another gorgeous beach

Bolonia (Cádiz - Andalucía), Spain

Keep walking until you reach the top of the dune!  Click here to see the view once you get there!

Andalusian farmhouse

Conil de la Frontera (Cádiz - Andalucía), Spain

This cortijo (Andalusian farmhouse) built in the middle of a pine plantation in the late 19th century has been converted into a guesthouse and is the perfect place to stay and enjoy what this area has to offer.

that magical time of day

Tarifa (Cádiz - Andalucía), Spain

I know I've posted a picture similar to this one earlier, but I couldn't resist!  Here's another one of Tarifa, this time including its castle, with the silhouette of Morocco in the background.  This is my absolute favorite time of day, when the light turns everything a golden color.  Its as if time stops everything happening around you.

tide coming in

Cabo Roche (Cádiz - Andalucía), Spain

Can you hear the water?

 

high tide or low tide?

Cabo Roche (Cádiz - Andalucía), Spain

Continuing along the coastline beyond Roche, between Cabo Roche (Cape Roche) and Conil de la Frontera, is a wonderful area of coves tucked away among the cliffs.  It's a nice way to spend the day.  It is a good idea, however, to know when the high and low tides are, otherwise you may have a shorter day than you expected!

find the beauty...

Tarifa (Cádiz - Andalucía), Spain

Find the beauty wherever you go or in whatever you do...

change of plans

Roche (Cádiz - Andalucía), Spain

You have your pick of beaches all along the coastline of Cádiz - one right after the next...  We stumbled upon this one after taking a wrong turn.  Needless to say, it changed our plans for the day!

lost in the moment

Conil de la Frontera (Cádiz - Andalucía), Spain

southern beaches

Conil de la Frontera (Cádiz - Andalucía), Spain

The whitewashed town of Conil de la Frontera makes a perfect backdrop for a day at the beach!

 

endless walks on the beach

Conil de la Frontera (Cádiz - Andalucía), Spain

For those of you who love endless walks on the beach, this one is for you!  
(Playa de los Bateles)
 

looking beyond to Morocco

Tarifa (Cádiz - Andalucía), Spain

Laid-back Tarifa with Africa in the distance...

Entre Dos Aguas

Tarifa (Cádiz - Andalucía), Spain

Entre Dos Aguas - Descansa en paz, maestro.  Francisco Sánchez Gómez, Paco de Lucía.

Grazalema

Grazalema, (Cádiz - Andalucía) Spain

The small town of Grazalema is one of many whitewashed villages found within the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park.  This park is great for hiking, offering peaks as high as 1654 meters, but unfortunately this particular town, curiously enough, registers the highest annual rainfall in the entire Iberian Peninsula, despite the fact that many other places in Andalucía suffer from drought year after year.

Did it rain when I visited Grazalema?  -Yes, it did.  

When is the best time to visit?  June - September.  

What month on average registers the most rain?  -December.  

When did I visit?  -December!  

Oops!  :)

benches

Tarifa, (Cádiz - Andalucía) Spain

Oh, the stories these benches have heard...  :)

Strait of Gibraltar

Tarifa, (Cádiz - Andalucía) Spain

The Strait of Gibraltar separates Europe from Africa and joins the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea.  A little over 14 km (under 9 miles) marks the distance between the two narrowest points of this body of water.  Note the silhouette of Africa in the distance in this picture.

Because of the strong winds caused by the straits, Tarifa is a wind and kitesurfing mecca.  One of the beaches in Tarifa goes on for 10 km (6 miles) along the southwestern coastline of Spain giving surfers plenty of room to catch some waves.  Birdwatching, especially the migration of storks to and from Africa in spring and autumn, is also a popular activity for many people, along with whale and dolphin watching.

Tarifa

Tarifa, (Cádiz - Andalucía) Spain

Tarifa is a wonderful town on the southernmost coast of Spain and is considered the southernmost point of the European continent as well.  It is a laid-back whitewashed town full of narrow labyrnth-like streets and was under Muslim rule between 710-1292.  The church in the picture (San Mateo) was built on the remains of an ancient mosque in 1506.

This picture was taken from the roof-top of one of the coolest places I've ever stayed, Pensión Correo, an old restored house with a patio in the heart of the historical town center.

Andalusian patio

 

Arcos de la Frontera, (Cádiz - Andalucía) Spain

The magic of walking down the streets in these picturesque whitewashed villages is when you stumble across the door of a private home open and discover this!

Arcos de la Frontera

Arcos de la Frontera, (Cádiz - Andalucía) Spain

Arcos de la Frontera is another of the many whitewashed villages spotted throughout the countryside of Andalucía.  Built on a ridge, serving as a natural fortress in medieval times, this town full of narrow cobblestone streets overlooking the Guadalete River is surrounded by wheat and sunflower fields, vineyards and orchards.

It's quite the sight to see when driving down the road and an even bigger thrill to explore its steep winding streets and experience it firsthand.

Sand dunes

Bolonia, (Cádiz - Andalucía) Spain

How can you beat this?!

Bolonia is a great place for an escape.  This massive sand dune of over 30 meters in height, surrounded by pine trees and other vegetation, overlooks the beach of Bolonia.  The coast of Africa can also be seen from afar when you gaze across the Strait of Gibralter.

Vejer de la Frontera

Vejer de la Frontera, (Cádiz - Andalucía) Spain

This gem sitting atop a hill less than five miles (8 km) from the unspoiled white-sand beaches of the Atlantic Ocean was under Muslim rule for more than 500 years (711-1248).  It is surrounded by orchards and olive groves making agriculture and fruit-farming its chief industries.

Remote whitewashed villages like this one are spotted all over the countryside, making beautiful backdrops as you are exploring this alluring area of Spain.  Vejer de la Frontera is a perfect place to get lost by wandering its steep narrow streets and admiring its stunning views.  This is by far one of my favorite places in all of Spain!

Treat yourself by staying at the charming la Botica, exact place from where this picture is taken!  I absolutely love Vejer de la Frontera!  :)