{"id":4822,"date":"2024-05-02T06:57:51","date_gmt":"2024-05-02T06:57:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/?p=4822"},"modified":"2025-12-24T21:48:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T21:48:30","slug":"9-cadiz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/?p=4822","title":{"rendered":"9. C\u00c1DIZ"},"content":{"rendered":"

On the way to C\u00e1diz, while travelling almost due North, we seemed to have lost a couple of hours sleep.\u00a0 Interesting how national policies on time and “summer time” work to confuse us mortal travellers.<\/p>\n

C\u00e1diz.\u00a0 A lovely city.\u00a0 Possibly one of our three favourite Spanish cities.\u00a0 Up there with Cordoba and Seville.<\/p>\n

From our balcony we can see the “Catedral de la Santa Cruz de C\u00e1diz” with its golden dome.\u00a0 Our ship is parked right in the centre of town.\u00a0 Really nice!<\/p>\n

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Today, we are going on an excursion to the White Villages of Andalusia.\u00a0 \u00a0Specifically, to Arcos de la Frontera.\u00a0 Not, as we originally thought, to Veger de la Frontera, which we had visited with Glenda’s brother and his wife a few years ago.<\/p>\n

But before we head off into the country our driver took us on a detour in through the old city gates.\u00a0 In, and out again!<\/p>\n

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The Earth Gate (Puerta de Tierra), as it is called, is a significant historical landmark in C\u00e1diz.\u00a0 It stands at the entrance of the old town.\u00a0 Basically on a roundabout!\u00a0 The gate was built during the 16th century, replacing the old medieval walls, which could no longer accommodate the city’s growth.<\/p>\n

During the early 20th century, two large arches were created to allow the passage of tour buses (and other vehicles!).\u00a0 Well, we used both arches on our little detour.<\/p>\n

Then it was off North-Eastwards.\u00a0 Our first view of Arcos was from a mirador adjacent to a cafe with a loo.\u00a0 Very handy following a 70 km drive straight after breakfast with its cups of tea, coffee and orange juice!\u00a0 While the cafe owner was busy “discussing” the price of using her facilities with the first lady in line, the rest of us quickly nipped in behind her.\u00a0 After that, we could admire the view.\u00a0 Here’s a photo of us not looking at the view.<\/p>\n

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Climbing the steep path into town from the coach parking area, we discovered that today was the one day in the year when there is a bull run through the streets of Arcos.\u00a0 Excellent planning!\u00a0 The centre was predictably packed.\u00a0 The bulls were released at the top of town at noon.\u00a0 We arrived at 11.55 am.\u00a0 By the time I had retreated to the bus to look for Glenda’s handbag which was mysteriously missing, (feared stolen), and returned back up the hill with said bag (which had been safely hidden on our seats), I just saw a fleeting glimpse of the last wild bull in the far distance.\u00a0 But at least I did see one!<\/p>\n

The streets were well penned off to keep the crowd safe – apart from those brave ??? souls who ran with the bulls.<\/p>\n

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Onwards and upwards through the narrow streets …<\/p>\n

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… to a welcome glass of wine and some light refreshments in the beautiful parador.\u00a0 The Parador de Arcos de la Frontera, was once a palace, the \u201cCasa del Corregidor\u201d. The internal patio was a delightful and peaceful haven …<\/p>\n

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The parador is located in a three-sided plaza along with the Ducal Castle and the Santa Mar\u00eda church.\u00a0 There’s a great deal of restoration and renovation going on in the plaza.\u00a0 Probably a timely move as the church looked ready to fall down.\u00a0 The Bas\u00edlica de Santa Mar\u00eda de la Asunci\u00f3n …<\/p>\n

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From the terrace there were sweeping views over the cliffs that drop dramatically to the Guadalete River.\u00a0 With the Iglesia de San Pedro perched high on the hill.\u00a0 Itself a building from the sixteenth century.\u00a0 It had been a collegiate church in the fourteenth century and it sits on the remains of what was possibly a Muslim fortress,\u00a0 A reflection of the various religions which have prevailed in the region over the ages<\/p>\n

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All very pretty.\u00a0 All very historic.\u00a0 Lots of dancing and singing in the streets.\u00a0 Very atmospheric!\u00a0 An excellent visit.\u00a0 That was, until I tripped on the steps on the way back down to the coach.\u00a0 A great impression of Superman.\u00a0 Great, until the landing part of the flight!\u00a0 A fellow cruiser who is a specialist dermatologist from the USA took over and raided the on board first aid kit.\u00a0 So I got instant, professional treatment.\u00a0 However, my knee is still not fully healed two weeks later – AND we are awaiting a bill from Nevada!<\/p>\n

