Cadiz
Jerez train station
While waiting for the train to Cadiz we enjoyed these tiled images in the station -
Jerez train station
Can you imagine this being in a US train station? A certain segment of a certain political party would have a fit!
Jerez train station
Images in train station
Jerez train station
He looks so chipper - this is not fair. At this point we have been traveling about 16 hours - one more to go...
Jerez train station
Trying to look chipper, but failing badly
Grace in a tree
Grace has never met a tree she couldn't climb, a post she couldn't swing around, a fence she couldn't hurdle...
Grace in a tree
And she is so good at it... must be she is part monkey -
Two little mermaids
The girls spent a lot of time in the bathtub. They have only a shower in Norway, so it has been a long time since they
Camiille & Grace by fountain
The Christians have managed to erase most of the Muslim heritage, but it shows up every now and then in mosaics & tiles
Camille
Camille has never met a leaf she didn't like
Camille
And given half a chance she will name it and add it to her growing collection. And, mourn over its death.
Camille, Grace & Yvette
There are several lovely gardens in Cadiz and flowers are abundant.
The tower
One of the first things we did was to climb the highest tower, aka the only tower, it being the bell tower of the cathed
Three belles
Three belles in the tower
5 bats
Five bats in the belfry
Dome
The dome of the cathedral
view from the tower
View from the tower - The harbor of Cadiz
The other tower
Across the way is the twin of the tower we are in.
Another view
Another view from the tower
More
And yet another view from the tower. It had a lot of arches/windows...
Looking down
It is really a long way down there!
Roof tops
Umbrellas and outdoor cafe's are everywhere, whether there is really room for them or not.
Three bells
Three bells in the toweer
Cadiz cathedral
The cathedral and its bell towers.
Grace in her new shirt
Choosing a new T-shirt was a really big deal, but eventually this one was chosen. It looks so svelte with the Nike shor
Flamenco dancer
It took Camille only a split second to decide on a red Flamenco dress...
Driving
Who would have known that Flamenco dancers drive race cars? Isn't it wonderful that you can go all the way to Cadiz and
Pigeons
Camille became obsessed with chasing pigeons, determined to catch one of those critters.
Arabic design
They didn't quite manage to erase all of that Moorish influence. It sneaks up and is just there when you least expect i
Street procession
Since we were there Easter Week, there was a different procession every night. Unfortunately, they were always after da
procession
The streets are packed for the processions. People, people everywhere.
Float
Finally, I got close enough to get a half way decent picture of the float. These things are huge and heavy. I don't kn
Float
In this view you can see the fresh flowers adorning the float as it moves through the streets (which Fran kept calling a
Grace on a stick
There's one of those poles I said she couldn't resist.
Camille
Every flamenco dancer needs a flower, don't you think? Especially if you are going to wear Alaska socks and tennies wit
The beltway
There is an actual street that goes all around the spit that is old town Cadiz. It seems out of place, but it helps if
Walking
Fran says we walked at least 4 miles a day...
Down in the digs
There are glass walkways that take you over and around the archaeologic digs that show the foundations and walls of the
More digs
The first people were the Phoenicians, then the Carthegenians, and the Romans, and the Moors, and finally the Spanish Ch
Cistern
I think this is one of the early cisterns.
More walls
This time, this one has a large ceramic vessel in it.
Digs and walls
To think that all of this was built before machinery and every stone block was hewn by hand.
Another vase
Another vessel in the ruins.
Roman Fresco
One of the Roman frescoes depicting a scene from their mythology
Tile picture
And now we are upstairs in the museum of the old cathedral with a depiction of Christ (I think that is who this is) - al
Clothes closet
Some very fancy garments and a pretty snazzy closet they are kept in.
The floats
Now we can get some close-ups of those floats that parade through the city streets during Easter week. They are all in
Main altar
The main altar of the old cathedral
More garb
More fancy garments. Not sure who wore these duds.
Vestments
Priestly garb. These guys really know how to dress.
Altar
Another altar in the cathedral
And another
This looks like a banner they carry in the processions - and the cross blocking the view.
Float
Now how is this for a float? I still can't figure out how they get these down the street. There is nothing motorized,
Dead guy
Ahhh, the obligatory dead guy. I think this was a saint, but since I don't read Spanish, I'm not sure.
Another float
There has to be 7 of these, I guess. One for each day of the week.
The last float
The crucifixion, so I assume this is the one that goes down the street on Good Friday.
Float
Another one. Not sure exactly what it is about, the sorrow of Mary, maybe?
Mary
Mary, the Queen of Peace. The candles are huge and they will all be lit as she goes in the procession on her night.
Another view
Another view of the same float.
Closer, yet
I kept getting closer - mainly be pushed that way by the crowd.
Mary
I've lost track - there were several of these in the same arena. Hmmm.
The silver
The silver and gold on these is almost overwhelming.
Mary
A different slant. The pillars holding the canopy are -- silver, of course!
Cathedral square
Grace and Steve discussing where we should eat next (probably) or maybe, when we are going to the beach-
The Finneys
The Finney family in front of the cathedral
Funeral
While we were milling about deciding what to do next, a funeral procession passed us.
