EbroVoice

EbroRose April 22nd, 2009

(Feria de la  Alfarería y Cerámica, La Galera   Del  1 de mayo al 3 de  mayo)

La Galera

MONTSIÀ, borders on our delightful Catalonia and is easily accessible from all the arterial routes as displayed on the Google map.  During the days of fair it is reported than more than eighty exhibitors of pottery and ceramics will arrive from every corner of Catalonia, various different places across Spain and from other parts of the world.such is it popularity. It literally takes over the town! Visitors will be able to enjoy a wide expression of exhibitions displaying  traditional pottery, artistic ceramics, of varied creations and designs in forms and colours.

You will indeed be hard pressed in not purchasing one or more pieces of work!

The organizers will guarantee you a very warm welcome and fervently want to enjoy in the exchange of traditions and cultures.

Free admission. It is open from 10h to 14h and then after a siesta and a delightful meal you can return for 16h to 21h. This will be on from the 1st to 3rd May.

City Hall of La Galera  Tel.  977 718 339

• Hobbies , Uncategorized , Where to go
• Comments(1)

EbroRose April 22nd, 2009

Well, not quite Julie Andrews style but I am sure the locals won’t mind if you yodel on down or up the hill to the quaint mountainside village of Rasquera, to join in their annual goat fiesta ” cabra fira”  this weekend.

Yes once more they are celebrating this traditional fair on the 2nd and 3rd of May, where local artisans can also be seen administering their craft of time gone by.

The Catalonians entertainment is steeped in tradition and they are very proud to commemorate the historic time when Rasquera was a major goat market with this Goat Festival.

The livestock show, in itself is well worth the trip out. In this southern region of mountainous Tarragona one can find the goats called “Cabra Blanca” or “Cabra de Rasquera”. This  breed of goats related to the populations of “Serrana” goats, and I have it on first hand, local advice these are the best!

Goat cheese is also becoming very popular and it would be nice to try and sample some fresh locally made produce, as opposed to shop bought Lidl goat cheese.http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-goat-cheese.htm

You need not be of the “farmer Jone’s” stock to enjoy a good day out with the whole family at this very special, and slightly unusual type of fiesta. It is well attended by the Expat community, tourists and locals.

Any Enquiries about the festival or Cabra fira can be asked via email to:  aj.rasquera@altanet.org

• Where to go
• Comments(0)

EbroRose April 2nd, 2009

So many British children merely associate Easter as a chance to indulge in a mound of Easter Eggs. Where they think their “street cred.” improves with the higher number of eggs received.

When we first moved out to Catalonia we were hard pressed to find any decent eggs and were scouring around “English shops” along the coastline, looking for something different.  Now the supermarkets around Tortosa are inundated with all shapes, sizes and prices of the “must have” chocolate Easter eggs. Oh Yes dear parents, they are not cheap!

Now we see local children clambering around parents legs pleading for a Chocolate Bunny and blocking shopping aisles as the stressed out father tries to reach the top one. The top one’s are always freshest,   right? Passerbys look back in amusement, willing the chocolate tower to topple over. Awful aren’t we!

However, it was with interest this morning I browsed in a Patisserie in Xerta, (opposite their Proxim shop and one street behind the town square) at wonderful objects of animation made out of dairy milk and white chocolate. There was a television screen with people in it. There was an enormous cow, but with such a comical expression. I sniggered. I had never thought of cows in relation to Easter, but I suppose they do provide the milk for the chocolate. They even had a billboard with English writing on made out of chocolate and so much more. Two huge windows were just stacked with characters and objects all made out of chocolate. Well worth  a visit just to “window shop”.

But Easter week takes on  a very sombre tone in this country with processions and classical concerts. I see many enquiries on Tortosa Forum with people asking “What is going on over Easter”, though I posted a few details I will cover what I know on here too.

But don’t forget on the Religious days shops will not be opened in Tortosa!

