Blogs from Roses, Catalonia, Spain, Europe

A long drive today, longest of the trip and Bob really had to psych himself up as still not 100% right after the iffy food of Monday. Not helped by knowing this was not going to be an easy drive. Circumventing Taragonna but worse, Barcelona, can never be an easy drive and it wasn't. The countryside and views especially on the first half of the drive are good with high peaks to the left, west and glimpses of the sea to the right, usually mixed with views of the high rise blocks which fill the coastline. At first the foreground was filled with orange trees, millions of them but they gradually gave way to olive trees the further north we went. We filled up with fuel before we left Valencia and then hit the motorway. So ... read more

Issy's feeling worse than ever, and if she doesn't improve soon I think we might need to head out in search of a doctor. The chemist should have finished his siesta by now, so I decide to set off before he has a chance to start his next one. Issy's Googled the Spanish versions of the drugs she's after and writes them down so I can show them to the chemist. I hope she's got them from a reputable site; her list doesn't seem to include anything that looks like "el cocaine" or "la heroin" so hopefully I'll make it back without getting arrested. I say a cheerful "hola" to two ladies with buckets and mops who are cleaning the area outside the apartments' garages. Getting the car out and then pointing it in the right ... read more

We‘re tired after a day of travelling so we sleep in. Issy's cold‘s still not great. We eventually manage to rouse ourselves and set off for the Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de L'Emporda, which is a large national park just to the south of town. It comprises a series of wetlands extending down to the coast, and is apparently a haven for bird watchers. We set off along one of the walking trails, which we’re told is a round trip of around eight kilometres. Bird watchers seem to be well catered for - lots of bird hides, in the form of small wooden buildings with slits in the sides so that you can do your observing without disturbing your prey (which in this case probably isn’t the right term given we’re in a national park). Everyone ... read more

Not far to go today, not far at all. Just round the bay north to Roses and a change of campsite. Packed up and away by 10 and off to Camping Salata on the edge of Roses. Big queue at reception. If we hadn’t booked on Friday we would not have got a pitch today. Just walked round the site and every pitch is full. This campsite only went ACSI this year and not surprised it’s full given it’s location only 10 minutes walk away from a gorgeous soft sand beach and 5 minutes by car from Roses town. We have a pitch in a corner, tucked away, spacious and only problem is the iffi wifi which will probably not be good enough to load this to the blog site. Annoying as the wifi is not ... read more

Rain was forecast for early morning so Bob packed the awning away before we went to bed but the rain had not appeared when we left though the sky was pretty dark. Spent a restless night plagued by the mossie bites we’ve collected. Small mossies but with a deadly bite. Managed to get some water into Tandy before we left. Not easy, only tap apart from sanitaire sinks is right at the campsite entrance and even then badly positioned for actual use. Though the campsite is brilliantly located for visiting Arles and has a lovely pool it is sadly lacking in all facilities connected with water. Really more important to build that second sanitaire block than the water slide methinks. The odd drinking water tap somewhere near to the pitches could come in handy to. Off ... read more