Funeral
They walked sedately by, sometimes accompanied by what appeared to be just tourists.
Funeral
The women were all in black, in high heels, and the traditional mantilla.
Funeral
She must have been important, she lead the funeral procession.
Constitution Monument
The Spanish constitution originated in Cadiz and this monument commemorates its founding.
Constitution
The eternal flame and bas relief of the men who founded modern Spain
Beach
Since we were walking everywhere, we only got as far as la Caleta beach. The girls loved playing in the water and sand.
Beach
In the background you can see the walkway out to the castle of San Sebastian.
Beach
There were 3 young men practicing their gymnastics one day. I managed to get one of them in mid-air as he twisted and t
Beach
Sun bathing in Spain is much different than sun bathing in the US. Poor Francis had stayed home this day and missed his
Grace's shirt
The design on Grace's T-shirt. It says everything about Cadiz, the mosaics and the Spanish bull.
Easter morn
Can you believe it? The Easter Bunny managed to find these girls! They were plenty worried that they would be left out
Garden
The girls by a fountain in a huge garden that runs along the sea wall. Our flamenco dancer is losing one of her ruffles
Garden playground
Now here is something everyone goes to Spain to do! There is a really nice playground with swings, a bouncy-area, go-ca
garden
A great tree. It may serve as inspiration, later.
Garden
We aren't sure who he is talking to....
Garden
Under the cool man-made water feature in the garden. A little father/daughter moment
Garden
On the other side of the water feature. The Finney femme fatales.
Garden
Fran proving he was there - in front of the garden water feature!
Santa Catalina Castle
At one end of La Caleta beach is Santa Catalina Castle. The first thing Camille did upon entry, was dump the snack food
SC Castle
In the entry are an old anchor and weight
SC Castle
The girls quickly discovered that Camille's bum just fits in the hold of the stone weight.
SC Castle
And this is just Grace being Grace and Camille being Camille.
SC Castle
Fran walking down the fortress wall to one of the outposts. These people were serious about protecting their goods.
Santa Catalina Castle
The front of the castle as you approach it from la Caleta beach. It is a defensive bastion dating to the start of the 1
SC Castle
A view looking up at the wall from the sea (sort of - I didn't actually get in the Atlantic at this point.)
SC castle
Another view of the wall of the fortress showing all the little fishing boats anchored nearby. Actually this is a tiny
SC Castle
And, here are more of them. These people like to fish and they do it night and day.
San Sebastion Military Fortress
At the opposite end of la Caleta beach is the military fortress of San Sebastion. It is a long way out there and the se
San Sebastion
You can see the front, and only, entrance to San Sebastion in this photo.
San Sebastion
After that long walk out there the doors were bolted. This is a view of the inside taken from the outside, looking thro
San Sebastion
Looking back at Cadiz from San Sebastion, so I guess the drenching was worth it, but I'm still weighing the running part
San Sebastion
See that little wave breaking against this walkway 7/8ths of the way down? That's where the waves get you! This just h
Near the beach
Here's another of those wonderful old knarly trees with the great roots. The people plant a flower everyplace there is
Museum
The girls and the two Phoenician sarcaphogas that led to the extensive excavations in Cadiz.
Museum of Cadiz
Grandpa Fran, Grace and some old people..
Museum
Gpa Fran, Grace and a Roman god
Museum
Some of the wonderful amphorae recovered from the excavations in Cadiz
Museum
More wonderful amphorae from the excavations
Museum
And, those ancients made some wonderful pots and urns, too.
Museum
Grace looks over some of the artifacts and such dealing with the Constitution of Spain
Museum
Not sure what this is or why I took it, but I must have had something in mind. Maybe it will come back later....
Museum
This is one old lion with one young girl
Museum
This is Mr. Bones. He was uncovered in the excavations, too, so he is right at home here.
Museum
And, here we have the whole gang, minus one photographer, with Hercules. According to Roman myth, Cadiz was founded by
Soccer game
Almost all of our meals were eaten in outdoor cafes and one particular evening some kids had a soccer game going nearby.
Camille's gang
While Grace was involved with her soccer game, Camille was making her set of friends, too.
Camille & friends
They all seem to know what they are doing - must be on the hot trail of a pigeon.
Camille & friend
These two seemed to get along just fine, regardless of language difficulties. Maybe having your doggies along helps?
Camille attracts a boy
Steve says this is only the beginning of a long siege as Camille attracts another little boy friend.
Small old church
A very old little church boasted several of Goya's early paintings. Unfortunately, they were too high and too poorly li
Goya painting
And, here is another.
Small church
She may appear to be the picture of devotion, but this really all about a new little house for the doggies.
Pigeon feeding
Camille was sure she was going to catch one of these birds before the stay was over
Pigeon feeding
And, she was persistent.
Beach
Our last day on the beach was cold and windy, but that didn't stop Grace. She tried to play paddle ball with a wad of p
Beach
One of two sand sculptures
Beach
The artist and his work
Beach
A closer look at the mermaid caring for the fish
Home
The Jerez airport and the trip home begins. About 18 hours later we are finally home.