Fuck you guys, I'm in Africa!

Friday 10th

After waking up at about 5:30, we got on the ferry and went to sleep again. We only woke up when the ferry was already in the harbour of Tanger.
Mika:
Actually I woke up and had to force Janina to wake up. She had slept so deep that she didnt wake up, eventhough I almost screamed near her. Finally she woke up. I thought great lets pick up our bags, walk out and we are in Africa. Well we got outside and walked about 10 meters.



Suddenly the Police screamed show us your passports. Well I took our passports from my bag and showed it happily. Only one problem, we didn't have the stamps in our passports. For a moment there we were illegal immigrants in Africa. I do think that people tend to do it illegally the other way around. Well we were told that we have to get the stamps by going back to the boat again.


Got there but the policeman that was supposed to give us stamps wasn't there. So we waited and waited. We asked them a few times, when is he coming to give the f+#-_ stamps. About an hour later one of the workers called to him again and he answered. It turned out he had been sleeping, inside the ferry all the time. Well finally he came to put the stamps just before the boat left back to Spain. We ran out and they closed the gates just after us.

Ofcourse we understood it was our own fault as we were tired and slept through the announcement to go get the stamps. And then the police slept through our wait for the stamps. Well finally we got our feet on African soil and I screamed Fuck you guys I am in Africa! :)

We walked towards the bus, but the engine started and it drove away. The police that had asked for our passports were helpful and told us where to go for the next bus to the harbour offices.



After a short wait there was a small airconditioned bus there and we got to the terminal. Terminal was no hassle just walked through some luggage checkpoints and we were out.

Immediately it started. Like vultures over prey the taxidrivers came to try to sell us a ride to town. Like we couldn't take the bus. Well actually we didnt know how much the bus would cost at this point but still we went for the bus and told no thanks.

Janina:
Luckily I didn't throw away our tickets, as we got the bus for free to the center of Tanger. It was included in the ticket from Algeciras to Tanger Med. (48€ for two)

Mika:
We could see that the country was more dry and poor than the other countries we had visited. Everyone was trying to make money from the tourists. Euro euro, taxi, hostel, restaurant come on euro euro.. So annoying.

Janina:
It was still early morning and we haven't eaten any breakfast yet. We desided to just walk trough the city and search for a cheap hostel or a hotel with a good(big) buffet breakfast.

Mika:
I was a bit worried about Janina's clothes as she had a pair of micro shorts on and a see through shirt. It was a religious country moscues, prayer towers and stuff. Older ladies at least commented something from under their full cover dresses. And a pic of a angry granny.

The men mostly just enjoyed the sights and tried to sell some information etc. Of course it was obvious we were turists as we had backbags and a bit too pale skin.

Janina:
Some hostels and hotels were quite cheap, but without breakfast and airconditioning. (I think cheapest with airconditioning and a double bed was 35€. If you add big breakfast to that..) So we managed to choose a four star hotel. Mika bargained for two buffet breakfasts in the price (one for that morning) for 70€. A bit more than what we were used to but if you calculate two buffet breakfasts out of it, its a good price for a four star.

Hotel marketing:

Hotel pool



Breakfast, MmmM. Check out the room. Get a shower and then a bit sleep before leaving to see what's in Tanger.

We saw from a map of Tanger that there is a possibility to go and try surfing with a board, and as we fancy watersports of course we wanted to try that. We went down from our room with beach gear packed and asked for more help at the reception.

Mika: Darn that new dress/suit is fine. And it covers a bit more, so we were being more respectful of their culture also.

The receptionist spoke english and was helpful to call the places and ask if they are open etc. She also talked with the taxi driver that told her he knew the beach and the place where we can try surfing. We wanted to see also the cave of Hercules and made agreement that he would take us there to both places and back if we pay 200 dh (20 euros). Actually they started asking for 300 but Mika bargained a hundred out of it. We thought it would be quite a good price and left.





