Hello again Spain and Estepona

Thursday 10th of December               overcast

We then filled our money purses with lovely pesetas and felt so good.  John didn't have enough to pay Ultramar the commission so he left Sandra and the kids as a bond - only joking.  We rose early and caught the bus outside the camp for our 20 minute good ride into Seville.  After shopping we had a Buffet Libre at El Cortes Ingles, a Department store, food - we ate and ate and ate but kept within our diet components.  At least Sandra and I did - after a leisurely 2 hour lunch, thought we had better leave - shopped, home to go to Pryka - large supermarket, filled larder - we go mad in them and it's the first one for three weeks.  Home to toast, tea and yoghurt and bed

Friday, 11 December, 1981

Into town to see some of the sites of Seville - we love this city, clean and different people to up north.  Homes are neater to more like the Portuguese.  We visited the Alcazar, the Royal Palace -the gardens are beautiful. 

Down to the cathedral and Giralda Tower which can be seen from every part of the city.  Christopher Columbus's tomb stands in a pride of place with four soldiers holding it.  Isabella from Spain financed his explorations.  A monument to him stands in the Murillo Garden.  On coming out of the cathedral - we were returning at five for the "balle dos Seisas " young lads singing and dancing with the Seville Orchestra in honour of the Immaculate Conception - 

however we were abducted by this English-speaking guide who led us down this lane to a lace factory.

Showed us all these beautiful hand-woven bedspreads, tablecloths, shawls etc.  It was really a dry cleaner who sold these as a sideline or vice versa.  Anyway we were interested as it is beautiful work, but John had to go to the bank (the guide stayed with him) in the meantime back at the factory, we were hassled out into a smaller room on the pretence of a better table -a large crowd of tourist was the reason.  The final - Sandra brought her tablecloths - beautiful, me a doily and Rae a small wall doily - degrees of prosperity.

Morilla gardens were out of this world, orange trees everywhere.  Walked through Santa Cruz - the Jewish quarter - passed small streets and into the palace.  Tiles on the walls are unusual - it is called Mudejar art - built in the 14th century.  The wooden ceilings are Spanish, we walked through the Harem - everywhere are gardens and pools beautifully kept.  A stroll then through the former ghetto - Santa Cruz with its narrow lanes and hidden outdoor patios with their colourful plants and trees and orange trees

Morilla Gardens, Seville, Spain

Down to El Corte Inglés for lunch - this time a huge Bocadillo (four way sandwich) and coffee.  A stroll through older narrow streets, found a health shop that sold bran - panic buttons off.  Brought six packets -  it is Salvado in Spanish.  Then down to Ultramar to pick up last mail before leaving.  We sat in the cathedral gardens of conception among the orange trees laden with fruit, while San read all the mail from Norma and friend, and we went in and offered a service for Bob. It is hard especially for Sandra but hopefully time will heal now, and only leave happy memories.

Rae, Sean and I then went to Felatrel shops to buy coins and stamps.  Home then to chicken in wine

Saturday, 12th December 1981                fine and overcast

We are on the road again to Jerez de la Frontera where John and Sean had hoped to view the sherry Bodegas, over good road and picturesque countryside through Dos Hermanas, los Palacios and las Cabezas to Jerez where we found all the Bodegas closed till Monday.  So on towards Tarifa - stopped in countryside for lunch then on through Puerto Real.

We feel at home again with the big black Bull, the Michelin Man and an added statue silhouette Caballero with his guitar on the hill tops.

First sight of Africa - a thrill for me.  Here we are at Torre de la Pena at Tarifa.

Tarifa, Spain

Will we stay here for Christmas or not - that is the question.  The camp is split in the middle by the highway so we settled on the low side beside the water and bar.  Still raining, so we are getting low on clothes.  Went for a walk along the beach.  It is high tide and waves are dashing against the rocks right on the patio of the bar.  The beach is barbed wired, and cactus grows in profusion to keep smugglers out from Africa.  Police patrol the area nightly.

Sunday, 13th December, 1981                 raining and windy

Went to sleep to the sound of surf and wind - lovely.  Still trying to decide to stay.  Went into town of Tarifa which is 6 km away - to the furthest point south of Europe - is only 8 km to Africa from here.  Drove around town and went to Mass in a lovely little Spanish church.

They sang "Glory Glory Allelujah".  Could understand the priest so we must be becoming attuned to Spanish.  We find this - by the time we move on we can understand the local language a lot better than when we entered.  Home, ceased raining so we had washing done - 225 pesetas a machine load.  After battling all day with clothes, dined and went to a bar at 8pm while the English couple who ran the bar entertained the kids and us.  George Formby (Harry) and Elsie, pleaded with us to stay but we had made up our minds to move.

Monday, 14th December, 1981                raining

John has been trying all week to get Bob Fellows on the phone.

Africa in the distance

So we drove to Algeciras over the mountains, through rain and fog, through the town to La Linea de la Conception, first sight of the Rock of Gibraltar - what a thrill to see all these famous places.  

Gibraltar 

We walked down to the border where there is a lot of activity preparing for their entry into NATO and the common market.  It is sad there is the English flag and guard and 100 yards Spanish flag and guard and no one is allowed through. Just inside the border is the airport of Gibraltar.

Lunch outside Corrio, posted lots of mail.  Outside of Algeciras we visited a supermarket out of town, bought Christmas fare - 3400 pesetas about $34 - so we are pretty well set for extra goodies - the countryside was badly in need of rain so we can't complain, everywhere lovely Hacienda's and Villas all well kept.  The roads are good.  I took lots of film of Gibraltar then on to the Mediterranean Sea, can't believe it and on to Estapona where we headed for caravan park Chimenea.  I think we will return here.

Into town to enquire about villas - we were shown 1, 5 stories up, right in town.  Something fishy about our agents.  John went up in lift with agent and we all walked up the five flights -nice three-bedroom units but over a cup of con leche at the cafe we decided on camp for three weeks - we may be mad, but it remains to be seen.  Already we have had a Dutchman, German and Australians we met at Valverde visit us so we will have plenty of company with a 44 peseta ride into town will provide us with transport.

Beautiful eucalyptus trees surround us - shades of home.

Seville to Estepona, Spain