Chefprefers BLOG

As we approached the town of Tarifa, the southern most point of the Iberian peninsula, I noticed the wind picked up. Generally the wind was mild throughout our European visit, so it was interesting to see the weather change. We had come from Saville via a private bus and the landscape was mostly dry farming country. Dry because it was that time of year.

We stopped in Saville for lunch and had Mexican at a local cafe just near the Alcazar entrance. Yeah, I know, we should be eating Spanish food. Our purpose was to visit the Real Alcazar. The Moors castle displayed a number of beautifully exotic tiled rooms, and indigo blue dominated the colour. A little disappointed since there wasn’t any furniture on display. But it was worth the cost of entry. Unfortunately it was all we had time for and we were back on the bus again travelling down to Tarifa.

I had read that when you’re driving down to Tarifa that the landscape is littered with wind turbines and they weren’t wrong, there were hundreds and hundreds of the turning blades. You can imagine the amount of wind down near at the tip of the peninsula. There were lots of kite and wind surfers on the ocean, although it appears that the kite surfing is the latest trend since they dominated by 10 to 1. The coastal town has an Aussie feel to it with sandy beaches and surf shops in every corner. Although, it seems that every outlet in Europe has some sort of history. The Califal castle and the walled outlet which again provides you with little boutique and tourist shops. I had to give in at some stage, my cap was looking ordinary, so I entered and bought another one.

We stayed the night in a funky hotel and that night, we were kept awake by the Friday night nocturnal party goers. 5:30am was the last hoorah and 5:45am was the start of the Muslim prayers. A loud speaker emits the Muslim hymn “called to prayer” which happens five times during the course of the day. As we found out, it happens all through Morocco. The South of Spain has lots of Muslins and the mosques are available to pray throughout the region.

We were to catch the 45 minutes ferry to Tangier, Morocco and we were to board at 11am. For the next hour or so we stood in line. There was a 10 minute line to check your ticket, 10 minute line for Spanish immigration, 10 minute line for security, a 40 minute line on the boat for Moroccan immigration in which the tour guide said to us “Guys! go sit down and when I get closer to the front I will call you.” OMG never do that again. When it was time to enter the line, the cat calls from the back of the line was so aggressive, an attendant stepped in and told us to go to the back of the line. So we did and by the time we got our passports stamped, it was 5 minutes to land. Then as we exited the water craft, we had to stand in line for our luggage and another line to have our passports check when we disembarked. Welcome to Morocco! Next up if the money dogs don’t get you, the virus will.