Kayaking on the Ebro River

Kayaking on the Ebro River

 2 years ago we got out our 2 kayaks, rented 2 for Bob and Dona (family visiting from Vermont), and kayaked down the Ebro from Miravet to Benifallet.  It is probably the most impressive stretch of this river, the 2nd longest in Spain.
Last Sunday we repeated the trip with a group of 12 friends joined by 50 others renting from the kayak company.

The scene at the Miravet ferry landing where we embarked on last Sunday's adventure

Beautiful Miravet, a town with Moorish origins which was on the Moorish-Christian frontlines until near the end of the 12th century.  From this view the Miravet castle just shows on the top.

Bob, Dona and Linda  2 years ago with Miravet castle in the background.  After the conquest of the Moors in 1193, the castle was rebuilt by the Knights Templar into a massive fortress/monastery.  It is the largest fortified complex in Catalonia and a fine example of Romanesque Religious and military architecture.  It has figured in quite a few battles over the years up to and including the Spanish Civil War(1936-39)

Over 50 kayaks spread out over the river enjoying the spectacular views

For you Vermonters, you see, we have our twin Champs!

Bob wielding a mean paddle

Linda enjoying the sights

Mark and Marian

Hans and Jane

After all that exercise, a great picnic by the river

We're back with new art!

For those of you who check in regularly, we're sorry for taking such a long blog break. Time sure flies, and we are having so much fun. We'll try to post more often to update what's been happening in the past six months, including house projects, vegetable garden sagas, new chapters in flower gardening, language encounters, fiestas, visitors, our big summer party, and new art for the El Perello market and the weekly art group. Whew! Better get going. . . .

These are some of Linda's recent paintings, mostly water color on canvas.  Lots of olive branch art which have been popular at the weekly market.

Las flores de Abril

The flowers really bust out all over in April so we have a lot to show.  Some of our Feb. or March flowers are shown again but in full bloom.  We had plenty of rain in March and some more here near the end of April.  All is green, green, green, not the usual here.

The Aloes are now in bloom.  Sometimes they grow 3-5 meters in height.

We showed the broom last month with precious few flowers.  Thought it was an off year, but now it is in its full glory.  In the background is one of our new garden plots.  With our Romanian friends, Pedro and Alin we are planting quite a large garden.

Cala lily behind our Gaudi style bench

This Red Valerian(Centranthus ruber) was here when we arrived.  Had to search a bit to find its name.

Cistus Monspiensis.  A pretty little white flower.

With the rain we have had, the olive orchard is full of wild flowers.  Here are Convolvulus Athaeoides.

Coronilla emerus.  This we showed last month but now they are in their full glory

This Ederas is in our garden one terrace down from the house.  A beautiful bush that was here when we arrived.

A beautiful geranium variety

These geraniums are out in a garden plot by the pool wall

Our many Irises are still going strong in various parts of the garden.  In back are flor de cuchillo

More Irises under an olive tree

We showed the flor de cuchillo last month.  We have 2 sizes and these larger ones are looking great right now.

These pots are on the wind sheltered steps to the upper deck.  they contain a lime and a lemon tree.  But last fall Linda started nasturtiums and snapdragons in the same pots

The Osteospermum always put on a great show in the spring.  Like the flor de cuchillo they close up entirely at night.

We planted this bird of paradise a year and a half ago.  Finally a bloom

These roses which started last month are now in full bloom.  They top the wall of the old corral.  This finca was called the Corral de Miguelillo.  The corral was to house sheep or goats and the farm was much large than the present 6.2 acres.  that's all for this month.

What's Blooming This Month-Marzo

The warmer weather has us outside planting,weeding, and tilling a second and much larger new huerto (veggie garden) so we had nearly forgotten to post the blooms for March.

This patch of geraniums have been in here for a couple of years and are still going strong.

These petunias (recognize the pot, Tom and Susan?) survive over the winter, and in a few weeks will be spilling over.

This ambitious climbing rose comes from a cutting our neighbor Martine brought from Switzerland and gave to the former owners. They wont last long but they'll completely cover the stone wall and make a carpet of petals.

Our first real crop of the season! Habas (fava beans) are very popular in Catalunya. Their creamy flavor make a great addition to soups, but young habas are delicious all on their own with a little parmesan.

Finally, our freesias are really blooming and spreading. 

Broom may be very ordinary but its yellow flowers are always welcome.

Thyme is normally lovely all over the campo at this time of year but right now it's really abundant probably due to the extra rains we've been having.

This shrub called Coronilla emerus sports lovely little "crowns" of yellow flowers for only a short time.

As ever, the Osteospermum blast into spring and keep going, and going, and going.

Hopefully, this winter blooming jasmine will fill out and cover a section of our new chain link doggie fence.

 

The rains must have inspired the oxalis this year because I was able to divide it for the first time. 

Another calcotada

Yes, we were fortunate to be invited to another Calcotada(soft c),  this time at the finca of our Dutch friends, Hans and Anke.  The Calcotada was prepared by Danny, a Catalan from Barcelona and his wife Natalie.  They prepared the Romescu sauce and did the grilling.  Danny laid a bed of olive tree prunings and over it put an old bed spring on which he laid out the calcots.  He then lighted the olive branches and the breeze carried the fire across the bedspring cooking and blackening the calcots.  When cooked the blackened calcots are folded in groups of 15 or 20 into newspaper to steep for an hour or so before serving.

Danny grilling calcots

Below we  wear our bibs and get our hands completely blackened pulling the outer burned layers off the calcots.   We then dip them in Romescu sauce and try to get them into our mouths without too much mess.

There's no neat way to eat calcots

                                                                 Que aproveche

Calcotada

The Calcotada(soft c) is a wonderful Catalan tradition originating in the city of Valls.  Calcots are a type of spring onion or leek which are in season Dec. to April.  The calcotada is a meal which starts with Calcots and proceeds to grilled meats.  Today we also had delicious grilled whole artichokes which are in season.  Calcots are traditionally eaten with a  Romescu sauce made from crushed almonds, olive oil, tomatoes, peppers, wine vinegar, parsley and garlic. 
The calcots are grilled over a wood fire(preferably carob or olive wood) and then wrapped in newspaper to steep for an hour or so while other foods are grilled.  They are traditionally eaten outside standing up since it is a messy process as the calcots are blacken and the outer layer needs to be pulled off before popping them in your mouth.  Linda shows the proper way. 

The last shot is part of the beautiful cacti garden of our hostess, Giselle.

Calcots ready to eat with Romescu sauce

Nice style Linda

Part of Giselle's cacti garden