Spain 2011, Day Nine / Ten

Time to go home, we had to be up early to be out of our room for 09:30 and leave the room clean to get our £20 deposit back.  We left our bags at reception and went for a walk along the seafront for on last time, it would be at least 11:00 before the bus to take us home would arrived.

After the walk we stopped off at the campsite pool bar for a full English breakfast, for lunch, that should see us well into the trip home.

I was not feeling that good again, so Dot and the others brought the bags over to the pickup point, while I sat in the sun.

When the bus arrived most of the other waiting picked up their bags and were trying to get on the bus before the new arrivals had even got off, how thick are these people. So after the bus was empty and cleaned, we got the same seats as we had on the way down and so did all the others.

We did move to better seats with more legroom and away from an annoying kid, who had been a nuisance most of the way out.

I felt a lot better on th bus and was trying to take photos through the winnows, unsuccessfully, and eventually the camera batteries ran out.  Just as we entered France though, I came over unwell again, this lasted all through the night and and into the morning in England, I was quite worried for a while. Then at the first service area in England it was gone as quick as it came and I felt well again and wanted a bacon sandwich, something I had watched the others eat, early morning in France.

Then is was the long drag back through England.

In Middlesborough we had to change to a minibus for the last few miles to Hartlepool, I asked the driver if he could drop me and Dot in Billingham on the way past.  He said no, so I said we would just get a taxi from there then, at that he changed his mind. We got dropped about a mile from our house and Dot walked up for the car while I sat with the bags.

Will we go on the bus again, of course we will, if we get another bargain.

Spain 2011, Day Eight

Our last full day in Spain, packed all we could early so we had the whole day for holidaying, then we headed to the center of Salou and the sea front, the beach was very busy, not at all like when we first came down here.

A couple of days earlier Mick had read on the net, that students from English universities, attending some sporting event (Saloufest 2011, an annual event), were causing drunken mayhem. The next day local news claimed that it was all exaggerated by the British press and that some photos were even staged. We hadn't noticed any problems but we were not out late at night.

 

I think it was a bit of both, early on the afternoon the vast majority of these estimated 8000 students where being well behaved but even at this early hour (13:00), some were already drunk and making complete arses of themselves, more later.

Last day, so we had beers and sangria in the bar on the front with comfy settees and good views. A jug of sangria lasted the girls for about three glasses each, four of these students that sat next to us ordered one jug of sangria, each.

 

After our drinks we walked around the headland we had been set on to see what was aground the corner, the answer was a nice sheltered, relatively secluded beach.  We were not out for siting on the beach, so we walked back the way we came to look for somewhere to eat.  We could have claimed a long flight of steps to get into town, but none of us fancied exerting ourselves, so that is why we went back back the way we came.

  

Around the sea front many of the eating places were already full of students, so we looked further inland and even there it was very busy.  We eventual settled for a small place offering a set meal and drink for a very reasonable price.  The staff were very friendly and the service was good.  We had three courses and drinks, all edible some better than others and for once I picked right, we also had extra drinks.  When the bill came we had been charged for less than half of what we had, Mick took the bill back and put them right.  As we were getting read to leave the waitress brought us a bottle of wine for being honest.  Talking to the owner of the bar next door, we discovered the the place we had eaten at, had only been open for two days, no wonder they were so happy we let them know about the mistake.

 

As it was still very early we went back to the bar on the front, the students that were sat next to us were still drinking jugs of sangria.  It was at least two hours later, so maybe it did get a bit rowdy and out of hand down there on a night.

When it started to cool down, we set off to make our way back to the campsite but we did not walk, we still had two trips on our bus pass, so to use them up we got the bus back.

We had a last pints out, in the bar just outside the site, we were not keen on the bar but it was the closest.  We finished the last night by cooking and eating all we had left in the fridge, with a few nightcaps.

Spain 2011, Day Seven

Even though we were up early it was 10:30 before we got down to the main road for the bus. Mick and Bren were behind us as they had gone back for waterproofs and Dot and I were in a shop buying batteries, when Dot saw the bus pull up at the stop. We rushed out of the shop (without getting batteries), Mick and Bren were just coming round the corner, I shouted them to get a move on, luckily another family had held the bus and we got on. Not knowing how the bus pass worked, the driver had to show us what to do, Dot had to hold the card over a sensor four times, once for each ticket. That left us with six more trips on the pass. The trip to the city was a long, round about route and the bus got very full, I hate public transport.

