Cadiz
Marita3
Mark & Helen Syrett
Mon 1 Jul 2013 16:18
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We had a longer stay in Cadiz than planned due to
the levanter that blew us through the Straits of Gibraltar and which then
continued for 9 days. The effect is far reaching and Cadiz was very windy with
winds in excess of 30 knots every day. We escaped after 4 days
and crossed the wind line to the north west towards Lagos.
If one is to be storm bound then Cadiz is not
a bad place to be although the marina was a little remote from the city
centre.
We walked into town and through the walls of the
old city
  there were very attractive narrow streets and
squares
 a teacher organizing children playing
 and many places to eat the ''menu de dia'' at
lunchtime---a relic from the past when all restaurants had to provide an
afforadble 3 course lunch so that none of the workers would go hungry. We went
to Casa Lazo
 and then visited the Cathedral
 it was in need of substantial repair------a net was
strung across below the roof to catch the pieces of masonry and plaster that
were falling off
 the best preserved part was the crypt
  and the robing room
 The Lonely Planet recommended a trip up the
''Camera Obscura'' tower so we booked our place for the English speaking guide.
There are many watchtowers in the city and they
were used by the merchants to watch out for their trading ships returning across
the Atlantic. When sighted they would raise flags to announce their impending
arrival
  the tower that houses the camera is the tallest in
Cadiz. The views from the top were wonderful. To the North East
 to the North West
 to the South West
 to the South East
 The camera itself gave a live time 360 degree view
of the City with the guide explaining the history of Cadiz (no flash photgraphs
allowed in the darkened room).
There were also some good maps/pictures on
display
  and then we returned to the boat, heads down into
the howling wind, passing the statue of the lady gazing out to
sea-----waiting for her loved one to return perhaps?
 On another day we went to the market
  an abundance of fish
 fresh vegetables
 and fruit
 and on the way back to the boat passed the post
office with it's two letter boxes
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