Andalucia Day 12 Tarifa y Bolonia sand dune

How impressive really is the Bolonia dune? How windy is windy in Tarifa? How garlicky is ajo blanco (a sort of cream/soup made of garlic, almonds, olive oil, grapes, vinegar, so on the principal of gazpacho but white)? However much you research on the Internet, some questions remain unanswered until you are actually on the spot. 

The weather forecast is for the wind, let's say it's pretty breezy at the moment, to increase tomorrow, so, first thing, well not quite because it doesn't even start to get light until 7.30, we set off by car to Playa de Bolonia. As we approach in the distance I'm doubtful, a large slope of sand between the pine trees, can it really be so impressive?

We walk along the beach, it's just past 9, hardly anyone around, just one person on the dune. Going up is hard work on the soft sand but the landscape becomes more and more impressive, the clear-coloured sand has been modeled by the wind, ripples like the sea and craters like the moon, the view from the top is spectacular. The September sun is still low in the sky and the craters make shade where the sand is still slightly firm from the nighttime damp.

The dune is still advancing so on  the landward side the pine trees are half submerged in sand, one has just the tops of green pine needles sticking out. 

We walk up and slide down and answer the first question: impressive!

It's getting too hot on the beach so we drive up to a Mirador with a view from Tarifa to Africa and the dune as well and picnic there. Back at the campsite the temperature is in the low thirties. Not what was planned at all since I'd been checking the temperatures in Tarifa all summer and never found much more than 27. It's too hot to contemplate the tent for a siesta and the unfortunate idea of eating the last mango attracts some persistent wasps and even though the view of the sea from outside the tent is splendid it's too hot to sit in the semi-shade. Eventually we find the Salon social of the campsite down by the beach and cool off a bit consoled by the fast WiFi.

Towards evening we go to Tarifa by car. Very windy is the answer for the time being, especially on the walkway between Tarifa and Isla de Paloma.

We watch the kite surfers lifted up into the and their acrobatics and then stop for caña and tapa but end up eating Tortilla, ajo blanco (garlicky at the time but not with a garlicky aftertaste), anchovies on toast with salmorejo.
The sun is setting

as we walk back along the seafront towards the car, we stop for some fish at Mercadona and cook it, wasp-free, in the dark. A long day, full of answers and new questions....

Kilometres by car: 53

Kilometres on foot: 14