Marbella

The early morning sky was a wash of pink. In the marina being Marge, the swanky dazzling white yachts, swung gently on their anchors. One of the them from Lymington, another from Southampton in Hampshire.

All of the other vans looked out across the marina, Marge, however had turned her back on them, preferring the view of the rock. She knows a decent view when she sees one!

It seemed a little bit strange this morning, to set off armed with English pounds.

Sorry Marge, but you're remaining in Spain. We promise not to repeat our recklessness of Cadiz. Crossing back in to Gibraltar seemed a little surreal.

In the high street, Marks and Spencer, Card Factory and Costa Coffee. We cycled towards the far end of the rock, giving up on all things touristy, After all, we were here just to take a look at Gibralter as a country. In the main street, following on from the High street, it seemed a little bit like Blackpool, with gift shops and fish and chip restaurants. Of course, at lunchtime we couldn't resist the lure of chips, after five weeks without them.

So we lunched at a traditional English pub, a little like the ones in the centre of London. Fish and Chips for Angela, and a mixed grill for John. However wonderful the weather is, there are somethings you miss from home. We were not sad to leave Gibraltar, it was dirty, busy, the driving terrible, considering it was a small space, with narrow roads. There could be no dispute regarding the comment, that scooter licences are given to the insane there! Sorry Gibraltar.

British you may be, and we can tick you off our list of places to visit, but we are unlikely to rush back anytime soon.

Around four o' clock we left the rock, once again a mass of cloud had descended above it. We understand that this occurs when the Levant wind blows in from the Mediterranean. Our journey late this afternoon was towards Marbella. We left the ring road an exit earlier than planned to visit a supermarket, where we thought we should be able to purchase tonic water for John. Surely, here on the Costa del Sol, there would be some takers for it.

Because of the area, Angela stayed with Marge, whilst John went in to the shop. Behind her, a pleasing vista of the mountains. We are aware, that it is necessary to be very vigilant along the coasts of the Costa del Sol and Costa Brava. Marge always has to be our priority.

This evening we are parked right by the beach, along with a young Australian couple in a hired campervan, in a suburb of Marbella. Who'd have thought Marge would be here?

Soon after we arrived, not having the urgency to cook an evening meal after our filling lunch, we walked through the waters of the Mediterranean, marvelling at a rather superb sand structure a couple had built, sadly to be spoiled by the incoming tide.

On the shoreline, a large jelly fish (size 12 foot for scale!) waned in the tidal water, and out to sea, a convoy of fishing boats left port for the deep fishing waters. We sat on a wall at the edge of the beach, drink in hand, to watch yet another sunset . This one with a difference, as the mountains stood between us and the horizon. Even after the sun had disappeared, the sky still remained bright, lit by fingers of pink light. Tomorrow we will be, who knows where. But hopefully, we'll get to experience yet another incredible sunset.

The lights and sunset Marbella Bay.

Gibraltar

Today we left our haven at La Barossa beach and set off in search of pastures new. Having stayed at the beach three nights, and despite constantly brushing Marge out, she still had sand in every crevice. But hey, that's the downside of staying at the beach, but also, a small price to pay.

We were not sure where we would be spending tonight when we set off, so just followed the coast road, stopping on route at a pretty bay, where we sat on the sea wall awhile watching the fisherman, the sea, and just general absorbing the calmness, along with the heat coming up from North Africa.

This is the joy of travelling with no agenda, taking your time, stopping when you want, staying a while. Before we left, we picked up a large oyster shell and interesting piece of rock to add to our collection. No wonder Marge is struggling up the hills, let's hope she will be able to take the strain of a few litres of wine before we return from France.

Talking of Marge, she was happy parked on the sand, keeping watch over some fellow Volkswagens.

