Advertisement
Published: June 13th 2008
Edit Blog Post
Vilanova de Prades
Camp site where we didn't stay. Ola Bo & Dud,
So here we are at Vilanova Park; this is the biggest camp site that we have ever visited, complete with log cabins, static caravans, indoor and 2 outdoor pools, and a small (very smelly) zoo. Our parcella is huge and we have a wonderful view over Vilanova and down to the sea.
The town of Vilanova is uninspirational and bland; being only 25 miles from Barcelona and having an excellent rail link it is the home of commuters. Trains to Barcelona are every 15 minutes and it costs €5.20 return - the trains are clean, on time and go right into the heart of the City. Unfortunately, our first visit to ‘suss’ out where to go and what to do resulted in misfortune. We had a really lovely day but .............. boarding the train to come home Howard went in front of me (I was struggling with aching foot) and climbing up onto the train (3 steep steps) he began to fall back onto me. Howard had to grab hold of what he could, and we managed to regain our footing. Once on the train and sitting down, he said that the man alongside him suddenly
En route to Siurana
Over millennia past, water has carved these grooves in the rock face. turned towards him and started pushing him backwards, he thought that he may have been blind and he smelt of drink ...... anyway, the long and the short of it is that his wallet had been expertly removed from the zip pocket in his trousers. It did rather put a downer on the day - fortunately, he only had about €50 in cash and he was able to cancel bank cards immediately. His driving licence went too but we’ve got a replacement on its way. What really does restore your faith in human nature, is the fact that the security staff at the station did not speak English, so 2 young women came over to help. We were told that we needed to go to the Police Station to report the theft - but we had no money (well, just enough for the bus fare), so the girls put us in a taxi, told the driver where to take us and paid our fare - how’s that for kindness. Also, the Police were superb and extremely apologetic for our experience - the detective who took our statement also escorted us to the bus stop (cos we didn’t know where we
were). So, we were victims, but it’s not going to put us off a return visit into the city.
Before the weather became completely unreasonable, we headed for the hills; I was recently watching a BBC programme about the Spanish Bluebell. I didn’t know that such a flower existed so we headed off in search of the illusive bloom. Vilanova de Prades was somewhere we had wanted to spend a few days but time did not allow. When we saw the camp site and surrounding area we were actually quite pleased that we had not made a special effort, it’s very remote, built on a rock and not very stimulating. However, things improved when we took a wrong turn and I spotted a sign for a mirador. We followed the road twisting and turning climbing to about 3,500 feet to the village of Siurana. This village has obviously been strategically significant in Spanish history as there are various assorted plaques commemorating battles which have taken place in or around Siurana. Unfortunately, try as we may to translate the plaques, it would appear that they are in an older form of Spanish or Catalan and our translator does not recognise
anything which is not standard language.
Our journey home took us even higher into the mountains and gave the most magnificent views over the plains of Spain and right down to the coast. And the Spanish Bluebells? Not a sign, but look at the photographs below to see what we did find - good or what?
So, our first couple of weeks on the Costa Dorada has given us highs and lows of spirit as well as travel; and the weather, just don’t get me going about the weather, one day it’s glorious and the next dull, overcast and raining - 23c the other day, I had to wear socks and a sweater, goodness only knows how we’ll cope when we get back to the UK.
Only 6 more sleeps to go and then you’ll be visiting - can’t wait.
Love & Hugs & Kisses
H & H x
Advertisement
Tot: 0.129s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 7; qc: 51; dbt: 0.069s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb