Wakana and Vejer de la Frontera
Aren’t we the luckiest?
The surf forecast for that day for El Palmar wasn’t good and the girls decided to make use of the car that Marta had rented for a whole month. Santi, the owner of Take Hostel, had recommended to go to Wakana Lake and it seemed like a good place to spend a Sunday.
Wakana
It was a 40-minute drive from the surf hostel in Conil and is situated in the natural park Los Alcornocales: Wakana is a resort around the lake that is built like a Native American village. You could stay for a few nights in a Tipi or simply enjoy nature for a day. They offer activities like Yoga, zipline, paddle boarding, and horse riding. There is a bar and a house by the lake where they were preparing for a vinyl party that afternoon. The girls had a coffee there and were enjoying the nature. They weren’t in the mood for any of the offered activities but had some fun in an adult-sized swing that was hanging from one of the trees before getting back to the car.
Where to next?
They wanted to be in El Palmar for the sunset, and since it was already afternoon, it would make sense to choose their next stop closer to El Palmar. As they drove down towards the coast, they saw Vejer de la Frontera high up on a hill watching over the landscape. Charlie had wanted to go to Vejer and suggested a stop there. Everybody agreed as it looked like a nice little town up there.
Vejer de la Frontera
It was good practice for Marta’s driving skills to get the little car up the steep roads to Vejer. Directly next to the parking lot was a little bar with tables at a square amongst some trees. The girls decided to get lunch there. At the Flamenco and Tapas bar “Caragato”, you had to order at the window and then would be served at the table. Charlie chose a Salmorejo again. Ever since Alberto and Tamara had made her try that refreshing vegetable soup on their trip to Caños de Meca, she couldn’t get enough of it.
After lunch, they started their stroll through the streets of Vejer. Vejer de la Frontera is considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in Spain and its historic centre is protected as “conjunto histórico”. The white facades on every house are decorated with colourful plant pots, all perfectly aligned. They went a bit further up from where they had a stunning view of the surrounding landscape. Charlie couldn’t believe how green everything was.
Marta had been recommended a place called “Califa” where they had a lovely roof terrace. The girls went into the historic centre to find that place. They were passing by a colourful fountain in the middle of a square framed with palm trees and coffee shops. That’s where they found the entrance to Califa. Due to coronavirus protective measures, there was a one-way system in place, and it felt as if they had to walk through a labyrinth until they reached the staircase that would lead them up to the terrace. It was worth the walk as they had a view over the surrounding buildings and the other side of the valley. What a lovely spot!
Sunsets in El Palmar
After the Morrocan-style tea at the terrace of Califa in Vejer, the girls drove back to El Palmar. They stopped at a mini market to get a few beers and snacks to enjoy the sunset on the beach. One could think that it is the same every day, but the clouds and waves make it so different from one day to the next and a good sunset never gets boring. Sabina expressed her feelings with the words: “Aren’t we the luckiest?”
