Mr Gobble

This is not very representative of our day, but I just couldn't resist it as a photo, and S's vote went to it too.

Third time lucky, we went to the Casa de Fusta and it was open. The museum/information centre wasn't that interesting as it didn't tell us much that we didn't already know from the museum in Deltebre -- except that in the spring they set pheromone traps in the rice paddies to catch male butterflies so that larvae don't eat the rice grains. I had another look at the pens with birds in them, which is when I managed to catch a good view of this magnificent turkey, who was more elusive last time we were there.

As well as the museum, the little shack that rents bikes and boats was open, so we hired a punt for an hour. I am very glad I have an expert Cambridge-educated punter at my disposal. I was able to sit in the front, admire the view, and take photos while he did all the work. It had been a grey start to the day, but the sun conveniently came out while we were boating, and it was positively warm.

We didn't realise quite how small a part of the lagoon was accessible from the boathouse. Because you're so low in the water, and all the channels and pools are lined with tall reeds, it's a bit like being in a maze -- you can't see which channels lead somewhere and which are dead ends, which makes it seem like more of an adventure than it actually is. We saw swallows, mallards, a tufted duck, egrets, cormorants, herons, hoopoes, a pair of glossy ibises, and a purple galinule, and I failed to take blippable photos of any of them.

My nearly-blip is more representative of my day. The high-key look is accidental, but I liked it much better than the correctly exposed versions. There's actually an egret sitting on top of the bridge, but it's so over-exposed you can't see it. :)

Afterwards we did a quick supermarket shop and then stopped for lunch at Mas Nuri, a restaurant on the outskirts of Riumar that had been recommended to S by some fellow walkers. It's run by the same family who have the restaurant by the boat quay, and while it looks more upmarket, the standard of food is the same -- we had some lovely chipirones con habitas (tiny squid with broad beans) and then a paella. As we ate, a pair of carriages arrived drawn by four magnificent glossy black horses with long, rippling manes -- the sort you'd want pulling your hearse. And then it started to pour with rain; the tethered horses didn't seem to mind too much, but it rather spoiled the photo opportunity. Hopefully we will see them again.

Yesterday is backblipped, and I am now caught up!