L'Ampolla offers easy access to the Ebro Delta, which is home to almost 300 species of bird. The Delta's shrimp lakes are home to Pink Flamingos and the vast areas of unspoiled country offer sanctuary to Hoopoes, Owls, Egrets and Grey Herons, to name but a few. Bird lovers would probably find September/October the most interesting time of year for it is then that the rice is harvested and this lures Egrets and Herons to the fields in masses. However, perhaps the most amusing of all is the sight of cormorants standing along the sea walls hanging out their wings to dry. It is also fun to watch the migration of birds coming down from Northern Europe.

Standing on the banks of the River Ebro, Tortosa is an old Roman town with a rich and varied history. Once an Episcopal See, it is home to a very interesting medieval cathedral and, in more recent times, it was the scene of one of the most tragic battles of the Spanish Civil War (The Battle of the Ebro). There is a famous war memorial built on an island in the middle of the river that should be seen. Again, the pace in Tortosa is slow. Like L'Ampolla, there are restaurants and bars, which serve a wide selection of foods - there are even two Chinese restaurants for those fed up with Paella! The Parador Castle restaurant offers not only wonderful cuisine but also magnificent views over the city. Apart from the historical monuments and restaurants, Tortosa is home to some elegant and interesting shops and the little city is well worth a visit. Those with a penchant for exquisite leather handbags and shoes should certainly go there, or perhaps not!

Barcelona, Valencia and Tarragona are worth a visit, all can be reached within a ninety minute drive or rail journey. The trains from L'Ampolla station are not very frequent but the service is reliable.

To the north, Barcelona offers interesting art museums (the Picasso Museum is a must), Gaudi architecture (see the Sagrada Familia and the Gaudi Park) and plenty of shops, restaurants and bars. Tarragona has a terrific Roman Arena as well as shops, restaurants and safe sandy beaches, while nearby Reus is said to be the birth place of Gaudi. Beaches, such as those at Cambrils and Sitges, can also be found all along the coast. For those with a sense of adventure Port Aventura lies a 30 minutes drive away, near Salou. Here the visitor will find all the fun of the fair, big dippers, giant roundabouts, theme restaurants, Flamenco dancing and much more. This is a great favourite with children of all ages!

To the south of L'Ampolla, Peniscola is home to a Templar's Palace and is where ELCid was filmed. It has long sandy beaches and is a must for lovers of pottery. Again, the selection of restaurants is very good. Valencia is also a must on the list of places to visit. Ulldecona has Stone Age cave paintings while Morello, high in the mountains, produces wonderful hand knitted goods.

But wherever you go, and whatever you do, the people are charming, the ambience relaxed and the weather is reliable.