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.

Spain 2011, Day Two

By the time it was morning we were leaving France for Spain, although we were woken early for a comfort stop.    As we drove into Spain a cold coastal fog drifted over the motorway and we began to fear the worst for the weather, but by the time we were passing Barcelona the sun was shining and it was starting to look good.

By 11:30 we were in Salou at the campsite and in our accommodation for the week and outside it was nice and hot in the sun.

  

Sorted in the chalet we set off for a walk into Salou town and by 14:30 we had been to the supermarket and were at the Marina, where we walked to the end of the pier and all had a cool refreshing beer I had thoughtfully bought for us.

  

It had been a long day and we had already walked over a mile so instead of walking all the way into the centre we just had a look around the area close to the marina and train station.  Being near the station we were considering a day out on the train later in the week but that would have to be worked out later.

 

Time for a beer and we could not see a bar open but there was a kebab shop wth beers, so we had a couple in there.  The beer was £1.36/pint, I think that was the cheapest we had this holiday and the food smelt and looked good but we had plans for supper.

We stopped off at the supermarket to get supplies for our evening meal and also the campsite shop for some cheap beers I spotted earlier.  We also had a beer at the campsite bar but just for research purposes you understand.

So we had frozen pizzas and home made oven chips for supper (the pizzas were cooked not frozen).  Long day very tired early night.

Spain 2011, Day One

As Mick did all the booking for the holiday, the pick up point was in Hartlepool at 06:15, when I checked the pick up in the Boro was 07:00.  As this was closer and later I phoned Siesta Holidays to see if Dot and I could switch our pick up to there, yes was the reply but they would have to charge us £40 to change the tickets.

We got a Taxi to Hartlepool at 05:45, where we met up with Mick and Bren, the bus was on time and we got seats on the top deck adjacent to each other.

The trip through England was long and a very strange route to accommodated the various pick up points and we had been on the bus for eight hours before we finally reached the channel.

We took the the train through the Tunnel, most disappointing as we like the ferry, where you have time for a wander round and a couple of beers.  My first time in the chunnel and I did not like it, although it was quick.

We had taken all the meals we would need for the trip in a cool bag, as we were not sure what the service and food would be like on the bus.  We need not have worried as the service was excellent and the food was very edible, at least we know for the trip back.

The trip through France was also a very strange route, not one that I would have chosen, anyway we passed the time looking at the scenery, watching old films, reading and drinking beer.  

Spain by Coach 2011

Even though on many occasions in the past, we had been to the continent by bus and said we would never do it again.  When an offer comes along for a weeks holiday in Spain for less than a week camping in England (if you include fuel charges), what can you do.  We booked.

So for less than £150 each we were off to Salou in Spain for a week in an eight berth mobile home/chalet, along with Mick and Brenda.

The one reservation we all had was, what would the weather be like in Salou in April, all the indication were that it would be warm but we never expected it to be as hot as it turned out to be.