FUN-travel: Tarifa, Spain & Tangiers, Morocco
September 1, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Tarifa, Spain & Tangiers, Morocco
Trip Day 44 – Thursday, August 23 – Tarifa, Spain & Tangiers, Morocco
What I LIKE
- slept great on the top floor
- floor fan blocked out the street noise
- 7:50 am walk to ferry terminal
- coffee shop opens @ 8:00
- on way find locals morning coffee & churro shop that opens @ 7:00
- reserved guide for full day tour of Tangiers, Morocco from Rick Steves book
- 8:40 board
- 9:00 ferry takes off on time
- only takes 35 min
- met on pier by guide
- driver & guide take us on tour of Tangiers
- drive through wealthy area of palaces
- see King’s summer palace
- go to Hercules cave – on the ocean
- see camels – already rode one in Egypt
- 12:00 1st stop – The Medina (Old Town) – dropped off at top – twisty, narrow, steep lanes wind down to 2nd stop – the Souk (market) – filled with merchants selling everything – fish, meat, olives, cheese & bread
- see pair of snake charmers
- 12:30 lunch – typical tourist restaurant – traditional music provided by 4 musicians – only thing missing are the belly dancers
- 2nd stop – Kasbah – loosely translated to “fortress” – residential area within the walled city consists of more twisty lanes
Local Bakery
- 3rd stop – US Embassy – first ever in the world
Snake Charmers
- 2:15 – head down to ferry terminal
- will take earlier ferry back
- at least we have a cool breeze
- 8:00 pm (Spain time) finally back in Tarifa & civilization!
- 9:00 – dinner @ El Puerto – clams in garlic sauce, grilled fresh Tarifa tuna steak
What I DIDN”T LIKE
- breakfast is included but doesn’t open until 9:00
- have to stand in long line on ferry to get passport stamped for Morocco
- guide I hired sent someone else in his place & guide tried to lie about it
- paid for a full day tour – over in 5 hrs
- 4:00 ferry is smaller and they limit number of passengers – cars take precedent
- don’t get on so we’re stuck on dock for another 2 hrs
- worst part of all is can’t even get a beer!
- didn’t get in line because it was in the sun & stayed back in the shade
- tour groups from Tarifa get on – should have gotten in that group
- Ferry Fiasco! -6:00 ferry arrives and there is major pushing & jockeying to get first in line
Local Farmer
FF (FUN-fact) – Morocco is one hour earlier than Spain.
More FF – Many people can’t afford private ovens, phones, or running water so they have communal options. Locals drop off their ready-to-cook dough at the bakery.
FUN-travel: Arcos de la Frontera to Tarifa, Spain
August 29, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Arcos de la Frontera to Tarifa, Spain
Trip Day 43 – Wednesday, August 22 – Arcos de la Frontera to Tarifa, Spain
What I LIKE
- 7:30 – wake up coffee on patio overlooking valley
- 9:30 – ready to go on to next adventure
- 11:30 – arrive Tarifa
- Garmin is still working after update last month
- much cooler by the ocean – high 80s
- we are staying right in the middle of the old town
- Hotel Blan+co – really, really, cute
- recommended by Rick Steves
- we’re on the top floor, loft with coved ceilings
- have a suite with refrig & stove top
- 12:30 – people watching & beer
- 1:30 – lunch in park – sandwich from breakfast buffet
- stroll down to beach – find Moorish castle
- 8 pm walk to “Souk” – restaurant recommended
- 8:30 – attempt to find another restaurant in area
- 9:00 back to plaza by hotel
- dinner @ Morilla – across from church – big, thin cut tuna steak – mixed salad with tuna, tomato, onion
- 10:00 pm streets are filled with tourists
- sights & sounds are abundant
What I DIDN”T LIKE
- 11:00 hit traffic in Algeciras
- OMG more narrow twisty teeny tiny streets in a walled city
- have to snake through narrow streets
- no place to park to unload car in the old town
- have to go around the entire old city again
- didn’t read the fine print
- no elevator or air conditioning
- hotter than expected
- room not very functional
- no closet or drawers & very little shelf space
- “Souk” no open & nothing strikes our fancy
FUN-travel: Arcos de la Frontera to Rhonda, Spain Drive
August 26, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Arcos de la Frontera to Rhonda, Spain Drive
Trip Day 42 – Tuesday, August 21 – Arcos de la Frontera to Ronda, Spain
Grazalema
What I LIKE
Ronda
- 7:30 – hot strong coffee on patio
- 9:30 – head down to main road
- at least it’s a one way lane
- drive through heart of Andalucía’s white hill towns
- beautiful & scenic through mountains
- 10:30 – 1st stop – Grazalema – postcard cute hill town
- 11:15 – drive to Ronda
- 11:45 – arrive
- find parking garage
- nice walk through town
- eat lunch of sandwich made @ breakfast
- main attraction is The Gorge & New Bridge – ravine is 360 ft down & 200 ft wide – built 1751 to 1793
- 1:30 – head to Zahara de la Sierra – tiny town clinging to side of hill with a Moorish castle on top
- aqua colored lake at base is actually a reservoir
- 3:30 – arrive back to parador
- happy hour beer with olives tapas
- 8 pm – venture out & down to cobblestone walkway (also known as “main street” & the same one we drove up on!)