Processions:-

1. Processò de la Passiò / Diumenge de Rams 5 d’abril de 2009 a les 20.00h Sortida: Plaça de la Cinta

2. Processò del Silenci / Dijous Sant 9 d’abril de 2009 a les 00’00h  (but congregate at 23.30 in the square!) Sortida: Plaça Immaculada (Remolins fins el convent de la Purìssima – circular route)

3. Processò del Sant Enterrament / Divendres Sant 10 d’abril de 2009 :Tortosa : ales 21’00 Sortida:Plaça de la Cinta

4. Processò del Sant Enterrament / Divendres Sant 10 d’abril de 2009 : Jesùs: a les 21’30 Immaculada

Concerts:-

• Concert de Mùsica Sacra 3 d’abril :Lloc: Esglèsia Sant Jaume de Remolins  (Free – gratuït) A càrrec de:- Capella Ducal
• Concert de Setmana Santa Lloc: Catedral Tortosa -a càrrec de: Cor de Cambra Felix Mendelssohn
• Concert de Setmana Santa: Lloc:Catedral de Tortosa / Cant Gregorìa. Cor Resurrexit.
• Concert de Setmana Santa: Lloc:Catedral de Tortosa / A càrrec de: Cor ciutat de Tarragona i Camerata instrumental de Tarragona

This may seem rather high brow to some, but don’t knock it until you have tried it. Besides it gives a feeling of integration and a willingness to try and understand the Tortosian culture.

Sunny days are forecast for Saturday through to Monday, then rain again will set in for a few days. So let your Easter begin this weekend! Have fun and do something different!

• Hints for settlers , Where to go
• Comments(0)

EbroRose March 21st, 2009

Everywhere I turn over the last week whenever Ryanair is mentioned, up pops the topic, “Ryanair to charge to use the loo! What do I think? ”

The aviation marketing guru of www.Simpliflying.com beggars the question on www.LinkedIn.com; “Is this good PR or bad marketing?”

Well, it certainly has shaken the network of Ryanair’s frequent flyers into talking rather more explosively. Others seem more resigned to the fact, with little or no surprise, that Ryanair will find every which way possible to charge for every function they offer. The latest one being branded about of flyers’ bodily functions: ‘Pay to use the Loo’ is met with disbelief.

“Well, I just won’t use it” they retort.

If that is the case, lets hope Ryanair sells ‘in-flight diapers’.

How will they police it? In air cloakroom attendants to empty slots and to ensure the door is not held open for the next user and the next? Or will parents on a budget see how many of ‘Ma Plotters’ clan can fit into the loo at one squeeze. We could see some new statistics appearing in the Guinness Book of records 2009 or 2010.

I have yet to read a confirmed or denied statement from Ryanair executives as to whether this was a casual innocent remark made at a stab of humour (or is it humus?) or a major blunder. Whatever, it is they are building a whole pile of compost against their brand name.

With so many voicing their complaints to each other amongst the Catalonian Expat community in Spain, I fanned the question: “So why do you fly with Ryanair?”

They answered as I expected them to do.

“Who else can we fly with from the UK and ‘Brum into Reus at that price?”

I pushed back, “What would it take to make use another airline, if they flew the same route?”

“Price! Price! Price! – for a 2 hour flight I would happily fly a DC3.”

I wonder if “they” would then charge for disposable parachutes.

Well, for now Ryanair have the brand confidence in the UK market share cornered in routes in and out of Reus, Tarragona, Spain. Lets hope in this global crisis they haven’t dug their own ‘latrine in the sky’, because the expression “Shit will fly” takes on a whole new connotation.

• Business Enterprises , Vacation Rentals , Where to go
• Comments(0)

EbroRose December 20th, 2008

Yesterday, saw us driving up to Reus Airport with the Mediterranean sun burning the cheeks of hubby dear, while I fought to keep the car in the correct lane on the AP7 motorway and avoid high-sided juggernauts, swaying precariously as they were battered by these mountain winds. Boy oh boy, those crosswinds can be scary!

Plenty of time to spare we decided to wander around Bauhaus hyper store, recently opened next to Carrefour. We were keen to compare it to our old favourite LeRoy Merlin that was just down the drag. It was a bit of nightmare to weave through the highway cones but what a joy to walk through their doorway.

Immediately a huge map outlined in coloured blocks, for ‘recycled teenagers’ Expats like myself, the wherabouts of everything. Everything was spacious and so thoughtfully laid out. No piles of boxes blocking the corridors and everything was priced. Loads of attendants were visible and only too keen to help in Spanish or Catalan and a number of them were fluent in English too. Yet please try and ask first in their language.

Before your lifestyle revolved around Location, location and location. Today, it is has gone through a metamorphosis and it is also about Value for Price.

Baushaus has surpassed all others. My other half was so amazed at the reasonable prices and on such well-known brands like Bosch and Alpina. I am afraid Lee Roy Merlin DIY store is going to have to pull their socks up to compete or even to come anywhere near to chasing the tail of this thoroughbred of a store.

