The town of the bombs!

Published: 22.10.2026

The last travel week knocks with loud hammering at the door, and so we saddle the chickens and roll towards the north.

Still, we carry the Galician plague with us, coughing, panting, and cursing through spectacularly beautiful Spanish landscapes with runny noses and weak knees.

The hero discovers in the infinite depths of the robber's cave two remaining Corona test swabs through which I get proof to cure my first Covid infection.

I actually didn't expect that on a vacation.

We are driving over considerable heights, not a hundred kilometers from the eastern Mediterranean. Spain keeps surprising us with unexpected natural beauties, countless sierras with mighty mountains up to two thousand meters and uninhabited, desolate expanses.

I wish for a detour to the Comarca Matarraña, which is marketed as the Spanish Tuscany. The region doesn't need to adorn itself with foreign Italian feathers at all. We feel more like we've been transported to the Sierra Nevada through the olive groves and vineyards. We don't discover the pure farmland landscape with cypress avenues of Tuscany on our route anyway. A trip off the usual paths in Spain is definitely worth it.

Now we still want to discover a beautiful Spanish place and initially choose the huge parking lot at Castillo as our destination in Valderrobes. It’s a pity that the prohibition signs for motorhomes and caravans are only surprisingly set up at the access road, and a maneuver in the narrow streets is nearly unimaginable.

But only nearly. The hero is, after all, a constant doer and is not disturbed by the very clever local resident who knows better that we can't park here and also can't go any further.

¡Muchas gracias! We already noticed that.

The travel group in front of the church is distracted by the interesting explanations of the city guide and is quite surprised when Zappa maneuvers our long combination backwards up the steep ramp in the right direction.

I just have to get out and check the sandstone wall at the church portal and finally remove the barricade. The ride is free again.

The travel group is prevented from applauding by the city guide since she wants to continue here and demands the undivided attention of her tourists.

So we forgo a local tour due to lack of parking; we still have an appointment today in el publo de la bomba.

If you ever need a pump, of any kind, here’s our tip: drive to Lleida. Many years ago, only in this Catalan stronghold of technology, progress, and grain mills could we be helped. Only here could they install a new diesel pump in our well-traveled robber's cave.

And now we will be getting a phenomenal, unbeatable, grand water pump for the caravan from David at Tecno-Camper. He assured us of that this morning with a quick email message.

On the way to the industrial area, we drive past the impressive Renault workshop where the Kangoo once received the new diesel pump and feel a bit sentimental recalling the thrilling week a few years ago, until the robber’s cave finally drove again.

To the lonely night of uncertainty on the cold Pyrenees pass, to the trips to Mercadona in La Seu de Urgell, to the day at the fortress of Lleida, to the hikes at the Rio Segre for daily washing, to the holiday that only exists in Lleida, to the watering eyes from the emissions of the mills right opposite the Château Renault repair factory.

But now we stand with David, a friendly young man with colorful dreadlocks, who builds unconventional camper vans for every need in a corner of a huge hall with his buddy. The business is quickly done, the heroes laugh, '¡Vale, vale, vale!', patting each other on the back, and we continue our journey towards the Pyrenees.

Tomorrow, warm showers will be nice again. I think.

Unfortunately, it doesn't go that quickly. The hero has to activate all tricks, tips, and miracles from the toolbox again. Only after hours of using up a lot of patience and saliva, when I no longer believe it, does the warm water finally bubble out of the boiler. Hooray! And the door lock works again, unbelievable!

But now it’s time to say goodbye.

¡Adiós España und hasta luego! We will return, at the latest when the Pimentón de la Vera is used up.

You will have noticed - even in España, we cook locally! Today: Tapas Albondigas!

Mix minced meat with egg, lots of parsley, even more garlic, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper, form small balls, roll in flour, and fry sharply in olive oil...

...take them out and cook the sauce in the pan from finely chopped onions, lots more garlic, tomatoes, and a splash of red wine, thicken a bit, then let the albondigas finish cooking...