Grand Hotel Colon Costa Ballena

Street performers

by bpwillet

They seem to be everywhere. In almost every city there are musicians who add to the overall ambience to the place you are visiting. Rota is no different. We were able to listen to this guy play some traditional music on his accordian while we had lunch. They were very commonplace songs as some passersby were able to sing the lyrics. Keep in mind they will ALWAYS ask for a tip when they are done. If you don't want to pay, pretend to not be amused.

Another common performer is the large population of dogs in Rota. They are usually pretty good about having their owners pick up after them but some get overlooked. Watch where you step--it may give you reason to reconsider walking barefoot anywhere else than the beach.

You Need to Ask for the Check

by Hopkid

In Europe, dining is an experience that is meant to be enjoyed and not hurried through. This is reflected in the wait staff service. You may end up sitting for quite a long time after your dessert has long been eaten and your espresso quaffed. That's because your waiter will not bring you your check until you've asked for it. They don't bring it automatically because they don't want to seem like they are eager to rush you out of the place. So when you're ready to leave, simply get your waiter's attention and confidently ask, "La cuenta, por favor."

Beach sports

by bpwillet

The beaches around Rota are great for many activities. However, most of the people who come to the beach are lounging under umbrellas or just soaking up the sun. For some of the more adventurous you can do a bit of bouldering around the rocks at Playa de Chorrillo. The sand at the far end of Playa de Chorrillo is a bit more rocky than it is towards Playa del Rompidillo so it is not as easy to run on. Most people who are doing any sort of sport are usually kicking around a futbol or using paddles and a small ball on a makeshift court. These types of sports are not as annoying to the sunbathers or the lifeguards on duty. If you want to play anything more like a game of ultimate frisbee, football, or a full game of futbol you will be asked to find an area that is clear of people. This means the areas on the beach that are farther away from the water. These are areas with a lot more sand and definitely less people. If you are just planning on throwing a football around or even a frisbee a lifeguard may ask you to move to one of those other areas. Playa del Rompidillo is great for this as the sand is soft and generally rock/shell free. Bring your own ball: football, futbol, or frisbee, etc.

An incredible weekend!

by bpwillet

"Resting in the sun"

Rota is a beach town on Spain's beautiful southern coast. It is a relaxed place with a few sights and expansive beaches to lounge and find your rest. It is just a short distance by car or ferry from Cadiz which lies just across the harbor. It is well worth the stop over for a day or spending a lazy weekend.

"From times past..."

Rota has seen its fair share of occupants. From Romans to the Muslims, and finally to the Christian Crusaders who were first to call the town "Rota." The town passed hands between ruling families in the region and was able to set up a few religious orders which have since been disbanded. You can see remnants of each with the grand plazas, the great Moorish then converted patios and mansions. The people who occupy Rota now are the throngs of beach goers and tourists through the warm months to soak up the sun and warm water at the great beaches that surround Rota.

ROTA

by wild80s

"ROTA"

What an awesome place!! Had a wonderful time although I had to take it easy on the Sangria and delicious food. People were very friendly everywhere we went..

"PATIO"

From what I could tell this is a typical patio for homes there. Everywhere we went you could see people relaxing in their patios.

"AROUND TOWN"

While walking around town we walked by a Church where a wedding was taking place. This was the Bride and Groom's transportation. We stayed for a while and watched as the wedding party exited the Church. Of course everyone was dressed up for the occasion.