Barcelona and in to France

Sat:  17^th May.  A lovely sunny day…we rode up a track which was to lead us to the flamingos but when it became too soft for the bikes, and we couldn’t see an alternative path, we turned back to camp, ate breakfast, packed and left, intending to visit l’Ampolla on our way through to the main road.  Once again we encountered the parking problem and so had to be content with a drive through the very attractive and popular fishing village with its many cafes packed with holiday makers, and headed on to the autovia towards Barcelona. 

Just before bypassing the large city of Tarragona, we noticed a Caravan & Camping Accessories Shop on the other side of the road, so turned around as soon as we were able and went back in the hope of finding that elusive barbecue we’d been searching for and we were finally successful!  The very one Mike had seen on the internet, the last of its kind in the shop, marked down by 20% and because the handle was missing from the box, we were given a further 20% off the purchase price.

Oh Happy Day!!! Mike wore his smiley face for the rest of the day!

It was a very sad occasion whem Mike'sfavourite old faithful BBQ had to be consigned to the bin.

The final stretch of today’s journey was on the C31, following the coast along the cliffs with fabulous views of the sea

almost all the way into Camping Tres Estrella in Gava, not the best campsite we’ve stayed in but convenient for visiting Barcelona, about 10kms north.

In the late afternoon we caught bus #L95 at 2,15 euros each into the centre of the city and spent two or three hours strolling about along with thousands of others, happily wandering through the little shopping streets until we came to a small tapas bar where individual tapas were available for 2,00 euros each, so went in, chose our tapas which we thoroughly enjoyed and washed them down with a glass of beer each.  (Each tapas is adorned with a toothpick which is left on the plate and counted at the finish to ascertain the price of those eaten).

We’re booked in for two nights and will go into the city again tomorrow, there’s much to see and do in Barcelona, we will do our best in the time we have here.

Tues:  20^th May.  We were so impressed with Barcelona that we decided to stay three nights rather than the two originally intended.  Although we’re not big city people, and Barcelona is a huge city, we loved our time here. Many of the beautiful old building are 4, 5, or 6 stories high but for a large city, there are very few high rise buildings.  The city boasts lovely wide, tree lined main streets as well as the narrow shopping streets, several plazas and no shortage of cafes/bars/restaurants, an efficient metro system and the people are friendly and helpful…a wonderful city!  We took a few photos…….

It was an easy ‘get out’ of Barcelona this morning, due to the excellent road system here in Spain and it wasn’t long after leaving the camp that we were on the autovia A22 heading north then west to Lleida and north west through gorgeous farming country to the village of Alquezar, chosen as our overnight stop as it’s in our Camperstop Europe Book and what a surprise we had in store!  It’s an amazing ‘historic’ village, overlooking a gorge and boasting a castle,

and once we’d parked in the car park above the village, we walked down and through the village to the castle, did a little tour for 5,00 euros each and walked back, by which time we were worn out and happy that we’d bought a cooked chicken in the supermarket in Lleida which we ate with a salad for dinner, so no cooking tonight. There was no need to go to the paying camp as several others slept in their vans in the cark park, so we felt quite secure and it was free.

Wed:  21^st May.  It rained off and on through the night, very heavily at one stage with loud thunderclaps which woke us but thankfully it was brief and we were back to sleep in no time.  It was another lovely drive today, this time to Jaca, through mountains, three tunnels, wonderful scenery and good roads all the way.  We reached Jaca at about 2.00pm and because we were both exhausted after our three days in Barcelona, and our tour of Alquezar, have spent the afternoon reading and snoozing, recharging our batteries.  Not long after we arrived, there was a heavy rainfall, followed by a  huge hail storm accompanied by loud thunder…and then the sun came out!  It’s colder than we’ve been used to in the last few weeks and we’re back in jeans and jumpers.  An early night is on the cards!

Thurs:  22^nd May.  We were late rising this morning, are hopeful that we are just about over the weariness and were happy to leave Camp Victoria in Jaca, the most expensive and the least inviting campsite we’ve experienced (definitely not recommended). Our destination this morning was San Juan de la Pena, an ancient monastery 24 kms west of Jaca and via a stunning drive which took us through the village of Santa Cruz de la Pena and up a winding road into the mountains. After parking Boris and buying our tickets, we were taken by bus a little way down the mountain (too far to walk) to the monastery which is built into the rocks, absolutely amazing…I hope we took enough photos!

There is a replica of the holy grail in the apse.

Once our visit had ended and we’d returned to Boris, we went back through Jaca and on to the N330, heading north to France. 

And so it was ‘Adios’ to Spain and after our few weeks there, with still so much more to be seen, we feel that we have seen enough to know that we’d be more than happy to return if ever the opportunity arises.

The Col du Somport seemed too steep and winding for Boris to negotiate so we drove  8kms through the Tunnel du Somport, emerging at about 2.00pm to say ‘Bon Jour Francais’. 

We’re back!!  Continuing along the road, which had now become the N134,  we found the scenery fascinating.  We’re in the Pyrenees and there is snow on the mountains, it’s cold and windy, it’s green, lush, just beautiful.  At Asasp-Arros, we turned off onto the D918 and headed east through a very pretty forest to Arudy, our overnight camperstop.  This was in a large grassed field by a river, with gravel sites, power, water etc. for 10 euros.  We were greeted by a funny little black dog, furry and with skinny legs, who adopted us only to abandon us when another campervan turned up.  A bike ride into the town revealed very little, very few people about and only a couple of shops open so it was back to camp for an early night.

Fri:  23^rd May.  We left in the sunshine for the drive to Lourdes, stopping on the way at the Grottes de Betharram.  There we met two other couples, Greg and Lisa from Boyanup and Kerry and Mark from Brisbane (the ladies are sisters), waiting for the 11.00a.m. tour and as there was more than half an hour to kill, we all visited the café for coffee and chatting.  The grotto was discovered more than a century ago, in summer 5,000 people per day visit (there were only 9 in our group), it is an hour and twenty minutes tour and is absolutely fantastic. 

Our guide was a cheerful, friendly little Frenchman who entertained as well as informed us. 

A thoroughly enjoyable tour…and I don’t like caves, or tunnels!

On then to Lourdes.  By this time it was raining, the sky was black so we just stopped there for lunch and were on our way again, north on the N21 to Preignan.  An uneventful, unexciting drive to our overnight stop, a freebie!  We’re in the carpark of a sports club, with four other campervans and there is a big petanque tournament taking place at present as well as soccer training.  Our English neighbours, Anne & Keith, kindly gave us access to their internet so that we could check our emails, and thanks to them, we’ve received a message from the Melbournians (Mireille & Mark) we met last year in Bruges and it seems possible that we could cross paths in the next day or so…here’s hoping!