The Catalunya Chronicle
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An English Paper for Tarragona and beyond....
ssue number 2 already here - that came around really fast. We would like to thank all our contributors and advertisers for making this second issue possible, and would like to say how amazed we have been at all the nice things people have been saying about the first edition.
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W
ONCE UPON A TIME
Only this week, I was talking to Senora Elisa Carrasco Llao, the current owner of the huge building By Jennifer Figuerola by the station, where the Bar When I first came to live in Estacion and the Internet cafe are Catalunya, I rented a tiny flat in the located. centre of L'Ampolla overlooking the port. It was during the month Elisa actually lives in the building of May, just this year in fact, and too; it has been passed down the temperatures were already up through the generations from her enough to wear sandals, shorts grandparents to her parents and and t-shirts. Not knowing anyone, finally to her. Amazingly, the I wandered over to the Bar building has hardly changed since Estacion and soon made friends, her grandfather bought it in 1925. all of whom had a story to tell and The actual station was created in an opinion about L'Ampolla. 1867 and L'Ampolla was a It's called 'The Gateway to the stopping point between Tarragona Delta', they told me. Apparently and Valencia. It is in the records because of its shape, which that in the 19th century, the resembles that of the mouth of the beaches started to become River Ebro in former times. The popular for bathing, and a special word 'Ampolla', means 'bottle' in 'bathing train' service was set up from Tortosa. Catalan. Historically, the town has developed from fishing and is still associated with this, maintaining a strong identity as a busy fishing and tourist community combined. During WW1, in 1917, when the ship, 'Maxsherda', was sunk off the coast by a german submarine, the town really rallied round to help and support the shipwrecked survivors, and there is now a large bronze statue in the town, donated by the french government to commemorate their efforts.
Elisa remembers the 'tren con carbon', or steam train puffing its way to Barcelona and back, in the days when L'Ampolla was without main roads, lighting or public transport. There was no local council; local residents paid all
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their taxes to the council in El Perello and the majority of the revenue stayed right there, actually spent on improving the lives of the residents of El Perello. The streets of L'Ampolla were unkempt and there was a distinct lack of any public services. The residents of El Perello however, had great difficulty getting across to L'Ampolla to catch the 'tren con carbon', whenever they needed to get to Barcelona.
however; just one short year later, in 1938, their independent rights were suspended with the Decree of Burgos. Many years passed, and it was not until a mere twenty years ago, in 1989, that the Spanish Supreme Court ruled in favour of the new, independent, municipal district of L'Ampolla. The Town Council finally set up in May, 1990.
This was the only rail link in the area to reach the big city, and placed Ampolla firmly on the map in terms of importance for the rail network system of Catalunya. Horses and carts ferried them to and fro the station, until eventually Elisa's grandparents and other family members organised a public bus system, with little minibuses running regularly between El Perello and L'Ampolla. This greatly improved relations between the two towns.
Gradually, the streets were cleaned up, the services to the public increased,with street lighting, post boxes, an efficient waste disposal service, improved security and conditions in and around the port. Schools were The issue of independence for opened and the town was policed L'Ampolla became crucial to is with a resident police force. residents and was a real struggle with the authorities, ending in A powerful community spirit began triumph on 16 January 1937, when to flourish, establishing the the Generalitat, (Autonomous festivals and traditions we all Government of Catalunya) attend and participate in today. granted L'Ampolla autonomy from Oyster Day was a treat for me in El Perello, with its own council, to May, well-patronised, the town which the residents now paid their overflowing with friendly faces taxes. This was short lived continued overleaf....
The Catalunya Chronicle - Issue 2 November 2009 - www.chroniccat.com
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