But for me,  the “treat” that followed, made it a worthwhile trip. Just as you come through the cash tills there is a lovely cafè, still inside their doors, on the right hand side. They serve the most delectable tortilla snacks about 4″ deep filled with tuna and a variety of salad. Scrumptious! There is more – chocolate drink extra ordinary. I have never had such a superb treat. The hot chocolate was so thick, it was like really good thick texture of custard. Accompanied with 3 small little croissants to dip in and scoop the chocolate out.

Absolutely heavenly!

While waiting for a delayed Ryanair flight to come in from London -Standstead airport, all I could think of was what excuse I could use for a revisit, for a second cup. It was such a good “pick me upper” and not pricey at all.

Directions and details of Bauhaus.

Monday to Saturday opening hours are 9.30am -9.30pm

Horario:de lunes a sábado – de 9.30 a 21.30 horas

Autovía Reus – Tarragona, N-420, km 4  (Next door to Carrefour Reus)

http://www.bauhaus.es/

• Where to go
• Comments(0)

EbroRose November 22nd, 2008

Lovely clear sunny Saturday and the wind at a comfortable calm, but the beauty of the day is interrupted with the peppered sound of hunting guns ..”Run Rabbit run..”

This is a busy time for all who live on, or farm in the Lower Ebro Valley. Wherever you go you will see on a weekend whole families dragged home from Barcelona or Zarragozza to help bring in the olive crop. The offsprings are easily identifiable at the oil mill, as they endeavour to reverse in the old family trailer piled high to over-flowing (to avoid a second trip and a later return to quiet urban lives of their own) attached to their posh car -affordable by working in the cities.

One such gent, eager to share his command of the English language, started up a very informed conversation with me, as we patiently awaited our turn. He was shocked to hear that “us English” still picked by combing the trees and had not invested in high end power tool “shakers” that grip the tree and vibrates the olives into a huge pile on the floor.

As we parted company, he said as this was my “final pick” the tradition is now to go home and have a feast with the family over Cava. Oh yes! A bottle of Cava must be opened at the end of your olive harvest!  Sounds good to me.

All week we have watched a fleet of vehicles arrive at the mandarin plantation across the ‘Barranc’ from us and teams of multi-cultured people, flow between the rows after rows picking all day long. Their cheerful chatter floats across on the wind to us. Every now and again the air is spurted with angry shouts and arm waving. The foreman must have  a quota to get in. Then, fancy agricultural equipment arrives to lift all these crates and pile them high onto the back of the most enormous trailers.

We fervently watch our German Shepherds as they sniff the air, glancing back to see if we have gone inside and if they can escape to run amock the pickers. We know the patterns. We stay on guard.

But on some evenings we have noticed night lights on the tractors and they are still picking. I feel for the pickers. They must just collapse into bed, too tired to eat or think – just sleep, until the next dawn rising.

Yet, this is a wonderful time to be out walking and exercising the dogs or just strolling with the family. Take your camera though, because you can often snap some delightful scenes of the events unfolding in the countryside.

It doesn’t cost a penny if you walk or cycle and everyone enjoys it.

• Uncategorized , Where to go
• Comments(0)

EbroRose October 8th, 2008

Swallows View

You won’t find better prices anywhere else along the Ebro River. These introductory prices won’t last for ever. The Catfish season starts ‘hotting’ up around the 15th March and the River guides book up early in “catfish on the table ‘ season (if anyone of you recall the song).

Besides, now is the time to still find low cost flights for next year.

2008 has been a year of doom and gloom, when every evening you come home from work, switch on the telly and hopefully plan a relaxing evening away from work stress. When all you here on the news is: “Credit Crunch; Government to bail out the collapse of another giant financial demise; 2 million people soon to be on the Unemployment register”.

Woah! Get me out of here.

Well, at “RiuVista” you have the choice of short breaks from as little as 3, 4 or 5 nights. Yet, the option is still there for one or two weeks. Furthermore, if you decide you prefer 10 days due to travel arrangements or commitments, subject to availability, they will willingly oblige. The choice is yours! Dan and Lisa are waiting to greet you!

RiuVista has the choice of 2 well contained apartments.

