Exploring South West Spain and Gib.

peterb26

peterb26

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Joined
14 Aug 2006
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Location
Lagos, Portugal
www.theblundells.co.uk
Despite the best of intentions, since we came to Lagos I haven't got any further east than Ayamonte!

SWMBO and our cruising friends enjoyed Ayamonte - I can't remember too much as it was my birthday..... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Our friends (who are not retired) would like to do a trip to Gib, but I suspect that we could spend a very pleasurable week doing places like Isla Cristina, Chipiona and the Cadiz area. Less hours travelling - more time chilling, eating, drinking and shopping!

Having never been to any of these places, can anyone make helpful suggestions about whether its worth going all the way down to Gib? We have limitless time but our friends would probably be restricted to 7 days, or perhaps 10 at the absolute best.

Oh and lastly - this is on a motorboat - but we really dont want to do more than 60nm in any day. Thats around 3 hrs, and its enough for the ladies.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.
 
Gib is like Marmite you either love it or loathe it.I love it.Cadiz is well worth a visit.If you DO get to Gib and want to have a look round then a good scheme is to hire a taxi and they will do a tour of the sights and give you a commentary etc. v.good value.Pick a day when there are no cruise ships in!
 
Gib was good in 2000 and if you're(or SWMBO) interested in shopping, there are (or were) tax advantages. There even used to be a tax-free fuel barge for mobos moored offshore.
and lots of good bits in between. I take it you've been all the way to Alvor?
 
I like Marmite, not so keen on Gib. I have been there, by sail mobo and road through the 70s 80s&90s. We were stuck there in 82 for 3 weeks waiting for bits. Shopping,yes. The sites up on the rock,yes. The museums, yes. The rest qualifies as a dump with dubious politics, crowded streets and the worst fish and chips I´ve tried. It might have improved in the 10yrs since I was last there, but I wont be bothering to find out.
Don´t think of the straights in an easterly, tried that and had o spend 3 days hiding in Barbate.
Cadiz is great, much tidied up, we also went up the Guadalquivir to Sevilla, 53mls on 1 tide. Stayed at the Club Real Nautico,very secure. Fabulous trip.
Isla Cristina is bit closer but very touristy. Across on Isla Canela there is a newish marina in a big complex. In the little fishing village by it there are some good fish restaurants.
Huelva is a fairly awfull, except for the little port at Palos de la Frontera where the copies of Columbus´ ships are in a closed dock with a museum.
Hope this helps, I used to live a bit west of Albufeira.
Andrew
 
Have you been up the Guadiana? If not I,m sure the guests would find it facinating, no problem to Alcoutim, up the middle, to Pomarao, just leave Alcoutim 2 hours before HW and you can again stay in the middle, well worth the effort, find time to visit the Vascao tributary with the dinghy. You can get up to Mertola with your draft, but ask for advice in Pomarao. imho, Gib is the pits. (handy for cheap diesel for a Mo Bo though).
 
Go to Seville. The trip up the Guadalquivir River is a bit boring. But what a city!

Stay at the Real Clube Nautico, it's about a mile from the centre of town. The Clube has umpteen tennis courts, at least three swimming pools and loads of hot and cold running flunkies.

If you go Seville do go round the Alcazar. The gardens are so big you can hardly hear the traffic. See Pedro the Cruel's palace. and Carmen's tobacco factory.
 
El Rompido with its new marina worth a look - Punta Umbria not worth the hassle, rota pleasant, haven't done seville but as above recommended by others. If you're doing Gib do Ceuta as well, Barbate marmitish - if Levante's blowing stay west of Tarifa !
 
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