While
the beaches of the Medeterreanean may be the vacation paradise
of many northern Europeans a lot of the Atlantic remains
the playground of the Spaniards. Ok, in the past 10-15 years
a lot of these beach towns along the Atlantic are also being
frequented by folks from other countries. Conil is 
known
for having many German tourists amongst others, but still
offers some authentic Spanish life. One of the appeals to
Conil is the size of the beach: wide enough to accommodate
many people, and if you venture across the inlet on pedestrian
bridge you'll find less people and more nature. From the
beach you can see the town rise up the hill, while along
the beach there still exist a few small farms, complete
with horses and goats. If the sand is kicking up due to
the winds (the famous levante everyone talks about)
then head to the las callas, or
the cliffs some 15 minutes away where the beaches are small
but protected from the winds. There are also several trails
running along the cliffs which are great for horseback riding
or biking. If you look hard enough you may find the nude
beach, too! Follow the paths for a while and you'll reach
the lighthouse which overlooks a small port. In reality
both the lighthouse and the man made port aren't much to
look at compared to the natural scenery.
Will This continue to expand as I write
the text below or will it continue to look like schnoo
as I write the text, I hope so, don't you. Maybe we will
see something else for this type of writing
Once
the day is over there are plenty of bars and restaurants
to choose from up the hill, offering some great seafood
and nightlife. From the plaza next to Iglesia Santa
Catalina there are two tascas which are
worth trying. The first is La Tasquita de Juan
on c/ Padre Caro, where we enjoyed a brocheta de merluza
(fish kebab) and an interesting but tasty salad with roquefort
dressing. Just up the hill from a bar on the corner of the
plaza is Tasca Santa Catalina. The tables
outside run down the sidewalk (and the hill). The wait to
put your order in can be long, but afterwards the food comes
quickly. The pez espada, or swordfish
is excellent. Puntillitas (fried baby squid) and
the solomillo are good as well. Just up the street
on c/ Sres. Curas is Heladeria Los Valencianos,
where you can order anything from a simple cone to one of
many elaborate sundaes and frozen treats. You can sit on
one of the tables in the very brightly lit plaza and watch
the people pass by. Try and find Restaurante Juan
Maria, which has an outdoor patio overlooking the
beach. You may need reservations to get a good seat, but
the view is worth it. Finally many experienced Conil travelers
may tell you how expensive it is to eat breakfast. Mind
you this is all relative, but one place charged us over
8 euros for what costs 4 euros in Sevilla. Seems the bread
must be in high demand, so don't be surprised if the bill
is a little high - it's a tourist area afterall!
For
lodging we opted for Hotel Oasis, a 2 star
establishment just a block from the beach. If you request
it you can get a room with a balcony with a beach view.
The rooms were clean, the location very good and we paid
46 euros per night in late May, just before the rate hike
in June. You get cable TV, a small fridge, full bath and
air conditioning. If you don't request a balcony view you
may get a room with a window onto an interior patio, making
it less desirable. Still it's a good value for the area.