Compared to the northern climates (esp US, Canada, Northern Europe) in February, even Portugal's winter will probably seem warm - although the ocean is still too cold for most people. Culturally and for sight-seeing, Portugal and Morocco will be your best bet. That being said, I'm a sucker (literally too) for the great sand dunes at Maspalomas on the southern end of the island of Gran Canaria (I've visited it the last 3 years in March - temps daytime from 18-24 degree celsius - generally toward the higher end) but clouds and rain (or Saharan winds bring yellow sand) are not completely uncommon. For a gay holiday, it's a fun place - although the men seem to be ranging toward the middle-age and older bracket. Younger guys (teens-20-30s) are abundant enough but they're usually travelling in groups and as couples so it's harder to 'meat'. I recommend staying in Playa del Ingles - since it's got everything and is closer to the Yumbo (main shopping center that also has most of the gay clubs, including several sex clubs/backroom bars.)
You have to plan a bit to get the right transportation routing to be able to visit all three places affordably and on a set schedule. There are not really many flights from Morocco to the Canary Islands . Since there are Spanish territory, you'll find more flights and better fares from Spain (or even London (Gatwick) and even Germany. BTW, there are thousands of older Northern European seniors who descend on Gran Canaria en masse - it's a bit like Florida in the winter. They come of the sun and cheap food - menus are in 7-8 languages (mostly North European).
Don't count out Spain as a connecting point between all your 3 destinations. Spanair (a Star Alliance member) has lots of flights to all 3 places and you can sometimes get good discounts - although they are more than just this airline serving them.
Seville - not far from the Spain-Portual border is a great sightseeing town and it's warmer there than Madrid or Lisbon. Also there are flights to Gran Canaria from Seville. You can also reach Morocco easily from Seville. Sample itinerary: Start at Lisbon (you can also end up there by doing the following in reverse)- It's lovely place for several grand days of sightseeing (city views, palaces, art and history, great dining), If you have time, try to go north to Fatima for a 'religion' touristic experience, which was the site of the mystic appearance of the Virgin Mary to 3 teenagers that reoccurred every year since 1923?). Sunday morning is the best time to visit Fatima - since that's when all the pilgrims / sufferers come to receive healing (walking on the knees) to mass.
Then travel south stopping perhaps at Evora or along the coast west of Lisbon, then go along the south coast (the Algarve) by train / bus to Spain (Seville).There are nice seaside resorts along the way (best in summer of course), or stop at the far west, Capo de St. Vincente. This is where Columbus studied at King Henry the Navigator's school) on the southern/eastern most tip of Europe. I also loved stopping at Tavira (quaint seaside town with a unofficial nude beach (probably still too cool for most beachgoers). There are bus and trains to Spain (Cadiz - where Columbus set sail is a nice side trip) - his first land fall was at Gran Canaria (where he always stopped (at least 4 times) to replenish suppliers. If you have time on Gran Canaria, you can visit the Columbus House (where he stayed during these stopovers and see the little museum and the Cathedral nearby).
This is a photo of a horse-drawn buggy for rent in the plaza just outside the Cathedral of Seville.
| By the way, Columbus' body is buried at the Cathedral in Seville - which is one of the most outstanding church building in the world (converted once to mosque during the Moorish occupation and then back to a cathedral ) Once you hit Spain and see Seville (worth at least two days), you can fly to Gran Canaria (or try a hydrofoil or passenger ferry from the south of there (near Gibraltar) to Tangiers in Morocco. (check out schedules because there may be seasonal limits). Tangiers give you just a taste of Morocco - hardly the best and even maybe a distaste - because you'll be swamped by self-declared 'tour guides' who just want to make bucks ( a lot - if they can rip you off) to walk with you in tow around town and then end up taking you to a relative's restaurant or carpet or souvenir shop to try to bargain down ridiculously over priced meals or items. Travelling in Morocco alone and without a clear head and definite plans can be a bit daunting - maybe things have changed since I visited there a decade ago. If you fly into Casablana or another city with hotel reservations and a set timeframe, you'll probably be less likely to get lured into going along with some cute Moroccan young guy who's just flirtatious enough - with a smiling face to beguile you. I took the train from Tangiers to Fez and was fortunate enough to meet a school teacher who ended up inviting me to his home and having a meal with his family. |
 Hiking nude in the dunes at Maspalomas, Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain) |
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| sunbuns99 U.S.A. : |
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Cathedral of Seville : |
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 | Sunbuns - nude and cruising in the dude thicket of Maspalomas, March 2007 |
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