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Stage 3: With Esther’s itinerary in hand, the journey to Tarifa commenced...selecting just three of her suggestions for this blog from all the visits, giving a nice contrast too…
First was Parque Natural Bahia de Cadiz. A wetland that is wet! Cadiz is surrounded by wetland or “marismas” (marshes) - I chose those adjacent to the urban area of San Fernando, south of Cadiz.
Quickly moving on and up! Andalusia is well known for Los Pueblos Blancos….the white towns…In the mountains the compact villages are whitewashed, contrasting with beautifully coloured flowers, the brown mountain backdrop and the almost constant blue sky - make them stunning especially from a distance. My pueblo was Vejer de la Frontera - not just for the El Pueblo Blanco but also with a labyrinth of historical twisting streets, ubiquitous castle and some lovely squares and cafes….worth the visit.
Defo in surfer territory now, this was 1960s California in 2022 - hippydom, all that was needed was that musical backdrop - the Mamas and the Papas, The Doors or CSNY? Campervan city, cool old retro ones…chilled on the beach, cooking, talking, having a cold beer, peace, love 🥰etc …..I love it, a lifestyle to envy, maybe one day (although I’d never surf with my lanky non centre of gravity)…but irrespective I would have a problem for acceptance: a proper beard seems mandatory! I’m almost certain I couldn’t get anywhere near these, I’d fail the interview on arrival 😂
A really extensive area, marshes with raised causeways, arrived and packed out with parked cars….as the area used for recreation: walking, jogging, cycling and even the occasional horse rider, but so huge, sparse in encounters….and in the middle, all the nature. Saw the flamingoes immediately, and eventually got to the nearest point where I could nearly reach out….I never get bored with looking at them, ugly and beautiful….plenty of other “stuff” too…nature fulfilment, a real mental reset, if it were ever needed 🥰
Dropping back to the coast and closer towards Tarifa, the terrain was changing. From the flatlands and marismas of further north, I was gradually driving into more hilly terrain….another giveaway on the reputation of Tarifa, were the multitudes of windfarms, I have never seen so many….turning onto a dead end road over a low mountain col, I arrived at the stunningly beautiful La Playa Bolonia, with a clear Moroccan backdrop.
Just 30 mins from Tarifa, I slap on my WhatsApp location for Marine my new host, and soon, navigating through the historic quarter of the small town, there she was waiting for me, to show me to my next stopover….Tarifa, I liked it already….and I hadn’t even started to explore….🥰
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