The area we were travelling through is renowned for strong winds, and we could see why there were wind turbines as far as the eye could see. But for Marge it was a pain, and it was difficult holding her straight in the unforgiving cross wind. At lunchtime, we stopped at the town of Tarifa. Tarifa, is the first town on the Costa del Sol, or the Costa del Crime, as it was known in the seventies and eighties, when British criminals came here to retire. Ferries also leaves here for Morocco, and we did think about a day trip, but decided it best to research and plan a trip with Marge, possibly next year. Before we resumed our journey, we took time to decide where we would spend tonight. The internet told us that, at a lot of the overnight stops, people were being pestered by men knocking on their vans, asking for beer and money.

We couldn't be having any of that worry, so decided to head to a secure paid parking area at La Linea de la Concepcion.

The coast road to take us there was climbing and curving, with some great views. We stopped at a viewpoint car park to take photographs. Just before we left, a friend from home messaged us. This evening, she said she was off to a macrame class. Sorry, but Marge won't be at macrame tonight, she's off to Gibraltar!

And tonight, the rock of Gibraltar is the view out through Marge's windscreen. Before our evening meal, we couldn't resist popping over the border, After all it is British. So with passports in hand we breezed in. The supermarket just inside, boasted selling Waitrose products. It was all a little bizarre. Especially, watching the Spanish ladies in the bus shelter stash cigarettes inside bags and strapping them around their waistlines with heavy duty cling film. That's duty free for you!

The sunset this evening was totally different from the three previous nights. At first the sky was lit in a pink pearly light, gradually darkening to a burnt orange, the mountains and shipping, silhouetted in grey in the foreground. Stunning!

Tomorrow, we will cycle back across the border in to Gibraltar, which we are really looking forward to. Meanwhile the rock is virtually in darkness, lit by only a few white lights on the upper reaches. Marge we're at Gibraltar, who'd have believed it?

Chiclana de la Frontera. (Day 3)

At seven thirty yesterday evening, the beach now clear of bodies, we sat watching the sun descend towards the horizon. Once again the sunset was amazing. The German man had all sorts of photographic equipment set up, and after the last lip of orange disappeared into the sea, he commented that the previous night's sunset had been better, as there had been no cloud.

Let's see what tonight sunset is like in comparison. Down at the beach restaurant, there was a live band playing, which we enjoyed listening to. The guys were English, which surprised us.

This morning, yet another glorious start to the day. Monday morning on the Costa de la Luz. It's mornings like this that make you just want to spend the autumn and winter months in the sun, as many people do. And we don't blame them.

Today we had decided to drive to Cadiz, expecting the traffic to be heavy, and the parking difficult. We were pleased to be proved wrong. Firstly, we stopped at a garage in the suburbs, which we'd sourced through the internet looking for cheap diesel, and where we were also able to empty all our waste water, including the toilet, and fill up with fresh water. All in all excellent service, and the Spanish man who attended to us, couldn't have been more obliging.

We parked Marge up near the port, near to a huge cruise ship, then set off to discover the delights of Cadiz old town. And a delight it was.

The narrow streets made us think of Italy, and as we glanced up and saw how close the opposing balconies were, we were glad we'd already parked Marge, and wouldn't find ourselves caught in them.

Cadiz, had a little bit of a Moroccan feel about it, in some of its architecture, especially the buildings with tall palm trees in front of them.

The highlight of the day, the visit to the New Cathedral. It is built on the site of the older cathedral, and is one of Spain's largest cathedrals, the architecture baroque and neo-classical. It was certainly stunning. The highlight, a climb to the top of the cathedrals Levante Tower.

The panoramic views of Cadiz from the top breathtaking! Every fifteen minutes the bells at the top chime, so with thirty seconds to go, we beat a hasty retreat, for obvious reasons.

We had loved our time in Cadiz, and were glad we'd decided to venture in to the city. Today we had paid to park, visit the cathedral and even had ice lollies. Marge would probably have considered us reckless, having been left to our own devices for far to many hours. But hey Marge, you've got to live a little! This evening we have returned for a third night at Barossa beach, Chiclana. We feel happy and relaxed here. Tomorrow though, we will plan our onward journey. In the mean time, the sun is once again sinking in the sky. We are just loving these sunsets.