In Morocco we had time constraints because we wanted to get to Spain so we could spend some time with Gaby’s relatives during the holidays. Thus after three weeks in Morocco we planned to head on to Spain. There are 3 different places where ferries cross the Mediterranean Sea to Spain from Morocco, but we chose to travel from Chefchaouen to the Spanish territory of Melilla and from there take an overnight ferry to Malaga. We traveled with Adrian, a Spaniard who we met in Chefchaouen and who decided to join us all the way to Malaga.
We were up at 5:30 the next morning and took the early bus going to Nador. We passed through beautiful alpine scenery with lakes, pine forests and snowy peaks around us. For the next 5 hours we wound through the Rif Mountains going higher and higher until we passed the snow line and entered a world of snow and mountain vistas. We passed through small agricultural villages where we seemed to go back in time and people tended to their crops and animals. The views were amazing and were constantly changing.
As we continued East the country got drier and drier and the pine forests were replaced with brush and grasses. It was a clear day and as we started descending towards the beach we could see the snow covered spine of the Rif Mountains on our left and to the right in the distance the snowy Sierra Nevada in Spain. We descended into the coastal town of Al-Hocema and from there the road followed mile after mile of untouched beach going east. The water was clear and blue and we regretted not being able to get off the bus and check out the beach.
Our bus arrived at Nador (on the border) at 4:30PM. From the bus station we took a taxi to the border. It dropped us off and from there we walked to the border crossing (exiting Morrocco), passed into the EU, changed our Moroccan Dinars to Euros and took a local bus to the port. Melilla was a small slice of Spain on the African mainland. The people looked like a mix of Spanish and Moroccan, the cars were different than those in Morocco and the signs were in Spanish.
At the Shiny new ferry building we were lucky to purchase some of the last remaining tickets for the 11:30PM ferry. We then had some time to wait for the ferry so we hung out with Adrian in a local cafeteria and chatted.
We were up at 5:30 the next morning and took the early bus going to Nador. We passed through beautiful alpine scenery with lakes, pine forests and snowy peaks around us. For the next 5 hours we wound through the Rif Mountains going higher and higher until we passed the snow line and entered a world of snow and mountain vistas. We passed through small agricultural villages where we seemed to go back in time and people tended to their crops and animals. The views were amazing and were constantly changing.
As we continued East the country got drier and drier and the pine forests were replaced with brush and grasses. It was a clear day and as we started descending towards the beach we could see the snow covered spine of the Rif Mountains on our left and to the right in the distance the snowy Sierra Nevada in Spain. We descended into the coastal town of Al-Hocema and from there the road followed mile after mile of untouched beach going east. The water was clear and blue and we regretted not being able to get off the bus and check out the beach.
Our bus arrived at Nador (on the border) at 4:30PM. From the bus station we took a taxi to the border. It dropped us off and from there we walked to the border crossing (exiting Morrocco), passed into the EU, changed our Moroccan Dinars to Euros and took a local bus to the port. Melilla was a small slice of Spain on the African mainland. The people looked like a mix of Spanish and Moroccan, the cars were different than those in Morocco and the signs were in Spanish.
At the Shiny new ferry building we were lucky to purchase some of the last remaining tickets for the 11:30PM ferry. We then had some time to wait for the ferry so we hung out with Adrian in a local cafeteria and chatted.
The ferry was fairly new, modern and comfortable. We found lounge chairs with Adrian and were soon asleep. When we woke up the next morning the lights from Malaga glittered in the distance. We climbed up on the chilly deck and watched the ferry enter the port of Malaga. We were excited to be back in Spain, a place we both like so much.
After customs we met Gaby’s relative Marcela, who was waiting for us in arrivals. It was great to see her.
Steve
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