Aug 14-15 The Long Journey Down. Part II – In Spain

Our limited Spanish was put to the test as we used the airport bus into the city. This is the first time it hit that even though they use the same alphabet, pronunciation of certain consonants is very different. We did get off at the correct spot (Puerto de Jerez) and deciphered the map to find the main bus station (Estacion de Autobuses) so we could look up bus-times to Algeciras (port city) for the next morning. Keep in mind at this point that each of us had one backpack and a small rolly-suitcase, which proved to be the main limiting factor in our mobility. I’m not sure giant backpacks are much better – you can still only walk so fast whether you are dragging or carrying all your worldly possessions.

By the time we found the bus station it was nearing 11pm and we wanted to get to the hostel to maximize the hours of sleep we could get before our 07:30 bus. This is when we discovered how difficult it was to find taxis in this city – it wasn’t that there were many full taxis everywhere, there were just few taxis to be found anywhere. There was a long lineup near the bus station at the taxi sign, so we went to the nearest roundabout – no luck. Anything that did pass was not libre, and there was another group also intent on flagging just down the street. So, we rolled our bags back to Puerto de Jerez where we hoped for less competition. Luck strikes – a single taxi with a green light (libre) is turning as we roll up, so we frantically wave.

Some four hours of sleep later, we get up shower, and taxi it back to the bus station to get tickets (hostel guy called taxi for us). We end up standing around for a bit as the ticket counter does not open this early. Everything goes smoothly, though, and we end up in Algeciras on time. The scenery I was awake for was really pretty – golden fields and I did get to see one of those towns consisting of white buildings clustered on a hill.

One other reason we needed to get to Algeciras early was so A and K could sign up for their final year courses at noon Spain time. At about 11:30, they commandeered the only two computers at a internet/camera store. From 11:45 onward, they constantly try logging in hoping that ROSI might wake up early again this year… cuz we just might make the 12:00 ferry if it does. No such luck. Sometime after noon, A is let in, but ROSI just won’t work on K’s computer. So, the 2 of them are frantically signing up for courses on alternating windows on the one computer, while ROSI lags horribly and denies them access to random things. All in all, it takes about 45 minutes – we catch the 13:00 ferry.

Next: Aug 14-15 The Long Journey Down. Part III – Boat to Tangier