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Spain--July
​Jill Walzer and Family

Slide Show of Photos with captions at end of trip information
 
Sangria, sun and beach, that was my mantra at the end of the school year as I marked off the days until our trip to Spain. Our first stop was the small city of El Campello located two hours south of Valencia. It’s located along the coastline of the Mediterranean and boasts a long sandy beach that fills with families all summer long. Since it is Spain, families will stay at the beach until late in the evening and then stroll along the paseo (boardwalk) to find just the right place to have paella or tapas.  

The first night in El Campello, we visited a favorite bar for sangria and tapas before our dinner reservation nearby. I was traveling with my husband and my kids. My stepdad and my mother had already been in Spain for a few weeks and were excited we had arrived, just in time to join them for a road trip through central Spain.
My step-father planned our trip with his usual flair.  Our itinerary included a visit to the rice fields of Spain, a night at a 10th Century castle restored as a hotel, and a hike through a park with waterfalls near a 13th Century monastery.

Our first stop was the delta region of the Rio Ebro. The Ebro Delta is located in the Province of Tarragona, and is one of the largest wetland areas in the western Mediterranean region. This area produces 14 varieties of rice, as well as fruits and vegetables. We were there for the paella and tried a local rice liqueur called Licor de Crema d’Arros. 

Our restaurant near the river had a large dining room and patio. We sat outside to take advantage of the proximity to the brilliant green rice fields. We ordered a seafood paella and were not disappointed -- shrimp, mussels, clams, saffron and vegetables. Delicious! Buen Provecho!

Our second stop was the restored castle that was now a Parador hotel in the City of Tortosa. The Parador de Tortosa is located in the Castillo de la Zud, a 10tC century building located near the Beceite Mountains and overlooking the green Ebro Valley and ancient city. A Moorish king originally built the castle and others updated over the years in a Gothic style. It was a steep drive up to the Parador and we thought we might have to get out and push the car up the hill. After we parked, we walked out to the parapets and looked out over the stunning city. By chance, there was a Medieval Fair in the walled city below. We walked down the hill to shop at the stalls set up with medieval arts and crafts and view the spectacular gothic churches. We walked back up the hill to have a delicious Catalan dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Our final stop was our hotel at the Monasterio de la Piedra, a restored 13th Century Cistercian monastery by a park along the Piedra River in the Zaragoza region of Spain. The big attraction is the Parque Natural del Monasterio de Piedra, which features many waterfalls, caves, walking paths, and trout farms developed by the monks. One of the most interesting waterfalls had a big cavern behind it where you could stand and get wet, and a tunnel connecting a slippery pathway to another cave. Some of the water filters through the rocks and creates a misty rain and you need to proceed with caution. If you’re traveling in July or August, you’ll appreciate getting wet and cooling off. 

​After our excursion through the park, we walked through the park gate and into the Monasterio. We had another delicious dinner at the restaurant in the Monasterio surrounded by Cistercian artwork.  
It was an exciting road trip filled with history, art, nature and great food. But we were happy to be driving back to El Campello to swim, read and relax within the Spanish culture we so enjoy!