A sunny drive to Tortosa

After yesterday’s grey and dismal day, today dawned sunny and stayed that way. We set off for Lleida after an excellent breakfast, taking the back roads through the hills, before finally dropping down to the plain, which spread out before us, maybe all the way to Madrid. Lleida is another of these towns that were much knocked about in various wars - the Spanish civil war being only the most recent, if the worst. But several retain impressive fortresses, and sometimes churches, perched on lofty rocks above the town.

It was not easy finding our way through the new town and up to the castle, but it was worth it - even though, being Monday, the cathedral was actually closed. The only other visitors were a few disconsolate Brits wandering round the outside, like us. But it really didn’t matter. We were able to peer through an iron grill to see the magnificent gothic cloister, and also pause for a beer in the shadow of the bell tower.

After this excellent excursion, we set off south towards Tortosa, pausing a short way out of town to munch yesterday’s picnic, which proved none the worse for being a day old. Soon the road started to follow the course of the Ebre river, which passes through dramatic gorges all the way down to Tortosa, and after that, the Med of course.. Unfortunately places where you can stop to admire the view and take photos are few and far between, but we did find one or two.

Here in Tortosa, we had less trouble finding our way up to the Parador, which this time is built next to the castle ruins, though not actually inside them. And, still being Monday, they were closed today too. But our room has a balcony with a magnificent view and we are very comfortably chilling out.