For the next few days, I’m at Hotel Hurricane, just north of Tarifa on Spain’s southern coast. It’s a stone’s throw across the strait to Morocco, and it’s gorgeous! I came with big plans but, as travel teaches us, it’s good to be flexible.
Here are some things I’d planned to do here that you can do if you visit.
Take the ferry to Tangier. Morocco is so amazing! You can even do a day trip! But for me now, no. Morocco has suspended ferry service to discourage tourism during the pandemic.
Ride a horse. My wonderful hotel has horses! Most of the time! They are taking a break in the mountains this week, so no riding for me.
Visit the Rock of Gibraltar. The Rock is a classic! But there is no public transportation from my hotel until summer, and the cost of a taxi to Gibraltar and back is about the same as a round trip ticket to Beijing, so….
Shop at Tarifa’s Tuesday Market. On most Tuesdays, Tarifa has a giant mercado with all kinds of goodies, including antiques. It’s Tuesday, but the market doesn’t operate in the rain. It’s raining.
Surf. The beaches in front of my hotel are popular with surfers, and there are surf shops where you can rent equipment and get lessons. Actually, I’d never planned to surf due to general fear of drowning.
Hike. Just outside my hotel door is a path down to a beach that goes on for miles in either direction. I was going to skip hiking because of the rain, but I did five miles today after realizing that getting wet on a beach is what people do when the sun’s out. 🙂
Although there are a few things I’ll miss, I’m quite happy at this beach hotel with my kindle books and new episodes of “Outlander.” I’ll do another wet hike tomorrow and OMG the hotel restaurant has vegetarian Thai curry…
Camino Milagro 
“Mann Tracht, Un Gott Lacht” is an old Yiddish adage meaning “Man Plans, and God Laughs.” Despite our most careful planning, the Road of Life is unpredictable. And YOUR road Kim is chock full of twists and turns! Just keep on doing what you’re doing… putting one foot out ahead of the other and see where it leads you.
Indeed. I probably won’t look back on my life and say “what a bummer I couldn’t ride a horse on that beach,” but I might say “what a bummer that I didn’t enjoy that beach because i was hoping a horse would be on it.”
Hi Kim, I’m enjoying your adventures in Spain! I’m reading novels – Shadow of the Wind, The Angels’Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafron, a Barcelona native – with the setting also in that city. I’m vicariously experiencing Spain from your blog posts and these novels which are excellent. Carpe Diem
Oh David! You remind me I should read Shadow of the Wind! I started it once and got distracted. I hope all is well in your beach paradises! xoxox
OMG that vegetarian Thai curry sounds good!
They also have vegetarian pastilla, which I never could find in Morocco. Hoping to try that too! I think the food is varied here in this traditional community because of the surfers — they tend to be health conscious.
Kim, didn’t you say you were not going to write while in Spain? I’m glad you changed your mind (?) because I’m enjoying your witty observations. In 2015 I spent 2 and 1/2 weeks touring Spain and to most of your stops, but not Tarifa. I like the sound of that vegetarian Thai food too. Enjoy!
Ellen
Oh god I know I said I wasn’t going to write but I can’t help myself. My punishment for saying I wouldn’t write, or writing shorter pieces with fewer photos is that my readership is down! LOL
Do you know your readership stats, vs those pro-actively commenting? I have read about half of your posts from this Spain time so far.
Hi Jeanne, WordPress provides daily information about numbers of viewers and where they’re from. I am down by about a third since I came to Spain. Interestingly, I usually get more comments from people privately (to my email) than those who post on the site.
It all sounds lovely. I’m thinking a return to southern Spain might be in order, and a jog over to Morocco.
Definitely an easy and fascinating place!
That was funny! But sorry it didn’t work out for you!! Are you going to Marbella? You are bringing back so many fond memories for me!
Not going to Marbella. My swimsuit is now three sizes too small. LOL