First to the cave and it was one euro to get in. Then the "guide" followed us and started to talk. He told something about the cave and took pictures of us with my camera (I was afraid he's going to brake it). All that happened very quickly we almost ran through the cave from palce to place. It was because he had to get new tourists in after us to make more euros. From us he demanded five euros, but we gave only something like three euros, we told a white lie that's all we have.





Mika:
We got out of the cave and saw a nice rocky shore under it. Well it being hot enough for us we went down for a swim. We still had a bit under an hour time agreed with our driver.


We saw some locals jumping from the rocks to the Atlantic waves. They seemed to time their jumps so that they got back up after a couple of waves more. I wanted to go in also but Janina didnt as she felt its dangerous because of the waves hitting the rocks. I asked her to take a video of the locals jumping to a small cave between the rocks. It was only about two meters wide and the way out was only a bit over half a meter wide so you would need to use the returning wave to get out. Of the hole.




I went down for a jump in the water from a safe spot I saw. It was nice and getting back to the rocks was a matter of timing as you ride the wave up. After that jump the locals started to jump from a more dangerous place to the small cave. They were taunting me to try it also. Janina was a bit angry as I wanted to try it also. Well I went up there and checked a few times where the locals landed their jumps and how much water there was. After a long time feeling like I had a heartattack, I desided its safe for me to jump in also. Wheee.

I got into the water and made a really quick recovery and screamed woohoooo. Some locals were laughing. Well I still had to swim through the small opening to get up with he current from the waves. Luckily I made it on my first try.

Janina:
I felt Mika was an idiot.

There was some cute camels, one baby camel also. We aske for a ride but it was too expencive and our driver was waiting for us. So we decided to be content with petting and pictures.



Mika:
Got back in the taxi and the fighting started. He was about to take us straight back to the hotel. "I just agreed to take you there and back nothing more he claimed" I argued with him. He tried also to get the price up by 50 dirhams. After I "won" the argument we got to the crossroad towards the beach, were we should find the boards and be able to surf. I asked to confirm the place of the rental. He claimed yeah he knew were it is and continued driving. We didn't see any traffic lights but clearly it was the turn of the goat, sheep, and cows to pass the road.


We drove next to a 45km long beach and came to a restaurant named almost the same as the rental place. He stopped there and said it is here. I asked where is the surfboard rental? He said he didn't know. Well I said there is an adress in our turist map he should take us. He again said this is far enough and that we should go back to the hotel. I claimed that we agreed that we would go to the caves and the beach and after surfing we would call him to come back not that he would wait there and stress us about the time. He claimed he didn't agree to that. Well we continued towards the address of the map, it was about three kilometers more down the beach.

There was nothing, but a couple of locals chilling in a shadow. I went to ask them for help and they started to explain that they knew the place. Its 3 km away. Back the way we came. Suddenly the taxidriver screamed something in arabic to them and they started to say sorry we dont speak english and that they didn't know anything.

At that point I lost my temper. I said to the local dudes fuck you and your fucking games. Walked back to the taxi really angry and started to scream at the driver. I have perfectly good legs and I can walk so he can get the fuck out and we will continue with another way. Without paying him a dirham. After that he started to explain that we could have an hour of beach there and then head back. I said that we were promised we could get to the beach where they rent surfboards. Later when we were done we could call him and get the ride back to town. He didn't agree but we agreed to go back to the restaurant with almost the same name as the surfing rental. He started to wait there again for us to get back to the taxi. I said he could go to town and come back when we call him. No no no petrol is expencive... Bla bla bla.

We walked behind the restaurant for the beach and there was a beach bar there with the same name as the rental. +#-_-+#-#*+#- I just spent an hour arguing with the driver and searching for something that was there just a bit hidden.



Now we went to ask for boards and the guy who owned the rental wasn't there. They told us he would come back in a moment. We waited for 15min and then just decided to go to the beach for swimming and chilling.



Got in the water and we were very hungry. I said we are also having ramadan as we didn't eat the whole day. After some snorkling we headed to the shower and saw that the surf dude wasn't back at the shop even then.

