If you try to find the Bay of Gibraltar on a map it may prove a little
difficult, because it is a name we have invented ourselves! A name
which encapsulates the most southerly part of Spain, from Algerciras
and the rocky outpost of the British Empire, Gibraltar, to Tarifa
at the foot of Spain and the wonderful white beaches of the Costa
de la Luz on the Atlantic coast. Inland, too, a land of bull and horse
breeding farms among rolling hills and soft valleys.
Above all, here, there's Africa! It's so close, across the Straits,
that you feel you can touch it. Just 14 kilometers away, the twinkling
street lights of towns such as Ceuta and Tangiers are clearly visible
under the dramatic folds of the Rif Mountains.
One of the advantages of staying here is that it's easy to take a day or two off from
European life and cross over to Morocco. It's only a short trip
on one of the regular ferries but to a very different world! Morocco
is a big country with much to explore, but for starters, a couple
of days wandering around the souks, medinas and mosques of Tangiers
will give you an insight into the Muslim world. The boat trip is
fun in itself, with shoals of whales and dolphins playing in the
waters alongside.
And, just on the off chance that you can't live without fish & chips,
a Sunday newspaper or a packet of winegums, Gibraltar is worth a
visit. A rather strange anachronism in today's modern world, there
is of course plenty of history there too.
Inland the countryside is pretty, rolling and peaceful. A lovely part of
Andalucía, a great base for exploring the diverse landscapes
of Cádiz province: inland the mountain ranges and natural parks
which surround Ronda and Grazalema are within striking distance,
as is the Natural Park of Los Alcornocales, one of the largest cork
forests in the world, and historic Moorish frontier towns such as
Arcos, Véjer and Jimena. The capital of the province, Cádiz
itself, still evokes the romance and mystery of centuries of trade
(some legal, some not so) between Europe and Africa.
You can choose your coastline here to suit, too. From Gibraltar eastwards,
it's the Mediterranean with its golden beaches and resorts such as
Marbella, Puerto Banus and, in lower key, Estepona. To the west, it's
the Atlantic all the way, broad sweeps of wonderful white beaches
which run for mile upon mile along the sealine. And all of the time,
that dramatic view over to Africa!
Wind and warm water has made Tarifa
the European capital of all things windsurfing (yes, it can be a bit
breezy here sometimes) and it's a pretty little place too. Youth and
exuberance rules. There are many other lovely places to stop along
this impressive (and not at all overdeveloped) coast, where
beaches are backed by huge sand dunes rather than tower block hotels.
For birdwatchers
the Bay of Gibraltar is a jewel, being on the main migration route between the
two continents. If that's not your thing, maybe a bit of whale
watching instead? There's lots else here too, some of the best seafood,
excellent restaurants, lovely people and 300 days of sunshine every
year.
