Gibraltar

Woops... we're not in Spain any more...

Because of the strategic importance of Gibraltar, England has insisted they 'watch over' this important piece of real estate. From time to time, Spain thinks they would be better at it. In fact, they've besieged Gibralter 15 times, the longest being three and a half years at about the time of the American Revolution. And the frontier between Spain and Gibraltar has been closed as recently as 1985. It is actually sometimes easier to go to Gibraltar from England than from Spain.

Tarifa

So let's not, this time. Let's take a train (Click here for Rail Europe) from pleasant Sevilla to even more pleasant Tarifa, the windsurfing capital of Europe, full of beaches and sun and fun at night. Incidently, famous Europe Point in Gibraltar is not really the most southern point in Europe... Tarifa is. From here you can see over the Strait of Gibraltar (see, no need to go there) to Africa, just 7 miles away.
We're talking SUNNY Tarifa.

Vejer de la Frontera

Just 6 miles inland is equally sunny Vejer de la Frontera. Although with similar views of Gibraltar and Africa, the differences between the two towns are extreme. Tarifa has beaces. Vejer has solitude. It is relatively unknown to tourists, although it is starting to draw some attention from other Europeans. Best to see it now, while it is still fresh on the tourist trail.

After a few days seeing the historical sites of Vejer... um... but actually, there are no major historical sites. A church or two, that sort of thing. But nothing like the Alhambra. Instead, the entire town has the feeling of being from 'long ago'. There is hardly a trace of the 21st century. Cobblestone streets. Palm trees.
Maybe this is the perfect
European vacation spot
to relax in...

Marbella, Altea and the Costa Blanca

As we go up the coast of Spain along the Mediterranean (going around Gibraltar), we hit the Costa Blanca and charming beach towns like Marbella and Altea.

Marbella has it all... Cinemas, Museums, Videoclubs, Aerial Sports, Scuba Diving, Golf, Gymns, Horseback Riding, Hunting, Tennis, Water Parks, Bullfighting, Thermal Baths, Casinos, Cybercafes, Discotechs, Flamenco, Tapas Bars... you name it. You can also just sit on the beach and relax. For Morrocan cuisine in Marbella, try EL Couscous. If you prefer the prevalent Mediterranean cuisine, try lively Azabache restaurant. Restaurante El Bustan serves Lebanese, and for fresh fish, there is Restaurante California or Barbacoa La Pesquera. If you are into a little gaming after dinner, Casino Marbella at the Hotel Andalucia Plaza promises to be "Un Mundo En Tus Manos" or in English, "A World in Your Hands."

Altea is a seaside town of about 15,000 residents, most of whom work in some way making tourists happy. Hotel Melia Altea Hills is the 5-star place to stay (stars by a local construction company) or perhaps Hotel Cap Negret at three stars (same source). If camping under the Mediterranean stars at night sounds nice, there is Cap Blanch and Miami campgrounds at Playa Cap Blanch. For a nice supper, you might try Posada San Miguel.

Festivals, exhibitions, theater and musical performances are frequent in Altea, which hosts offices for the Yehudi Menuhin Foundation, the International Society for Music Education (ISME), and Jeunesses Musicales of Spain, all as part of the International Music Center of UNESCO. Culture, sun and fun, all in one place.

That's all for this tour of Spain, but there is so much more... the snowy Pyrenees Mountains, the Alhambra in Granada... and Barcelona, and Segovia, and... and....
Well, there's only one solution. You will have to go and see them for yourself.

Click here for Rail Europe schedules and excursions and simply everything you need for a really excellent Europe vacation.

Visit our Europe Travel webstore featuring Love To Travel gear for
your European Vacation, and while you are on the net,
check out these other fine Europe travel websites
Europe-Train.org    Eurostar-TGV.com    Euro-Rail.org    VacationInEurope.com    AirfaresToEurope.com    TravelEurope.biz   

© 2001 - 2008 Hawaii Advertising. All rights reserved.

If you would like a website created for you, please contact our web designer at
HawaiiAdvertising.com for free information.