Quiet week

More people have joined the Casino Integration team now, but they are java devs. I still have had nothing to do. Waiting for a working build apparently... It's been so boring. My experience here literally has been like a paid vacation and I think that I am done now, I feel like I want to go home. I can't knock the experience, but there's no work and I now feel rested and ready to take on the big bad City of London again. Decide to buy a Spanish sim card and mobile and get in touch with some agencies again. Have a lead, but may have priced myself out of the market. Still, if you don't ask, you don't get. Went out friday night for drinks and then met Emmmie the recruitment agent who took a several of us out to dinner. Went to a nice fish restaurant on Catalan Bay but the food was ok, not as good as I had hoped. Spent the Saturday just walking for miles. Went up the Upper rock, saw the monkeys and walked all around then to the Moorish castle. Then back down to home, had lunch and then off to La Linea to check out the street markets. Then hop on a bus to Algeciras, but it was crap there, so home around 7pm. Had a few beer and chill with international football.

Sunday was a beautifully sunny and hot day. I took a long rambling walk to the far side of the Penisular to Europa Point where the famous lighthouse is. From the Point you can see stunning views over the Med to the Atlas mountains in Morocco. Took a bus back to town, had sunday lunch and then off to internet cafe to check the news. My legs were in so much agony from the walking that I end up having 2 hot baths to relax.

Barca Unbelievable

Met up with Benji in Barca and it was great to hang out with him again after all this time. It's like we rolled back the years. Barca is an incredible City and I think I fell in love with the place. We got royally trashed on the Friday night and went clubbing at 3am but were home by 5am. The next day we both had majoy hangovers but managed to get out and about and cover a lot of tourist ground. Later that evening, we met up with a friend of mine, Peter and his mates. We drink in the Q Bar, a funky place we liked. Had 2 hours kip before I had to get up to catch a plane. I was so mashed still that I lost my phone on the way to the airport! brilliant weekend.

Barca Calling

I'm off to Barcelona tomorrow to meet Benji. We're both getting island fever and need to hit the City for some beers, nightlife and good company. Well, I do anyway. Can't wait.

Weekend in Tangier

On Friday 2nd, I left work at 5, and went to the port in Gib. After some to-ing and fro-ing back to the old port office, I eventually got my ticket confirmed and I left on the 6pm ferry to Tangier. It was weird trip, full of weird people. During the journey, all the Muslim men got down to pray, it must be a 6.30pm (sundown) thing. That was cool to watch, and not wishing to offend anyone, it made me realise (even more) how ridiculous ritualised worship is. That's done it, I'll have a death warrant out on my life now...
I had pre-booked into a guesthouse the Dar Jameel and instead of taking a petit taxi from the port, I did the most ridiculous thing possible. I decided to get my bearings by walking from the ship to the guesthouse, in darkness. Now I wouldn't think of doing that in say Southampton or Portsmouth, so why Tangier? The place is full of chancers and people waiting to rip you off at every turn. I must admit that it was intimidating and the place was FULL of dodgy people, but I just ignored most of the them and ended up asking directions in my rubbish French and end up seeing most of the Kashah/Medina area.

Found my Guesthouse eventually around 8pm, and I was sooo grateful. I check in, and the place was awesome. It was in the middle of mad town but was quiet, safe and beautiful. Perfect. Then I pop out again to brave the crowds, and find a brilliant restaurant - just what I needed cos I was hungry and tired. It is called Hammadi's on 2 Rue d'Italie and I heartily recommend it. Home around 10.30pm and was ready to chill.
Next day, I had arranged for a guide. Had a brilliant breakfast of traditional foods, and then the guide arrived at 11am hungover. He looked like Saddam Hussein's brother. Anyway, because I had already seen most of the old town, there was little nearby he could show me. In fact he was amazed I did alone, so was the guethouse owner. Instead I was introduced to some shopowners who talked about their goods, or about local herbs and medicines and basically learnt a lot about local trade. Then I was bundled into a merc taxi and was driven around the outer city, saw all the royal residences (from outside only - v opulent) and taken to a spot where the Atlantic meets the Med. Also went to Hercules cave. Tour ended around 2pm. I was dropped off in the new town and I grab lunch and end up walking for the rest of the day. Home around 6pm, then sit reading on roof terrace as the sun set. Beautiful. Went out for dinner to nearby Hotel Continental. the prawn gratin and the swordfish main was good but the veg was all microwaved shite.
Woke early on Sunday at 7am so that I could take some photos withouth being hassled. Walk around the grand and petit soco and took my pics. If I tried during the hustling bustiling hours, I would have been hassled to death. It really is THAT bad for travellers. Still, I am a big boy and ended up having a little fun back at them. Left on sunday at 11.30. I needed have bothered. My ferry was the 3 hour slow to Algecrias in Spain and was due to leave at 1pm. In fact, I boarded at 2pm and the fucker didn't leave until 4.30pm cos it took so long to check all the goods lorries. At least the local police found a couple of stowaways so that was entertaining enough. Arrive in Spain around 8pm. Find the bus station in Algeciras and then take the 9pm bus back to La Linea. Walk on foot back to Gibraltar. Long day and a long weekend. Did a lot of walking.

Blue Pill or Red Pill

Ok, I know I have been very bad at keeping this up to date, but the last few weeks have been insane. Saw out my notice at Dare. During the last week, I had 3 job offers. All very good. In the end, I decided to take the job abroad. It's like the scene in The Matric when Morpheus offers Neo the blue pill or the red pill. The way I see it, GMT beckoned. That meant cold days and nights. Long commutes on sticky, stinky trains. Expensive evenings down the boozer, or fighting in Sainsbury to get food. That's why I took the red pill. It's a path unknown.

So to cut a long story short, I had a massive blow out on the friday the 26th with close friends. 2 days later I was on a plane. Arrive in Gibraltar (4 days after accepting the job), I was in my own flat, all fully kitted out. The weather was still nice. This has been my first week, and although work has been slow so far, the whole week has been so chilled out - a complete opposite to London. It's probably what I need at this point in my life.