Day trip with Wanderbeak to Delta del Ebro
I’ve had a big breakfast as instructed by Marwa, the force behind Wanderbeak Experiences. I am about to set out on a new Wanderbeak experience to the Delta del Ebro. We will see a castle, visit a cathedral of wine, take a speedboat, shuck an oyster and lock spoons over soccarat as the sun sets. The day is such that at various points throughout it, I struggle to fill in what came before. As my brain creates, files and stores impressions.
Delta del Ebro grows all of Catalonia’s rice and is a unique natural lanscape.
Delta del Ebro is a stunning landscape. Flat, it goes on for ages in every direction. The textures of slick water with green bewitches the light. Particularly in the evening. Even after a full day of it, I exclaim with joy every time we turn the corner. 20% of Spain’s rice grows here and almost 100% of Catalonia’s. It’s full of birds including pink flamingoes.
The Wanderbeak Experience includes lunch on a mussel farm in the middle of the sea.
Still gushing over the landscape. We arrive at a port where we clamber onto a speedboat and set off towards the horizon. Seawater splashes at us mischievously. 10 minutes in, we spot our destination, a wooden platform in the middle sea. Filled with tables of people enjoying lunch. Wooden beams radiate from the platform with ropes leading into the water. We are giddy as we join them. Within moments, oysters and mussels are being pulled from the sea for us.
We try two rice dishes made with local specialties: blue crab and duck.
Lunch here would have been enough to make this day unforgettable. However, there is more, we have to have rice. The sun is now low. The rice fields are transforming yet again. Marwa drives us to a river location. Reeds and palm trees bend in the wind. Boats have been moored for the night. They serve us a rice dish with chunks of blue crab. Next comes a rice dish with duck and artichokes. I like this one even better.
An unforgettable day of unique, immersive experiences with Wanderbeak.
We toast to the day with rice liquor. Before piling back into the car for the one and a half-hour drive to Barcelona. I can’t remember a day when I have had this many vivid experiences, each outdoing what came before it.*
Wanderbeak Tours
www.wanderbeak.com
facebook.com/wanderbeak
instagram.com/wanderbeak
More tours with Wanderbeak:
Gaudi Gourmet
Savor Spain
*This was a press trip but the review reflects my honest impressions.
Terry Deamer says
Great little article. One day covers such a breadth of diverse topics, will pick up on this later in the year. Provides a spuer alternative than crowds in a busy Barcelona. Many thanks.