July 5, 2023
Those of us of a certain vintage often start to realize that it's important to reconnect with old friends. Jim, my roommate from Michigan State University, was in Barcelona visiting his son Henry who is stationed at a US Naval base in Malta. Jim choose to rent a house for a few days on the Delta de l'Ebre, in southern Catalunya about an hour outside of Tarragona. As it the case in most small towns in this province, Catalán is the primary language, Spanish second, and English is a very distant third. Unless you are a Spaniard (or a reasonably well informed nature photographer) it is a little known area full of numerous small towns, ultra narrow roads, rice paddies, paella restaurants and flamingoes. And Mosquitos. After all, is it a perfect breeding ground for them with all the standing water for the rice paddies.
Overcoming the initial disappointment of a less than ideal sunrise, I hopped in the car before breakfast and headed out on the road to the Parc Natural del Delta de l'Ebre when I saw an interesting house with a cool chimney. Perhaps it reminded me of one of those Corona beer Christmas ads with a small house near the water with a lone palm tree or maybe I just was digging the ornamental chimney. What's important is that it spoke to me, so I listened.
The delta is dotted with many of these houses and it appears to me that they are mostly unoccupied and certainly dilapidated and I'm not sure why. There are also beaches and nature preserves and even a local historical museum that was pretty cool. Connecting with nature and exploring little known places feeds my soul and I hope that you enjoy this taste of my rice-based soul food from the Delta de l'Ebre. maxdobens.com