(To really see this photo, check out the large version on Flickr)
Barbate used to have the second biggest fishing fleet in Spain, until the local tuna supply started running out. Now the town isn’t as rich as it used to be (Franco used to holiday nearby, which also helped) and to be honest, some corners of Barbate (map) look a little ragged.
But who cares when you are 9 years old and can play football on the beach? On a beach that stretches for kilometers to the south, and on clear days has a perfect view of the continent of Africa just across the Straits (Africa! So close!)
And what happens when one of the kids boots the ball through the netless goal posts and it runs 200 yards down the beach?
The striker isn’t getting it. The beligerent goaly won’t budge. So they all sigh in exasperation, crash to the ground, and make sand castles for 5 minutes, until the most football crazy of them all can’t bare it for another minute and takes off down the beach, sprinting full pelt with the wind behind him, to fetch the ball.
Their future in Barbate might look a bit edgy, but I don’t think you can beat a childhood like this!
Frank
21 May 08 at 9:45 am
“and to be honest, some corners of Barbate look a little ragged.”
We have always thought of Barbate as a very tired, dirty, depressing place, we normally hurry quickly through the place. It’s a nice run in the car from Caños de Meca, through the national park of La Breña, to Barbate though.
Graeme
21 May 08 at 12:48 pm
Am I right in thinking that all this wandering around the beaches of Andalucia is just the prelude to you posting your own video of the Caminito del Rey?
C
21 May 08 at 1:35 pm
I love Barbate as a classic Spanish working town. Sadly, the work is disappearing bit by bit. However, try to spend a little time there next time Frank.
There are a couple of very good restaurants in the town, I’ll dig out the details and post them if anyone is interested.
You could check out La Barbateña on Ave Generalissimo which does the tastiest tapas/montaditos.
Also, it should be close to Alamadraba time now in Barbate with plentiful Atun Rojo – lovely!
Ben
22 May 08 at 10:41 am
@Graeme, Sadly that was rained off, con las ganas que tenia y todo….
@C – I’ll check that place out next time!