EbroVoice

EbroRose October 28th, 2007

We all remember, even if we are having a ’senior moment’, the schoolroom chant for daylight saving of ” Spring forward -Autumn fall back ” or the next Saturday after the ides of March and October. Well, at one a.m. this morning in a slightly chilly, but beautiful moonlit hours of Southern Catalonia, the clocks were turned back one hour.

Last night around about half past seven, as I dragged my tired legs and aching knees down off the fruit picking ladders, longing for a hot soak my spirits lifted at the warm and comforting thought that I would be snuggled under the covers for an extra blissful, olive free hour this Sunday dawn.

Someone forgot to wind my German Shepherds´ clock back and the cat menageries one´s as well! Oh no! Please, all I want is one more hour – just one. It was not to be and Benson persisted by dragging my right ankle out of bed. No peace for the wicked.

Oh, well, I am up now and somewhat awake with one cup of steaming black coffee in me, I think I feel fortified enough to drag the olive nets around the next tree. Providing the fairies have not painted anymore on the last huge tree I think I finished off last night.

Yesterday morning was a slow olive picking time as we woke to a gentle shower of rain, that intermittently, gushed down and we had to dash indoors and make do with another cup of coffee and stare blankly out across the ” finca “, feeling somewhat despondent that I would never manage to complete the picking. The olive angels were kind to my pleas and the skies did clear – but it was most certainly cooler.

The valley is quiet this morning with no early hunters out shooting wild boar or rabbits or anything that moves – no hunting dogs can be heard. The sun is just beginning to shine through so come on lets gather up our tools, there is work to be done and they won´t pick themselves. Crack On!

Aside: If you have Californian relatives their Time zone for daylight saving is only going back one hour next weekend .

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EbroRose October 18th, 2007

We may be rising to dark mornings and the evenings are drawing in now, in the Lower Ebro lands, but there are still fiestas about for us to enjoy.

“EbreOKasia de Tortosa” will be on from the 19th, 20th and 21st October, 2007. This will be situated along the River Ebro on the olde Medieval side of town near Remolins at “Nou Pavello Firal”.

This is being put on for the 12th year running and promises to be an exhibition well worth visiting with over 15 exhibitors. On the world grandstand of events this may seem under-subscribed. Yes, this is not the halls of the Birmingham NEC. This is where small is better. Where the Catalans will show interest, pride and quality and individual attention does matter.

Parking should not be an issue as most tourists have gone back to their busy lives elsewhere in Europe.

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EbroRose October 17th, 2007

Ulldecona´s fiesta´s can make you really hungry! So go on and try out a few of their amazing restaurants. Don´t know which one to choose? Why not just wonder around and see which can accommodate you. Do expect them to be busy at this time of the year as even the locals will be dining out.

Yet, you are assured of good food, good wine, good company and you will go away truly satisfied and I would be very surprised if you do not make new friends on the way. If you are worried about coping with the menu in Catalan take a pocket size dictionary with you and do not be embarassed to use it. Failing that, politely ask them to explain, as an area this popular will receive a fair amount of tourists passing through.

• Restaurante “Bon Lloc”

• Restaurante “Casa Santi”

• Restaurante “El Cazador” (Valentins)

• Restaurante “l’Era” (Valentins)

• Restaurante “Marisol” (Valentins)

• Restaurante “Les Moles”

• Restaurante “Nou Sant Lluc”

• Restaurante “Orfeó”

• Restaurante “Ranxo Tomàs”

• Restaurante “Sant Lluc”

• Bar “Celedoni”

• Bar “El Mosset”

• Bar “Nogales” (Barri Castell)

• Bar “La Parra”

• Bar “El Rebost”

• Bar “Valverde”

• Bar “Ximo” (Valentins)

Enjoyed your meal tell us. Did not like it, please also tell us.

Contact us at:- www.BrighterSpain.com

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EbroRose October 17th, 2007

Ulldecona is a town found in the south of Catalonia, in the comarque of Montsia. You may reach it off the N340 heading south past Amposta and Alcanar. If you are travelling out of Tortosa on the C12, you turn off at the roundabout to the right for Mas de Barberans and carry on past the furniture town of La Senia, Ulldecona is near by.

