Spain 22 (Week Eleven

That’s week 11 done then; just one more to go, and we’re at the Camping Car Aire at La Canourgue on our way slowly home. The clocks have gone back, it’s cold and dark & the burgers I sat outside and BBQ’d in that darkness were shit. There’s 2 flies buzzing round in the van taking the piss which I think we’ve bought with us from Javea that refuse to die. They buzz round, land on us but disappear as soon as the swatter appears; bastards. Nice village though to be fair, very picturesque and calls itself Little Venice with a network of small canal like streams channeled through. Bugger all open though, it’s Sunday. We’re about 30 minutes north of Millau so making progress.

We got to Pineda de Mar on the Monday, and had 2 days on Camping Enmar which had been recommended by many fellow campers. Lovely site to be fair, well kept and a nice bar and pool. Pitches were spacious, bit of a moment when the van wouldn’t start when manoeuvring and we were stuck in the road for a while. All got sorted though. We tried to like the area, but after Benicasim and Javea we found it not for us. A bike road up the coast to neighbouring towns of Malgrat de Mar via Santa Susana did nothing to lift the spirits, like Great Yarmouth/Blackpool/Skegness (delete as applicable) on a bad day. Interesting though to see the contrast, apparently all built to accommodate the 70’s package holiday boom and it shows.

Moving on from Camping Enmar on Wednesday we decided to stay

at Roses (and after much deliberation not repeat last years enjoyable stay at Collioure); good decision as we both thoroughly enjoyed our 4 days stay at this more French feeling northern Spanish seaside town. Camping Joncar Mar was an experience, a free for all of all nationalities but predominantly French and the most expensive, cramped, gypsy camp, dust bowl we’ve stayed at. Our Dutch neighbours opposite we’d seen before at Javea; she was a staring lady, typical of the Dutch, and he bless him looks permanently confused and he’d be seen wandering round both sites trying to find his van. That said, the location of the site is perfect literally 1 minute down a dodgy, dirty back street to the lovely sea front promenade. This is definitely the USP of this place; Camping Rodas is far nicer apparently but closed for the season and Camping Salata we’d try next time; not too far out in reality and looks nicer.

I totally get the attraction of Roses, west facing so gets lots of

sunshine and a beautiful bay lined with a busy, cosmopolitan promenade and beach. Loads of bars and restaurants on the walk up to the lively, narrow streets of the older town. We visited the same “Bodega” (El Torro) for 3 nights running; first for excellent wine then for barrel top Tapas, celebrating my Birthday on the Friday evening. Menu was very simple and not appealing at first but it was fabulous; sausage, egg and chips and superb meatballs the highlight! Spanish style that is. Honeyed Aubergines were amazing too! Daisy got lots of fuss and on repeat visits to favourite bars, she was greeted by name and lots of general Catalan affection, at least we think so could have been calling her and us twats for all we know all. She was proper pissed off with only being given water though, and not biscuits. We also enjoyed sitting inside at another Bodega on the sea front, as the evenings were getting chilly as October draws to a close. Our few days passed with cycle rides, one afternoon a circular tour to include the very nice historic town of Castello d’Empurires

and the surrounding plains of agricultural countryside. The other following the undulcoast road with fabulous views across the sweeping bay of Roses. We shall most definitely be back to Roses one day, a lovely end to our time in Spain.