Spain Part 2: Walks, weather and Wine

You read the first part and now, it's time for part 2!!  Day 3 came and after some frantic, last-minute work, we headed off for a walk up one of the national park's mountains called Roques de Benet, which give a rather breathtaking 360 degree panorama of the surrounding area.

However, before we arrived it was time for a quick detour to a small town called Bot. Why? It was time to sample some of the local delicacy: wine! Indeed, we pulled into the town's local cooperative which makes and sells wine and other items. It's quite a sight when you walk into these shops and they just have massive vats where you can bring an empty jug (or other container but probably not cupped hands - Ed) and just get wine from a tap in the wall. Thankfully, they had regular bottles as well which makes it slightly easier to get the wine home. 

As we had took the time to get there, we decided to sample a local red called 'Clot' (Disclaimer: I do not recommend ever drinking before a hike, even though it was a fairly small amount) which was a good, everyday wine.  Even better when you realise that it costs 3 euros a bottle. Even better still, you can get some decent cava from the place as well, ranging from 3 to 10 euros a bottle.

Leaving the shop with bulging bags and not much lighter pockets, we headed off for the park to begin the walk. The walk itself isn't too bad, even if it does look a little daunting to begin with.

To begin with, you actually just follow a dirt road for a while, before turning off onto a fairly over-grown and hidden path that leads toward the peak and provides some respite from the glaring sun and heat. Now, I've been up this walk before but this time, we discovered something interesting. It appears that someone had begun to build a shelter by walling off a cave (A fairly robust wall, complete with a door - Architecture ed).

After exploring the cave a bit and speculating why it was being built (The prevailing theory was that some people used it as a base-camp for climbing/walking the area. However, it could well be someone who was just tired of everyday live and had decided to become a hermit in the mountains), we headed on-wards and upwards for the final push and an end-stage scramble up a dry riverbed. After 10 minutes or so of scrambling, it suddenly loomed ahead of us: the view.

As I said before, I've done the walk before but I still think the view from this mountain is spectacular as you can, on a good day, see for miles around the surrounding park and land. Additionally, if you look one way, you can see the extremely mountainous terrain and right beside it, is an area of flat-land: a great example of a rift.

After enjoying the view and our lunch (a sandwich always tastes better with a view), we began the trek back down to the car (with a slight detour down another track). However, as we were heading back, some ominous clouds appeared which then sped up our descent somewhat as it turned into rather icy rain. Finally, day 3 was rounded off with some cheap beers at the local bar (1.50 euros a bottle) whilst chatting under the stars.

Day 4 suddenly appeared and it was time for an earlier start and another walk! Somewhat less uphill (though not completely), this one followed the river Ebro along an 1100 km trail (we did not, obviously, do the entire trail...we did around 1% of it - Ed). The walk was enjoyably, not just for the walk, but because it allowed you to see a lot of the farmland that surrounds the river and gives you an up-close look at the crops they grow in the region.  Mainly olives, oranges and grapes, you can also try and find some of the lesser grown crops as you go along including marrows, apples, hazelnuts and various other plants.  This means, and if you can find some wild trees (don't take them from the farmers trees), that you can get quite the feast if you go in the correct season but alas, we got nothing this time.

After following the river for 12 km or so, and crossing over various dirt paths, we arrived at the town of Miravet, which has an absolutely beautiful Templar castle looming over it, along with some rather medieval houses hanging off the cliff.

As we were getting picked up here, we met my mum at the car, who then suggested we take a short walk to see the river ferry that still operates here, allowing cars to take a shortcut across the river for a small fee. Basically, the ferry is attached to a chain which stretches across the river and this allows the ship to be drawn across by the current.

After our fill of cars crossing, it was time for round two at the beach! Yes, after the rather unsuccessful attempt at the beach on day 2, we headed back to Hospitalet to retry lazing around the beach and as we arrived over the mountain? Dark clouds. Yup.  Instead of turning back though, we checked the area out and despite the clouds and some winds, we decided to give it a chance and have some lunch at the same place we had previously sheltered from the rain. 

After ordering some tapas, I then ended up with the biggest cold meat platter that I have ever seen, that also came with a bowl of tomato bread with it as well. Stuffed to say the least! After the rather filling lunch, we agreed that it was warm and dry enough for us to actually spend some time at the beach, so we wandered across and set up the chairs for the afternoon. I even managed to get a little bit of blogging done. After swimming in the sea, that is.

Ok, I appreciate that the picture isn't me but it would have been silly to try and take photographs of myself in the sea. You'll just have to trust me. After a couple of hours, we then headed back to the flat to prepare for day 5 and 6: Barcelona! But you'll just have to wait until next week for that!

Pick of the Week

John Oliver Last Week Tonight - If you like your news satirical and humourous, then check out Last Week Tonight.  Hosted by ex-Daily Show regular, John Oliver, the show takes a look at some of the key events from the last week as well as hosting interviews.  Funny and often with a finger on the pulse, this is a decent way to spend half an hour or so whilst allowing you to chuckle and think.


Music of the Week

Time for one that I don't listen to much but always enjoy when I hear it: The Pretty Reckless - Heaven Knows.  Enjoy!

Tune in next week for the finale of Spain!!  See you then.