Complications in Cahors, serenity in Spain

After our third night in Luzech in France we encountered a small problem - our water pump which provides water to the kitchen, shower and toilet decided not to work. We did not let this worry us and set about getting things fixed. Finally, after some wonderful help from Paul back in Australia, we were able to contact McRent in Germany and find out what to do.

Luckily there was help close by in Cahors and we found a very friendly assistant in a caravan shop. Matt braved asking for help- "Bonjour. Je voudrais Camping Car reparen?" I tried not to giggle at Matt's use of a made up word instead of 'reparations' like we'd practiced in the car. The assistant kindly replied "perhaps in English" ... in English. Somehow they can always tell.

She was our lifesaver. She identified the problem and got one of the mechanics to install a new pump. All we need to do is take the faulty pump and receipt back with us to be reimbursed the €55.

It did however take all day to get things sorted, so we changed our itinerary and headed back into Luzech for one of best happy hours yet. While waiting for our car to get fixed we popped into the supermarket and bought some local wine, cheese and grapes. I didn't know grapes could taste so good! They were still covered in dirt from straight off the farm and tasted like heaven. No wonder the wine tasted so good too!

The next morning we packed up our van and drove to Spain. I love how easy it is to say that in Europe. We stayed on motorways the whole way (130km/hr in France and, normally 120km/hr in Spain, although they are widening the motorway from France into Barcelona so it was 80 or 100 a lot of the time and down to 40 in some parts) but it still took over 7 hours to get there with breaks for lunch, rest stops and to change drivers and an Internet stop to research where we were going to stay.

We settled on Vilanova Park which is a GIANT holiday park with hundreds of cabins, tents, caravans and motorhomes. I've never seen something so big. It's 45km south of Barcelona on the outskirts of Vilanova but, for reasons unknown, is the biggest and best place to stay. Aires seem to be non-existent around cities as do closer caravan parks.

It's basically like a mini town.They have buses directly into Barcelona from reception or you can catch a bus to the nearest train station and head in that way. It has two huge pools (on opposite sides of the park) with dozens of sun beds (and thankfully shade), courts for playing tennis, basketball and football and places to play French boules and ping pong, a restaurant (bring on the Paela), supermarket, wifi, a great toilet and shower block (although strangely the toilet paper isn't in the cubicles but on rolls in the toilet foyer you get before you go in), a games room and my favorite - a wellness centre with indoor pool, gym, massages (book me in!) and a spa. There's a daily schedule of things happening at the main stage including zumba/salsa classes outside by the pool (I'm going tomorrow and will be the one slathered in sunscreen wearing a hat), mini discos every night at 9 for the kids and a 'Summer Dance Party' starting at 10 for the adults. It sounds like a scene out of a movie like Dirty Dancing or Forgetting Sarah Marshall doesn't it.

We've booked in for 4 nights but are already tempted to add more. Who knows, we might never leave!