DAY 1 - TARIFA - Tuesday 23 April 2024

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Ceremonial selfie at the Southernmost point in Spain, to mark the start of our walk
Exciting news! We have started our walk across Spain, two days ahead of schedule. Access to the southernmost point of Spain (also the Southernmost point of continental Europe) on the Isla de Tarifa is only possible on a booked tour. As it was not going to be feasible to do this on Thursday, we took the tour today, and commenced our cross-country walk with a gentle stroll back into the town of Tarifa. 

Yesterday we walked across the border from Gibraltar into Spain, then took two buses to end up in Tarifa,  the starting place of our walk. 

We treated ourselves to our first Spanish meal, trying the tuna as a local speciality.

After lunch we enjoyed wandering the old town. We had sunset drinks on our rooftop terrace, with wonderful views to Africa. 

Today the weather was windy and the kite-surfers were out on the Atlantic side of the land bridge that connects the island to Tarifa. We joined a tour of the island, learning about its history and admiring the colours of the wildflowers and faded buildings.  It is now a nature reserve and there were many nesting yellow legged seagulls.  It is also the southernmost point of Spain, so the starting point for our walk.  We made sure to take the traditional ceremonial selfie and started recording our walk and distance from there. 

To celebrate our achievement of walking just over a kilometre, we rewarded ourselves with another good lunch. 

After an afternoon siesta, we reconnoitred our way out on Thursday and found a walking path sign with many warnings...apparently we might be engulfed by huge waves or fall off a cliff!

The day ended with simultaneous sunset over the Atlantic and full moonrise over the Mediterranean...a spectacular finish to the day. 
Puerta de Jerez - entry to the old town of Tarifa 
First meal in Spain - grilled tuna, Padrón peppers
Rooftops of Tarifa, Strait of Gibraltar, hills of Morocco
Street scene, Tarifa
Kitesurfers, Isla de Tarifa
Causeway to the Isla de Tarifa - Mediterranean Sea to the left, Atlantic Ocean to the right
Statue on the causeway - boots, pole and backpack - signifying the starting point for long-distance walkers heading across the country
A tour of the Isla de Tarifa revealed many objects of historical interest
There were thousands of yellow-legged gulls on the island. We photographed this one flying above the Strait of Gibraltar, with the hills of Morocco as backdrop
Another enticing lunch - tomatoes, anchovies, cuttlefish croquettes and monkfish skewer
Some warning signs for Thursday's walk to Bolonia
Sunset over the Atlantic
Moonrise over the Mediterranean 
Moonrise over long-distance walker statue
Day 1 - Map

Day:  1
Distance: 1.42 km
Walking time:   0 hrs  21 mins
Elevation gain:   23 metres
Cumulative distance:  1.42 km


Comments

  1. Manny24 April 2024 at 12:12

    Lovely photos! A siesta after 1 km...now that's really easing into the Spanish lifestyle!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aussie Slow Travellers24 April 2024 at 12:37

      We're doing our best! Haven't quite mastered the midnight paseo yet but we'll try to build up to it!

      Delete
  2. Victoria N24 April 2024 at 12:14

    Another favourite of mine ~ Pimientos Padrón.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aussie Slow Travellers24 April 2024 at 12:38

      That's why we ordered it! Your recommendation was delicious 😋.

      Delete
  3. Murray and Sandra26 April 2024 at 06:48

    Tarifa is a famous bird migration location. At the right times of year (early Sept and I presume sometime in early April ??) huge numbers of raptors and other migrating birds use Tarifa as the (literal) jumping off point to cross the strait between Europe and Africa.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aussie Slow Travellers26 April 2024 at 20:34

      We've certainly seen a lot of birds, including raptors. We just need our birding friends to identify them!

      Delete

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