New Chinese Buffet in Amposta

A new Chinese buffet has opened on the site of the old bowling alley in Amposta. It is next to Cafoc hardware store on Avenido Catalunya.

We visited this last week, and the amount of food available was amazing. It is owned and run by the people who use to run Casa Wang and still run Wang Bazaar. The cost is 8.50 euros per person excluding drinks for a lunchtime and 9.50 euros per person on an evening. It is well worth the money.

You can choose from a hot or cold buffet, as well as sushi and having the chef freshly cook your chosen raw food. We went on a Monday night quite early and it soon filled up. There is a smoking section in the restaurant which is closed off from the main area.

Before I receive comments, asking if I have shares in this restaurant - No I dont. The only interest I have is in sharing knowledge of a good restaurant with you.

Local attractions on this weekend - 1st May 2009

The following events are happening this coming weekend in our area.

1. Ceramics fair at La Galara, open Friday, Saturday and Sunday

2. Fiesta Major at Mas de Barbarans, various events including shows of Bull fighting apprentices playing with bull to show off their art (no bull injuring or killings) Thursday at 10pm, Friday at 10.30 pm, Saturday at 6pm. The shows at night involve the bulls wearing fireworks on their horns.

3. Goat fair at Rasquira - many goats on display and maybe to buy, lots of food and craft stalls. Saturday and Sunday

4. Ebre - expo in Tortosa, fira of local businesses etc 1st - 3rd May, free entry. In the exhibition area near remolins.

Labour Day

Remember this Friday 1st May is a bank holiday in the whole of Spain.

Digger work

James Hughes has asked me to let you know that his digger is now back up and fully operational again. So any of you waiting for, or wanting digger jobs doing please give him a call and he will arrange to carry out the job for you.

Urgent - missing dogs

Today, three dogs of James Hughes went missing, they are as follows:-

Winston - Male rottwieler wearing a chain collar
Sally - Female Rottwieler wearing a red collar
Max - Male cavalier spaniel wearing a black collar

These dogs are likely to be together, all the dogs are friendly and can be approached without fear.

Please contact James on 610850493 if you see them.

Many thanks

Carnival is here!

Next week sees the official start of Spring here in Spain with Carnival. A chance to chase out the devils of Winter an welcome the spirit of Spring.

Most towns and villages around out area are celebrating Carnival, and do so in a variety of ways. Both Godall and Vineros hold the battle of the flour (yes I have spelt it correctly) This is where you attend the local square and throw baking flour at each other for a hour or so. Its great fun but always means a queue for tthe shower and a overfilled washing basket after. Take a tip for me and park your car out of the way if you visit, as I am still getting flour out of my car from two years ago.

Vineros and Santa Barbara are also holding a confetti battle during carnival.

Also please remember that the village children of Freginals also celebrate carnival by going around the village at lunchtime banging drums, wearing big heads and knocking on door to get sweets. If you get the chance, please go up and watch.

Happy New Year to all

Here's hoping Santa was good to you last week, and now we are looking forward to 2009 with a hope that its will be a good year for us all. To aid our wishes I thought you might wish to know how the Catalan people try to insure, good luck, health and happiness.

As I mentioned in the Christmas traditions post, firstly at the stroke of midnight on the 31st December you need to eat a grape on the chime of each bell. This tradition was said to be started in Spain because the king of Spain decided to give grapes to everybody to eat on New Year’s Eve when the harvest was a particularly big one about a hundred years ago. Others say it was the farmers’ way in Alicante to get people to eat the surplus, but who knows.

Wearing red under garments is also a hugely popular custom here, hence the reason you see so many red garments being sold at this time of year. The origins of this tradition was apparently started during the Middle Ages, when almost everything was forbidden. The colour red was always associated with the devil, blood or witchcraft. Even the planting and consumption of red crops such as tomatoes and peppers were banned. One could risk their lives dressing in red during that time. People wore red in secret because they believed red was the symbol of blood and life and that such a colour would bring them luck and fertility in the coming year. By the way, don’t get too attached to those new store bought knickers because according to tradition, you need to burn them the next day to ensure good heath, and happiness in the coming year.