Road trip along the Spanish coast

Good morning, dear Blogger friends.  Our first weekend in Spain culminated in the start of a road trip.   When I Googled for a map, I found several write-ups about the beautiful places we visited. I also noted the various tour prices. And again, realized how generous Rose and Pete were. 

Along the route, as we approached Tarifa, we passed hundreds of wind turbines.

Tarifa is a Spanish municipality in the province of Cadiz, Andalusia. Located in the southernmost end of the Iberian Peninsula it is primarily known as the one of the world's most popular destinations for wind sports. 

We arrived in Bolonia around 2pm. We were booking into a self-catering unit. Bolonia is a coastal village and beach in Tarifa municipality in the province of Cadiz, in Southern Spain. It's on the Atlantic shore and the beach is known as Playa de Bolonia (Bolonia Beach). The ruins of a complete Roman town are the most famous yet uncovered in Spain.  

We checked into our accommodation and as we'd not had lunch yet, we drove to a restaurant on the beach. Once we'd been shown our table and placed our orders, the waitron brought a basket of breadsticks and chewy chunks of ciabatta. Spain has a selection of breads endemic to the country. Empanadas (which we had been served at the Tapas bar in Mijas); Rustic Spanish Bread (I bought a loaf at a bakery later that week); Mollete bread (a Spanish bagel) and my favorite, Pan con tomate. The latter is made with any day-old bread, lightly grilled and topped with tomato salsa. All bread starters are served with a bowl of balsamic vinegar mixed with olive oil.  

Absolutely delicious!

The next morning after breakfast at a nearby restaurant, Rose drove us to the city of Vejer. More beautiful Mediterranean atmosphere to soak up.

Posing against the backdrop of Vejer 

Celia, Rose and me

 I don't think there is a country in the world, that doesn't have a commemoration of our late leader, Nelson Mandela.

Celia and I under a park sign honoring Nelson Mandala

Since ancient times, Vejer has been characterized by a combination of agricultural and livestock farming activities on its land, whether on large estates, medium-sized farms of even the so-called Hazas de Suerte. 

 Because of its unusual position, Vejer was an enclave for Southern Europe's oldest civilizations. (the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Romans) and served as a defense against the 

Iberians of the interior as well as protecting the commercial factories and tuna fisheries established by these settlers on the coast. 

As early as 216BC when the Roman reigned ended in Spain, the Arabs conquered Vejer. 

 

When the Christians arrived in the 13th century,  

Ferdinand III, "the Holy', captured the town for the Kingdom of Castile, and Vejer and its castle became a border fortress in the face of the Moslem forces, In 1250, hence the addition of "de la Frontera" ('on the frontier') to its name. The king gave control of Vejer de la Frontera to Don Alonso Perez de Guzman, founder of the ducal house of Medina Sidonia, insisting that he respect the rights of its inhabitants, whom the king had declared to be "exempt from the tasks of farming and cattle rearing', conceding them the privilege of using "all the land, water, hills and woods in the town'. These wishes were respected by Perez de Guzman´s successors until the 16th century, when the Duke and Duchess went against them, which led the inhabitants of Vejer to sue the house of Medina Sidonia before the king, who decreed that all rights should be returned to the townspeople, along with the freedom to use common territories, land which is known today as "Hazas de Suerte" ('Plots of Fortune') and still enjoys the same status.

From Vejer, we traveled down to the coast to Zahara. Another beautiful town. We passed many luxurious homes, gardens and lodges which we guessed may be owned by the likes of Brad Pitt, Carlo Alcaraz, Morgan Freeman and more.

Celia and I pose against a beautiful seascape 

We ,who hail from the Southern Hemisphere, were fascinated by the late setting of the sun. 9.30pm is more than two hours later than the sunset in midsummer in South Africa. The sun sets so late in Spain because it is in the wrong time zone! It is on a similar line of longitude as Swansea in Wales and its clocks are set to Central European Time. 

That night, back at our accommodation, we had supper and then walked down to the beach to watch the sun setting. 

Rose captured this stunning sunset over the sand dunes

 and reflected on the lagoon surface 

The next morning, we set out for home and in Gibraltar, Rose turned in for me and Celia to see the monolith which I'd only ever heard about. 

Celia and I with the Rock of Gibraltar as backdrop!

After our holiday, the first day back in South Africa, was spent at Angus and Amanda's home in Bloemfontein. That night the children had a dinner to welcome us back. Ilse (Amanda's older sister - she who arranged our travel itinerary, including the flight bookings) asked me what the highlight of my trip was. Without hesitation, I said: seeing the Rock of Gibraltar close up! 

Meanwhile, back in Spain, we still had seven days of holiday with Rose. 

I'm on my way to a Weigh-Less seminar this weekend, stopping off to stay over with Gill (Grant's aunt) in Howick on Friday night. I will try to post when I get a few minutes. I'll spend Saturday night with my SIL, Shelley, and the next day she is taking me along on a guided bird walk. Whoopee. I will have great photos for future Saturday Critters with Eileen! 

Until then ...

HAVE A GREAT THURSDAY! 

Meeting new friends

 Good morning, dear Blogger friends. Yes, we were spoiled by my dear sister and BIL while on holiday in Spain. Rose and Pete picked up all the tabs: all outings, restaurant visits, trips were gifted to me and Celia. With the rate of exchange, we surely appreciated this generosity. But as I know my sister, this is also the order of the day when her grown up family and teenaged grandchildren from the UK visit Granny and Oupa in Spain.

