From the North Cape to Gibraltar

End of June 1977, I found myself with my family on a road trip through Sweden, Finland and Norway almost at the northernmost point of Europe. We had gone with our AUDI 100 from Copenhagen ( our starting point) to Hammerfest, Norway ( the northernmost town in Europe). The last short distance to the North Cape but was blocked because there were still prevalent winter conditions and the road was impassable.

 

 

 

Hammerfest

 

Almost exactly 35 years later (22 October 2012) I experienced with my second wife, Jutta Hartmann - Metzger, the southernmost tip of Europe as part of an excursion from our resort Conil de la Frontera (Costa del Luz in Spain) to Gibraltar (the Distance from North Cape to here is about 5600 km ). On the way we could see the narrowest point of the Strait of Gibraltar from Tarifa above. Here , the distance to Africa ( Morocco) 13.5 km.

 

 

The Straits at Tarifa

 

 

It offered numerous boat trips to the Moroccan port of Tangier. We found that less interesting , as we had already spent in April 2012 a 10- day vacation in Morocco. Our hotel was located in Agadir and we made ​​excursions to Essaouira and Taroudant.

The flight to Spain

The route from Hanover through France to Spain was similar to our flight to Morocco. In April , I managed very beautiful Flugbílder (aerial photographs) . During that time Gibraltar was on the right side (in flight direction) , now Gibraltar was on the left than we do in Jerez de la Frontiera after a flight time of 3h 25min landed as planned.

 

 

 

Pyrenes

 

 

Pyrenes

 

The bus ride from the airport to our Hotel Flamenco in Conil de la Frontera took 1.5 hours. As more and more hotels were approached on the go, in the last time we had the misfortune to be delivered as a last . As our journey had already begun by 2 clock at night with the pick-up by the taxi service "Night Flyer" in Hildesheim, we wanted a leisurely breakfast after our arrival once. This worked then also excellent because the breakfast restaurant was open to 11 clock 30 and the selection excellent. So we were able to wonderful mood for our week-long vacation and enjoy the magnificent views.

 

 

 

Hotel beach "Fuente del Gallo"

 

 

Cadiz - the oldest city in Europe

Jutta took over traditionally the organization of excursions. Since we had only one week available, only two day tours were eligible to receive the balance between contracting and relaxing. In any case, we booked a day trip to Cadiz (TUI Premium Tour). The planned tour of Cordoba did not work, because these tours take place in 14 - day intervals . In any case, we are planning our next holiday on the Costa del Luz so that Cordoba is within our reach. We chose an alternative for Gibraltar and this did not regret it. The first impressions I have already described above. Interesting details later. On the second day in Spain the disappointment was great because it was pouring rain and we wanted to visit the port of Cadiz  (35 km) by bus. I had the very first day a "wet" surprise experienced when I was on the walk from the city center to the hotel (I had some purchases made ​​there in a small Supermercado). It went "accidentally" no passing taxi. When I left the hotel , there was perfect sunshine.

 

 

 

Cadiz in the morning

 

On the way to Cadiz, it was vice versa, because the rain clouds slowly dissipated and the sun shone over the entire time . So there we were real lucky. Cadiz has about 124,000 inhabitants and is the oldest city in Europe. The city is situated on a promontory that juts into the Gulf of Cadiz. It was founded 3000 years ago by the Phoenicians and named this trading place Gadir . After a long flowering period Cadiz lost in the 5th Century its importance after its destruction by the Visigoths.

 

With the discovery of the Americas in the 15th Century Cadiz became the major port of the silver fleet , which brought the treasures from the colonies to Spain. The port city, thus attaining significant wealth that one can still recognize the magnificent buildings in the old town today. Independent-minded Constitution published in 1812 was the first Spanish in Cadiz. As part of TUI premium tour we developed ourselves in a group of 11 participants and the TUI rep HUGO this interesting walk past on the way through the Old Town . Above the town beach " Playa de la Caleta " we got out of our TUI bus and were the natural harbor with the fortresses " Castillo de Santa Catalina " and " Castillo de San Sebastian" see where landed the silver vessels from the Spanish colonies.

