Want to have an unforgettable weekend? Come with Abbey Road to Tarifa and visit the cetaceans in their natural environment, and then sit down and enjoy some of the best "cante hondo" singer and flamenco dancers. This is some way to spend a Saturday. Tarifa is a municipality of the province of Cadiz, and its coast opening into the Gibraltar strait makes it a very important area for huge merchant ships to duck. It also makes it incredibly windy, and therefore much sought after by surfers. However, the biggest attraction are the inhabitants of the strait: dolphins, whales, porpoises, and cachalots. Abbey Road Cadiz’ participants were able to see several species up close, but the one that really play around the ship and wanted to be in our company were the “calderones” (globicephala melas) that can measure up to 6 meters and weigh up to 3.5 tons. Entre families of calderones were showing off their majestic polished black colors and sharing with us their family time. The students also learned how important the environmental efforts of Tarifa are in protecting these animals. Even though many ferries and smaller boats carry many people into the strait every day to see cetaceans, throughout the trip, the captain emphasizes the importance of being respectful and protecting the natural balance. They even learned that some of these calderones have been tagged and have a GPS to study their habits and keep track of their activities. Because we want our students to experience every single aspect of the Andalusian culture, at night, for a total change of pace, the students were treated to a “cante hondo” and flamenco performed by professionals. The students were mesmerized by how fast the dancers could move their feet while snapping their fingers in perfect synchronism. Cante hondo together with the dancing is a spiritual experience, for the singers entered a dialogue with the dancers that give movement to what the singer is feeling.
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