2017-07-21 Sant Carles Marina, Sant Carles de la Rapita, Spain

Today we decide to hire a car as we are still waiting on some parts to arrive for the fridges on the boat

We decide to get off the boat today and do some sightseeing in and around the area

Our first stop is to the Mirador La Guardiola

From the panoramic location above the town you can see for miles all around

Overlooking the town of Sant Carles de la Rapita with the marinas in the distance

We can almost see the Tangaroa on the V pontoon at the marina

The hard stand where the Tangaroa spent almost 9 months

Looking out towards the Delta De L’Ebre where acres and acres of rice is grown

The statue of Christ stands side by side with the telecommunication tower high above the town

Looking towards the old port of Rapita

We head north along the new highway

Passing rice fields which produce the local bomba rice

After passing through the town of Amposta we continue on to Tortosa

Tortosa is only 30 km north of Sant Carles de la Rapita and we were told it is a lovely town to visit

The road leading into the town is framed with rows of beech trees

Interesting artwork at the crossroads as we enter the town

xx

After parking the car we visit the Municipal Market in the centre of the town

When we arrived the market it was almost at the closing stage

There were some amazing stalls serving the local produce

We next take a walk along the banks of the Ebro River

We pass the Catedral Basilica Santa Maria which was unfortunately closed today

We then head towards the Castell de la Suda

The Moorish castle dates back to their occupation from the 8th century

The Ebro River which divides the town flows to the Delta D’Ebre and out to the Mediterranean Sea

Monument Commemoratiu de la Batalla de l’Ebre, highlights the importance of the town and commemorates the fierce battle fought here during the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939

Although the streets are empty this afternoon, in the evening the town becomes alive

It is Festival time in the town from the 20th to the 23rd of July

We head back to the car park and then make our way up to the castle which has a hotel built on the top called the Parador de Tortosa Hotel

The views from the castle walls over the river are quite amazing

We overlook the huge Cathedral Basilica Santa Maria which was started in 1347 and consecrated in 1597

After we depart Castell de la Sud nearby in the east we pass another fortified castle called Castell de Sant Joan

We return to Sant Carles de la Rapita via the Delta D’Ebre and its rice fields which go as far as the eye can see!!

Numerous silos service the Delta area

After returning to the boat to freshen up we decide to go into the town, have a cocktail and see some of the festivities happening in the town at the moment