SPAIN - from Europe to Africa by Klaus Metzger (best motivational books to read .TXT) 📕

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