Peering down at Calella de Palafrugell laid out in all its white-washed beauty on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, one thought instantly sprang to mind: this is very close to how I would design Heaven.

Palafrugell is part of the Costa Brava region in Northeastern Catalonia (Spain), and belongs to the province of Girona. This beautiful coastal town is also a fishing village and a small resort destination.

During our trip there, a bus driver deposited us on a street high above the town and although it was quite a walk to reach the area below (and an even longer walk back up the steep hill at the end of the day!), the stunning view that first greeted us was definitely worth it.

In fact, the very first picture I took of Palafrugell and its rocky coastline is now in use as the header photo for my twitter and Facebook accounts and as my laptop’s screen saver. Yep, it was definitely love at first sight!

Several of the people in our group ran ahead to change and jump into the water for a swim, but my Mom and I were happy to slowly walk down the street and then out onto the beach and then along the shore, snapping pictures every few feet and listening contently to the roar of the sea and the squeals of kids splashing around.

It had rained quite a bit during the previous 2 days of our adventures in Spain, but the sun was finally out and the sky was painted in a perfect shade of “Paradise Blue.”

Here’s a very short video clip that we took of the area…

After walking in the warm sand, wading a bit in the shallow part of the surf, and even climbing on top of a tiny rock island for a few more pictures, we made our way to a café and sat out on the back terrace with its million-dollar views.

While others around us ordered a late lunch, I realized that I really just wanted a small ice cream… plus wine! So of course the only sensible thing to do was to order both. At the same time.

We spent the last hour at this little slice of wonderfulness, watching the waves and the people and sipping our large glasses of sangria.

Although I couldn’t stop smiling, I was also a little sad at the thought of having to eventually leave. I was surprised to discover that this tiny Catalonian village felt like a place I could easily call home.

Will I be going back? DEFINITELY!!

NOTE: The closest airport to Palafrugell is in the town of Girona, which is about 33 miles away. Barcelona is located about 83 miles to the southwest. It can get quite crowded in August, when many people come over to the region from Barcelona. But we found it quite warm and not crowded at all during the late Fall. Also, dogs are not allowed on the beach during the Summer months.