Never did I think I would have this much fun, exploring the coastline around here. I’m finding most areas virtually free of people, it being winter. This is giving me a sense of freedom that I crave and one I have embraced fully. Treasure hunting in Tarifa Spain on Poo Beach has quickly become one of my frequent pastimes.
Poo Beach
This is not the actual name. I can see from Google Maps that there is an official name that encompasses this stretch, called Playa de la Caleta. To find Poo Beach, head to the eastern most walls of the old city, walk down the gravel road, and take any immediate little trail down a short cliff, to this rocky section of beach.
The reason I have dubbed it ‘Poo Beach’ is the first time I came here, the trail I took was the last one of three and filled with squishy cow dung. You can clearly see the farmers are depositing their excess manure here, using it as a dump of sorts.
Some days there will be large piles of poop that have been re-deposited onto the rocks by the waves. The smell is moderate, and at times, places are impassable from the sheer volume.
Garbage
Initially this little stretch, will just appear as a rocky shoreline. Once you have climbed down to the waters edge, you will quickly see that this area has likely been used as a garbage dump for decades and probably centuries.
Up at the top of the cliff, is a large sign asking the public not to dump refuse over the edge, but I have a hunch this has been a regular practice around here for a very long while. What you will begin to see, as you explore and walk around, is the remnants of this ‘garbage’, now turned into treasures!
Tile
One of my very favourite things to find down here is patterned tile. There is quite a lot of tile in general but finding the pieces with colour and images is the real treat. I was even so very lucky to find a complete small square tile with an animal figure! How marvellous!
My eyes are always drawn to the blue pieces but there are some lovely browns, greens and peaches too.
Pottery
Another group of treasures that I notice quite a bit of is old pottery. The best pieces are those identifiable, like a softly curved handle or a spout. Old bits of planter pots, clay sewer pipes and more will begin to fill your bag.
Painted Rocks
These treasures are quite possibly my favourite thing to find. The ancient town of Tarifa is made of stone. It was built this way since the Muslims made a citadel in the year 960. Before it was the practice as it is now, to plaster these stone walls, some would have been painted.
It is these old painted rocks that I can find with small bits of detailing, that I find utterly charming. If I lived here, you bet a thousand times, I would have a collection of these in a little garden. They are darling.
Sea Glass
For as long as I can remember, I have collected sea glass. These days, because I am limited by my suitcase weight, I keep virtually none of what I find. Instead, I gather my pieces up each day, and make a pretty pattern, leaving them for the next explorer to find and adore.
A myriad of colours can be found here, but what I discovered more frequently than I usually do is the really bright turquoise pieces. I have always found plenty of aqua but this vivid turquoise is enchanting. And marbles! How cool is that! I have found three so far and am thrilled when I’m bent low, back smarting, but spot a glass sphere.
Oddities
Now along with all of the rocks and tile, there are heaps of other debris as well. I see loads of porcelain, from smashed toilets and sinks. There is even a whole bathtub down here. One interesting find was a porcelain electricity insulator. Another was a cows tooth!
There are loads of interesting rocks or fossils here too, some with beautiful colours or marks.
But the prettiest piece? Is this old turquoise glass perfume bottle stopper. How lovely!
I could spend every day here exploring for treasure. The thing I wanted to be the most, while growing up was an archaeologist. I am obsessed with Egypt and all things still undiscovered. This is where my love of beachcombing comes from. A childhood dream of discovery.