Both routes are well sign posted with directions to Ulldecona, where the town folk await your arrival and welcome you to join in their festivities and to enjoy all exhibitions. The Adjuntament d´Ulldecona will provide you with more programme details for the course of each day and night. Call them on 0034) 977 573 034 or visit their website: www.ulldecona.org

The details are listed in Catalan and before you groan and give up (Oh, I can´t get to grips with Catalan!) read through carefully and slowly. You English Expats will be surprised how much of your school French or Latin classes will enable you to grasp the gist of what events will be unfolding. Whereas, if you are French or Flemish you will probably read and understand it with a minimum of difficulty.

Chickened out! Okay try this link for translating Catalan to English or Spanish sorry it doesn´t do Dutch or German – http://traductor.gencat.cat/text.do

DIJOS, 18 D’OCTUBRE (FESTA DE SANT LLUC)
A les 10:30 Jornada portes obertes a la casa de Mossèn Domingo Solà Callarisa
A les 11:00 Missa solemne i Processó
A les 16:30 Jocs tradicionals a la plaça Església
A les 13:00 Jornada portes obertes a la casa de Mossèn Domingo Solà Callarisa
A les 19:00 Xerrada al saló de Plens sobre “Cereals, Biocombustibles i Ramaderia”

DIVENDRES, 19 D’OCTUBRE
A les 16:00 Obertura del recinte de la Fira
A les 17:00 Inauguració de la rotonda de la ctra. Sénia (Josep Poblet, Pres. Diputació)
A les 17:30 Recepció a l’ajuntament al President de la Diputació, Sr. Josep Poblet
A les 18:00 Inauguració Oficial de la “XVII FIRA DE SANT LLUC D’ULLDECONA” i de la III Mostra Cívica per l’Il.lm. Sr. Josep Poblet, President de la Diputació de Tarragona. Tot seguit, visita als stands
A les 18:00 L’hora del conte a la Biblioteca Popular: “Vet aquí Europa” per Santi Rovira
A les 20:00 Reunió de lectura a la Biblioteca Popular, amb Joan-Elies Adell
A les 20:15 Actuació dels Gegants i Grallers al recinte de la Fira de Sant Lluc
A les 21:00 Tancament del recinte de la Fira i de la Mostra
A les 22:00 Sopar ofert als expositors de la Fira al “Casal de Jubilats”
A les 24:00 A la carpa (terrenys Montse Nadal) actuació “Quart Minvant” i Discomòvil

DISSABTE, 20 D’OCTUBRE
A les 10:30 Obertura del recinte de la Fira i de la Mostra
A les 12:00 Al Camp de Futbol, partit entre l’Ulldecona i l’Ametlla de Mar 1ª Cadets
A les 12:00 VII Concurs de Paelles, al recinte de la Fira
Premis: 1r………… 60 €
2n………… 42 €
3r………… 30 €
L’Organització donarà llenya, l’oli, 1 conill i l’arròs
Inscripcions els dies 15, 16 i 17 d’octubre, de 9:00 a 20:00, al Retén de l’ajuntament
Les paelles que a les 14.00 hores no estiguin acabades, no entraran al concurs
A les 14:00 Tancament del recinte de la Fira i de la Mostra
A les 16:00 Obertura del recinte de la Fira i de la Mostra
A les 18:00 Xocolatada Popular a la pista coberta (Fira) per la P. Barça
A les 18:00 Al Teatre, “Pinotxo” per Zum-Zum Teatre, dissabtes Xarxa Teatre

A les 18:30 Degustació a càrrec del Restaurant Les Moles a l’estand d’Acomont
A les 21:00 Tancament del recinte de la Fira i de la Mostra
A les 21:15 V Nit de l’Esport Local a la Casa Cultura
A les 22:30 Al Teatre Orfeó, actuació del Grup Saragatona (de dances tradicionals)
A les 00:30 A la carpa (terrenys Montse Nadal) Ball amb “Tremendos”.