 

 

 

The natural harbour "Puerto Caleta"

 

First we visited the city park " Parque Genoves " of Cadiz. A special attraction here is the dragon tree which once found only in the Canary Island. Also noteworthy is the wide avenue in the park, which is lined with white benches.

 

                    

The Dragon Tree

 

 

 

 

The Avenue

 

It was designed so that two carriages could pass each other without troubles. Even back then was the principle : "See and be seen " . The park was built in the 19th Century was widened as the "Paseo del Perejil " . Freed men parrot drifting in the treetops their fun game.

 

 

 

                      

 

A parrot

 

 

 

The crocodile toy (pottery)

 

 

A surprise is the crocodile of clay , which lies motionless in the water and is often used by the ducks as a toy (a harmony that does not exist in nature) .

 

 

View from the old town to the sea (west)

 

Our walk through the Old Town went on to numerous interesting places (Spanish: "Plaza" ). At the Plaza de San Antonio is the San Antonio Church. It was in the 17th built century and was then the headquarters of the Jesuits in Cadiz. At the Plaza Libertad, located opposite the Plaza de las Flores ( Flower Market ), it made our tour guide Hugo very exciting and made ​​us wait for some time until we were able to visit the Mercado Central (Central Market).

 

 

San Antonio Church

 

It has really paid off: For a fish - lover a true paradise. About tuna, moray eels and small sharks were found there all conceivable types of fish . But also delicious sausages (Chorrizos) were offered. And HUGO spoiled us with tasting pieces. We were so excited that we took home some samples to Germany - where they taste no longer met our expectations, however.

 

 

                 

Mercado Central (dogfish)

 

 

In addition to the Mercado Central, there was the post office (Correo). We had Postcards described here, for which we had to get us postage stamps, but we got nowhere. I described HUGO my problem and he told me that we would pass on our Old Town-walk to the post office. But in the post it would be necessary to draw numbers which would then be called. After the interesting central market visit we had before the climb to the tower of the cathedral two hours free time. I then went to the post and everything worked out great.

 

The pause at the Plaza de la Catedral, we enjoyed very much. Over a cup of coffee we observed the goings on of this very busy place. An accordion player came to our table and asked for a small donation. A colorfully dressed African woman was engaged busy trying to sell clothes from a big bag of tourists.

 

 

                       

Accordion Player

 

 

 

Colorful seller

 

Since we still had some time, we went to Campo del Sur on the back of the cathedral. It is impressive, there to watch the waves coming from the Atlantic and are refracted by the mighty bulwark of Campo del Sur. On the other hand the Campo del Sur is a popular promenade.

 

 

 

Campo del Sur

 

 

On the ascent of the tower of the Cathedral, we were very excited. HUGO had told us in advance that in the Cathedral there are no stairs. Since then, work animals were used for transporting loads during construction, there was this only a serpentine way to the top. So they left it. For us, introduced this form of ascent at 63 m height a huge relief dar. The outlook for relatively clear weather was fantastic. In the harbor just the cruise ship COSTA FORTUNA lay at anchor.

 

 

Plaza de la Catedral

 

 

 

Cruise Ship COSTA FORTUNA

 

At the cathedral was built over a longer period. It began with the cathedral in 1722. The sacristy and the towers (of which we climbed the right) was completed in 1853 . Due to the long construction period, there was a mixture of different architectural styles in the form of baroque and classical elements. After climbing the tower we visited the "Casa del Obispo Yacimiento Arqueologico". This is a museum located next to the cathedral, and to consider in the excavations date back to the Bronze Age from the top are (one moves on transparent plates ).

 

 

 

Underground Wall

 

Since no flash was allowed to be used, it was a little difficult to get good shots without a tripod. After these extremely interesting impressions of the cultural history at our walk through the old town of Cadiz, the last stage was the short admiration of the town hall on the way to TUI bus the beautiful finish. As we moved towards the harbor , we saw once again the cruise ship COSTA FORTUNA close.

