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Tarifa
was
until
the
mid
1980's
was a
quiet
village,
known
only
as the
southernmost
point
on the
European
landmass.
It
forms
part
of the
Costa
de la
Luz
within
the
region
of
Andalucia.
Today
it has
become
a
popular
resort,
famous
for
its
windsurfing.
It now
ranks
with
the
top
three
surfing
resorts
of the
world.
Even
in the
winter
surfers
can be
found
on its
shores
and
specialist
equipment
shops
line
its
streets.
There
is a
great
appeal
in
wandering
the
crumbling
ramparts
of
Tarifa's
old
walls
or
narrow
streets
that
surround
the
15th
century
church
of San
Mateo.
The
newly
restored
Castillo
de
Guzman
has
wonderful
views
from
its
towers,
both
across
the
town
and
the
sea.
In the
centre
there
are
many
places
to see
including
a
nice,
small
museum.
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The
area
around
Tarifa
makes
for
excellent
horse-riding
and
horses
can be
hired
locally.
Heading
northwest
of
Tarifa
lie
some
of the
best
beaches
anywhere
with
wide
stretches
of
yellow
sand.
A new
addition
to the
area
are
whale
and
dolphin
spotting
trips.
Though
Tarifa
offers
very
little
in the
form
of
entertainment
ie
discos
and
nightclubs,
there
are
ample
places
to eat
and
drink,
as
well
as
many
places
to
stay.
There
is
also a
first
class
windsurfing
school
here. |
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Above
the
town
is the
cemetery
where
rows
of
nameless
headstones
mark
the
graves
of
unknown
Africans,
buried
three
deep.
These
are
the
corpses
of
bodies
washed
up on
Tarifa's'
shores.
Most
of
them
are
illegal
immigrants
whose
attempts
at
crossing
the
wild
straits
have
failed.
In
recent
years
the
number
of
'wetbacks'
escaping
the
plight
of
Africa
and
hoping
for a
better
life
in
Europe
has
increased
dramatically.
Unfortunately
many
of
these
don't
survive
the
crossing
where
up to
30
people
are
crammed
into
vessels
designed
for
three
and
organised
by
gangster
skippers.
There
is the
constant
struggle
to
evade
the
coastal
helicopters
and
land
on
Spanish
sand.
The
few
that
do
survive
and
escape
capture
end up
with
an
illegal
life
in
Europe,
without
identification
and
unable
to
secure
a good
job.
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The
best
beach
in
Tarifa
appeared
to be
Playa
de Los
Lances
although
the
strong
winds
would
be a
problem
for
bathers.
This
is of
course
heaven
for
the
wind
surfers
that
come
here
every
year.
The
port
was
quaint
and
very
functional
but
rather
untidy.
Tarifa
has a
good
selection
of
historical
buildings
but it
appeared
that
many
more
had
been
demolished
to
make
way
for
the
multitude
of
high-rise
apartment
blocks.
Even
the
town
bullring
was
nothing
to
look
at,
once
we
found
it.
The
15th
century
church
of San
Mateo
was a
magnificent
structure,
located
in a
network
of
tiny
streets
and
alleys
and
the
remains
of the
Moorish
walls
were a
sight
to
behold,
albeit
they
looked
out of
place,
surrounded
by
untidy,
modern
buildings.
Tarifa
is
obviously
an
energetic
'doing'
place
with
quite
a
youth
feeling
to it.
It
does
make
an
interesting
stop
on the
way to
Cadiz
or
Algeciras. |
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On a
small
island,
accessed
by a
narrow
causeway
at the
end of
Punta
Marroqui
is a
military
base,
inaccessible
to the
public,
but at
the
side
of
this
is a
tiny
cove
beach.
The
walk
along
the
causeway
offers
fine
views
of
both
sides
of the
bay
and a
guaranteed
breath
of
fresh
air.
Pictured
below
is the
newly
restored
castle
of
Guzman
the
Good.
Left
is the
view
to one
side
of the
causeway. |
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Pictured
above
are
surfers
preparing
their
boards.
This
is on
South
Beach
which
appears
to be
the
best
place
for
surfing. |
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