September on the Costa Brava

While July and August bring the summer season which is buzzing and lively, by the time September comes things are already settling back down to normal. This year the summer thunderstorms which mark the first transition came in August, but things continue to cool down during September, often bringing more rain later in the month.

For locals, the swimming and holiday season tend to run up to the Diada (11th September) which is the Catalan national day and signals the start of the school year. The first week of September is still OK for swimming in the sea, and this can stretch to the second week, but normally after Diada life is turning away from the beach and sea back towards walking and outdoor activities.

The second weekend is often taken as the close point for the season and the water park in Platja d'Aro and some of the more tourist-only places or facilities like canoe hire and campsites tend to close. The beaches retain their chiringuito beach bars, but even these are starting to close down and be removed by the end of September. Only the largest places like Lloret de Mar continue to have a tourist-y vibe, with beaches still full, if the sun is out, into the end of the month.

While the beaches are going quiet, there are still holidaymakers about - more normally older visitors unencumbered by school holidays and more for the restaurants and passeos by the beach.

The end of the month also typically brings rain and a freshness to the air after the dry and dusty days of the heat of summer. As a result locals emerge from their summers to head back to their normal work, and return to their active lives after the summer rest. Sports people appear on the beaches and jogging or cycling, preparing for the coming winter sports seasons. Inland restaurants fill with people walking and hiking and taking advantage of the cooler inland areas.

As a result the character changes back to what we would see as 'normal' after the summer madness. We go back to walks and revisit old haunts that were too hot for walking in the summer. It feels like autumn is coming, but still with hot days, but also more rain.