We have now definitely got the pedal to the metal! With only weeks left on our ticket, we are now practising the art of ” getting it together” as quickly, efficiently and smoothly as we can. And I must say, we are doing a pretty good job.
As our next flight is from Casablanca (in Morocco) to Madrid, the idea is to do a little of the Spanish coast, before catching a ferry to Morocco from around southern Spain. We figured we could spare a week in Spain! Our flight across was fluid, and we caught a bus to La Rambla, which is Barcelona’s main drag. It was around 10.00pm and it was pumping! There were bodies, street entertainers and vendors everywhere. I wondered where the party was…..there is NO party, we were told….this is La Rambla 24/7, all year around! Looking for a place was…a little tricky….not only was it expensive, but almost everything was booked. So, we did the old traipsing door to door, and checked a few rooms. Some were frighteningly dirty, or as Alex would say, not up to Ombi’s standards. My standards are actually not that high, but they do include shower drains which are not furry, clean sheets, and air that smells, well…of air, and not stale smoke!
We spent the next few days exploring Barcelona, and there truly is so much to explore. This is also a place that I had visited some 12 years ago, but like many other places, it too had changed dramatically. With the advent of the euro, I found it to be much, much more expensive than I remembered. Also, Spain now to me feels much less rustic and Mediterranean-like and much more European chic. I know times and people change, but I think I liked it better before.
No trip to Barcelona would be complete without taking a look at the works of Gaudi, a famous architect who was known for his unique style and highly individualistic designs. The most famous of all these works, is the imposing church of the Sagrada Familia. Despite the fact that Gaudi died in 1926, works are still in progress….. it could therefore be said that it is a living work of art. The views of Barcelona from the towers are unforgettable. Gaudi also left his mark in the way of a number of other exotic and eccentric buildings, such as Casa Battlo and La Pedrera, not to mention Parc Guell, a playground filled with colourful mosaics and more of those outlandish Gaudi designs( by the way, contrary to what you may have heard, the English word gaudy, does not come from Gaudi).
Another thing we do not normally do, but did in this buzzing city, was treat ourselves to a buffet dinner and flamenco concert. The dinner was average, but the concert was phenomenal. The most intoxicating part was watching the speed at which the dancers’ feet moved……I wish!
Beautiful Granada….nestled at the foot of the snow-clad Nevada Mountains, on the Mediterranean Coast, close to the Strait of Gibraltar, it seems like a world away from the hustle and bustle of Barcelona. Here things are more tranquil, as you walk around in a place that has a distinctive bygone era feel about it. Granada is unique as it was once a haven for Muslims, after the fall of Cordoba. The result is a place that has a distinctively Islamic or Arabic feel about it. The serenity felt so normal, and I wondered at what point the two cultures began to compete instead of living together side by side.
I must also add that we had some fairly decent food in Granada, including some ice-cream that rivals Italy’s. OK Italy, you are still the King of Gelati, but some of your neighbours are catching up!
It was finally time to make our way to Morocco, so after sifting through the information of a new travel friend (thanks Greg), doing some on-line research ourselves, and asking around, we decided on the one hour ferry from Algeciras ( on the southern tip of Spain, near the straight of Gibraltar) to Tangier, almost the northernmost tip of Morocco. So, we woke up nice and early (must say, at this point we are both a little bit over nice and early!), caught a bus to Algeciras (which also served as a clothes dryer), and then walked the short distance to the port, where we bought a ferry ticket to Tangier. The ride was short and sweet, and before we knew it we had almost completed the 14 kilometre ride between the two points, and in the distance…..there she was……..Morocco……another lifelong dream about to come true. What exactly would await us there?
(Photos: 1.- Street artist, on a dunny break, La Rambla, Barcelona. 2.- Market fare, of La Rambla. 3.- In the winding alleys of central Barcelona. 4.- La Sagrada Familia…still under construction. 5.- The chimeneas on top of Gaudi´s Casa Batllo. 6&7.- Flamenco show. 8.- The Alhambra, as seen from one of its many gardens, Granada. 9.- An example of the Alhambra´s fine workmanship. 10.- Clothes dryer….on the bus to Algeciras. 11.- Which one´s Ombi? Still having fun after 11 months on the road.)