Apartment 1:

• 1 large twin bedroom( beds can be joined for double size)
• large roof terrace with seating overlooking the pool
• kitchen area with cooking facilities and fridge
• lounge and dining area with TV and Dvd for relaxation
• bathroom with shower
• shared use of the pool with apartment 2
• BBQ equipment available – a holiday in Catalonia would not be complete without a BBQ accompanied with good local wine, Cava or “Cerveza” ( beer, to the untravelled mind)

Apartment 2:

• 2 twin bedrooms (likewise, beds can be joined to made into doubles)
• balcony with seating to overlook the peaceful garden and tranquil river views!
• Shared use of nice size pool with Apartment 1
• bathroom with shower
• kitchen area with cooking facilities and fridge
• and the enviable use of BBQ equipment to round off a perfect day on the river!
• lounge and dining area with DVD and TV

Enjoy a Tiveyns “new” fishing adventures at “RiuVista”, where the locals say they live on the “better side” of the River Ebro, just below the Wier  (L’Assut).

Interested? Want to know more about these fabulous prices?

Drop me a line : roseann@BrighterSpain.com

You will be amazed. You will be totally blown away!

• Fishing and more fishing , Vacation Rentals , Where to go
• Comments(0)

EbroRose September 27th, 2008

Please support the Fresia group´s carboot Autumn sale.

The venue: outside Proxim store in the village of el Perello ( just off the N340).

Sellers entrance fees: Cars = 5 euros; Cars and trailers = 7 euros; and Vans = 7 euros 

Set up time for stalls: 08:30

Open for the crowd rush : 09:30 – 2.00pm

 They are a Cancer Charity Group in our region of Southern Catalonia. Please support this worthy cause, as reported on Tortosa Forum. Besides, for most of us it is only a short run out and you are guaranteed to meet other Expats, tourists and locals. Above all you will have an enjoyable walk around and make new friends too.

• Hints for settlers , Where to go
• Comments(1)

EbroRose June 11th, 2008

“The Olive Press”  has already extended to 40 pages and this is only their second edition.

This magazine is geared not only for the Lower Ebro Valley, but seems to cover the North-East corner of Spain. So it is with interest I can read about the Zarragoza Expo 2008; the El Bulli Restaurant near Girona and the new ZiDali´s Restaurant and Cocktail Bar in LÁmetlla deMar. The last two I would not have known about if I had not read the magazine.

The “Olive Press” have presented a lovely article on the forthcoming fireworks fiesta in Tarragona. The 19th International Fireworks Competition will be held from the 7th -12th July in the town of Tarragona itself. 

Pick up your copy at one of the Distributors listed below and have a pleasant and informed read.

TORTOSA

• VALDEPEREZ ELECTRICAL Mossèn Bell-Puig, 12(Plaça Bimil Lenari) Tortosa 977 442 962
• MURRAY’S Centro Comercial SABECO, Tortosa 977 503 484
• RIERES ESTATE AGENTS Pl. Paiolet 2 Tortosa, 977 445 497
• CLIBEGAS Carretera Gandesa, 35, 43590 Jesús -Tortosa 977 504 747
• NEXO OFTEVET, Ctra. Tortosa-L’Aldea,977 510 405

L’AMPOLLA

• BAR ESTACIÓN Plaza Francesc Macià (near the train Station) L’Ampolla 977 460 387
• BAR DAKOTA Carrer Sant Jordi, L’Ampolla 676214736
• HOTEL FLAMINGO C/Ronda del Mar,58 – 977 593 816
• BAHIA MAR ESTATE AGENTS – Pza. González 12 – 658 934 146

EL PERELLÓ

• PERELLÓ PROPERTIES C/ Francesc Macia 5, El Perelló 977490 804
• HOMOGÊNIK C/ Sant Antoni 19 El Perelló
• ALAS Petrol Station
• SUMO SUPERMARKET

L’AMETLLA DE MAR

• A TASTE OF HOME the English Supermarket Calle Benidorm 15(past the railway station, turn right past the Spar shop, turn left and opposit Mobles Puell 977 456 158
• STELLA MARIS BAR – Pl. Catalunya
• DEPASO CEPSA Petrol Station
• NEW ZIDALI’S- Cocktail Bar & Restaurante, LLibertat 19 Tel:977 493 744

TRES CALAS URBANISATION

• LA CALA PROPERTY SERVICES – Centro Comercial 13. 977 456 878
• SUPERMERCARDO HAIPY – Centro Comercial. 977 456 908

CALAFAT

• Supermarket on the urbanisation

Ctra. HOSPITALET DE L’INFANT a MORA

• LA FIGUEROLA RESORT- GOLF Club House

L’HOSPITALET DE L’INFANT

• TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE
• JAMES SCHOOL OF ENGLISH – Carretera de Móra, 7 Bajos

