Cartagena - where even the Plant Pots are Beautiful

We left Fuengirola in lovely sailing conditions, very relaxed - Ian kept close watch for dolphins, which duly obliged and played around the boat for a half hour or so.

The wind gradually built in the middle of the day and we ended up fully reefed, surfing along in 45 kts, the snow capped Sierra Nevada Mountains visible in the distance.

After a small difference of opinion as to the suitability of learning the new skill of goose winging in these conditions we opted to gybe down the coast until the wind died completely at about midnight and we motored towards Almeira where we anchored outside the Marina.  We were just settling into our anchorage when we were boarded by Spanish Customs - they arrived in a black RIB, fully kitted out in black and conducted a cursory search of the boat and paperwork before setting off again, back to the mothership. Very 007.


We had a gentle start the next morning, passing a fish farm on a float.

Again the wind increased during the day, and we were used as mark rounding practice by some very large, very fast trimarans that appeared out of nowhere doing 15 kts in about 15 kts of breeze!

We now know what it feel like to be a race mark!

Another night at anchor, no Customs this time.

A peaceful night at anchor

Cartagena itself is a beautiful town - where ever there is an opportunity to install some art, it’s there!

One of the Harbours

Large scale Art

Pensive Art

Sprigs mingling with the Academics

The Postie?

Even the plant pots are beautiful!  Nautilus in centre of pontoon.

The obligatory cycle trip along the (beautiful) high street past the town hall

And, of course, no town would be complete with out it’s own Amphitheater!



So, to finish off - some sunsets - quite a few, but who doesn’t love a sunset?

So - Next stop:  Denia - a big flash marina, and more friends to catch up with.

We had planned to get the engine serviced to extend the warranty, but at €650 for an oil and filter change, we decided to risk letting the warranty lapse!!!

Back in Spain - Meeting Friends

We made a short leisurely trip along to Marbella where found the cheapest marina available, unpacked the bikes and set off along the promenade to Puerto Banus where the Rich come to be seen, and the others just to dream!!

Marbella - First, Build Your Beach

Then - Build the People!

Then - Do your Stretches

Then we checked out Puerto Banus, where you take to Roller to the Ice Cream Shop:  The place to be seen.

Puerto Banus - The Rich come to be Seen, the others, just to Dream

All that money worked up an appetite - time for a BBQ

Lunch?

The next day we met up with Richard who was over from the UK and my Cousin Paul and Stephanie who live in a beautiful 300 year house in the hills behind Fuengerola.

The first challenge was getting on and off the boat - the pontoons were not exactly ‘Yacht Friendly’

It really was a big step for man!  Luckily, there were several there to help.

Lunch on the Beach, well almost,  Thank you very much Paul

And then the next day, we sailed Paul and Stephanie over from Marbella to Fuengirola - actually Stephanie sailed us over - for someone who hadn’t sailed before, she was a natural!

Paul and Stephanie became Tourist Guides and after a drive through Fuengirola we set off inland to the picturesque village of Mijas

We immediately felt welcome - even the plant pots matched us!

Mijas really is a very pretty village

Ian, surrounded by Stephanies!!!

Shop Security, Mijas style - could Selfridges learn from this??

So we'll sign off with a big thank you to Paul and Stephanie for being such wonderful hosts in Marbella and Fuengirola.

We've now spent 6 weeks on the boat together - run out of conversation so resorted to texting each other!

Next Stop:  Heading North - towards Cartagena 

Whales, and the Rock that is Gibraltar

Conditions were good when we set off on the 211 mile trip from Lagos to Gibraltar, the spinnaker was in use and we were making good progress.

We sailed on into the sunset.

Sunset at Sea

Then at about midnight the wind died and we wallowed around for a while before we resorted to the motor

Night Sailing

Eventually as the sun came up, the wind picked up, and we hoisted the sails - then the wind dropped again, and we were back to the motor.  We had our daily work out, repeating this experience at least 6 times!

As the sun got higher in the sky, we noticed the rigging was covered with what seemed to be cobwebs - we didn’t see any spiders, we were at least 40 miles from the nearest land and these cobwebs seemed to be drifting in the air.  

Cobwebs?

During the day the wind picked up again, and 36 hours after we set off we saw whales!  Not only did we see them, they swum up to the boat, had a quick look and headed off again.  We saw three adults and a calf, and think they were Orcas.

As night fell on day two, the wind started to build - by 0200 we were beating into 

a force 8, well reefed down, heading towards the Straights of Gibraltar which looked like the M25 in rush hour, and not enjoying it!  By 0400 we had dropped the sails and the wind was a Force 9 - our options were to continue attempting to tack our way through the shipping lanes (didn’t appeal!) or resort to the Volvo!  Maximum wind gust recorded on our instruments was 57.3kts - very glad we are in an Ovni, not a J-109!

All calmed down to a manageable 30kts as we neared the Rock  and the sun came up - we continued motoring,  as we’d been sailing for 45 hours and it seemed like the easy option.

First view of the Mediterranean Sea

Gibraltar really is very British - with more mopeds and sunshine.  Lots of little tiny alleyways between streets, loads of street cafes and endless opportunities to have full English Breakfasts or Fish and Chips.  Plenty of places to enjoy a pint in the sunshine.

The High Street, Town, Gibraltar

We cycled round the Rock - you can obviously see Spain to the North, and Africa to the South.

Europa Point, view towards Africa

Being the Tourists that we are, we took the Cable Car up to the Top of the Rock - very glad we did, it would have been quite the climb!

The view from the top - we're in the Marina in the centre of the photo, Spain surrounds us.

Top of the Rock - Towards Spain

Towards Africa

The Barbary Apes - they were much more peaceful than I'd expected, and really quite cute ...

Man Meets Ape

Barbary Ape

There are fortifications all over the Rock, showing it's strategic importance throughout history.

We walked back down from the top - taking the very steep steps that were built in order to facilitate communication between those stationed at the top of the rock and those lower down  during the numerous skirmishes over the ownership of the Rock. A very impressive set of stairs.

The stairs and wall that lead most of the way down to town from the top of the Rock

We have enjoyed our few days in Gibraltar, and are now heading for Spain to catch up with a friend near Puerto Banus.