As we arrived home after our day at the Butterfly Park, Rose went straight into the kitchen to prepare dinner. Celia and I (two tired tourists) dived onto an electric recliner each, which we know as Lazy Boys. Within minutes Rose arrived with iced cold juice to keep us going until supper! 

The life of Riley!

Every morning, as we emerged from our respective guest rooms, Celia and I were greeted by an English breakfast, freshly baked croissants (all by Rose) and complemented with juice, which Pete had squeezed from Seville oranges. 

Absolutely 5 star.

Freshly squeezed orange juice, sliced fruit and croissants from the oven, were the starter to our breakfast feast! 

Then it was time to hit the town again. Rose and one group of her friends always meet on Fridays for a coffee and a chat.

Celia and I meeting Rose's lovely friends

Getting this group photo taken was quite a challenge.  At a table behind us were two men and a lady. Rose approached the table to ask if one of them would mind taking a photo of us. The men turned their backs on her; the lady, who seemed very shy, said timidly, she would take it but had never used a Smart phone camera before. You can imagine how we all assured her there was absolutely nothing to it. Rose showed her where the camera function was and said she would see the image appear on the screen. We ladies got into our positions, and with shaking hands, the lady pointed the camera at us. Lifting her chin and peering downwards at the screen, she frowned and pressed something with her fingers. 

We as a group relaxed. Our photographer, looking very stressed by now, asked Rose to check if she had taken the photo. She hadn't.

Rose opened the camera again and showed her where the shutter would appear which she needed to press.  Once Rose had returned to the group, we all posed again; the lady focused and pressed where Rose had indicated. 

Letting out a collective sigh, we ladies relaxed again while Rose checked. Taking the device from her, and nodding that she had done well, Rose thanked her, and she returned to her friends behind us. 

Rose whispered to us that she had activated the video function; we still didn't have a group photo! 

The trio behind us left and two young girls sat down at another table nearby. Rose asked if one of them would take a group photo of us. Once again, we ladies all sat up, sucked in our tummies and smiled.  Click!

We had our photo! 

Back home, when Pete returned from the office, he said he'd like to take us ladies out for dinner!

With our wonderful hosts, my sister Rose, and BIL, Pete. 

After a selection of dishes which we shared between us, the hostess brought us a decadent dessert

Hot chocolate brownie served with cream and ice cream. 

We shared this treat as well

The Saturday morning ladies. 

I was fascinated by Angie, the blonde in the middle. Absolutely gorgeous, she was flamboyant and oozed confidence. My eyes kept returning to a huge dress ring on her right index finger. I had seen displays of these rings in the market stalls. But starting at €25, these baubles were out of my budget. Later at home, I told my sister how I had admired Angie's ring, she went to her bedroom. She emerged carrying a small jewelry box placed on my lap.

Opening the box, my eyes boggled. 

Celia took two of the dress rings set with stones which left  eight rings. My sister told me to enjoy...

What a lovely selection of dress rings which I got to bring home!

That night Rose gave us an itinerary of the road trip she'd arranged...

 

First three days of treats

 Good morning, dear Blogger friends. Thank you all for your kind comments about my trip to Spain. Just a note here: This trip was in May this year. I have taken this long to post about it but at least I am now...

It was so lovely to meet up with my sister and BIL After a light supper at their home, we all retired to bed. Celia and I to have the first decent night's rest in 30 hours!

The next morning Rose had booked us in at a five-star spa resort on a golf estate. I especially enjoyed being massaged by the underwater pulsating spouts in open air pools overlooking the fairway.

The spa was in the most exquisite setting. We emerged thoroughly spoilt and totally relaxed.

On Wednesday, Rose drove us "around and up the mountain" to the old town of Mijas. The three of us strolled through the marketplace soaking up the Mediterranean atmosphere of  market stalls, dripping with handmade jewelry and festively adorned ponies all surrounded by bleached white buildings with flower bedecked balconies and stairways.

From Mijas, which hugs the mountainside, we looked down on Fuengirola and the ocean beyond

At midday the Spanish dancers came out to entertain the crowds

Pony rides in the Mijas marketplace

The stairways and balconies (see behind the pony in the above image) are decorated with potted plants and flowers.

Celia and I outside a miniscule chapel on the hill. Do we look typically touristy or WHAT! 

My sister didn't leave a stone unturned to treat us to every unique experience possible. After the dancers and spending Euros at the market stalls, Rose booked a chocolate making workshop for us.

We really made our own bon bons and chocolate slabs!

You can imagine how popular this type of activity is. Just after midday. we were slotted in between two school groups of 12 children respectively.

After the chocolate workshop, Rose took us further along the town square. We ladies spotted and entered many ooh - ah shops! You can always hear women browsing and shopping together. They home in on a rack or shelf saying ooh look at this. The next lady will oblige by casting her eyes on the delightful object for sale and say aaah! 

The ooh-aah shops!

Our spoil was rounded off with lunch at a tapas bar.

All in all, the day in Mijas surpassed our expectations. We arrived back home at Rose' apartment, laden with gifts for our children, pleasantly replete and physically tired.

The next day Rose treated us to a visit at the Butterfly Park of Benalmadena. The butterflies and brightly colored birds flit around between the tourists walking along the pathways.

Vividly colored butterfly 

A joey was an entertaining sight for the children 

A brown butterfly alighted on my sister's handbag

Celia resting in the shade, while I took photos

I was fascinated by this green variant of the Streletzia (a South African flower) in the park

Another dollar (or many dollars); another day on our wonderful Spain trip.

More tomorrow...