Barca to Tarragona

Thursday September 14

After dinner tonight we caught the Metro to the Palacio where, according to the friendly guy at the tourist information centre, there was to be a weekly night lights show, and show there was. The whole avenue and hill up to the palace was lit up with the highlight and centrepiece being a dynamic fountain which changed both colour and shape with the lights and jets every thirty seconds. They say pictures tell a thousand words, check out the photos of the palace and fountains on http://unimelbedu.facebook.com/photos.php?id=218100724&l=47660

Friday September 15

Today we packed up and metroed to the train station where we bought tickets to Tarragona. A little over two hours later we we sitting in a hotel (a HOTEL!!) for a two minute breather before checking this town out!

After a long-awaited packet pizza lunch at a local café we wandered down the main drag to the end, a panoramic lookout over the Mediterranean. We then headed walked another 50 metres for a great overhead view of the Roman Amphitheatre before entering the old Roman city wall, which doubles as a Museum, for free! (You've got to love traveling out of peak season!) After that, and taking advantage of the gorgeous weather - in contrast to Barcelona, we headed back to the hotel to change and head to the beach.

After a the walking, a bus trip and a swim in the Mediterranean (on a beatiful beach in 35 degree heat... ) we'd worked up an appetite and headed back to find some grub. Paella was the meal of choice (a typical Spanish dish - sort of Risotto with seafood) and Lonely Planet told us the Port was the place to find it, but how to find the port? Hmmm.... we set off at first in the wrong direction, finding ourselves in a one way street. There was, however a bunch of young people with cars at the end of the street and I decided I'd pluck up the courage to try my Spanish and ask for directions. Well, we got more than we bargained for. After the group of well-intentioned but not very helpful youths had taken my map and squabbled with each other for a few minutes one of the guys decided to take control of the situation. "Over here, get in the car please" came the request in Spanish and broken English. We looked at each other, a little unshore and a little uneasy until his girlfriend (with better English) repeated "get in the car, please." We got in.

Driving down to the ports we chatted with the two in the front about what they were doing and about Tarragona, being interrupted occationally by driving alongside the other car of the group and shouting things through open windows. "They are crazy", the girlfriend calmly explains with a smile. Being the good hearted people they were they suggested we eat in the town to save money. "We're after Paella," I said, and the reply cam "the Port, definitely the Port." "It's good there - although my Mum makes good Paella." Suddenly, and before we knew it, we'd stopped. "Here, you eat here. This is the best Paella." We took their word for it and ate there.

It was not only the best Paella in Tarragona, it was the best meal I'd had since travelling - and not the most expensive!

After very much satisfying our taste buds and filling our bellies we walked it off, heading back into town enjoying La Cubana, a latino band, playing as part of a Tarragona festival and the city under lights before heading back to the hotel for some rest.

Tarragona has been my favourite Spanish town. Imagine having a student town, not too busy as it's still quite small, with history dating back to before Christ which also has strong coastal influences of both a port and fantastic beaches! It's my cuppa tea!