Well back to the taxi for a quiet ride back to town. We told him to drop us near Medina the old town. We paid him the 200 dh and gave a couple of cents we had in euros as he was still arguing for more. He played the angry taxidrivers role till the end. Feeling frustrated, angry and hungry we continued our day in Tanger.

Janina:
In Medina all of the bigger restaurants were still closed because of the Ramadan. But there was a big market going on, clothes, shoes, spices, fish, fruits and RABBITS for sale. Saw a small kitten in the market and immediately after it Mika asked me to look at a shop. I turned my head and saw dead rabbits hanging on hooks. With fur and all. For a moment I thought they were kittens also.





Mika:
We walked around Medina avoiding all the euro, euro, hotel, taxi, turist hoaxer people. Got to the other end of Medina and stopped for a break at the steps to a Museum. Kasbah was its name. We sat there when the evening prayer song started and the streets suddenly went empty of people. I thought ah finally no more euro euro. We ate at peace a few fruits of a cactus. Had to take a photo also as I could leave my phone on timer as it was quiet.



Well it wasn't long till some one came and asked do we need help. He started differently than the other turist "guides". Told a bit about himself and the town etc. And was leaving before we left. But somehow he came back and told us that its unsafe there for us at that time. Also that he could show us a way to a real local Moroccan restaurant that is not turistic. I felt that he is not a hoax and we desided to go with him. He told us more about his family and the local history, time when the town was international etc.

Well we got to the restaurant there was just one other turist family there and it was a traditional looking big restaurant. Well for the locals it was still praying time so I suspected it was okay. We got the menus and there were just two selections local menu 1 and 2. Other one the same but with one course extra. I took the five course one and Janina the smaller one. I also took a picture of the dude that brought us there before he went on his way again. ;)



Janina:
We got punked! This time instead of starting to cry I laughed my head of. So funny, again. The food costed 340 dirhams but wasn't worth that much. (~32€)

Some soup, chicken, rise and one poor dry cookie for desert. Well, atleast I got a bad feeling in my stomach and I have to say the guy was good at his "job". Next time when visiting Africa I won't stay in Tanger.

Mika: My menu was the same but it also included two metal bbq sticks with some spicy meat. It was actually good food to my taste but the price was "European price".

Janina:
On the way to the hotel we bought some candy and water. Back to the hotel and ofcourse we wanted to go swimming in the pool. Well at this time it wasn't allowed. We went anyway because we had paid for the pool also. Rest of the night we were sitting in the bar, drinking and spending the evening chilling.

After all we went happily to sleep. Mika fell asleep so quickly I was afraid was everything okay. In the morning he told me he was just really tired.


Saturday 11th

Morning came, we felt well rested and headed down for the big buffet. Mmm after about 5 cups of coffee and a lot of stuff to eat we were ready to head out. Went to pickup our bags and came down to pay the bill. We drank a few drinks last night at the hotel bar that should have been in the room bill but wasn't. I was feeling so good, that I even asked for the bills to be included, but the receptionist didn't find any bills and said lets just leave it.


Last night we had agreed, or Janina agreed that we wont try to see anything more here but head back to Spain on an early ferry. We went for the local harbour with a taxi 2€. After a couple of taxis trying to get 5 for the same ride. Started asking for ferries going to Tarifa.

There were two companies operating that route from the city harbour. Other one cost 750dh with a slow ferry. The other was 800dh with a fast ferry. Janina hadn't been in a fast ferry so we took it. Funnily it was almost twice the price of the boat we came in with from Algericas to Tanger Med which was a longer ride and included a bus to the center.

Well the timing was tight as we had ten minutes to find the boat. Almost boarded the wrong one. Luckily a cleaning man saw that we didn't look like we were going more down south on Moroccan shore and asked Tarifa? We said yes Tarifa and he showed us the right boat. And this time didn't even ask for euros..


On the boat we found really nice seats at the front of the boat with big windows. Well in a moment we found out that it was the VIP lounge which cost 9€ per person. The bouncer was nice and told us that there was a balcony on the backside of the boat where we could check out the sceneries and feel the speed.



