Some events really capture the feeling of a place. And I think one of the things that really captures the beach bum soul of Tarifa is sitting in a parking lot next to the beach and drinking gin and tonics after a session of kiting.
The day was great for kiting. The beach was a bit on the crowed side, because the wind had changed directions, meaning fewer of the launches worked well. But there was plenty of room once you were out in the water. The weather’s warming up here, but it’s still the Atlantic Ocean, so the water is nice and cold (wetsuits strongly recommended). The wind was good, and the waves were light, so it was a good day to head out and practice. Since she had finished work earlier than usual, Elani came along as well, not to kite but just to enjoy the sun and sand. We met up with a friend of ours who’s a consummate kiter and digital nomad from the UK.
After kiting, packing up our gear, and heading back to the cars, our bud offered to make up a round of gin and tonics (being British, of course she had the supplies on hand), and we sat around bullshitting and enjoying the last of the sun and the view of the evening light on the rocky hill just inland from the waves. Walking back to the beach, the crowds of kiters had gone and all there was left was the view of the sunset and the Rock of Gibraltar poking through the mists in the distance.
View of the sunset and the Rock of Gibraltar poking through the mists Taken by Elani
Well, I’m getting a little tired of being out of sync between real time and what I’m writing about in the blog. To remedy that, I’m going to start writing little pieces as they come to mind (like this one), while still doing longer, more in-depth posts in order. As far as writing goes, some things are just easier to write while fresh, and others work better with a bit of reflection. Breaking the chronological order will help me achieve that. That means that I’ll still be writing about Costa Rica for a while, but right now I’m in Tarifa, Spain, and I’m going to write a little post about what’s happening now. Also, I’m going to be in Tarifa for 5 weeks, so hopefully I’ll get all caught up.
Elani and I have been here all of about a day, just enough time to get settled in the apartment we’re renting in the old town, go buy groceries, walk around the old town, and go out for coffee. The old town basically looks like a mash-up of a kitschy beach town and the Cairo set from “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” but populated with Spaniards. The building style is heavily influenced by the close proximity to Morocco – less than 20 km across the strait of Gibraltar – with densely packed two story buildings covered in white plaster inside and out and topped with red clay roofing tiles. The buildings are broken up by a maze of narrow cobblestone streets and narrower walkways lined with an interesting assortment of shops, cafes, restaurants and bars. The old town is surrounded by an old stone city wall that terminates at a castle next to a rocky coastline.
A narrow plant lined back alley in Tarifa Taken by ElaniView of a breakwater from coast in Tarifa with Morocco in the background Taken by Elani
Walking along the coast, you stroll past a modern port filled with a variety of boats ranging from small fishing vessels to the high speed ferries that jet off between Tarifa and Tangiers, Morocco – the rugged coastline of which is visible in the distance. After that, you arrive at the beach, which is flat and open, with white sand and brilliant blue water. The beach stretches miles up the coast and well outside the city, and both times I’ve been down there, it was lined with kiters as far as the eye could see. But lest you think this is some sort of tropical paradise, the temperatures this time of year are in the lower 60s (Fahrenheit) and there’s a constant strong breeze, so while I’m sure that throngs of sunbathers and swimmers fill the beach in warmer months, the beaches are fairly empty save for a few folks strolling along or taking pictures in windbreakers at this time of year.
The beach in Tarifa Taken by Elani
So far, it looks like an amazing little town and I’m excited to get out and kite and do some more exploring! But now it’s time to sit down and start in on my taxes – which I’ve been procrastinating on because doing taxes is always terrible, and when faced with the option to “explore a foreign locale or do your taxes,” it’s been pretty hard to convince myself to chose the latter.