On the way back to the ship, we passed the lagoons near C\u00e1diz which are home to flocks of flamingos.\u00a0 Except, on this occasion, they didn’t show!\u00a0 Flamingos are migratory birds and arrive in southern Spain in January and February. In March, they start building their nests. After laying one egg per couple, chicks are born in April or May.\u00a0 So they jolly well should have been present!<\/p>\n

That night we sailed later than planned.\u00a0 Great news.\u00a0 Dinner could be eaten in the calm waters of the harbour!\u00a0 It was nearly dark when we unloaded our pilot and set off for Barcelona.<\/p>\n

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After about 30 minutes, the motion of the boat altered very slightly – we had turned round.\u00a0 First thought was that someone had been taken seriously ill (much worse than a skinned knee).\u00a0 But then the captain turned round again.\u00a0 The patient must have recovered.\u00a0 We were back on course for Barcelona!\u00a0 Over the next hour or two we made a total of four 180 degree manoeuvres before the captain announced that, “due to a technical problem we were returning to C\u00e1diz for repairs and a safety inspection!”<\/p>\n

By pure chance I had activated a tracking app on my phone …<\/p>\n

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So, after steaming for over 40 miles we tied up immediately opposite our original berth.<\/p>\n

The next morning we were told that we would depart at 6 pm.\u00a0 We had a free day in the city!\u00a0 Fabulous!\u00a0 For us!\u00a0 We have a four day buffer in Barcelona.\u00a0 But 80% of the passengers were citizens of the US of A.\u00a0 Many of these had tight connections.\u00a0 There was a fair bit of phrenetic “activity” on board while we enjoyed a peaceful, warm and unhurried day in the city.<\/p>\n

We walked from the port area past our temporary home on the water…<\/p>\n

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… past the “Wind Surf”, a five-masted cruise ship – said to be the largest sailing cruise ship in the world.\u00a0 It can carry up to 310 guests in 154 staterooms.<\/p>\n

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… and on via the Plaza San Juan de Dios …<\/p>\n

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… and then to the Plaza de la Catedral.<\/p>\n

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And what do you know?\u00a0 The cathedral just happens to be Km 0 on the Via Augusta of The Camino de Santiago!\u00a0 This is the second trail starting point we have visited (the other being at Cape Finisterre, which we visited with our caravan on a previous trip)!\u00a0 This trail runs some 165 km to Seville where the pilgrims (or peregrinos) join the Via de la Plata, heading North (for the remaining 960 kms to Santiago!).\u00a0 The Via Augusta was originally built by the Romans so that people of Rome could get to South-west Spain to see the flamingos!<\/p>\n

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The architecture is beautiful all around.\u00a0 We walked onto the sea front …<\/p>\n

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… and on towards the Castillo de San Sebastian at the very NW end of the peninsula.<\/p>\n

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The fort is temporarily shut for renovation, but the walk out on the breakwater-cum-access path is beautiful.<\/p>\n

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Back on ship, we get the news that we won’t be sailing till 10 pm.\u00a0 Still no worries (for us – we still have two clear days buffer) – it’s lovely warm weather and the ABBA concert has been moved from the theatre to the pool deck!<\/p>\n

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Dancing with Harry and his wife from Switzerland.<\/p>\n

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Full participation!\u00a0 An excellent day – the best of the whole trip, even!<\/p>\n

We eventually leave port at about 1 am for sea trials and then depart for Barcelona a couple of hours later.<\/p>\n

We woke just in time to see Gibralter off the port beam.<\/p>\n

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And the sea was as flat as the proverbial mill pond!\u00a0 As seen from our balcony.<\/p>\n

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Must be the calm before the storm!\u00a0 We haven’t had a disaster this trip – well not yet, anyway…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On the way to C\u00e1diz, while travelling almost due North, we seemed to have lost a couple of hours sleep.\u00a0 Interesting how national policies on time and “summer time” work to confuse us mortal travellers. C\u00e1diz.\u00a0 A lovely city.\u00a0 Possibly… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4822","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-regent-seven-seas-cruise-travels-in-2024"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4822","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4822"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4822\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4885,"href":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4822\/revisions\/4885"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4822"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4822"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4822"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}