RODA DE BARÀ

We arrived October 30 in the marina, after that washing machine ride from Mallorca. I was really fed up with it. Not nice when you end with a bad experience after having such a nice time with Annelies & Gertjan and Annieck & Fieke. But anyway, we made it and this is part of the game. And I have to get used to it that it sure will happen again, even though you try to plan as good as possible.
The weather was still quite good. In the daytime, there was still a lot of sun but in the night it was cold. Not all the shops in the Marina are open at this time of year but we did have lunch once at one of the small coffee shops. Sitting in the sun and relaxing. Not bad for this time of year! A few people were overwintering and working on their boats. Like Franck, our neighbor. Skipper on a big 65? foot X-yacht and a very friendly guy! We had a great time having dinner together and talking about exploring the world. He had been to almost every part of the world and could tell us so much! Thanks, Franck! We decided to stay for a few days more to prepare the boat before our leave to Holland. After being on board for quite some time there were a lot of things to do. Washing the sheets etc., cleaning the boat inside and out, empty the fridges, prepare the water maker etc. Our flight back to Holland was leaving from Barcelona. So we decided to stay in Barcelona for 1 night to enjoy city life for just a few hours! But the first question is how to go to Barcelona? Well very easy! By taxi to the train station, then by train to Barcelona and the next day by train again to the airport. Quite easy!

The Marina
Located between the beaches of the Costa Dorada and Pallisseta, its entrance is oriented to the west. There are a total of 643 moorings and 511 parking spaces, plus some shops. Exact location: Longitude 1º 28 ’59’ ‘East and latitude 41º 10’ 07 ” North. It is the largest port of the Tarragona coast. The marina has a 1-tonne crane. There is a gas station, toilets, WI-FI, surveillance, mariner, diver service. There is a dry dock with a travel lift of 110 tons and a crane with a capacity of 10 tons. The marina has 640 moorings to meet the needs of all types of boats: from 8 meters to 45 meters in length. They speak English at the marina office which is also very handy.

Getting to and from Barcelona
BY CAR: the distance from the airport to the marina is 61 km and it will take about 45 minutes.
BY TRAIN:

Roda de Berà
The town of Roda de Barà is in the South of Barcelona, in the province of Tarragona. Ten minutes from the city of Tarragona and very close to towns such as Vendrell and Torredembarra. Roda de Barà was already an important hub of communication in the Roman age. The town’s most important monument is the Barà Arch. It is an imposing triumphal arch more than 10 meters high. The beaches have fine, golden sand with modern nautical facilities which allow you to make the most of this sunny coastline. The beaches of Roda de Berà are the ultimate attraction of our town, along with the promenade and coastal path that is in a privileged setting surrounded by cliffs. The beaches even have an environmental management system and offer many quality services that are worthy of several prestigious awards!
Other things to do and see in the neighborhood of the Marina:

Camino de Ronda
A promenade through the southern slope of the hill Berà connects Long Beach with Roc San Cayetano. Ideal for walking, brimming with charm and magnificent views. It is a lovely place to walk and enjoy nature as it is in a privileged setting surrounded by cliffs and offers throughout the year, a landscape of extraordinary beauty. At some point, we went up the hill to get more into town. You find beautiful houses and different style of buildings. Really worth the walk!

Roc San Cayetano
Roc de Sant Gaietà is a typical fishing village in the Mediterranean style. Located close to the marina, facing the sea, called “Roc de Sant Gaietà”. The building of this small town only started in 1964 and ended in 1972. A Hispano-Belgian society, formed by Rene Vandemeuter and Pedro Sureda, bought several estates to build the urbanization. HThe idea was to build a fishing village on the rocks. They made apartment houses on the seafront, designed in the style of the villages like Granada,. With Andalusian and Sevillian patios and Roman ornaments. Arabic and Gothic influences giving it the feel of “a typical Spanish town. Really nice to visit this place!

The Berà Arch
Built by the Romans in the late 1 st century b.c. this arch is one of the best preserved triumphal arches in the world. The rectangular arch rests on a base with two Corinthian pilasters on each side. Each of the two pillars of the arch is decorated with pillars that have bases Attic, grooved shafts and Corinthian capitals.It is 12’28 meters high, 12 meters wide and 2’34 meters thick. The central opening has a height of 10.15 meters and a width of 4’87 meters.