Can Mascort Pharmacy (23 Raval Inferior Street) is located in the heart of Palafrugell, on the way to or from the Church of Sant Martí and, further on, the Fraternal Center in Plaça Nova, just a few meters from the market and the legendary Carrer Estrecha de Josep Pla. From the doorway, when you see the pharmacy at street level, it will seem as if time has stood still. Everything is just as it was at the turn of the 19th century, when the Mascort family opened it in 1789. The image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which adorns the wooden shelves and is a favorite among fishermen, is still present. "We know that for a time, during the Civil War, it was hidden under crates, so I restored it myself, so it could shine again," explains Lourdes Gaude, who, along with her partner, Alfred Villagrasa, are the current owners of the café-pharmacy.

More than 100 kilometers of coastal paths run the length of the Costa Brava, from Blanes to Portbou. Sometimes they are steep and rocky, winding through pine forests and along cliffs, right next to the sea. Historically, fishermen and sailors used them to travel on foot between coastal towns, patrolled by the Civil Guard and the Carabineros to control smuggling. Now, they are frequented mainly by hikers on trails or beachgoers seeking access to more secluded coves. But in many places along this route, there are barriers. Despite being a public area, villas and private properties block access with threatening signs, forcing walkers to take detours along forest tracks or footpaths. In Garbet, A property belonging to the Peralada Group diverts pedestrians for 300 meters over the rocks. In Lloret, a mansion belonging to a Kazakh tycoon It also closes the path, and in Palafrugell, from Golfet beach to the Cap Roig Gardens, owned by the La Caixa Foundation, it is impossible to walk along the seafront.