Mobile Retirement Days 8 – 16

As we reached the coast and sailed past the Ebro Delta, we reflected on our neglect of this beautiful and ethereal land and seascape, which this time was circumstantial, as the main campsite had closed for the season a few days prior. Next time we really must visit.

Continuing south, bumping along on the old N340 we were surprised at how quiet the route had become since the AP7 motorway had become toll-free, courtesy of Pedro Sanchez’ Socialist government. Mile after mile of neglected and mostly closed garages, motels and clubs, once used by truck drivers, now abandoned.

Although only a little over 100 miles from d’Alós de Balaguer, Camping Tropicana in Alcossebre seemed a world away and was a welcome and familiar sight and our third or fourth time here. 

 

Resplendent with palm trees, wide boulevards, Greco-Romano statues and a lovely pool, this site is just across the road from a pretty beach and has one of the best facilities blocks in Spain!

 

Cause for excitement here as this was our first laundry stop of the trip and believe me, a 10kg industrial washing machine is definitely cause for celebration! Ditto the bliss of a lever shower after all that push-button nonsense and you can see why Tropicana has a year-round loyal clientele.

 

In the winter, the residents are mostly deeply tanned Northern European retirees from all corners of Europe: German, Dutch, British, French, Belgian, Austrian, Norwegian and Swedish were all represented here and it gives the site a nice, almost bohemian feel. There were a few young families too, a few with toddlers or younger children on half term holiday.

Tropicana is also pretty much self-contained, with its own Consum mini-market where you can buy anything from a morning ‘rustica’ baguette to a saucepan lid. This is useful, as Alcossebre itself is a good 45 minute walk away, albeit via a pretty coastal boardwalk along the back of the numerous little coves and beaches that form this stretch of coastline.

In the other direction is Capicorb, where you can grab a coffee or cocktail and admire the view, with a long stretch of marshy parkland beyond, dotted with abandoned buildings, which makes for a pleasant and interesting cycle and leads into Torrenostra, a new(ish) high rise beach resort, the sister town to Torreblanca on the main road.

 

After a very relaxing six nights at Tropicana, we reluctantly upped awning pegs and continued south to Torre la Sal, near Marina d’Or, for a few nights. 

 

The entrance to the town has an intriguing sculpture, which is also a useful landmark for getting to the site!

 

 

Camping Torre la Sal is a smallish family run site right on the beach, with a relaxed and friendly feel, just to the north of the resort town of Oropesa. Again filled with 60+ age range, this site caters mostly to German and Dutch campers and we were the only Brits on site.


After a couple of lazy beach days, some swimming and a 10km return walk into Oropesa, we decided to sample the delights of the campsite restaurant – lunches only.  

 

 

 

We’d yet to eat out this trip and as the only evening restaurant option nearby was a fluorescent tube-lit schnitzel gaf, we opted for lunch at the campsite instead. It looked good, with a contemporary twist on standard Spanish fare at €18 pp on a special campista offer that we’d been given two days before at Reception.

 

 

We arrived at the restaurant in a gust of wind and a torrential downpour only to be told that the €18 menu offer had ended and it was now €25pp. Undeterred, Mr B was firm in his slowly improving Spanish and asked the waiter to speak to the boss… and hey presto, turns out we were right after all.

And after all Mrs B’s painstaking translation prior to arrival it would have been a shame to miss out.

 

All we can say is that whilst the menu showed promise and imagination, was prepared by a handsome tattooed chef and the food was pretty decent, the experience was something of a disappointment and included a grumpy waiter, the smallest glass of wine we have ever seen in Spain, the wrong main course and two completely cold cortado coffees. Usually Spanish lunches are a treat, so we will try again, but maybe not here!

Next stop, Oliva!

 

J&S

12.10.22