FUN-travel: Tarifa to Gibraltar, UK to Nerja, Spain
September 2, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Tarifa to Gibraltar, UK to Nerja, Spain
Trip Day 45 – Friday, August 24 – Tarifa to Gibraltar, UK to Nerja, Spain
Rock of Gibraltar
What I LIKE
- 7:30 – coffee @ La Palmera Churreria – locals breakfast spot
- they have a niche market – very limited menu – & they’re packed
- have great FUN just being with them
- 10:00 – load up & head out!
- 11:30 – arrive Gibraltar
- parking garage just outside saves from us from actually driving in & having to wait in a very long line
- good walk through town
- nice breeze – 80’s
- 12:30 – take aerial tram to top of rock
- see monkeys with brand new babies
- see where John & Yoko got married
- 1:30 – lunch stop @ Angry Friar – fish & chips, beer
- 2:30 – back to car
- easy in & out – (cars backed up 2 miles to get into Gibraltar)
Mama & Baby
- 5:00 – arrive Nerja – staying @ Parador
Nerja Plaza
- grand outdoor patio overlooking the sea
- pool & grass terraces high on the bluff
- views of the mountains to the north
- 8:00 – walk into main plaza
- Balcón de Europa – pedestrian only
- really cute & upscale feel – the Laguna Beach of the Cost Del Sol
- 8:40 – dinner @ Haveli – Indian restaurant – chicken vindaloo, rice, dal & garlic nan – food just so-so
What I DIDN”T LIKE
- parador is from the 60’s – not much charm – just location
FF (FUN-fact) – We still haven’t figured out how the people in Spain eat dinner so late at night and get up and go to work.
Balcón de Europa
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