 

 

Cruise Ship COSTA FORTUNA

The fishing village of CONIL and the tourists

The third day in Spain began again with a magnificent and extensive breakfast buffet (which of course was repeated until we left). Since we wanted to the center of Conil de la Frontera in fine weather, we used a minibus, which occurred at the hotel and took us to Conil. He frequented the circadian rhythm and the simple trip cost € 1. On the way I had to think about the rain I had experienced on the first day on the way back to the hotel.

 

 

 

Conil de la Frontera

 

Conil de la Frontera has about 21,000 inhabitants. In the summer 80,000 tourists come to this. In the past people lived from fishing, where you specialize on the tuna hatte. In addition was still agriculture. Today Conil de la Frontera is very much international through tourism. How Cadiz also this place was founded by the Phoenicians around 1500 BC.

 

 

Conil de la Frontera

 

After we arrived by bus in the center, we wandered on foot towards the beach and got a very good impression from the long sandy beach (Playa de la Fontanilla and Playa de Los Bateles) and the white houses of Conil, which were arranged on a slope. Since we could also see the cliff above the beach house " Playa de La Fuente del Gallo" and the lighthouse " Faro de Roche " in the distance, the desire to wander once the entire route along the beach was . Unfortunately, this time it's because of the stormy weather did not come to do so. We will certainly continue to frequently travel to this beautiful area. With the minibus we drove back to the hotel.

 

 

View from the balcony

 

This Saturday (20 October 2012) made ​​me JUTTA a great joy: I am a regular reader of the ZEIT newspaper and I could last Thursday (the day of publication) not procure this weekly, as we are already flown around 5 clock of Hanover. Secretly she had now ordered the ZEIT in the hotel kiosk and surprised me on Saturday afternoon. In addition to their own, ordered magazines we sat on the balcony and enjoyed the magnificent view.

 

 

Seating

 

The Fourth Day (Sunday, October 21, 2012) did not load on activities, for the sky was overcast and it was raining in between. For the first time I visited the Super Mercado in the area who had opened from 10 clock. We love to sit outside - even if it's stormy neat. Therefore, we looked for a cozy place on the orange sofa under the covered terrace.

 

 

Stormy Sea

 

Later we retired to our room 129 on the first floor. Following an inner impulse, JUTTA checked my tablets and found surprisingly that she had at home not packed enough tablets for me (there had been a mix-up) . Since we had no doctor to order for a recipe to the hotel because of our planned trip the following day to Gibraltar on Monday, immediately a solution had to be found.

 

The staff at the front desk phoned because of a problem with the duty doctor of the clinic in Novo Sancti Petri and organized a taxi, which conceded, however, for a journey time of approximately 15 min 30 € . The doctor diagnosed the necessary recipe for free and gave us an hour pharmacy nearby. With a second taxi we went to the pharmacy (the drug cost € 6.50 ) and from there we went back to our hotel (and this taxi driver demanded 30 €) . With a considerable organizational effort and against some resistance (" Wait until Monday but ...") JUTTA was once again a feat managed and the financial cost could easily be get over.

TARIFA - the Moorish bridge head

 

Vessel traffic in the Strait of Gibraltar

 

On the fifth day (Monday, October 22, 2012) was thus the Gibraltar trip planned which would have been almost because of drug problems. As in Cadiz trip we started again our bus tour at quite dull weather. But it cleared up quickly. It went in an easterly direction. After about 65 km on the N340 (E -5), we came to a lookout point above Tarifa 300 meters height. At Tarifa we could see the narrowest point between Europe and Africa (13.5 km) and of course take pictures.

 

 

Moorish castle in Tarifa

 

Tarifa is located at the narrowest point of the Strait of Gibraltar. In Roman times it was already an important city with the name " Julia Traducta ". After the conquest by the Moors in 711, gave her the Berber leader Mr. Tariff Ibn Malluk its present name. We were told that in the old town still building would be found from the muslim period. Without leadership (our tour guide PACO was left at the harbor) was therefore our Altstadt-hike a bit helpless endeavor. We were therefore delighted when we found ourselves again on the way back to our hotel in Conil de la Frontera.

GIBRALTAR in British hands

Then we drove to Gibraltar, about 50 km long. At the border crossing "Linea de Gibraltar " was a little wait, because first a Spanish and then a British customs officials checked the documents (as EC citizens could easily enter with identity card or passport) .

