Yeah – we did it.
On 6th December we have arrived in Laufenburg. And happily we’re back on our main road from Maseru 2 Punta Arenas.
Finally our trip Ouagadougou 2 Laufenburg took us 4 months’n’6 days.
We made 21.800 km, without any accident or mechanical problems and our tyre maintenance was limited 2 the repair of 2 punctures.
We visited 14 countries, the shortest visit was 4 hours – Gibraltar, the longest 6,5 weeks – Morocco.
On the way we met numerous people, mostly very curious 2 c us in rarely visited locations – often not really understanding what we’re doing and why we’re visiting places even if there’s no family member 2 visit. Of course we met next 2 no fellow travellers on their way thru Africa. West Africa is definitely no longer on the mainstream 2 cross the continent. We had to stay in this corridor u can use to travel – between Jihadists, Ebola and bad girls seeking 2 get from u whatever u can imagine. Well, there’s a way thru all this – but sometimes it’s quite narrow.
But let’s go back 2 Africa.
27th November 2014
After a day of storm watching in Tanger, we had a last Tagine 4 dinner in 1 of the local restaurants – a more explanatory description of this event in our famous newsletter.
28th November 2014
We filled up Prado with cheap diesel, drove 2 Tanger Med, the new port of the town …
… and on we were on the ferry over the Straight of Gibraltar 2 Algeciras in Spain.
The boat looked slightly used; we were optimistic that the ferry will do another 30km 2 Spain after the 2 million it already did.
A little later the ferry started to make quite some noise, a cloud of black smoke covered the sky 4 a while – and we were out of Africa …
… a short glimpse 2 the quickly disappearing coast of Africa – and we were greeted by the famous rock of Gibraltar on the other side of the straight.
In Algeciras we went 2 1 of these hotels u even don’t remember the name when staying there …
… and then we had 2 get used 2 Europe. The only idea we had was 2 start that with a beer. the 1st one in a restaurant 4 quite some time.
29th November 2014
After 1 day in Spain we needed some change – so on 2 a kind of good old English lifestyle: Gibraltar.
We had 2 pass a real border with an original English immigration officer asking us where the hell we’re coming from – probably slightly confused by our Burkina Faso number plate.
Once we crossed into the territory of the UK, we had to shrink Prado considerably to pass the narrow alleys of Gibraltar’s CBD.
We visited all important and not so important sights and finally drove up the famous hill with all these monkeys 2 admire the beautiful view and 2 develop some theories on our origin.
After a few hours we have seen what we had 2 c . So we moved on 2 Ronda in Spain.
There the famous bridge and the alleys in the old town 2 discover.
29th November 2014
We moved further north 2wards Granada. On the way a visit to El Torcal – a very strange landscape high up in the misty mountains …
… and then on 2 Granada.
Well it was definitely not the all covering city tour. But by now we’re rather on our way back and not on an extensive visit 2 Spain …
… it was a glimpse of a town we visited last time some 30 years ago.
1st December 2014
On 2 the north. A little over 500 km 2 Valencia. It took us the whole day on the highway.
In the evening we had quite some trouble to find accommodation in the town – not 4 us, but 4 Prado: it is simply 2 high 4 any ordinary underground car park. And this is the only option in the town center.
Finally we discovered a place we never dreamed of: the Ibis Hotel. All pre-fab, all plastic, all like a perfection of McDonald’s – but with an open air secured parking.
2st December 2014
Well, we survived it and moved on 2 Barcelona.
There, an opportunity 2 enjoy the tube and 2 visit some famous promenades …
… and markets with all kind of goodies nobody would ever buy.
2 c some famous buildings – some nicer at night, others more interesting 2 visit the next morning …
… 2 explore some highly creative corners and search 4 some alternatives 2 high couture.
And finally not 2 forget X-Mas is approaching – time 2 search 4 some all-important battery driven Chinese X-Mas accessories.
4st December 2014
We drove on 2 Arles in the South of France. What a difference – we could even easily understand the guys .
A short visit 2 the town, then immediately back 2 a heated place.
5st December 2014
We moved on 2 the north, to the cold. Annecy, all decorated 2 get people in the mood to buy lots of X-Mas accessories they will store a few weeks later somewhere in the cellar.
6st December 2014
Finally the last bit of road; some 300 km 2 Laufenburg. We crossed the border, even without these lazy immigration guys realising that a car with Burkina Faso number plates crossed.
We admired the beautiful winter weather …
… and enjoyed in Laufenburg emptying our car and carrying everything up 2 the 3rd floor.
At least, to recover a bit we celebrated this with a beer – and later on with a bottle of rotten grapes from South- Africa.
And the 6 pack of the post: For all of u still thinking supermarkets are essential. For those still running 2 Pick’n’Pay, Nakumatt, Casino, Alcima or Alcampo – here’s the ultimate proof that there are more efficient ways 2 get ur daily stuff.
… and last’n’least: what would X-Mas b without all these Chinese accesories 100% made of plastic and powered by Duracell? Probably similar 2 Tabaski without sheep.
For all those who speak German or are in the mood to learn a little:
Fertig ist die Reis,
So ein sch….
C u soon, once we have resumed our trip 2 Punta Arenas – after having finished our Hibernation.
And finally:
We wish u all:
– a busy X-Mas preparation,
– merry X-Mas and
– a happy New Year
Monika’n’Martin