DIUMENGE, 21 D’OCTUBRE
A les 10:30 Obertura del recinte de la Fira i de la Mostra
A les 11:00 VIII Cursa Popular Dinamic’s Fira i Festes de Sant Lluc. Sortida de Plaça Església. Cursa infantil 800 metres. Cursa absoluta 5000 metres. Organitza: C.D. Dinamic’s
A les 12:00 Lliurament premis 20è Concurs Narrativa Grup de Dones al Casal Jove
A les 13:00 Desgustació de marisc a càrrec de l’empresa CADEMAR, Alcanar-Platja
A les 13:30 Lliurament premis del 3r Concurs Literari i Fotogràfic S. Lluc, al Casal Jove

A les 14:00 Tancament del recinte de la Fira i de la Mostra
A les 16:00 Obertura del recinte de la Fira i de la Mostra

A les 17:30 BaII al local de l’Esplai amb música pel conjunt “Musical Iberia”
A les 18:00 “XVé Concurs d’All i Oli”, a la Fira, per les Mestresses de Casa.
Si vols participar, has inscriure’t a l’estand d’ACOMONT

A les 18:30 VIII Mostra de sabó, al recinte firal, organitzat per JARC

A les 19:00 XXIV Trobada de Corals de la Tardor al Teatre Orfeó, organitzat per l’Orfeó
A les 19:00 Degustació gastronòmica d’arreu del món a les pistes de tennis del Poli
A les 20:00 Acte de cloenda de la “XVII FIRA DE SANT LLUC D’ULLDECONA” i de la “III MOSTRA CÍVICA D’ULLDECONA”, on s’oferirà el tradicional “cremat”, patrocinat per SOREA, i posterior tancament de la Fira

See you there!

Vire i Veivias – Fira d´Ulldecona

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EbroRose October 16th, 2007

Stuart Sharples, an affable guy, is heading out of Aldover near Tortosa in Catalonia, for the UK with an empty transit van on 25th October. He is prepared to transport on behalf of you any goods of reasonable weight and size back to the UK.

For the men who understand and still work in imperial measure (us women have gone metric), it is a short wheel base, semi-high top “trannie van”- so the inside is 8ft long, 5ft 8inches high and 4ft 6inches wide. Stuart would preferably  like to deliver from Portsmouth up through London, over to Chelmsford and then up to Leeds in West Yorkshire, without taking him out of his way.

Stuart is willing to collect from Vinaros in Northern Valencia up to Reus,without too much trouble. Rates can be negotiated dependent on volume and weight up to 3/4 of a tonne.

(Not sure if he will charge extra for the “mother-in-law” …)

Stuart may be contacted on (0034) 977 059 254

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EbroRose October 5th, 2007

12th / 13th / 14th October, 2007.

Who says fiestas are over because summer is over? Now this is one little fiesta with a difference. It is being held for the VI time and is held in the smallest town in Terra Alta – Prat de Comte. “Prat de Comte” means the Count of the Meadow, another interesting little village tucked away in the Terra Alta,  just waiting to be explored.

Please note that the original route into Prat de Comte off the C12 is closed until 2008 for extensive new road  networks. So you need to take the turn off for Gandesa off the C12. The detour signs are clearly marked.

There are some excellent photographs of the process of pressing the liqour  and the course of events on :

www.aiguardant.com

Other interesting sites to read about this fiesta and others are:

www.firesifestes.com

www.festacatalunya.cat

www.festes.org

The story tellers of this fiestas’ origins, date back a long time ago when families gathered together in this litle village and ellaborated the craft of “eau de vie”- the spirit of the liqour, after the vintage had been harvested. This liquid was transported to their homes and made in a portable press – usually a copper one. Some made this alcohol with the distillation of fermented sucrosed liquid mainly from the wine and the breeze of the grapes. After the condensation of the steam of the alcohol , it is poured out into containers. The liqour stopped being made after one home distiller and his neighbours lost their lives in an accident in the 18th century. (Sounds lethal brew!)

A few years ago people of the village with expert knowledge in distillery gathered together to restore this quaint art and the celebration of the liqour at the end of the grape harvesting. The main aim was to retrieve the memory of  “de l’aiguarent!” Though safety standards are more stringent now. Though I am not sure how much proof is in the alcohol, so be careful if you are driving. Otherwise buy a bottle and try it at home with your friends and family who couldn´t get up to the fiesta.

Some folk suggest that it must not be drunk on its own but taken with chocolate or a slice of cake. (What to soak up the alcohol!)

But it is definitely worth a visit to see the process as well as view the local “jotes” dance and other village festivities. The programme of events can be found on the above links. Take time to stroll around the village, enjoy the scenery and chat to the locals. They will make you very welcomed indeed.

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EbroRose October 4th, 2007

The gastronomy fair for Rice Festival in l ‘ Ampolla, finishes on the 8th October. So you still have a few days left to try out the tasty dishes there, while enjoying the beauty and tranquillity of the marina. Whereas, the Rice Festival of an equally high and exhalted standard of true delights of gastronomical flare, abounds in Amposta from the 1st October, right up until the 30th October. Oodles of time to try not once, but twice or more “rice” times as you choose.

Rice is not boring. If you think that, these chefs will prove you wrong.

Why not take a gentle drive along all the lanes of the Ebro Delta and watch the rice being harvested in time honoured way. If you wish to go on an organized tour then contact the Tourist Information office, as you enter the Delta off the N340 from Amposta.

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EbroRose October 4th, 2007

13th October 2007

Starts 10:00 and finishes 16:00 at Platja del Trabucador – Sant Carles de la Ra’pite

How strong are you? How fast and how far can you swim and run? Not sure, not to worry just turn up and support those who have been hard at training. You will enjoy a good day out with a twist of something different to do. Next year we may see some of you taking part!

There are two different strength and stamina staged events. It is limited to 200 competitors as individuals or as a team.

Ironterra 0.2. This is the “easier and softer” option of a 2km swim and a 10km run or walk.

Feeling stronger now?

Ironterra 0.4. This may be just what you need! Start off with a 4km swim and end with a 20km run or walk.

Not for the faint hearted!

If you are reading this from abroad and can´t make it this year, maybe you would like to start training and join in next year. Just subscribe to their newsletter. Lots of other active sporting events to take part in throughout a ten month calendar. Don´t know where to stay? Contact us at www.BrighterSpain.com

For details in Catalan: http://www.triatlogranollers.com /

Or visit this link or details in English, Spanish or Catalan “i Més informació” : http://www.ocisport.net/ca/campeonato/aquathlon-tour-aquathlon-tour07/30-58.html

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EbroRose October 3rd, 2007

Car boot sales have become to us, such a hobby and an important part of our weekends. We no longer need suffer “carboots´ withdrawal symptons ” now we have relocated to Catalonia. We can now enjoy another one here on the outskirts of Tortosa, in Terrapico El Raval de Cristo this Sunday – 7th October, 2007.

I cannot believe I have been here for four years and no one has ever told me about them nor did I know this area even existed. I thought it was merely a name of someone´s casa. So I hope to remedy that. And spread the news to other Expats and tourists to come and join in. Bring your friends and Spanish neighbours and introduce them to some “British Sunday shopping culture”. Everyone would love to meet and greet you – exchange stories on the way – chew the fat…

To people not familiar with a Car Boot Sale, it has nothing to do with a sale of boots. To Americans and Canadians it is similar to a Garage or Yard Sale, where you can sell anything and everything you no longer need or have never used. It is like a marketplace in a field. We must emphasize the intrinsic importance of the fun in browsing and bartering and the sheer sociality to carboot activites. You will have a good day out (no matter what the weather!) and sell your “unwanted treasures” you hoarded overseas. I am sure you have heard many times over, your spouses lament- Tell me again darling, why did we bring all this stuff with us to Spain?

Have you been ardently crafting or painting away the summer days? Are you now looking for an outlet to market them and get yourself known. This is where you can network.

You can set up your stall, paste table or open the back of your 4×4 or “el Coche” from 10:00am. Price per stand is 5.oo Euro. Refreshments available on Site. No entrance charge to shoppers.Come along and have a jolly good old rummage . If this is your first endeavour to sell or buy at a car boot sale and you need more information then please call Brian Parkin on (0034) 660 990 422.

Directions:
“Travelling South on the C12 from Terra Alta, Mora Nova, Benifillet, Xerta or Aldover towards Tortosa. Continue past the Jesus turn-off and Sabeco Supermarket to the Hotel Corona roundabout. Carry on straight ahead south to the next roundabout (Llums) and continue on straight ahead. At the next roundabout (bottom of “new bridge” ) which gives you directions to Amposta, AP7 and el Rival de Cristo, bear Right to el Rival de Cristo.Stay on this road through the village, going uphill, to a small roundabout at the top of the village. Here signs will indicate Mas de Barbarans and Roquetes. Bear right towards Roquetes and take the first Left turn opposite the Cemetary. This is Cami de Terrapico. From here just follow the signs for the “Casa Madera Car Boot Sale” which will be well sign-posted.”

Casa Madera – Terrapico el Raval de Cristo – Tortosa -Car Boot Sale – 7th October 2007

See you there!

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