 

 

The Gibraltar Rock

 

Even the Phoenicians around 950 BC visited the rock, without settling there. The Greek philosopher Plato mentioned the " pillars of Hercules ", referring to Gibraltar Rock and Mount Jebel Musa (in present-day Morocco). Both mountains dominate the strait. The Arabs began in the 8th Century with the conquest of Spain. In 711, the Berber Tarik Ibn Zeyad landed from Morocco at the southern end of the rock to conquer the local Visigoth Empire, which extended to the Pyrenees.

 

 

Monument at the airport

 

About six centuries remained Gibraltar (with a short break from 1309 to 1333) in Moorish hands. In 1462, Gibraltar has been freed from the Moors. During the Spanish War of Succession (1702 - 1713) there were long disputes and with the agreement of Utrecht, which ended the conflict, Gibraltar in 1713 the English crown "forever " is passed. 1727 and 1779 were besieging the Spaniards failed the rocks.

 

 

Cannon

 

During the 19th Gibraltar century developed into a fortress, which was considered impregnable. In both world wars, Gibraltar was the key in the fight against enemy submarines. During 2 World War II was evacuated for security reasons, much of the civilian population. After 16 years of isolation from the mainland in 1985 the border was re-opened as part of normal relation . Today, living in Gibraltar about 29,000 inhabitants.

 

 

Our TUI bus on the Gibraltar Coach Terminus

 

 

 

Our English minibuses at the southern tip

 

With our TUI bus we drove directly to the " Gibraltar Coach Terminus ". There, our group was divided into smaller mini-buses that went to different destinations (city tour, tunnel systems, dolphin safari). Another reason for the smaller buses were partly very narrow streets, which we had traveled on our tour. The explanations go a tape was played in German language.

 

 

Waterfall

 

 

Mosque

 

First we drove to the southern tip of Gibraltar Rock (height 426 m) and were on the road past a small waterfall. At the first stop we were able to admire the new mosque. She was inaugurated in August 1997 after a construction period of two years (cost: 5 million pounds) . The mosque is a gift from the King Fahad Al -Saud of Saudi Arabia.

 

 

Lighthouse at Europa Point

 

 

Another attraction of the so-called Europoint is the imposing lighthouse, the construction of which the first August was started in 1841. At the Lighthouse technical improvements have been made continuously. So you replaced the 1905 oil burner by electric light. 1954, the tower is increased by about 2 m, in order to improve the quality of the main light.

 

                            

Port facilities

 

 

Aircraft in landing approach

 

After this visit we went by minibus towards the peaks. On our way we had a beautiful view of the harbor installations of Gibraltar. It was just an airplane landing at the airport of Gibraltar. Halfway up we stopped to visit the St. Michael's Cave. As a reception committee greeted us hoards of wild monkeys. They left us in peace again only when we were in the cave. At the output is repeated the spectacle.

 

 

 

The monkey from reception team

 

How the monkeys came on the rocks? It is clear that the monkeys come from Morocco. There is a theory that states that the monkeys from the time come when Africa and Europe were still connected. There are, however, no evidence. Maybe the monkeys have been introduced by the Moors? It is also claimed that the monkeys were brought by the British as pets and are then neglected. On the rock great moment 250 monkeys around.

 

 

St. Michael's Cave

 

St. Michael's Cave in Gibraltar Rock consists of interesting stalactites and stalagmites. 1848 a goatherd was looking for one of his animals and stumbled across a decomposed body. It was John Langley. His murderer was never found. During World War II was in the cave an emergency hospital. Today the cave is occasionally used with its wonderful acoustics for concerts and shows.

 

 

The Moorish Castle

 

 

JUTTA at Casemates Square

 

On the way down to the City center we drove past the Moorish castle. This tower dates from the early 14th Century and has numerous bullet holes from the many sieges. Since we have some free time until the next program point, the dolphin safari, had yet, we placed a coffee break in the " Casemates Square " one. There the main road begins (a popular shopping street). By the way, we could choose to pay in sterling or euros.

