Week 5: I got some more stamps...Tarifa, Spain and Moroco, Africa

Well.... I did it. I went to Africa this past weekend. As I wrote that I was going to go at the end of my last blog, I was writing under the assumption that I would try but wasn´t sure if I would actually end up going. We really went, and it was unforgetable.

Our trip started out on Friday afternoon, after class, when 20 americans (including myslef) took over a bus going to Tarifa (southern coast of Spain). I´ve heard in the past that Americans are loud, but now I really understand. I almost felt bad for everyone else on the bus because we were so obnoxious, but I guess that is what you get on a Friday, after class, when you think you are going to Africa tomorrow.

When we got there after our 2 1/2 hr bus ride, we checked into our amazing hostel. 4 minutes walking from the center of town, 5 minutes from the beach and 4 minutes to the ferry that took us to Africa. The hostel was pretty small, and we got to know the staff a little bit. They were really nice people, mostly from around the world/spian and just working there for a few months to surf, relax, get away from the world.

We were tired that night so we ended up going out to eat at a pizza place where you cut your food with scissors. Lets just say it was incredible, and words wont do it justice. Pictures to come.

Saturday morning we almost missed the ferry to Moroco, but given that we live in spain, we don´t have to be anywhere on time. We got there at 11:00, same time as departure, but didn´t leave until 11:45am. Go figure.
The ride over was a lot of fun, but really opened up my eyes to what people go through trying to cross the Gibralter strait.

After going through customs, we were inundated with people that wanted to give us guided tours. To our suprise, we found a guide who was actually letgit, (Jamal, and our driver Muhammad). To give you an idea of how amazing this tour was, we did the following: had our own mercedes bus driving us around all day, just the 14 of us from CIEE, we rode camals, saw the summer homes of presidents and dignitaries from around the world, walked through all the shopping districs, walked through a rug factory (where they make rugs by hand with looms), saw a dance show in the streets, saw some of the 100,000 spices and herbs they have in Tanger, and the list goes on. Did I mention I rode a camel?!?!?!?!?!? We went back on the 5pm ferry (7pm spain time) and got back around 8pm Spain time.

All in all, amazing day.

The next day, we hung out on the beach and then went to a Tex-Mex restauraunt. Very needed. I like the food here, but sometimes you just needs some enchaladas, nachos and hot sauce with chips. We ended up having a chill day on Sunday because we were so beat from Moroco the day before. Tarifa was good times. The only thing we were disspointed about was that the festival San Juan was a bust. It was so windy, nobody was on the beach Saturday night. It is supposed to be this big festival with a GIANT bonfire to mark the summer solstice but the extreme winds kept the fire small and the crowd smaller.

Sadly my camera is broken. Don´t know why, but until I get it fixed/get a new one we will all have to wait to see pictures of me on my camel. I feel your pain... but they´ll be up soon, haha