MIAMI PLAYA

• HOTEL CARPE DIEM restaurant – hotel C/Montblanc, 16 977 810 392
• SOL-LUZ-IONS Av. Barcelona, 49 – 977 170 301
• CLÌNICA VETERINÀRIA – Av. Barcelona 14 Local 11. 977 811 192
• SUPERMARKET/BAKERS/CAFE MaGloria-opposite El Rancho &Chinese
• KERN GERMAN DENTAL SURGERY – Av. Barcelona 64. 977 170 397

CAMBRILS

• MAMA’S CAFE
• CASA SHANGHAI-CHINESE RESTAURANT Avda Juan XXlll, 1 Cambrils-Bahia 977 363 906

SALOU

• RUGBY TAVERN – Avda de la Diputación 138
• THE MUCKY DUCK – Avda de la Diputación

RASQUERA

• REPSOL PETROL STATION

FLIX

• RIBA-ROJA PROPERTIES – Pol.Ind. La Devesa INTERMARCHE SITE 977 411 558
• BAR V50
• RESTAURANT BON PROFIT – Carrer St Roc,7 tel 977 412 165
• BAR LA FREIXA- Gissona garage
• BAR DUO

RIBA ROJA D’EBRE

• EBRO VALLEY PROPERTIES SCP – Carrer Esglesia 5 – 977 416 117

MORA LA NOVA

• BRITISH SUPERMARKET- 977 383 911
• BAR RESTAURANT, 55 near Ajuntament Offices

MORA D’EBRE

• LA CAIXA – Placa De Dalt
• BAR AVINGUDA – Av. de Los Comarques Catalanes
• BAR COSMOS – Av. de Comarques Catanes, 9 Tel: 977 400029

GINESTAR

• BAR RESTAURANT
• CATALAN-CONNEXION – 28 Carrer Ample, 977 404 796

GANDESA

• CAFE DE CATALUNYA – Av. de Catalunya
• BAR BARNEREA – Av. de Catalunya
• SANT SALVADOR – Boarding Kennels & Cattery-977 055 027

BENIFALLET

• BAR CASAL – Lluis Companys, 15 – 977 462 136

TIVENYS

• BAR ROSI – Av. Generalitat, 3 977 496 030

BITEM

• NEW CHAPLIN – c/Hereus d’en Gasol (near football ground)

VINAROZ

• NOR AUTO – By Carrefour commercial centre

ULLDECONA AREA

• MOLI’S OASE CAFE- on the road TV3319 KM8 Ulldecona to Senia-Urbanisation Moli D’Lom El Castel

ULLDECONA

• CATALUNYA FINCAS – Calle Adell 18- Carole Palmer 627 740 044

You may also view it online at: http://www.theolivepress.eu/ 

          Please post your personal reviews of this new magazine  in the Comments box below. We will pass them along.

• Languages & Literatures , Where to go
• Comments(0)

EbroRose June 2nd, 2008

I stumbled upon a nifty little site :

http://resimajans.com/tortosa.html

that portrays various sites relating to Tortosa. It depicts this blog one and www.Brighterspain.com.

I was a little wary on entering this site as I wasn´t sure if it was one of those “naughty girlie” sites. When you google the meaning of “Resimajas” it comes up as ‘girls’.  (Sorry guys, I was so wrong.)

The language looks Turkish but I am not sure. However, outcame my Turkish dicitionary and I found similar words. “Resim” means ‘design, drawing, picture, ceremony’. ( The ‘tax and toll ‘ meanings we don´t need reminding about!) Then “ResimÇekmek” implies ‘ to take a photograph’. “Resimli” translates as ‘illustrated’.

These all seem to fit into what their site is portraying. A dectective lens snooping, needless to say, to our advantage, on our website photos. I love free advertising!

They have  a search box at the top called “Resim Ara”. To see all our wonderful photos first type in “EbroVoice” and press Enter. This is fun as it shows all our delightful photos relating to our cheerful blogs about Catalonia, Spain. Ten pages to view and then you can click on and read our articles too.

Then enter “BrighterSpain” and it shows 10 pages of photos off our website. This is fabulous. It gives you the reader an informed “snappy” overview of the Lower Ebro region, activities, businesses and people and their culture. It is like looking at the old fashioned projector slide shows. Except you are not sat in a stuffy, boring old school hall for hours.

You will soon realize why this is such a wonderful area to holiday in.

Drop us an email : info@BrighterSpain.com

If anyone else has a take on the meaning of these foreign words or which language it is, please write to me on the above email. The thumbnails down the side of their site leads to  a host of non-related sites snapshots. Some little cyber-robot has been busy!

• Hints for settlers , Languages & Literatures , Where to go
• Comments(0)