 

                     

Spanish plaque in Cadiz

 

 

At this point I want a famous English personality, Lord Nelson, deal . He has won the battle of Trafalgar (1805 ) - but it lost his life. The Port of Gibraltar had an important meaning, because there his damaged ship "Victory" was brought to the battle to be repaired initially . The Cap de Trafalgar is located very close near the village of Canos de Meca.

 

Already in Cadiz I discovered a memory plate of the Spaniard at this famous battle. Gibraltar is a " Trafalgar Cemetery ". There is annually on the Sunday before 21 October reminiscent of the famous Battle of Trafalgar (1805 ). The body of Lord Nelson to have been returned in a rum barrel with his "Victory" to England. Then his sailors drank the barrel is empty ( a horrible matter).

 

 

 

Our boat for the dolphin safari

 

About 13 clock we went on foot to the berth of the yellow boat, with which we should be brought to Dolphin Safari in the Bay of Gibraltar. We had three years ago (October 2009) before a safari in Kenya experienced and were therefore very excited.

 

 

The jumping dolphin

 

 Our boat had obvious difficulties, the Dolphin Group to sift in the bay, for another, blue boat had become first find. Now there was a great disturbance on board , because everyone wanted to make stunning shots of the dolphins. But that was not so easy because these active animals were always on the move. In Kenya, it was all much easier - as , for example, a group of elephants marched majestically to us.

 

 

Sardine shoal

 

All of a sudden went under our boat on a bigger sardine shoal. A member of the crew tried to film with a camera the swarm under water. This all happened so fast that JUTTA could not even take pictures sardines. I had more luck. By the way, the sardines are the natural food of dolphins. It fit in this boat trip all together perfectly.

 

 

The Gibraltar Rock

 

After nearly two hours we drove with the yellow boat back to the port of Gibraltar back. We had a real adventure and a very different safari experience, as we had met in Kenya. All this went through our minds, as we again approached the impressive Rock of Gibraltar.

 

 

Tourists waiting for their buses

 

On foot we went back to the terminal where the TUI bus was already waiting for us . On the border "Linea de Gibraltar " we had to undergo a special process : The British Customs was unable to control us . For the Spanish, we had to leave our luggage and walk pass the Spanish customs the bus. The bus was studied by the Spaniards after refugees from Africa. After some waiting, we could get on our bus controlled again.

Recovery in the top Hotel "Flamenco Conil"

 

 

Autumn Festival (20.10.2012) at the swimming pool

 

On the fifth day (Tuesday, October 23, 2012), we were already greeted at breakfast by a lovely sunshine. We chose appropriate chairs for our holidaycheck bath towels that we had received as a gift. Now this was also the time for interesting shots of the hotel complex. In my corresponding hotel review  I uploaded this and also described in great detail our extremely positive impressions. At noon it was very windy and JUTTA enjoyed the covered small pool. Then we enjoyed the gym, we could use alone.

 

                        

The Shell Collector

 

For the penultimate day (Wednesday, October 24, 2012) we had planned a longer walk along the beach to Conil de la Frontera. The weather was stormy and rainy accordingly. Unfortunately, the beach was not fully accessible, as the waves washed over this part. I found a safe seat on the stone stairs to the " Playa de Fuente del Gallo" (below the hotel complex ) and searched with my camera for interesting designs. JUTTA was a clam digger road pictures.

 

 

 

Beach "Foehr" 1997

 

 

Spain 2012

 

And then created JUTTA on the beach again a romantic heart made of stones. 15 years ago, spent a wonderful , adventurous holiday on the island of Foehr. There was on the beach where we had spent a night in our little tent, the first " glowing " heart. Now we 've known each other 16 years , married 14 years and have made exciting trips. For us time and again passed through a strong sense of gratitude.

 

 

 

We will be back!

 

With great impressions and a very relaxing holiday, we flew after 7 days on Thursday (October 25, 2012 ) back to Germany. We believe that we have spent on the Costa del Luz one of our best vacations . The friendliness of the Spanish staff was exemplary and noteworthy cultural offerings. We will be back!

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 30.01.2014

Alle Rechte vorbehalten