The NI Branch study tour started on a wet Wednesday morning at Airport Road, Belfast at 6.45 am, then by coach to Dublin Airport and Iberia Airlines flight to Barcelona. All 27 arrived safely in Barcelona to strong bright sunshine.

The tour was ably led by the Branch Chairman “Rownie” McKee. At least that was the name on the coach awaiting us at the airport before travelling on to the Hotel Cristal Palace, which was very well sited for all of the important sights.

The technical visit was to the EACSA (Explotacion De Aridos Calizos, SA) Limestone Quarry at Garraf, some 40 kms from Barcelona. This is the fifth largest quarry in Spain, part of the CRH owned Beton Catalan Group of companies.

The quarry’s annual production is three million tonnes of limestone, of which around one million tonnes each are used in mortar production (on site), crushed stone products for use in concrete and hard fill. The sheer scale of the operations was impressive, especially how well they had been landscaped to be virtually invisible from the surrounding populace. The production and palleting of the mortar was fascinating to observe at close hand.

After lunch we went to the port of Barcelona, which is 15 kms long, to visit the new harbour entrance under construction. It currently takes the fishing fleet some 45 minutes just to steam out of the harbour itself with all port traffic negotiating the same stretches of water. A high level bridge across the middle of the harbour has to open for the passage of the larger ships with resultant vehicular traffic congestion.

The new entrance (145 metres wide, 11.5 metres draught) and 1,635 m breakwater, at a cost of €42 million, are designed to give improved access for the inner (older) harbour (10 minutes for the fishing fleet), reduction in traffic congestion and provision of a large 10 hectare area for shopping, hotels, and a new fish quay.

Rubau Construccions is the main construction company for the project. The works were nearly complete, incorporating 2.4m tonnes of rock armour (300 and 8,000 kg in size), 5,420 concrete blocks (40 tonne and 23 tonnes in size), 47,100 cu m of reinforced concrete and 1,270 tonnes of steel, together with 1.05m cu m of dredging and 335,100 cu m demolition of existing breakwater.

We also saw a pioneering joint-less concrete pavement under construction in a reclaimed area of the docks. The method induces cracks (joints) in the pavement, at proscribed locations by using a patented plastic former, which nonetheless were very strong in compression.

The ladies of the group were entertained to a guided tour of the many sights of Barcelona by the very informative guide Sylvia (alias Francesca according to “Rownie”). The men were accompanied by Santiago who was equally knowledgeable and helpful. Our thanks to them both for such an interesting time.

The rest of the tour was spent viewing at close quarters the many architectural masterpieces of Antoni Gaudi, including the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, a monumental structure still under construction after 80 years; the private house Casa Batlló, with its extreme design (no straight lines, curves everywhere); the Park Guell, a large parkland constructed on a steep slope with interesting use of scalloped edged platforms as view points and many examples of Gaudi’s artistic talents.

Other areas visited included the massive Barcelona FC Football Stadium; Castell de Montjuic via the Teleferic (Cable Car) with its oversight of the city and the whole harbour area complete with large bore (5 km range) guns; the spectacular Transborder Aeri (large cable car) over the Trade Centre and harbour; and the statue to Columbus (pointing in the wrong direction, for artistic effect) with all the noise and bustle of the old and modern cities. There is much more to see! Barcelona was a magnificent venue. The weather was excellent, around 23C most of the time, with clear blue skies and hot sunshine. A particular feature of the tour was the food. It just seemed to get better and better (even though some of it was served rather too cool for us Northern people) starting with dinner at Los Caracoles restaurant off the Ramblas, then Moncho's restaurant on the Passage de Gracia, and finishing at the Barceloneta restaurant in the old harbour. All of the restaurants were first class, even though first impressions were misleading as you walked in through the hot kitchens, but each had its own character, excellent cuisine and atmosphere. The Barceloneta was an exceptional venue with its open balcony on to the harbour at sunset.

The last morning, was one of quiet reflection wandering around the old cathedral area listening to the guitarists playing classical and spanish music. So relaxing and interesting that two of our number (names can be supplied) almost missed the midday departure to the airport for the return journey. The air flights and coach connections all worked perfectly and everyone returned home in excellent, if somewhat burned, spirits.

Thanks to Rownie McKee and all the sponsors, particularly Tennants Tar Distillers, R J Maxwell & Son Ltd., Mr Jim Donaghy (Lagan Group) and the companies we visited. An excellent and informative tour, enjoyed by all, and we are looking forward to Vice Chairman Alan Woodside’s tour to either Boston, Amsterdam or Athens next year. If you have the opportunity you should take it. See you there?

Billy McCoubrey
7 August 2002

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