The Gorge & New Bridge
- 8:15 – dinner @ Mamma Ttina – authentic Italian restaurant (owner is from Italy) – caprese salad, spicy pepperoni pizza & tiramisu – really VG!
- one of the best meals we’ve had so far
- after dinner “tapas” of Lemoncello
- decadent dessert day!
- had ice cream cone in Rhonda too
What I DIDN”T LIKE
- on pins & needles driving down from parador
- just as narrow & twisty as coming up
- locals go any direction they want on one-way streets!
FF (FUN-fact) – I have never eaten, let alone seen, as many olive types, tastes, sizes and colors as I have since I’ve been in Spain.
Zahara de la Sierra
FUN-travel: Sevilla to Arcos de la Frontera, Spain
August 26, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Sevilla to Arcos de la Frontera, Spain
Trip Day 41 – Monday, August 20 – Sevilla to Arcos de la Frontera, Spain
Plaza on Top
What I LIKE
Church in Plaza on Top
- there are 3 Starbuck’s within 5 minutes of our hotel
- 9:30 ready to go on to next big adventure
- take taxi to parking garage for $6 Euro
- not trying to drive on the crazy tiny, narrow streets
- don’t have to drive far
- 11:30 arrive – Arcos de la Frontera
- sheer cliffs
- dramatic views
- once again Parador is on the very top of the hill
- 12:30 lunch here – big mixed salad – tuna sandwich & beer
- stay cool & take siesta
- 8:30 – dinner @ Parador – “typical” local dish of huge white beans & ham, grilled tuna steak, salad – pretty good
What I DIDN”T LIKE
- had to go to all 3 Starbuck’s to find the one that opens @ 7:30 am
- OMG more twisty, teeny, tiny cobblestone lanes for streets
- really, really hot!
FF (FUN-fact) – Andalucía is the home of bullfights, flamenco, gazpacho, pristine whitewashed hill towns and glamorous Mediterranean resorts.
Plaza on Top
FUN-travel: Sevilla, Spain – Day 2
August 25, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Sevilla, Spain – Day 2
Trip Day 40 – Sunday, August 19 – Sevilla, Spain
Plaza Espana Tiles
What I LIKE
Alcazar
- 9:30 – walk to Plaza Espana in Maria Luisa Park (Sevilla’s Central Park)
- 1929 international fair was held here – colorful ceramic tiles & grand architecture
- stroll back to town along the river
- Cathedral is free on Sunday morning during service
- get to walk in & take pictures
- save $17 Euro!
- 11:00 – snack @ Gusto across the street – Panini & coke – $5 Euro
- 11:30 – Alcazar – 10th-century palace – still functions as one today & is the oldest in use in Europe – Christopher Columbus recounted his travels to the queen here – many tapestries, colorful tiles, elaborate facades, courtyards & lush gardens
- 12:30 lunch @ Doña Francisquita – need cold beer to cool off – Mexican chicken salad with corn, carrots, jalapenos – Risotto with mushrooms – nice light crisp white wine
Cathedral
- today’s “tapas” is a digestive – shot after lunch
Alcazar Gardens
- great service!
- 3:00 – siesta
- 5:30 – tea time @ hotel – free coffee, soft drinks & sweets
- 9:00 – walk 6 blocks to Indian restaurant
- 9:45 – back to Doña Francisquita since it was so good
- service truly does make the food taste better
- anchovy tapas & vegetable pizza & wine – $44 Euro
What I DIDN”T LIKE
- this morning told we have to pay $2.50 per cup for coffee
- river walk promenade is closed
- really hot – over 100+ in afternoon
- Indian restaurant closed on Sunday
- Doña Francisquita not so good tonight
FF (FUN-fact) – Sevilla’s Cathedral is the third largest church in Europe (after St. Peter’s in Rome & St. Paul’s in London) and the largest Gothic Church anywhere.
