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Published: December 27th 2010
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Bye Bye Africa and Hello Europe
Our ferry from Tangier to Tarifa. All good things come to an end... So our trip also came to its end. But somehow we did manage to do it with style. We arrived in Africa by boat, so flying out didn't sound that good. And what is the easiest option to leave Africa? By boat: taking a ferry from Tangier, Morocco to Tarifa, Spain. Ok, it's a ferry, but it goes
that often, it's more like a bus. A nice fancy ferry with huge letters on the side: 35 minutes. The crossing itself indeed might be 35 minutes, but including the departing & arrival procedures it's an easy 2 hours trip. So time enough to indulge ourselves (read: myself) in a huge bag of M&M's up to the point of becoming nauseous....
Back on the Continent after 456 days
So back in Spain.... Back on the European continent after approx 450 days. Weird, but Agi just knew the proper place to overcome our sad feelings: Sevilla. She'd been there years before and loved the city. And for good reasons. Classical city along a river, Sevilla is more than 2,000 years old. The passage of the various civilizations, instrumental in its growth, has left the city
Nauseating M&Ms
But they were good!!!! a distinct personality, and a large and well-preserved historical centre. Although it has a strong medieval, renaissance and baroque heritage, the city received heavy influences from Arabic culture. We didn't have much time in itself (basically 2 nights and a single day), but it was really, really nice.
Guess the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza (bullfighting museum) and the Plaza de España were the highlights. The name of the bull fighting arena is self-explanatory. However the bullring is magnificent and is considered to be one of the finest in Spain and is one of the oldest and most important in the world... Really a nice piece of architecture and atmosphere. The Plaza de España is totally different. The 'complex' is a huge half-circle with buildings continually running around the edge accessible over the moat by numerous tracky bridges. In the centre is a large fountain. Nice, but somehow it reminded us the Las Vegas version of Venice...
Our Last Stop Together: Madrid
As we had arranged flights back 'home' to our parents, we needed an easy departure point. Having left Africa by boat, we thought it was OK to use a plane again. Madrid was our
The Bullfighting Arena in Sevilla
It looks pretty big like this, but it's actually pretty small and it's really a nice old classical building. next stop, as more discounters fly there than to Sevilla. Nice advantage: In Madrid a good friend, Zsuzsika was studying, so an extra reason to go there. We went lazy and took a pretty fast train to Madrid: 250 km/h. It just took 3 hours to get there from Sevilla. There all was fine (read: good food, cheap hotel) and in the evening we caught up with our friend, ate good paella and gossiped for quite some time...
The next day - 15 December 2010 - was weird: After exactly 15 months (459 days) Agi and I would depart separately.... We started our travels on 16 September 2009, long time ago. And now from Madrid I flew to Holland and Agi to Hungary. No worries, we're still together and not fed up with each other, but in case you travel for exactly 15 months side by side, this split up does feel rather strange. At Madrid airport we said our farewells and that was it. I'm now in Holland and Agi is in Hungary (she had a bloody 4-hour flight delay thanks to Wizzair, but she made it home at the end. She actually arrived on 16 December 2010).
OOPS!!!!
This doesn't happen that often.... we hope. In January we'll see each other again, but for the moment it is nice to be surrounded with old friends and family. Eventhough we both have the feeling that we're gaining again the kilo's we've lost on the road....
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anonymous
non-member comment
well hey, thanks for sharing your experiences! i enjoyed your trip very much (although pretty sure not as much as you did), and many stories and pictures were shared. travel is indeed one of the biggest eyeopeners one can get on this planet, so thanks so much again. i hope your Christmas was extra Merry, and your New Year will be extra Happy =) KZ