Solo Train Trip to Tarragona - 10-12th Nov

 I caught the train to Tarragona on Fri 10th for the weekend. Tarragona is just over an hour south of Barcelona and was a very pleasant trip by the Mediterranean. Tarragona is best known for its Roman ruins but is also a very pretty city, particularly with the lovely weather I experienced. 

I booked an apartment close to the centre and the host left a bottle of red wine and a pkt of yummy chocolate wafer biscuits.  

First stop was the Tourist Info Centre, followed by a visit to the Mercat Central where I had a light lunch at the counter of a bar. 

So simple but the combo was delicious, with slices of quince paste giving it a real lift. 

I visited the Praetorium & Roman Circus Fri night. Compared to 4 pm, the streets were packed at 8/9 pm (it's what happens in Spain). 

Saturday morning was Cathedral time - very impressive! Consecrated in 1331. 

My favourite part of any cathedral, as Helen & Iain know, is the cloister. I do love a good cloister and this one didn't disappoint! 

I caught the bus to Reus, a 25 min bus trip, for the afternoon. I visited the Gaudi Museum, which I would recommend as it provided background on how he got his inspiration from nature. Then a nice little lunch on the Museum's terrace:

Tuna & Russian salad with caviar

Catalunya Olive Oil Fair (as you would expect in Spain). There were about 20 stalls, selling from 500 mls to 5 litre bottles of quality olive oils (I climbed into a large olive tree pot plant to take this pic)

Before returning to Tarragona, I took an evening guided tour of a modernist building, Casa Navas which was built at the beginning of the last century for a rich merchant. It was partly destroyed during the Civil War, the majority of which was rebuilt. 

Inside terrace. 

Interior balcony

Fireplace - not really my style compared to Gaudi's in Casa Battlo below (more pics to come) 

Now that's a fireplace! Cosy, no? 

Sunday, 12th

Stunning Sunday morning in the main strip, Rambla Nova. 

A few hours later far right-wings marched along the same strip protesting against a proposal to grant amnesty to Catalans who were involved in the 2017 attempt to secede from the rest of Spain. There have been protests all over Spain, a huge one in Madrid in particular. 

On Sunday I followed an audio tour I downloaded on an app, Voicemap. Overall, it worked very well - until I got a little lost. It works on GPS and if you follow the map, not always easy in really narrow streets hundreds of years old, it provides as much information as a walking tour might.

My attempt at a selfie in front of the Amfiteatre de Tarragona. 

This candle shop is the oldest (or second oldest) continuing retail business in Spain, established about 1750. It was part of the Voicemap tour. It also suggested taking a photo of the walkway below, so I did.

Walking down a nondescript narrow street, the tour app pointed out another casa worth taking a look at.  I think you'll agree the main living room below is a bit OTT. 

It reminded me a bit of the Palace of Versailles and it was tucked away in a tiny little street. 

I was impressed with the bathroom. 

Even in a private home, the irrepressible commitment to Catalan culture and independence was evident.