Blogs from Tarifa, Andalusia, Spain, Europe

Geo: 36.0127, -5.60295Have a quickie for you troops. On our drive from Tarifa to Seville, we stopped by Baelo Claudia. Believe it or not, Bird discovered and arranged this trip! The place was a Roman fishing village located entirely on the Atlantic dating from the mid 1st century AD. Tuna ran here then, and they still do.Okay Bird demands I fess up. As last year, we brought clippers for my bushy top and beard. All that year, and even half of this one, I dutifully inserted the plug into the transformer. But not yesterday. Nary a sound was emitted, but the motor of my clippers was burned when I plugged their 110 volt engine into the 220 volts supplied here. And to think I labeled Bird compassionate with Hercules.... read more

Up early for a drive down to Tarifa. The most southerly point in mainland Europe. Founded as a port in 7th century with a delightful castle, small old town and hefty walls. Also the venue for ferries across the Straits of Gibraltar to Tangier. More importantly venue for whale watching trips. After a great, informative talk on the types of dolphin and whale found in the straits its time to be out and about. Common dolphins at first in Tarifa Bay then out into the main strait. Moroccan fisherman line fishing (good to see) for tuna are the bait for the Orca. Sublime to watch them surfacing and chasing the tuna. A real treat. Then onto the beach to watch the kiting.... read more

We choose the most southern tip of Spain, Tariffa, as our jumping off point to Morocco. We also thought it would warmer. Little did we know that it is the kiting capital of Europe. So it was always windy. We kept our coats on and spent several days exploring. A day at Baelo Claudi, an archeological city from the ancient Roman Empire on the Bay of Bolonia. It became prosperous because of its fishing industry and fish processing facilities – they salted fish and also made a fish paste from all the left over parts, a delicacy in Rome. There were examples of aqueducts, roads, theater, temples, markets, baths, all surrounded by beautiful coastal countryside.... read more

Tarifa est sûrement l'arrêt de notre voyage le moins commun pour les gens. En effet cette ville peut être connue pour sa situation (à la pointe de l'Espagne, l'Afrique n'est qu'à 50 Km de là), mais elle est surtout connue par une poignée de personne pour son vent. En effet sa situation unique à la frontière entre l'océan atlantique et la mer méditerranée lui permet de profiter de deux vents: le levante venant du désert africain et le poniente venant de l'atlantique. Le vent for est le levante c'est grâce à lui que Tarifa a pu devenir une ville touristique. La ville est aussi reconnue dans le monde entier pour ses clubs et bars, la fête bat son plein. J'en retiens que cette ville mérite le détour car son centre historique est très joli et regorge ... read more

Like horses out the starting gates we were packed and ready by 9.40am, paying our 56 Euro’s (approximately £45.00 GBP) for our four nights at Camping Fuzeta, it would have been an extra 4 Euro’s plus hook up for Georgie, Oliver was desperate to get going. The last two nights had been mixed, we had gone for a meal out on Friday, mixed grill for Ian and Woolly and fresh Tuna steak for me and Woolly with a large jug of sangria we felt the 22 Euro’s (approximately £18.00 GBP) not bad value for money. Having settled down in the tent with Kindles (we would be towing a juggernaut behind us if we had to carry the number of books we go through!), I thought we were in for the night….Wrong… Woolly says – I heard ... read more