We have re-located to Camping Roche near Conil, about 30 kms South of Cádiz. Close enough to visit. Far enough away to avoid the crowds. The plan had been to drive to Puerto de Santa Maria and catch the ferry into the city. The problem is that on the two possible days to visit Cádiz, the ferry is conveniently out of service for maintenance! Plan B… drive in and park. Allegedly this is going to be easy at this time of year. Allegedly. But I’ve got ahead of myself.
Camping Roche is an unpleasantly large campsite. We ended up on pitch 420. That’s a bit of a clue! However, most people seemed to be occupying two or even three spaces! I’d hate to think what it’s going to be like in the summer when the place is full.
But it is what it is – a coastal campsite. The problems really started as it got dark. Cockerels from the neighbouring farm started crowing from the trees at about 10 pm. They got really warmed up by 3 am before going to sleep for about three hours. This window of opportunity for sleep was filled by incessant barking of the local “guard” dogs! Then at 6.30 the farmer next door got busy with pumps and heavy machinery. Apart from that, it was a very peaceful site! And the water in the showers was fabulously hot and very plentiful!
Actually after five days we had got quite used to the routine! But we only stayed five nights!
Glenda’s brother and his wife, Kirsty, travelled to Conil to meet us. John from Moraira in SE Spain and Kirsty from Glasgow via Malaga airport. We spent half a day trying to locate and check out the Barcelo Conil Playa Hotel for them. When we did get there it looked really good, if 90% unoccupied. Recommended! We tried to reserve the bridal suite for them!
Just a couple of km from our camp, we found a tiny Cove…
… and a miniscule port area with a cafe/bar in the “yacht” club.
Conil de la Frontera, to give the place its full name, is located on a superb beach which appears to run for several miles southeast towards Zahora.
On Wednesday, we did plan B. John drove us all to Cádiz and we dived underground at the tourist office and found easy parking. No worries!
Cádiz is an amazing old port city with a lot of remnants of Moorish origins. It’s built on an island and connected to the rest of Spain by three bridges.
The city is the home of the Spanish Navy. The port boomed in the 16th-century as a base for exploration and trade. Apparently it has more than 100 watchtowers, including the iconic Torre Tavira, which was traditionally used for spotting ships. On the waterfront is the domed, 18th-century Cádiz Cathedral, featuring baroque and neoclassical elements.
Glenda made friends with one of the locals outside the flamenco arts centre…
Later, while having coffee…
…in the Plaza de San Juan de Dios…
… a number of youngsters in national costume appeared. When I asked if I could take a picture of three of them, more and more piled in. I had to keep stepping backwards!
I’m still not sure what exactly was going on, but whatever it was, it was very festive!
We found some instructive road signs…
… and the square of flowers (Plaza de los Flores)
Our hop on hop off bus ticket took us on an hour’s excursion around the town, and came with free entry to the cathedral. Magnificent outside but rather less so inside. But it was free. So that’s OK!
A super visit to an interesting old city. We even got to see flamingos in the salt marshes on the way “home”.
One of my jobs is the vacuuming of the caravan carpet. I had just started, when all the electrics in the caravan stopped being electric. Checked the trip switches and fuses on board. Checked the trip switches on the site’s power outlet. All OK! Oh no! The caravan system had failed! Was this disaster number six (I’ve lost count!)? Then I noticed the site was full of people all checking trip switches! Phew, it’s “just” a site-wide power cut! That’s OK then! Doesn’t worry us because the fridge is on gas!
Now, before we head off, we want to visit Vejer de la Frontera, a hill-top white village about 20 minutes to the east.
But before that, I want to get sorted with Spanish gas because we are running the fridge continuously on gas. We can’t afford to run out. Well, we’ve been here before. Lots of arm waving. More Google translate and calls to Red Pennant to make sure our planned purchases will work safely. And even then, the gas wasn’t coming through properly. More calls to the UK for advice before ithe fridge was finally working! Thank you AJ Caravans of Devon!
Finally we made it to Vejer in time for lunch in the Plaza de Españia…
… and a wander round the narrow streets of town with their tiny enclosed courtyards.
Then it was home again via a walk on the beach at El Palmar de Vejer.
These last few days have been really great, hanging out with John and Kirsty. Three dinners and a breakfast with them at their posh hotel. It was just great to see them and spend time with them.
We have so many memories, although Glenda keeps telling me that I can’t remember them all!
Tomorrow it’s off to Olvera for a visit to Ronda. But that’s another story!
What was I saying?
great photos