To the Med

Last weekend I headed north to the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. First was the picturesque drive through the Rif Mountains to Tetouan. Past a patchwork of green fields, mosque minarets in all sorts of colours spiralling skyward and a mixture of flat-roofed houses and ones with corrugated, gabled roofs. Patches of bare rock dominated some of the mountain tops, with their similarity to southern Spain providing clear evidence of a similar geological history.

What was amazing was the huge amount of construction occurring - more resorts and apartment blocks. Mostly white they give a Mediterranean feel against the backdrop of the green mountains. New earth-moving machinery was everywhere - front-end loaders, dump trucks and cement trucks. The coast between Tetouan and Ceuta will be unrecognisable from one week to the next.

I spent part of one day wandering the fairways of the Royal Golf course at Cabo Negro.With lots of long grass and bare patches, the fairways weren't in the best condition, however the view from a hill-top on one of the back nine fairways made it all worthwhile. Mind you it was a pleasant walk with blue skies overhead and a gentle breeze.

Staying at the Sofitel at Marina Smir was a luxury that I don't normally indulge in. From the balcony were views across the swimming pool, tennis court and garden to the beach and the Mediterranean. Not hot enough for a dip in the pool or sea it was very pleasant sitting under an umbrella by the pool reading. I certainly needed the relaxation. But the highlight for me was the buffet breakfast - fruits, cheeses, omelettes, pancakes and even hot chocolate! With such a feed, only one other meal was necessary.

The Sofitel

The trip back was made even faster with the recent opening of the motorway to Tangier Port, which is only about 20 km from Ceuta. From the road winding around the coast, there was a nice view across Ceuta. We decided not to go there as with some of us leaving and some just visiting, shopping was not high on anyone's list. Plus it takes a while to get through immigration, since Ceuta is Spain. At the late lunch stop in Asilah, we tried to sample the seafood at the well-known restaurant Garcias, but no reservation, no table. Instead we found another restaurant nearby and sat on the footpath still sampling local fish dishes. It was amazing the number of tourists in Asilah, which is pretty normal for the weekend I believe.

Ceuta

I came back feeling rested and relaxed; at least for a few days!