PORTBOU COSTA BRAVA

'Benvinguts' ('welcome'), says a sign in Catalan at the entrance to this town, leaving day trippers from France in no doubt that they have arrived in Catalonia, as well as Spain. The opening of the international railway station in 1878 transformed this fishing village into a busy transport hub and there is now a road across the border as well, to the French port of Cerbere. High-speed trains from Paris to Barcelona will eventually pass through Portbou. At the centre of town, the Rambla de Catalunya is an attractive tree lined boulevard and there is another pretty promenade in front of the pebble beach.