Friday, February 14, 2014

Cadiz


Check out Ivan’s post of our day together with this link http://www.globallanguagetraining.com/slow-travelling-sevilla/

He gives more detail on the history of the area, his barrio or neighbourhood and I enjoy reading about his view point of the day.



Completely rainy day, first ever here for us in Sevilla with wind as well. People’s faces were unhappy looking as they walked around under umbrellas. I expect it doesn’t rain too much here. Being from Vancouver we didn’t mind and it was warm enough. We got lost, actually lost this time, after walking a long way through interesting neighbourhoods. We ended up at the Alcazar again back in tourist country. By that point were tired and didn’t know which way to start walking back. No problem, we took a taxi back. Wasn’t costly and our feet appreciated it.

On our wandering we found another food etc. market which is much younger than the one Ivan took us to, this one is only thirty years old. 
Mercado (Market) Arenal

Being close to siesta time it wasn’t full and many vendors had left but still amazing to see. The most interesting vendor to us was a fellow who worked with dried bamboo and cane, he did baskets, chairs, all sorts of things. His working shop was his retail store so after asking permission to enter we saw some true works of art with the materials. The market is in a massive building with arched walkways that takes up an entire city block. Showing some age and wear and tear but beautiful.

Time passes quickly when you’re having a good time. We’ve only got another three weeks here. It is such a beautiful city! As always we will be sad to leave and have made friends here in Pepe, Ivan and our waiter at the local bodega.

Our partner’s comment who are living in the flat now: “D. mentioned today that we only have a month left here in Freiburg. A month on vacation used to be a long time. Funny how your perspective changes in response to circumstances.” On the bright side… they look forward, as we do, to meeting up again and spending time together. I actually didn’t know them well before this venture of sharing a flat but feel privelaged to know them now, and the arrangement has worked very well also from both our points of view.

So tomorrow, on to Cadiz pronounced Cadish for a few days. We hadn’t bought train tickets in advance, unusual for us but no problem. Had an hour wait and boarded, it’s an hour and forty five minutes Sevilla to Cadiz and really on all the train trips we’ve been on, the most boring. Miles and miles of pretty much naked fields plowed but not yet planted. Except going across the narrow strip of land over the sea, waves on one side with sand dunes and calmer sea on the other which made me think we were on a boat! Arrive and what is supposed to be a five minute walk to the hotel, isn’t, but we didn’t walk it! We taxied, I think you would have to be an Olympic walker to do it in five minutes, took the taxi about ten. Wet and windy in both Sevilla and Cadiz. Once installed in a very small room, I was warned about that, we walked out and about for a bit. Had a tapa and drink at a bar, walked some more, went back to same bar, had another tapa and came back to the hotel.

Cadiz is on a peninsula in Spain, on the Atlantic. Take a look on Google maps. More on it later as we explore.

The hotel is old, rooms are not numbered, they are named after famous people and there is a plaque on the wall inside to explain. It is four floors around an atrium in the middle . They are nicely furnished, at least ours is and has a window onto the street below that we can’t figure out how to open, but if did, Lexi could get through anyway.

Our first full day in Cadiz and we did what you’ve read we do in many cities and took a bus tour around it. Has to be around it because the old town has too narrow streets for buses. Back again tomorrow, another twenty-four hour ticket.

We are enjoying the palm trees in Spain, so many, and different kinds, really feels tropical and is. Less orange trees in Cadiz but I would guess more gardens and palm trees. 

Beautiful Flamenco dancer, she is named but I didn't write it down, just loved the statue!

 After the bus tour we walked the older part of town then settled like turtles to enjoy the sunshine, out of the wind. Watched kids playing hide and seek and running all over the plaza. Found the food market but it was closed. I “think” we can find it again. As you can tell from previous posts we’re amateur foodies and love markets.

Flower market outside the food one. See the individual "houses" each hold a different vendor.


More walking until tapa time and after researching other places, some close the kitchen at 16:30, we were later than that, we ended up at the same place as last night.  The owner greets us and we are set up with a tapa each and drinks. We are ready to go when the waitress puts another tapa on the table courtesy of the house, not on the menu, I asked. It was a fish of some kind, potato and a most wonderful sauce, lemon and truly, not sure what else. It’s what they were having for their dinner. I felt rather honoured, or I’m not sure the correct word here but happy minimally. Okay and yes, my cynical side just says they want to see us back but really they didn’t have to do that.

Cadiz Cathedral, it's enormous!

Today we “met” two couples from Holland, I guess this is a winter destination for them. First one was a young couple who were on the train with us. They were at breakfast at the same time. She wore a an absolutely stunning short dress of gray, white and silver.

After our gratus tapa, the other couple from Holland were eyeing the menu and I beckoned them in, saying in my very limited Spanish that this was a good place to eat. They spoke English and said they wanted to walk more before coming back. I’ve done this in several cities on our trips. There are many websites who tout the best restaurants by category of price but I don’t think you can beat a person actually sitting in it and saying, this is a great place!

Hammering and general din started at 08:30 the next morning being Monday. We were warned by a notice  in the elevator that they are renovating the third floor. Sounded like they were coming through our room at some points that morning! So no problem with the start time, know they have to do it, probably can’t afford to close the hotel, just not pleasant to live in. Plus, we should be out and about in Cadiz and not in the hotel anyway but we are slow starters to our day.

Carnival was just starting I think it includes singing, dancing large light features are hung between the streets. We really didn't see anything about it, heard the occasional snippet of singing. We didn't stay on a Saturday night when most of it happens.


With the continual racket coming into the room from the renovation of the hotel we decided Wednesday to leave Cadiz and train back to Sevilla, we had originally booked until Friday. We noticed other hotels being renovated as well, this time of year is a good time for them to upgrade. Bad time to be in one.

Train took all of five minutes to book and ten minutes to board for an hour and forty five minutes journey on a regional train stopping many times.

We’re back in Sevilla and appreciating our home away from home, the space and lack of noise.

Web was down this morning, came up around noon, we went out and now it’s down again. 

Bruce is cooking again! Yum! Except a bit of a failure yesterday, it’s been a while since he cooked so out of practise. Today’s version smells and tastes wonderful. We’ve been mostly living on cold food, like tapas and fruit and veg from here, as said, no complaints and healthy, but sometimes it’s good to have something hot that isn’t coffee or tea.

Happy Valentines Day! Cheers, Bx2 and Lexi Cat

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