Delta De L'Ebre

If you are ever going backpacking or moving to a new city here is a splendid little tip for you: couchsurfers. 

It is a fantastic website. The general idea is that you can meet people and possibly score a free place to sleep, but it also offers so much more in terms of community. 

Since being in Tarragona and using this site at the beginning of this year, I have met so many wonderful people. Every Friday I go to a kind of language exchange/ social event at a regular bar and we have a few drinks and chat. This event came about through use of the website and thanks to it, I now have some really great new friends. I really can't recommend it enough. It has totally reformed my life here in this sleepy town.

So our trip to Delta De L'Ebre was our first official event out as a group. We've actually done other trips through the couchsurfing community (Reus, Coso Blanco) but this was the first one that was organised in more detail and discussed.

The Delta De L'Ebre is where the Ebro/e river meets the Mediterranean Sea. All the debris, sand, silt is dumped out by the river at its mouth and it forms this wide stretch of wetlands where birds and other forms of wildlife come to hang out. Farmers also grow a lot of the region's rice here (You can definitely eat a good paella in these parts). It kind of reminded me a little of the cranberry bog near my old home in the States except it stretches on forever and the air is windy and full of sea salt.

They have flamingos here! Pink lanky flamingos! We actually saw them...but they were too far away for the camera to do them any justice. I imagine at the right time of year this place is a bird spotter's paradise.

So we drove down in three cars and had a bit of a look, before deciding lunch was a good idea with the intention to return for a longer, more thorough walk. 

The restaurant we chose was a bit of a mistake. For a fifteen euro set price charge (none of us were feeling very flush), we were fed a meal that I would not want to repeat for a while. Amazing value for money - all drinks included too - but so much food spread out over a very long time and a lot of it fried...We were desperate to get away by the end and get walking and to actually see some of the place we had driven an hour to come and see.

We did see a fair bit but the place is rather large so I think we could easily visit again.

Just one word of warning...be careful not to get your car stuck in the sand...!! Here's a little demonstration of the group's team work! (well...mainly the boys...)

All in all, it was a great day - and no rain to spoil the occasion either! We drove back late listening to atmospheric car music (hello Bjork...I am going to have to give you some more of my time) and I came home to my flatmate having her own little party with some friends. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday! xxx