Out of Africa

What a luck

Thursday 9th

So, in the morning we woke up early, ate breakfast and then Justyna and Olgierd came to pick us. We waited outside of the camping for a while.



Mika got a new Hello Kitty towel, finally. And was trying to dry it out.

It was a really hot day, sometimes the temperature rose to 38 degrees. Luckily they had airconditioning in the car, otherwise it would have been quite a suffering during the five hour drive towards Granada. Justyna didnt still know the destination so we tried to keep it out of the conversation.




We stopped for a break a bit before arriving to Granada at a nature park. It felt almost like the Finnish sauna but without the moisture.




We dropped out again in a gasstation, near Granada. Lots of thanks later Olgierd and Justyna left for Granada and we started to ask for rides. The place looked good, but everybody was going somewhere else than to Malaga.




I was asking desperately for the rides with my carton, when two guys answered to me that they are going to Malaga. Yappee! They first went to eat something, as they hadn't eaten anything in daytime because of the Ramadan. Mika also ordered one "tortilla" that was actually somekind of bread with majonnaise, not like the tortilla we are used to eat at home.

Somebody stole Mika's solarpanel charger as he left it in the toilet, worthy of a Darwin award. On top of that he also left his phone charging on children play machine. But nobody stole it. Plus, he went to the bar counter and poured from the beer from the tab to his glass, looking for water. And he always saiys I am worthy of a darvin award. (Actually I feel the cleaning lady had cleaned the charger, and I tried to get some water but the service was so slow I got frustrated and got it myself.)

The Marocan dudes, Youssef and Redwane, were really awesome. Youssef spoke a little bit english and good french and Redwane spanish, arabic etc., but we still had so much fun together. On the way to Malaga we got stuck in traffic. There was a truck accident on the mountain autobahn. We saw it also and it was awfull as the truck had fallen to the side. I was a bit scared as Redwane was driving fast, but luckily he didnt drink or smoke any weed as the hippies before.





Youssef told us that they were actually going to Algeciras where the ferry to Africa leaves. So we had a chance to get in Africa the next day, weei ! We stopped for a break in Malaga and drove to the beach to drink something, gin tonic. We showed pictures from Finland and talked about our hobbies. Redwane told he likes Finnish chikas but he can't move there as it's too cold.

I almost fell asleep before we got to Algeciras. We were hungry and went to eat together in a local restaurant. I ate shrimps and Mika tried the chicken, it was tasty.






They showed us the harbour from where the ferry was going to leave. We were able to sleep a couple of hours over there before getting the first ferry out at 6:00. Or actually only one hour.

Barcelona outwards from Zone 6

Well last night we got to Zone 6 with one ride and two trains.

8th of August waking up

Woke up at Sant Salvador camping area about 1,5 km away from the trainstation to Barcelona. This time it was not an iPhone alarm, but a baby screaming his lungs out. Clearly somebody needed breakfast more than me. Well we got up and Janina was ready to go find breakfast for me before I start to cry also. I stayed back for a wash, gathered our stuff and packed.





Janina came back from hunting. She had picked up some ingredients that we could use to make our own breakfast. Sant Salvador was a beach town so we went to the beach to find a small shadow where we could eat. It was really hot like 30+. We also got hot coffees from an Icecream and cafe. We found a place next to some trees on the beach walking street.





There was a lot of people on their morning runs but it seemed it was a bit hard to run because of the heat. We were also talking about going for a run but agreed we would do that on a colder day.

We got our stuff from the camping and paid the bill 22,40€ for tent and two people. With salty water for washing and poor service I have to say its a rip off. I tried to get the price lower, but no the guy said as it's high season he wont change the price.

We were a bit of unsure about the HH place and stood on the other side of the roads trying to get the cars going to the autobahn or on the smaller route towards Malaga. When I saw a big traffic I demanded to go forward to the gasstation. I was standing beside the road with my flag and Mika was asking for the people in the station.

