Andalucia Day 13 Along the beach to Tarifa

The temperature seems a fraction lower in the morning and the wind has definitely increased. We set off along the beach directly from the campsite towards Tarifa. The beach is vast, impossible to think it could ever be crowded. A few people walking, running, doing yoga, on horseback. The wind increases, picking up the fine sand further from the sea and whizzing it low down towards the waves.

The beach almost disappears in the distance in a blur of sand. The waves have to fight with the wind to break on the beach and splinter into miniature rainbows.

Somewhere I had read that walking along playa Los Lances with the wind was like being sand-blasted. Well, no, it's not that bad but I pull my wide-brimmed Decathlon hat right down round my head to keep it out of my eyes and by the time we cover the 7 1/2 kilometres to Isla Paloma sand is stuck firmly into every inch of our bodies.

Tarifa is equally pleasant by day as by early evening and we wander around until we can reasonably expect to have lunch while local people are still finishing a late breakfast.

We indulge in Menu del día at the same place as yesterday - Bar Restaurante Morilla. The  starters are sopa de mariscos and sopa de picadillo, both rather, well, soupy, not Zuppa di pesce insomma. Things improve with the mixed fried fish, excellent, piping hot and 5 different types of fish. The dessert isn't at all bad, crème caramel and cheesecake. With a coffee and drinks it all comes to 25 euros. In the meantime we watch the comings and goings, we're just outside the main church. Local people can be identified by a uniform of t-shirt and shorts, which vary in length from knee to knickers according to gender and age, and flipflops. Trainers and any type of closed shoes reveal a tourist at the top. The waiters and waitresses work nonstop because the place is full of both the above but are quick, cheerful and friendly. Eventually we stagger to our feet and repair to Plaza de Santa María to snooze and write this blog. It's siesta time and even the fountain water has been turned off. The temperature is ideal and the fierce wind has lost energy turning the corners of the old town.

We do some shopping for the evening and next day and walk back along the beach. The sand is being blown even more strongly although fortunately from behind us. The blue sea, white spray lifted in the wind meeting the flurries of sand distract us from the long walk.

A combination of sun cream, salt from the sea wind and a firm coating of sand pretty much everywhere make me feel like something in breadcrumbs ready for frying and a hot shower is exceptionally welcome. A fantastic day in a fantastic place.

Kilometres by car: 0

Kilometres on foot: 22