In Tarragona we headed straight to the market on Rambla Nova, a nice big market on a long street leading to the sea. Eventually we reached the end of the market and had a lovely sea view from the top of a cliff, I wondered why we had been going up hill toward the sea.

As I am getting oder I am having trouble with highs, every time I looked over the fence, I got dizzy and had to stand back. I was glad when we made our way towards the Roman Amphitheater, the main reason I wanted to visit Trragona.

After we had a sit for a rest and drink of water in the shade, also a good look at the map, we set off to look round the old town. We followed the road around the outside of the old walls until we came to a gate.

 

  

Here we went inside the walls and as there was a small bar just inside we sat down and ordered four beers (we only stopped there to use the toilets you understand). They only had bottled beers but they were reasonably priced and after using the nasty toilets in there we had another beer. For some strange reason the lady running the bar, would not let Mick take photos inside the bar.

After the beers we continued inside the walls until we got to the next gate, where we popped outside but just for a look.  Then it was back inside the walls for a wander round the old streets to the cathedral.

  

By this time of day it was very, very, hot and I was feeling hungry. I did look in a couple of shops on the street leading up to the front of the cathedral but didn't fancy any of the sandwiches. Outside the cathedral we had a sit in the shade while Mick took some photos, I spotted a nice little bar right next to the Cathedral but it closed just as we decided to go in.

We did go in a smart little bar/restaurant just around the corner and had a beer each and apposed to the other bar we were in, this one had very nice toilets. My beer was not going down too well, in fact I wasn't feeling that good, I assumed it was the heat.

Next we found a large square with bar and restaurants down two sides, we walked right round and eventually picked out an eating place and sat down. The waitress came over and informed us that the food was finished, it had taken us ages to pick somewhere and it was closing, it was 14:15.

We decided to get a snack at McDonalds and have a proper meal back in Salou in the evening, so we made for McDonalds on the main street. The market was over and the mess they had left was incredible but there was an army of cleans working to clear it up.

I was still not feeling well but I didn't want to spoil it for the others but as soon as it was suggested we head back to the bus and Salou I jumped at the chance. We had to wait about 15 mins in the heat and I was very glad when we were allowed to sit on the bus, thankfully the trip back was quicker than the one there. The plan was to get off in town to find a nice place to eat on the sea front but I asked the other if it was ok to just go back to the site.

Back at the site Mick and Bren went in the bar and I went back to the room for a lie down and some water with Dot looking after me. After a about an hour I was feeling much better and we set off to find the others but they were just coming back.

We did go back in the dodgy bar just outside the site for a couple and got food from the supermarket for supper, we would have to eat out another night.

Spain 2011, Day Six

Time to have a day in the sun by the pool, so that is what we did.  The water was a bit cold but it was nice on my aching feet.  I soon got bored and popped over to the pool bar with Mick or a couple of beers while the girls sunbathed.

Before we all changed and showered we headed out of the site to see what the closest bar on the seafront was like.  We sat outside but here there was a it of a breeze along the front, which made it feel a lot cooler than actually was so we moved inside.

Mick and I went to the tobacconists to get bus tickets (a pass for ten trips), while the girls went to the shop to get things for supper, it is years since I smoked but when we were in there I still wanted one.   On the way back to the chalet for supper we stopped off at the campsite bar for another drink, it was much warmer there away from the front.

Early night as we had to get up early in the morning for the trip into Tarragona.   All in all it had been a very relaxing day.

Spain 2011, Day Five

After breakfast, big one again for the others but I cut down to just a sausage sandwich, did not feel that hungry.  We went for a look around the campsite, it is very big, three pool complexes with bars, two receptions and another big supermarket plus six toilet/shower blocks.

That afternoon walking back into Salou, the temperature was up to around 30C (86F), I say around, because one display said it was 33C and another said 29C.  We need not have worried about whether it would be warm in April.

