Cadiz, Spain

 Friday, November 8, 2024

We can't believe we have already been gone a week on this grand adventure. It will be the longest single trip we have ever taken.  Thankfully, we have nine days left on our itinerary where we are at sea the whole day to give us a chance to rest our weary bodies.

Today we are in Cadiz, Spain, located in Andulusia in the very south of Spain. Cadiz has a fascinating history.  It was first conquered by the Phoenicians who were then driven out of Spain by the Roman Empire.  Sometime around the 6th or 7th centuries, the Moors came across the Straits of Gilbraltar and occupied much of Spain.  In the 15th century the Spaniards finally drove the Moors back to Africa.  Ever since, Spain has been left to fight among themselves.

We have been in Spain several times and this may be the first time we have taken time to appreciate Spains unique archetectural style. Cadiz has passed laws that when buildings are torn down and rebuilt or even just renovated the building must retain the same archetecture.  Our cruise line refers to Cadiz as "the Gateway to Seville".  Other cruise lines probably do the same.  The Cadiz Chamber of Commerce should be angry about this. Cadiz deserves to be celebrated on its own.  This morning we took a bus tour around this city of 150,000 people. We saw a nine kilometer long beach along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean that tourists flock to ever Spring and Autumn.  We drove by a large, beautiful Cathedral that sits next to a lovely Mosque built by the Moors that is now also a catholic church. We saw a bridge that the locals call the "hanging bridge" because it looks like it hangs in mid-air without any support and is the longest suspension bridge in Western Europe.  We heard about the locally produced Sherry Wine that is so loved the citizens of Cadiz think water is only used for showers. And finally, if that weren't enough, we saw the beach where Halle Berry walked out of the ocean in a stunning orange bikini to be met by James Bond with a mojito.  You get the picture.  We liked Cadiz.