Eurotrip 8, 2020 – Day 55 to 61, More visitors…

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Somehow folks must have got wind that this winter the weather would be exceptional in Spain. Today our daughter Sue and boyfriend Carlos arrived at Malaga airport from Bristol.

It’s about a five hour round trip from Conil de la Frontera to Malaga airport and despite the flight being delayed by some time, we still managed to arrive a few minutes late at the airport where Sue and Carlos were awaiting their taxi.

They had rented one of the bungalows at Camping La Rosaleda and we arrived with time to collect the keys and to settle down for the England v Wales rugby game. A comprehensive win for England despite the close score (30 – 33). The scoreline became as little more presentable to Wales during the latter stages of the game when the player count was 13 against 16 in Wales favour.

Dinner was at the campsite restaurant.

Sunday we made lunch at the van before heading into Conil and a swift beer at the Shack. BBQ in the evening.

Sue and Carlos headed into Cadiz on Mondy for a days sight-seeing. We went shopping and then what is probably our favourite cycle ride, the circuit through cabo Roche, down to the port of Conil and finally off-road across the cliffs back to Conil.

Circuitos ride round cabo Roche

Tuesday was the repeat of a previous trip to Trafalgar, Vejer and the morroccan restaurant, El Calife (Plaza d’Espana, Vejer).

Wednesday the young ones caught the train from San Fernando Bahia Sur to Seville. The oldies drove to Jerez and enjoyed a tapas lunch, following the mapped out circuit of Jerez de la Frontera.

Main square in Jerez
Plaza de la Ascunsion, Jerez, Spain 2020
Inside Jerez Cathedral, Spain 2020

Another of our old favourite walks and haunts – the 8 mile round trip hike to the port of Conil with lunch at El Nautico. The portacabins have doubled in size since our last Spanish adventure and have had something of a makeover. We still recognised the waitress and the food was as good as ever.

This week has gone really quickly and it’s time to return to Malaga so Sue and Carlos can catch an early morning flight tomorrow. They get a half day to do some sightseeing but the major venues are closed as a result of the Corona virus, Covid-19. Yesterday the Andalusian government annouced the closure of all schools and this has freaked people out. The Mercadona this morning was like a shop at Christmas – long winding queues and empty shelves. To date, the only items out of stock have been hand sanitizer and pure alcohol (rubbing not drinking!).

We return to Conil but get caught up in a horrendous traffic jam near Gibraltar so divert through the town of Los Barrios. We pass a Pharmacy and guess what – alcohol!

Makeshift Hand Sanitiser…

It’s almost beer o’clock when Paul appears and drags me to the campsite bar where there’s a large gathering of Spanish locals glued to the TV screen. Spain has declared a State of Emergency and will announce sweeping new powers within 24 hours. The locals expect this to result in the closure of all bars and restaurants for at least two weeks.

Now we are concerned. Our meat supply is depleted, we need further stocks of wine and beer, plus we need more toilet roll. A lot more toilet roll. I don’t know why as we’ve got plenty already, but apparently in the face of an apocolypse, Toilet Roll is our number one best friend.

We decide to enjoy the last supper at the campsite restaurant…

The Last Supper before lockdown…

Today is Friday 13th. It feels like Friday 13th.