ which were found in a loft of the bell tower where they had gone unnoticed for years.

There are also plenty of options when traveling as a family.

Lloret de Mar is famous for its water parks. Families traveling with children can take advantage of the no-cost transportation to the local water parks available in the city center of Lloret de Mar. Children can enjoy glass-bottom boats rides, zigzag water slides or raft rides.

For a slower pace try the family and hydrotherapy pools. There are two choices of water parks. Blanes, a neighboring resort town located about a 10-minute drive from Lloret de Mar features a water park with dolphin, sea lion and parrot shows.

But if getting the children’s feet wet is what you are looking for, they also have water slides, a reptile house, children’s zoo and a boating lake. Youngsters can also enjoy go-carting, hit a few balls at the tennis courts or try the skies by taking a tandem paragliding ride.

For a more relaxed and even romantic note pleasure cruises and horse-back riding on the sandy beach are also possible.

Outdoor Recreation Centers in Hanau and Giessen are now offering a fun-packed deal for spring break. The deal runs from April 8-16. The price includes round-trip transportation by bus, six overnights in a four-star hotel located 50 meters from the beach with breakfast buffet, lunch and dinner.

Call Giessen Outdoor Recreation at mil 343-8207/8202 or Hanau Outdoor Recreation at mil 322-8891 for more information on these and other trips available.