If only we all could have this backyard view of the Costa de la Luz for our 4th of July parties....
Congratulations Captain Mosk! After Alaska, Greenland, the USS Kennedy and god knows where else you've been stationed, you deserve this view.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Costa de la Luz - Rota
Rota Marina
Rota Costline with Cadiz in the distance
Next it was off to the town of Rota on the Costa de la Luz.
The Costa de la Luz (Coast of light) is the western part of the Andalucía coastline that faces out to the Atlantic. The sand is finer and a more golden colour than the neighbouring Costa del Sol.
The typical beaches here are more expansive and probably backed by sand dunes and pine trees. This part of the coast has not seen the high-rise hotel development of other areas. The temperatures are slightly milder and the often strong Atlantic winds and waves are favoured by wind surfers and surfboarders alike.
Across the bay from Cadiz, the oldest inhabited city in Western Europe, Rota is a small but important town. It is the home of the Spanish Navy and the US Naval Base Rota.
There is plenty of wind on the Atlantic and sailing and windsurfing are big. Plus the weather is lovely almost all year around so there are plenty of hotels on the beach.
This area of Andalusia is known for fishing, agriculture, sherry and chardonnay, and not only were the tapas great, the seafood dinners were incredible....and unbelievably inexpensive. I was expecting ridiculous prices with the dollar so low, but it was cheaper to have a great meal in Rota, than in Los Angeles. (But shhhhh, let's keep this our little secret...we don't want tourism to ruin the local ambiance)
Sizzling Spain - Jerez de la Frontera
Andalusian Horse in Jerez de la Frontera
Garnier Chateau at the Royal Spanish Equestrian School
Prestige Palmera HotelI don't know what the average temperature is in southern Spain this time of year, but I can tell you that it was sizzling last week.
In spite of the heat a fun time was had by all.
After mucho hours of flying we finally arrived at the charming town of Jerez de la Frontera, the home of Flamenco Dancing, Sherry, and the Royal Equestrian School.
We didn't have time for the Flamenco Dancing or the tour of the Gonzalez Byass Bodega.
But we saw the magnificent Equestrian School with its chateau built by the famous French architect Garnier, who built the Opera Garnier in Paris, and the beautiful Andalusian horses.
We only had time for one night in Jerez, but I will definitely go back on my next visit to Spain.
Independence Day Indeed for Ingrid Betancourt
Ingrid Betancourt before kidnapping
Ingrid Betancourt in Captivity
Today, as we celebrate July 4th we can also celebrate the brilliant rescue of Ingrid Betancourt who has been held hostage by those FARC f**kers in Colombia for over 6 years.
Congratulations to President Uribe, Minister of Defense Santos and the Colombian Special Forces for freeing Betancourt, Americans Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell, and 11 members of the Colombian Security Forces.
There are still more hostages being held by FARC and I can only hope that Uribe, whose father was killed by FARC in 1983, gets the rest of them out quickly.
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