Cadiz - ocean views and the mid trip slump

We arrived in Cadiz and saw our first ocean views from the taxi. Staring out across the Atlantic there isn't much in the way before you hit the east coast of America. I came to Cadiz for its history (continuously inhabited since Phoenecian times), the ocean views and its proximity to the sherry triangle. Our accomodation was OK, bright and spacious but lacking in amenties and in a very busy square. The main source of noise was the cafe straight out the front door but they made up for it a bit with good breakfasts - tostada (toasted roll) with salmorojo (a soup/dip/spread of tomato, bread and garlic) that i've become quite partial to. That first afternoon was a wander to orient ourselves and to disover that Cadiz a) doesn't feel particularly Spanish, b) is not very big and c) full of day tourists from the cruise ships that dock there frequently. But considering its history, geography and large port, is not really surprising.

I developed a rotten head cold which made the next day's adventures a bit challenging. Jerez de la Frontera is the home of a number of big sherry bodegas (where they mature sherry in the barrel in huge sheds called bodegas) and one of the biggest is Gonzales Byass. After a mix up with train tickets we arrived in time for the 5pm tour and tasting. This is after killing time in Cadiz and visting the Cathedral and Roman Ampitheatre ruins which had a good interpretation centre on top of them. But, sherry. Two and a half hours of sherry. it was quite interesting and there were 3 tours running simultaneously in English, Spanish and German. Then the tasting of 4 sherries - I quite liked the Croft Cream - and exit through the gift shop to stock up on kitch souvenirs.

One more day in Cadiz before decamping to Granda and we just wandered. Being a Sunday not much was open so I followed the coastal walk from the old city gates to the park not far from our accomodation. One last thing to do and that was to try the seafood Cadiz is famous for. At a popular restaurant we had the local speciality of fried sea anemone (tasted like oysters), octopus on potato and best of all simply fried sole with a fresh little side salad. So that was Cadiz really. I find there's usually some place on a trip you don't exactly jive on (like Danag for me last year) or have the mid trip slump. At least it had ocean views...