Cadiz - Spain

We left Gibraltar behind and headed to Cádiz.  The luxuriant vegetation and green fields as we drove reminded me more of French Normandy than Spain.  Quite a change from the drier countryside I had seen so far during this trip.  I also noticed a heavy concentration of Parasol Pines everywhere along the road.  After a pleasant and sunny drive, the city suddenly appeared.  We only spent a few hours there but it was sufficient time to discover the place and to sample some of its astronomical delights.

The City of Cadiz

Cadiz Central Square



Cádiz, the oldest continuously inhabited city in Spain stands on a peninsula jutting out into a bay, and is almost entirely surrounded by water.  It was named Gadir by the Phoenicians, who founded their trading post there in 1100 BC.  It was later controlled by the Carthaginians, until it became a thriving Roman port.  It sank into oblivion under the Visigoths and Moors, but attained great splendour in the early 16th century as a launching point for the journey to the new lands of America.   Christopher Columbus sailed from Cádiz on his second and fourth voyages.   In the early 19th century Cádiz became the bastion of Spain's anti-monarchist, liberal movement.  The city has been a principal home port of the Spanish Navy since the 18th century.

Plaza San Juan de Dios - The Town Hall



Cadiz Architecture

Cádiz is, in most respects, a typically Andalusian city.  The older part of the city is commonly referred to as the Old Town.  It looks quite Moorish in appearance with its narrow cobbled streets opening onto small squares.  The city is dotted with numerous parks where exotic plants including giant trees supposedly brought to Spain by Columbus from the New World flourish.

The Narrow Streets of the Old Part of Cadiz

One of the Many Parks in Cadiz

In recent years, the city has undergone much reconstruction.  Many monuments, cathedrals, and landmarks have been cleaned and restored.  One of Cádiz's most famous landmarks is its cathedral.  It sits on the site of an older cathedral, which burned down in 1596.  The reconstruction of the new cathedral was not started until 1776, and was built over a period of 116 years.

The Cadiz Cathedral



The Main Entrance of the Cadiz Cathedral

As we wandered the streets, we ran into a wedding.  The guests all were waiting outside the church for the wedding party which arrived in a vintage car.  In typical Spanish fashion, no one objected my joining the crowd and taking some shots of the event.  They were even thrilled to know that the wedding images would make it all the way to Australia.

The Wedding Guests Waiting for the Bridal Party



The Bride and her father Arriving at the Church



Happy Smiles for the Special Day

I also visited a market place where a large noisy crowd gathers for lunch every day.  The people all stand around small tables and do what Spanish people do best; talk incessantly, eat great food and drink the local wine and beer that are served with an amazing speed from the many food outlets; each offering their specialties.

Tasty Lunch at the Market Place



Sharing Good Food with Good Friends

The gastronomy of Cádiz includes a heavenly combination of local seafood and local wine which is unique in Cádiz.  You will find there some of the best and freshest fish and shellfish in the world.  They are best eaten as simply cooked as possible: plain boiled shellfish (from tiny prawns up to lobsters), grilled or baked whole fish such as bass or bream, or deep fried with a light flour coating.

Fresh Seafood at the Market



Fresh Tuna

In most of the popular eating places which are heavily frequented by the locals, you have to squeeze in, claw your way along the seafood display, order by weight at the bar, and eat standing up if necessary.  The staff is funny and fast, and the food –squid, stuffed spider crabs, baby sole, langoustines etc.  is simply delicious.

Clients Waiting for Their Table



The Take away section of the Restaurant

We had lunch in one of these places.  The fresh tasty seafood, the noise of the bustling crowds inside, the sounds of a jazz quartet playing just outside the restaurant, the staff running with huge platters of piping hot food, the smells of the kitchen, local wine and beer and the typical Spanish atmosphere all contributed to a most memorable and delicious experience.

Assorted Fried Seafood for Lunch - Yumm

The Jazz Quartet Outside the Restaurant

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