Just as I was thinking in my mind "Should I suggest to go back to Barcelona and take the train from there to Malaga, as it seems to be so impossible to HH here"

Mika was just a few meters away with the sunscream and water as a Polish couple stopped to save us. Olgierd and Justyna were goind to the countryside near Valencia. I thought great about 200km towards our destination. They were on a romantic holiday, without their kids. It was their 10th anniversary.

Mika:
They spoke really good english so it was easy to keep up conversation. We saw a lot of the countryside as they were trying to avoid the big highways. Mostly we drove on the N340 spanish national road. Lot of olive gardens and mountains were passed while taking photos of the sights and enjoying good company. Many times I had to pop my ears as we were changing altitude rapidly. Justyna suggested that we stop to buy some snacks and find a good place to stop to eat it. I was very happy as I was already quite hungry.

While Justyna was doing the shopping Olgierd told us that he is actually heading all the way to Granada after the night near Valencia. But Justyna doesn't know it yet it's a surprice. So if we would want to, we could find a place to camp near their destination. Sleep the night and hop on their ride again when they leave the next morning. Woohoo what a luck Granada is near Malaga only about 150 km. We could have time to go to Africa after all. If we get the rest of the rides. We talked with Janina that this is really good luck. We will stay the night.

We stopped near a beach with a few palm trees providing cover. Ate baquette with ham and liver patee on it.



We found the campingarea, thanks to the Police.
And it was something awesome. First we didn't see anyone, but noticed a little spring to go swimming. We weren't sure was it somekind of sevagewater, but atleast it was cold.




One woman saw us in our swimming suits and came closer. She was the owner of the campingarea and first took us to the swimming pool they had in there. That was really nice. And the camping cost only 18 euros per night.



We desided to barbecue at the camp that evening and went to search for food from the city, by running ofcourse. Even though it was a small town we had to ask for the people to find a market. Mika wanted to buy some red wine also and make Sangria. It wasn't good to go in the shop hungry. We bought one kilo of meat, vegetables and bread for breakfast. Maybe it would have been cheaper to just go and eat outside.


Not even one of our neighbours spoke english, only spanish, french or catalan, but all of them were really helpfull. The people from the van next to our tent suddenly came to ask us to come to our tent from the nearby bbq. They had set up a light at our camp site, so we were able to see something when it came dark.



They also borrowed us some spices for the barbecue session we were having.
After one bottle of wine we were ready to go sleep.



PS. sorry for being silent but the Wifis weren't good enough to upload our photos. Then when we got the Wifi working Google desided that I am doing something illegal with my blog as it was taken down. Trying to post from different countries and late on the same day from spain is agains the rules? Anyhow it is sorted now so a few posts more coming today! :)

Getting out of Barcelona

Tuesday morning, There is no such thing as free lunch, but a breakfast...

Mika:
Woke up in ACYH way too early. Some asshole had left their f$+£/\") Iphone alarm clock on, and this time the alarm desided to work. (Remember 2010?) I had talked with my roommates earlier, but this morning everybody was blaming eachother. (You should know, from earlier on, that Janina was sleeping in another room) "Is that your iphone Ralph?" "No it isn't I changed my alarm sound" "Is it yours Mika?" "Definately not as I have a Linux phone, but I would like to know whos is it. Or can somebody shut it down, before I shut...?"

Well it seemed nobody could, as the owner had already left for the city center earlier. Everybody at Janina's room had woken up also as she came to my bed. She had slept again like a baby until the alarm.

On the other hand it was good to wake up early. We went to the shower and then headed outside to find the buffet breakfast. We found one really good with only 8 euros per each. Yam.




After the breakfast we came back to the hostel to send a few couchrequests, write the blog and wash our laundry. Earlier we had heard that there were some Gaudi architecture in the city and we wanted to see the buildings before leaving. Because it is August everyone in Europe are on holiday and you could really see that from the ques. So we saw the big church Sagrada Familia and one of the houses only from the outside.

They were having a pottery exhibition that was free inside one of the Gaudi buildings at a small area. We got inside for a quick stroll. Pottery was boring to Janina and I was more interested in the setup than the content. No pictures policy was strict. But the buildings were really strange.










Then it was time to leave again. We took the metro out of the city, near the big hospital.



