TRAVEL BLOG
Friday, November 14, 2008
Intercontinental Ferry Travel
I travelled to Morocco from London from which there are many low cost airline flights. I wanted to arrive in Morocco via the classic ferry to Tangier so I opted for a flight to the South of Spain instead. There are numerous airports in Andalucia that you could possibly fly to from London. I chose Gibraltar because not only do you get a great view of the rock when you fly in, non EU residents get a cool passport stamp as well.
Gibraltar Passport Stamp
I have visited Gibraltar before so I walked across the border to La Linea and got the bus to Tarifa.
To get to Tangier from Spain there are ferries from Algeciras and Tarifa. There is supposedely one from Gibraltar that leaves once a week (you wouldn't want to miss that connection), but the ferry website doesn't offer any further information.
Algeciras has the most amount of ferries operating, but Tarifa is more interesting for the traveller. It takes about 2 hours to get to Tarifa from Gibraltar, via 2 local buses.
Tarifa is the at the Southern tip of Spain in the Straight of Gibraltar, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean. It is the windsurfing capital of Spain due the regular windy days. The town itself has a walled old town with a castle and picturesque whitewashed houses, and the town is filled with surf shops.
I spent the night in Tarifa and it was hard to leave Spain so soon. I reasoned that one day in Spain is better than no day in Spain.
Tarifa to Tangier Ferry
The ferry from Tarifa to Tangier is run by FRS and takes just under one hour.
Spanish passport control is in the ferry terminal and there is a Moroccan passport control onboard, which is a good time saving idea.
Passport Control
As it is only a short trip there is not much in the way of onboard facilities other than a food store and duty free shop.
Tarifa Jet Decks
Prayer Mats
Made in Australia
I couldn't help but feel a bit of pride in knowing I was on a ship made in Australia. Here I was on a ship made in Australia, registered in Cyprus, sailing between spain and Morocco.
From Europe to Africa
Sailing out of the port in Tarifa Jesus greets ships coming and going.
Arriving at the Tangier port you are greeted with a Mosque minaret.
Welcome to Africa!
Gibraltar Passport Stamp
I have visited Gibraltar before so I walked across the border to La Linea and got the bus to Tarifa.
To get to Tangier from Spain there are ferries from Algeciras and Tarifa. There is supposedely one from Gibraltar that leaves once a week (you wouldn't want to miss that connection), but the ferry website doesn't offer any further information.
Algeciras has the most amount of ferries operating, but Tarifa is more interesting for the traveller. It takes about 2 hours to get to Tarifa from Gibraltar, via 2 local buses.
Tarifa is the at the Southern tip of Spain in the Straight of Gibraltar, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean. It is the windsurfing capital of Spain due the regular windy days. The town itself has a walled old town with a castle and picturesque whitewashed houses, and the town is filled with surf shops.
I spent the night in Tarifa and it was hard to leave Spain so soon. I reasoned that one day in Spain is better than no day in Spain.
Tarifa to Tangier Ferry
The ferry from Tarifa to Tangier is run by FRS and takes just under one hour.
Spanish passport control is in the ferry terminal and there is a Moroccan passport control onboard, which is a good time saving idea.
Passport Control
As it is only a short trip there is not much in the way of onboard facilities other than a food store and duty free shop.
Tarifa Jet Decks
Prayer Mats
Made in Australia
I couldn't help but feel a bit of pride in knowing I was on a ship made in Australia. Here I was on a ship made in Australia, registered in Cyprus, sailing between spain and Morocco.
From Europe to Africa
Sailing out of the port in Tarifa Jesus greets ships coming and going.
Arriving at the Tangier port you are greeted with a Mosque minaret.
Welcome to Africa!
Labels: ferry, morocco, spain, tangier, tarifa
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Friday, December 07, 2007
Hong Kong to Macau
Macau was a Portuguese colony that was handed over to China in 1999. Like Hong Kong it is now a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.
Macau is only one hour ferry ride from Hong Kong so it makes for a popular day trip if you are doing a stop-over in Hong Kong. There are ferries up to every half an hour during the day.
Ferry Departures to Macau
I was only in Macau last year and I did not think I would be back here so soon. I thought I might like to come back in 20 years and see how many casinos have sprouted.
I am back so soon because Viva Macau fly from here to Sydney. The combined cost of flying Oasis Hong Kong from london to Hong Kong then Macau to Sydney was about half the price of a ticket on offer with any other scheduled airline.
Macau is only one hour ferry ride from Hong Kong so it makes for a popular day trip if you are doing a stop-over in Hong Kong. There are ferries up to every half an hour during the day.
Ferry Departures to Macau
I was only in Macau last year and I did not think I would be back here so soon. I thought I might like to come back in 20 years and see how many casinos have sprouted.
I am back so soon because Viva Macau fly from here to Sydney. The combined cost of flying Oasis Hong Kong from london to Hong Kong then Macau to Sydney was about half the price of a ticket on offer with any other scheduled airline.
Labels: china, ferry, hong-kong, macau
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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