Roadblock

After determining with Vincens that we needed to get a permit in order to clear the way for construction trucks and the well driller, and an initial meeting with "Pink", we finally met the foresters at the finca today. More obstacles.
Let me back track by saying we occupied ourselves with various activities for the past few days, while waiting for said meeting. Spent Thursday driving around, our destination (Miravet).There is a small ferry on one side of the Ebro River that carries cars to the other side and drops you off in "downtown" Miravet, with its glorious castle , built by the Moors, inhabited by the Templers, and over taken by the Aragon Kings. Moorish meets Romanesque, with battles and beheadings. Besides being a heritage site, the village is also famous for its pottery. From there we headed to the coast, twenty minutes away, for seafood in (Cambrils). A rainy day, but not enough to deter the intrepid duo from sitting under the canopy. Marvelous sardines, squid, hake, and halibut, "a la plancha" (on the fire). And yesterday we explored (Vilella Baixa), the village next to Gratallops. Fantastic! Truly emblematic of a quintessential centuries old village. We went to track down some properties we found on the internet, still dreaming and scheming about the village townhouse to accompany the country farm. Capped the night off watching the(Goya's), Spain's version of the Oscars. Never saw so much cleavage in my life. Substantial cleavage, not necessarily attractive cleavage, yet amazing in the abandon. Very different feel from the Oscars, risque and delicious. Odd thing was Penelope Cruz (who I adore) won Best Supporting Actress for her work in an English language film directed by an American director. She was fantastic in Vicky,Cristina, Barcelona, however, shouldn't that be just the Oscar nod she received? No matter, the audience cheered wildly, as she is "Hollywood". Oh, the allure. Amazing gowns, nothing you would ever see on an American actress, almost trashy, way too flashy, but oh so good.
And today, the foresters, the environmental regulators. Suffice to say, it did not go as planned. We unfortunately drew the guy who is related to the sky cab at airport curbside checking who weighs your bag and says its 51 pounds, you know what I mean? So, rather than get the go ahead to bring a truck down to clear a ten foot path for a single truck, we are now having to go to Tarragona tomorrow, deal with more officials, get more permits,etc. Bureaucracy is mind boggling. At four this afternoon I just wanted to fold up my tent. But by six we had a plan, we have pistachios, a glass of wine, and a fire in the fireplace. After all, tomorrow is another day. And there are no problems, only solutions.