We walked to a gasstation that was quite small. Actually it was so small that it was hard to get in with our backbags.



We were trying to HH with our cartboards written to Malaga and forward but nobody took us. I made a cartboard that had just the name of the next small town Sitges. I saw on the map that there is an autobahn payment station there. Two local costruction workers took us soon and they were going there. When we got to the payment station I tried to explain we want to get out there. We didn't have a language together. They told us that it illegal to stand there and Police will take us. So they didn't want to stop there.





Well we went to Sitges on the side of a traffic circle leading to the autobahn towards Malaga and newer got a ride there. Well Janina got the attention of younger dudes all the time but not a ride.





After getting to know a local kitten living in a box nearby the circle, Janina said it is enough and we headed towards the beach. But on the way I saw on the map that there is a trainstation nearby. We went to ask for long distance trains there but it was a local station. The last station outside of Barcelona would have a long distance train. So we headed there. Once we got there we realized the only train was towards Madrid so not straight to Malaga and would be too expensive. So we went for the beach and camping as we were reminded many times it's illegal to camp otherwise.




That evening we got out of Barcelona only about 50 kilometres. A really bad HH day.

Barcelona

Monday 6th

About one hour of sleep on the table and then we jumped in the truck. The driver was from Hungary and his language sounded funny, now I understand why are Finnish and Hungrian somehow related languages. It seemed that he had slept well as he started to play loudly ACDC. We woke up also, but even the coffee that he made on a trangia inside the truck couldn't keep us awake the hole trip. Luckily it was okay for him that we slept a bit. (Mika: I had taken the worst place to sit in the bed in the back of the truck. It was really hard to sit there. When Janina pleaded me to ask for a premission to sleep while he was driving, I was also relieved as I had the best place to sleep in the truck. :) Usually I don't sleep in rides, because one of the reasons people take us, is for company, not sleeping in their workplace)





We went to have a little breakfast in a gasstation near Barcelona together. We offered him also the breakfast. He wasn't very talkative but who is at that hour. There was also showers costing only 2 euros that we didn't do together, well with Mika we did as we needed to pay only once for it. Cleany and refreshed we continued HH to Barcelona citycentre.

I was asking rides for the people while Mika was doing something with his phone. (I was downloading some maps for Barcelona) One man was going straight trough to the center and took us with him. We talked with him about the situation in Spain, unemployed and he told us something about the city.

Mika: He also said that he had traveled HHing also earlier in his life and he felt he was paying his dept while taking us.

First we had to find a cheap hostel where to spend a night. Well 50 euros for a pension with an own dubbelroom was too expensive so we desided to wait for answers from CS and lood for cheaper ones.



So happy to be finally in Barcelona.



We went to eat the bigger breakfast or maybe I would rather say a brunch. The restaurant and cafe Ovisio was recommended by the local who tried also to help us find cheap hostels.

We spend the day in Barcelona with our backbags looking for hostels with space. Then we dropped the bags to a luggage drop that was 8,5€. Equipped with just the small backbag we went shopping, eating and ofcourse to the beach. The waves were again large and it was fun to go there with our airmatress. But it wasn't fun at all to drink the salty water.



The buildings were nice, but even more I liked the graffitis and the arts on the walls as they were usually so cute and colourfull.





Mika bought a nice hat but he has lost it already.



After running to get our bags from the luggage drop as it closed at ten a'clock. We continued walking around the city with the map for hostels. Everything was allready full. Finally at night we found a hostel called Alternative Creativity Youth Hostel. It was funny when we came in the reseptionist started to speak Finnish as she saw our flag. She had gotten a summer job from that hotel but was a Finnish native.

The worst thing was that we had to pay about 60 euros and couldn't even sleep next to each others. Mika was put in another room and I in another.

Now you are probably thinking why I didn't tell anything about the parties in Barcelona. I have to be honest and say we didn't go anywhere. We had slept only one hour the other night and there wasn't any huge parties with extremely good DJ on monday. So we desided to just sleep properly after eating dinner near the hostel.