Weather: 29º C and sunny (not a cloud in the sky)

Mileage: 360 Km; Total 3,030 kms

No, we are not in Toledo yet. Yes, we did go on a toll road. We made this decision after our visit to Tarragona on the way to Valencia. Our long search for the information centre (signage would help), lunch and walk around the Old (Roman) Town took longer than anticipated which was not a bad thing as it was all interesting. As we were being met by the owners at the apartment in Valencia we thought we should get there in a timely manner and it would save us 1¾ hours if we went by the toll road; the non toll road taking the coastal route probably through every town and there were lots of them. The Toll Road was 195 kms long and cost €23. We will continue to avoid them in future.

Our stop in Tarragona was enjoyable. We found a car park close to the Old Town that also happened to be close to the town centre. A stroll down the Rambla away from views of the Mediterranean had us on the lookout for the tourist information office. This took us through a very very long market and a warning from the officer at the TI centre to be wary of pickpockets. Although we had survived Barcelona we still needed to remain vigilant and careful.

The roman sites in Tarragona included an amphitheatre, circus maximus, necropolis, wall around the old city and a building reputed to be the birthplace of Pontius Pilate as well as more. About 20 km before we got to Tarragona we passed the Triumphal Arch of Bera (3rd century BC). Although we did not see it, there was also an aquaduct that brought water in from a river 32 km away. While wandering around the old town we came upon the Cathedral. It was most unusual but was unfortunately shut (for lunch and siesta probably).

For the first time in a city or town, we saw no begging in Tarragona.

Having also eaten we headed for Valencia and as requested contacted the owners of the apartment as we approached it. They had warned us of some road works on their street and that they had made arrangements for us to park the car elsewhere. Roadworks was an understatement – the road was dug up and closed. All apartment owners had to park their cars somewhere else. We were having problems even getting close due to the road closures and at one point we parked on the footpath and over a crosswalk as we talked to the owners on the phone about our problem and where to meet them. Don’t know where he came from but a policeman was standing beside us within seconds and with his book out poised to write a ticket.

Not only was our parking a problem but we were also blocking traffic. If you’re going to get it wrong you might as well do it properly. After each of us had a one sided conversation he let us move on without a ticket (we think). Will no doubt find out from the rental company later if one was issued.

We eventually met the owners. Anne took the roller luggage helped by the wife while the husband stayed with Bruce directing him to the parking garage. Although it was only a couple of blocks away with the one way roads and road closures it took 10 minutes of driving to get there and then another 10 to park the car in the garage (remember the 50 point turn earlier - well enough said). Basically Bruce needed to park it in a 2 car garage which already had 2 cars in it and both these cars needed daily access. Luckily we did not plan on using the car here or we could have seen more of the garage than the sites. Hope to get a picture of it all when we leave. Apparently we are also lucky we are leaving on Sunday as had we been leaving on Monday the car would have been blocked in by the all day market held on that road.

The apartment is lovely. Apparently some of the members of the NZ Americas Cup team stayed in this apartment in 2007 and celebrated big when they won the Louis Vuitton Cup but were then beaten in the Americas Cup and probably ended up in a similar state as they did for the win, albeit less enjoyable.

We wandered around the district last night and went to a Bodega which was on the way. Got some breakfast items as we plan to have breakfast in the apartment. Later on we navigated our way across the road to eat dinner at the Nolita Restaurant. It was a marvellous meal with a comparative price but I suppose one is allowed to that occasionally. All in all it was quite an expensive day for a travelling day.

As an aside: - We have a Rick Steve’s 2013 Travel Guide book of Spain. It is an eBook and a search for “Valencia” gives no hits nor is there any reference to it in the index. Very hard to believe and we will be writing to them.