Cueta fish market this morning

There was a definite sense of being ' watched' at the market this morning :O)

We haven't sunk!

It may look like we only made it half way across the Straits ( if you were following us on marine traffic) but we are safely moored in Cueta. The AIS Base Stations did not pick us up more than halfway across the Straits.  However, a large Pod of dolphins did pick us up and escorted us out from Gibraltar and  across Algeceiras Bay. Jo Conway lay on the foredeck vidoeing them for fifteen minutes, and we all agreed it was a delight ( and felt like a good omen) to have the dolphins with us.The forecast winds mentioned yesterday were slightly 'under' forecast because today we had 23 -25 knots veering westsouthwest and as a result averaged 6 knots at times touching 7 -  we were close-hauled with one reef in the main. Despite the strong current pushing us eastward we managed to hold our course in a shallow 's' track to make Cueta without needing to tack. Four hours from berth to berth :O) Rob Conway did a sterling job on the helm and the weather improved as we crossed to north Africa - temperature currently 22 degrees at 11pm ! Tonight the locals had their Semana Santa (Holy Week) procession - video to come soon. Buenos noches!
 

And we're off :O)

At long last, time to cast off and set sail - it's been a long Winter overlay and we're eager to get going again. Just a few last minute checks and tweaks today. The plan: Leave Gibraltar tomorrow morning ( Tuesday 26th March) and sail across the Straits to Cueta, hopefully in time for lunchtime Tapas. We have light westerlies 6-10 knots with possible ( read likely) gusts up to 15 knots, wave height 1.5m. No rain expected, air pressure 1014 and air temperatures 18 degrees. It's a short trip - three, three and half hours max to a little bit of Spanish territory on the north African coast.

This is the best way to travel!  We have stowaways with us tomorrow, Jo and Robert Conway, will be good to have their company :O)   Anyone interested in joining us for a leg on our trip to Turkey get in touch - Hey Mark, get your butt over here :O) Follow us on marinetraffic.com! Lots of Love xxx

Vejer de la Frontera

 Another Cracking Andalucian town :O)

 

This is the courtyard inside a 'Patio' house, the design no doubt borrowed from the Moorish Riads and Roman Atriums.

Durmiendo ( sleeping) en el sol...

 

Bluer than blue, blue! 

 

Arches

and another one...

 

Lanterns sorted!

At last problem sorted. Software discrepancies apparently, sadly that means nothing to me. Thank goodness for my onboard computer nerd :O) Thanks Greg!

Medina Sidonia

Like most wonderful things that happen in life, Medina Sidonia wasn't planned. It was quite literally a pin on a map job and a decision to just go and see. We loved it so much we stayed for three nights on the very top of the town. From the balcony, we could see Africa to the south and the Atlantic ocean and Cadiz way out on the western horizon, where amazing sky 'light' shows appear at sunset!

View from our balcony - just let the little peek of swimming pool slip in there on the left :O) Midway on the horizon is Cadiz and the Atlantic.

Greg in Alcazar Calle ( Street)

The Belen Arch - 15th Century - known as the Gate of the Gypsies.

 

 All the old boys wear these berets and toothy grins :O)

Olivo Calle looking West

The sun starting to set over Medina -  and how about this last shot for a 'sky show'?

 

Up in them thar hills of Andalucia!

A few days in a different terrain has been most refreshing. The pueblos blancos ( white villages) are charming, as are the friendly people, dogs, goats, horses and shy cats we met along the way.

Following all taken in Jimena de la Frontera:

 

Street oranges...

Jimena:

 

Greg under orange trees:

Lane in Jimena:

They love their flowers: