Kiara, 41

Are you on holiday here?
No, I live here. I've lived here for about six years.

Why did you move here?
To live the beach life! I lived in Madrid for years before here and I was sick of city life. Here it's plaza cultura, which means everyone sits out on terraces drinking wine till dusk, as opposed to getting fall-down drunk at midnight and dancing into the wee hours. Mind you, you can do that here too.

What's the Tarifa dating scene like?
Lots of single people here, lots of alternative people. You've got different scenes here. Los Lances beach is full of beautiful people. Then you've got lots of chiringuitos — beach bars — so people come off the beach and chill out there. They're great for meeting people.

What's the most daring place you've had sex?
In a field. Although it was not so daring as impulsive. We were waiting to catch a ferry to England. We missed that, so we had sex in the field next to the port. Oh, and I once had sex with a guy while there was another guy in the bed beside us. That didn't really do it for me.

A kind of threesome, huh?
Yeah. And he was twenty-one — I was thirty-five!

So do you like younger men?
To look at, sure. But relationship-wise, I prefer someone my own age.

Are you dating right now?
Not so much. I have a three-year-old daughter, which means I don't get the time. But she's getting older now and I'm about to move into a new, bigger apartment, so I'll have time and space. Can't wait!

Have you ever had your heart broken?
Yes.

What's the best way to recover from a broken heart?
Suffer it.

 

Antony, 39, England

What are you doing in Tarifa?
I'm looking for DJ work.

Being a DJ must be a good way to meet women.
Not for me. I think it works for ugly men.

I see. How'd you end up in Tarifa?
I was here before. This time I planned to cycle from France, but I'm a lazy bastard, so instead I got a flight to Gibraltar, and here I am.

How's the Tarifa dating scene treating you?
Well, I was staying in a hotel. That was bad because I spent a lot of time in my room on the computer. Now I've moved to a campsite, so I feel more free.

What's the trick to hooking up with women when you're travelling?
Don't go anywhere with a girl.

You sound angry. Is there a story there?
The last time I was here I was with my ex. We were going through a bad time, actually — we were just about to split up — so I wanted to come back here single.

How's that going for you?
Like I said, I've just moved to the camp site and now I'm trying to organise some gigs. It's still early days.

What do you look for in a woman?
Tall, dark, not English. I like foreign women.

You don't like English women?
I can't stand English girls. English girls have an attitude. You start talking to them and they look you up and down as if you're dirt. They make up their minds before they even get to know you.

So you're looking for a Spanish woman?
Spanish women are amazing. I am definitely open to the idea. I'm half Spanish, on my Dad's side, but my Spanish is terrible so communicating could be a problem. Or maybe not.

What's your dealbreaker?
If they can understand me, I don't want to talk to them. I mean, if they speak English.

I'm getting the feeling that you might be unlucky in love.
No, just unlucky in lovers.

What do you think about phone sex?
It's expensive.

How about monogamy — do you believe in it?
I'd say it's quite wooden. Does everyone say that?

So far you're the first. Is that your phone number written on your arm?
Yes, it is.

Is that so it's easy to give it to the ladies?
Ha! No, it's for work. Honestly.

 

Emma, 22, England

How long have you been in Tarifa?
Just one month now. We'll be here for five months.

What brought you to Tarifa?
We passed by here last year. Actually, our car broke down and we got stuck here. But we liked it so much that we decided to come back this year.

What do you do?
I'm a singer, and I also teach English.

Do you meet lots of guys working as a singer?
Well, that's how I met my boyfriend — at a gig in France. Actually I started talking to the drummer in his band, who's also his best friend. Then I started talking to him and found out that we were neighbors, and things went from there. He plays guitar and sings.

Does he get lots of action at gigs?
Lots of girls do come up to him, yes. But I'm not the jealous type. I don't see it as a threat. When you're in a band, that's what happens. It's kind of funny.

Are you guys in an open relationship?
Oh God, no, it's not like that.

You believe in monogamy then?
Yes, definitely.

What was about him that caught your attention?
Probably his Afro.

Would you say it was love at first sight?
I would like to say yes but really no, because we were both in other relationships at the time, but they were both going badly. It took some time before those relationships ended. But you know how it is — when you are not looking for something, it comes along.

Where do you stand on public sex?
I say yes, bring it on. Last year we were travelling in a van, and so anytime we had sex, it was pretty obvious because the van would shake. We had a washing line hanging from it and it would start rocking. No one was in any doubt as to what we were doing. There's no room for shyness when you live in a van.

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