Spain and Dubai Day 9. Cadiz Spain. 3 Oct 25

We explored the city by ourselves today. We got away from our hotel around d 10:30’ish, a “Spanish” start to our day.
We headed down to La Caleta to start our day with a walk on the beach and a touch of the Atlantic. The beach was fairly busy, lots of people of all ages out sun baking and a few even were in the water. It was fun just doodling along at the waters edge.
From there we walked out to Castillo de San Sebastián via the scenic stone causeway. The causeway has a few openings in it to allow the oceans waters to flow through it to and from the bay. One of them is large enough for small fishing boats to pass through. It’s about 500m long and provides great view back to Cadiz.
The Castillo is very basically “restored”, the outside of the buildings give a hint to what there purpose was and signs (in Spanish) fill in the details. The lighthouse is like none we have seen before, a steel framework with an enclosed central tower with, we assume, a stairway to the light at the top. Its 41m high and was the 2nd electric powered lighthouse in Spain. I went to the western end of the Castillo and looked south, you can’t see Africa! Lol
On the walk back to the mainland we could see a few of the boats for the Sail GP out on the water. I recognised the Australian flag at the top of the sail none of them. The boat was sponsored by Bonds, and was predominately green and gold in colour, a nice surprise.
From there we went walking the back streets of our local area, playing some Ingress and taking in the feel of the neighbourhood.
Due to the “work” of the Earl of Essex, (see yesterday’s blog), old Cadiz features building predominately of the 17th and 18th centuries. This gives all the streets and buildings a sense of uniformity and for some reason I get a sense of comfort from that. Three storey buildings with balconies at every level, narrow streets (most just, and only just), wide enough for one car. This gives shade at any time of the day, and we were told it also provides shelter from the winds.
There is a great sense of community, there are always animated conversations going on between groups of people, and, the local shops, bars and coffee shops are always lively with locals. The streets are very clean, and we have noticed that anyone out walking their dog carries a plastic bottle with water and a drop of detergent in it to wash down any areas their dog pees on. It helps reduce the smell.
Supermarkets are dotted through the neighbourhood, but they are all small and most have limited items, and very few carry fresh produce. We did manage to buy some bananas from a tiny fruit shop.
We bought the same lunch as yesterday, from the same shop, supporting the local small business, and took it back to our hotel room. We ate lunch out on our balcony, it was very relaxing.
Around 3:30 I went out for a walk and a bit more sightseeing while Deb had a relaxing afternoon. My aim was to walk along the coast to the Old Cathedral. As I got near La Caleta I noticed that the Castillo de Santa Catalina was open,jso I ventured in. It is a bit better restored than the Castillo de San Sebastián, the building are used for functions and things. It was great walking around the perimeter wall, getting a different view to that we had this morning. I saw the GP Sail boats training, they move very quickly, impressive.
I took the Ingress way along the coast to the Old Cathedral, zigzagging around the streets, nothing like a straight line walk. I got to see more of the old town, much of it devoid of people. It was so nice walking down empty streets, it was after all, siesta time. I walked passed the fresh food market (it was closed) and the flower square, and many familiar streets and squares we visited yesterday. I eventually emerged next to an old carousel in the square in front of the New Cathedral, so I walked across the square, through the old gate and down the street. And there it was, on my right, the Old Cathedral. It’s a very unpretentious building from the outside, a simple whitewashed rectangle sided building. Inside it gave nothing, a bit of a disappointment. It is still a functioning church, but for me it lacked soul. Maybe if all the bits and pieces that were taken form it to adorn the New Cathedral were still in it, it would of had more character.
I headed back to our hotel, with a mission to accomplish on the way back. Deb had given me a photo of a ”biscuit” shop we had passed yesterday, my task was to find it and bring back chocolate biscuits. A bit of fancy “googling” and I had an address input into google maps, the shop was on one of the main streets on the path back to our hotel. I found it no problem, thanks Mr Google! But it was a pastry shop, not a biscuit shop. I had a lot of fun with the woman who served me, she had no English, I have no Spanish, but chocolate is universal. Once she knew I was after chocolate pastries, she was in her element, directing me quickly away from “Nutella” items and back to the real deal. In no time at all I had a nice looking selection which she packed up all fancy for me and I was on my way again. Deb was very happy with her goodies.
And that was the end of our days exploration. We finished the day watching another beautiful sunset from our balcony. I know, doing it tough again/still.
Tomorrow we head to Granada, with a stop in Ronda.