There are now arrows! Another short semi-rest day, but it didn't feel very restful. The path out of El Puerto is logged in my memory as areas of former suburban decay being slowly renewed. Then after a section of gravel road through a hilly section taken over by the mountain bike fraternity, we were adjacent … Continue reading Via Augusta day 2: El Puerto de Santa Maria to Jerez de la Frontera, 13.5km →

The final leg of the Camino del Estrecho, with the official end point in the city of Puerto Real - across the bay from Cadiz. As the next section, the via Augusta, starts in Cadiz and overlaps the Estrecho, we planned to finish and start again in Puerto Real. Therefore our day was primarily walking, … Continue reading Camino del Estrecho day 9: Medina Sidonia to Puerto Real (Cadiz), 28.1km →

A more agreeable walk today as the terrain was more appealing, the distance more manageable and more importantly, there were two intermediate opportunities for refreshment. Needless to say we sampled the coffee in both, and ate like locals at the second eating toast with olive oil and salt. The route included two restored Roman bridges, … Continue reading Camino del Estrecho day 8: Benalup – Casas Viejas to Medina Sidona, 20.1km →

The view from our Tahivilla Airbnb. The toro has an udder, so either the artist was confused or aiming for gender parity. Plaza del vaca doesn't really cut it in a country of bullfighters! It was just as well we had the wind at our backs, as it was a long, tiring day crossing the … Continue reading Camino del Estrecho day 7: Tahivilla to Benalup – Casas Viejas, 25.8km →

Nothing like a couple of unknown towns to boost usage of Google maps! Susan struggling to hold the palm tree up in the crosswind When the guide notes state "there is no intermediate opportunity for refreshment" you know it will be a tough day. It didn't help that the only refreshment upon commencement was a … Continue reading Camino del Estrecho day 6: El Lentiscal to Tahivilla, 19.7km →

After being woken up at 0450 by the first call to prayer (in any other circumstances this might, perhaps, be described as an ungodly hour), we were sure to make our 0800 ferry back to Tarifa, Spain. First though, the ferry had to run the naval blockade: Coffee on the ferry constituted breakfast, plus our … Continue reading Camino del Estrecho day 5: Tarifa (Tangier) to El Lentiscal, 19.7km →

When it's only 1 hour by ferry, it's hard to pass up the opportunity of spending our 31st wedding anniversary in Tangier. We've had a marvelous two days, relaxing at Pierre's fantastic rooftop Airbnb, wandering the alleys of the medina, and sampling Moroccan food/mint tea/coffee etc. We booked a guide the first day, who gave … Continue reading Camino del Estrecho days 3 & 4. Rest days in Tangier! →