Puerto Sherry (Cádiz)

Pyxis
Karen & Richard
Mon 7 Apr 2008 00:00

Monday 7th April – Puerto Sherry (Cádiz)

36:34.792N 6:15.255W

 

Last night we were flicking around the local TV channels and saw one showing Flamenco.  We looked a little closer and then thought ‘We recognise that…’.  Sure enough there was the end of the performance we watched last week in Rota.  We had seen someone making a video but didn’t realise it was for TV.

 

Richard got up early to take advantage of a lull in the wind to get the roller genoa down.  He wants to inspect the sun strip which is showing some more signs of wear but taking it down will also help reduce wear-and-tear, and windage, in the strong winds due over the next few days.

 

We decided it was time to visit Cádiz.  Mid morning we cycled the short distance to El Puerto de Santa María with Peter and Carola from Moonshadow and caught the fast ferry across the Bay to Cádiz.  As we cycled it was heavily overcast and started raining – we hoped for just a shower but it seemed to go on a bit.

 

As we came into Cádiz the ferry took us past the marina Puerto América at Cádiz, which is on the end of the commercial docks, giving us a chance to look at the entrance in case we take Pyxis in there at some point.  A couple of large passenger liners were in Cádiz today.  We instantly recognised one of them as the ‘Arcadia’ – the P&O cruise ship we did our passage through the Panama Canal on a couple of years back. 

 

After a stop for coffee we headed off into town by cycle, trying to dodge the rain.  There are wonderful narrow streets in Cádiz and lots of nice looking clothes and shoe shops that I had to resist.  We came across the impressive looking Cathedral amidst it all.  We carried on to the temporary structure housing the market whilst the old building is being rebuilt.  As it was coming up to lunchtime many of the stalls were beginning to close.  However, as we walked down one of the aisles we bumped into Gavin and Cath from Blue Elephant who we had last seen in Lagos – they are staying in Cádiz at Puerto América for a few days waiting for the weather to improve to allow them around to Gibraltar

 

We carried on through town and out on the narrow causeway that crosses to Castillo de San Sebastián.  The wind was quite strong out of the shelter of the city and the sea not looking welcoming.  At times it was difficult to cycle along the path; the rain had abated by now – it was sea spray wetting us. 

 

Next we visited the Castillo de Santa Catalina on the west coast before heading back through the City to the Plaza España and the Momumento a las Cortes.  On the way we passed some giant rubber trees and the Gran Teatro Fallo (theatre).  We stopped at the Carrefour Express for a few provisions and promptly bumped into Cath and Daz from Linsy Lea who we had last seen in Villamoura.  They are travelling with Blue Elephant so we shall probably catch up with both boats in Gibraltar.

 

We caught the ferry back to El Puerto de Santa María and then headed on back to base, with Richard stopping to get a few final items in town. 

 

This evening I have made some soup – carrot soup with ginger, making use of the microwave.  Richard has been out again tracking down some (very elusive) rosemary for dinner tomorrow.