  

It was late in the afternoon before we arrived at the bars, we had left the walk until later, so we could see what it was like in the evening.  So it was about four before we hit the bars, we were talked into one on the front with beers for €2/pint and, two for one on the Bacardi Breezers.  The choice for Breezers was Orange or Lemon but that changed to just Orange, Pineapple was what was brought out though, apparently that was all they had.

We had a couple of drinks while we sat people watching, and the view wasn't that bad (see photo). The beach was a lot busier that the previous day and large groups of teenagers kept passing the bar making for the beach.

The next bar we chose, had big comfortable settees facing the sea, me and Mick had beers and the girls got a big jug of sangria for a change. It was getting cool as we set off to walk back but not that bad.

Walking back for supper we stopped off at McDonalds to use the toilets and as we were in there, we got food and beers, well that saved me a job, or so I thought, I still made pork sandwiches when we got in.

Spain 2011, Day Four

Big breakfast to start the day, sausages, eggs, tomatoes and beans with the obligatory fresh baguettes.  Then a very relaxing morning in the sun reading, making the most of the sun while we had it.

It was well into the afternoon before we ventured out, looking for somewhere to watch the Grand National on TV.  By the time we got into central Salou, it was about time for the race to start, so it was into the first bar with a TV, which happened to be an Irish pub.  As it happens we had plenty of time before the race and ordered four San Miguels, it was the worst beer I had this holiday.  I do not like San Miguel but had to have at least one while I was here in Spain, the taste of it makes me shudder.  I also think it was the worst bar we went in on the holiday, well it was the only one I didn't like anyway.

 

This was our first visit to the main part of the town, so as soon as the race was over, we left the bar and set off to look for places we visited last time we were there in 1994.  The Hotel we stayed at last time was still there, as where some of the bars we used, in fact away from the sea front things looked very much the same.  Anyway we were only in Salou for a week so no time to waste like this, so we headed to the front.

We could not recognize the bar along the front we had used, a lot had changed over the years.  The guys outside the bars/restaurants trying to get us in didn't know how easy the job was with us.  Just tell us how much the beer is and we will be in, €2 (£1.80) a pint with nice seats overlooking the beach, what more could you want.

  

Much later we had a slow walk back to the campsite, as the sun was setting the beach began to fill with people fishing.

Before we went back into the campsite for supper we popped into the bar just outside the site, very handy for the campsite but not the best bar in he world, by a long way.  

Spain 2011, Day Three

Eggs for breakfast, then after spending most of the morning sat outside the chalet in the sun, we set off for a walk. We turned right out of the site instead of left to Salou and headed along the road towards Cambrils, a long walk but we could always get the bus back. We soon got sick of walking the road, so we made our way to the beach and continued along with a sea view. Several beach bars were setting up but it seemed that none were open.

Eventually, after walking for about two miles and having had too many cups of tea before we set off, some of us needed the toilet. Luckily, about the last of these beach bars before Cambrils was just opening, so we got a seat and a beer each (we also used the toilet). The beers came with a small bowl of pork scratchings, nice if you like them but one, looked like a human ear.

Refreshed and relieved we continued on in to Cambrils, across a footbridge over a river, that I had to stop and  take photos of, before we got to the main part of the town.  

 

By now it was 14:30 and we were hungry, so we did something we never ever do at home, we went into a McDonald's and we even got a beer in there.  The food is not the best you can get but it filled a hole and went down very well with the beer.   

 

As we sat finishing our beers, Mick noticed the fishing boats coming in and had read about the fish market in Cambrils and wanted to go and have a look.  By now we had already walked four miles and my feet were hurting, so I sat in the sun just inside the port while the others went in to watch the boats unloading.

After we met back up, we headed into the shopping area of Cambrils for a look around but as usual everywhere was closed. As most places were just opening back up after their siesta, we actually ended up back in McDonald's for another beer and to use their toilets, before finding a bus stop, to get back to Salou.

There were plenty of bus stops for buses going in the wrong direction but none on the side we wanted to go, we had to walk to the edge of the built up area before we found one. As it was still early, we got drooped off at the marina for drinks rather than just going back to the campsite.

I made the evening meal again, chips again but with pork chops this time.