Today the Liberty of the Seas pulled into the Cadiz dock at 10:00 AM. Cadiz is situated on a sliver of land that was jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean. After a nice healthy breakfast (The Three Bear Special) we headed down the dock toward the famous Walls of Cadiz , built during the 17th century. Cadiz may be the oldest inhabited city in the western world with more than 3000 years of history. Christopher Columbus departed from Cadiz on two of his voyages with one of those voyages discovering the Americas. By the 18th century, Cadiz had become the wealthiest port in Western Europe, importing gold and silver form the New World and exporting local specialties, cork and sherry.
It was another picture perfect day of 74 degrees with nice breezes blowing. Cadiz is situated on a peninsula with the famous "old" wall running between the Atlantic Ocean and the city. We walked to the Plaza de Espana featuring beautiful architecture and monuments before actually walking through the parks and taking in the ocean views along the wall.
The old wall is behind me.
Plaza de Espana
The walkway along the wall....the wall is keeping the Atlantic Ocean (to the right) out of the city.
Larry needed a rest from all the walking.
The old city wall offers many panoramic views. Fish of good size could be spotted in the clear blue water. The delightful aroma of spring flowers could be smelled all along the wall. We stopped at a sidewalk cafe to quench our thirst and then continued on to have lunch at the beach, Playa de la Caleta. Many people were out enjoying the sun and the water. After lunch we continued on to the Cathedral, one of the many architechturally notable buildings that was finished in the 19th century.
Several construction styles are evident of the Cathedral due to the phases and influences at the time that it was being built. The Cathedral was built with gold from the New World. We enjoyed having free WIFI on the steps of the Cathedral.
The streets of Cadiz are brick cobblestoned and most traffic runs beside the wall walkway. Other small allys traversed through the middle of the town with lots of shops and sidewalk restaurants with tables, unbrellas, and chairs.
One that we stopped at had an accordian player serenading the tables of people eating. Above the shops are several floors of apartments with the short veranda double doors that are typical European style....the kind that you can walk out on but are not roomy enough to place a chair.
Walking toward the Cathedral Dome.
Several construction styles are evident of the Cathedral due to the phases and influences at the time that it was being built. The Cathedral was built with gold from the New World. We enjoyed having free WIFI on the steps of the Cathedral.
The streets of Cadiz are brick cobblestoned and most traffic runs beside the wall walkway. Other small allys traversed through the middle of the town with lots of shops and sidewalk restaurants with tables, unbrellas, and chairs.
Narrow alley
One that we stopped at had an accordian player serenading the tables of people eating. Above the shops are several floors of apartments with the short veranda double doors that are typical European style....the kind that you can walk out on but are not roomy enough to place a chair.
Here we heard the most musical birds sing from cages out on the verandas. These allys ran continually throughout the inner parts of Cadiz. Occasionally a motor bike or a small car would run through the ally scurring the pedistians to the sides. There was hardly enough room for the people to get out of the way for the car to come through. All of the cars that we have seen are very small, no SUVs or vans.
It was scenic as the sun changed postions during the afternoon and it was unique to watch the shops reopen at 5:00 as the owners returned from their 2:00 PM siesta closing. Banks closed at 2:00 for the day. The post office reopened at 5:00 and remained open until 8:30 in the evening.
On our walk back to the port we noticed two others ships that had docked as well as ours...Holland America and Aidablu.
As the ship pulled away from the dock at 8:30, the sun was setting showing multiple shades of orange and red and pink...picture perfect. At midnight tonight the Liberty of the Seas will be passing the Rock of Gibralter, the narrow eight mile pass between Spain and Morroco.
It was scenic as the sun changed postions during the afternoon and it was unique to watch the shops reopen at 5:00 as the owners returned from their 2:00 PM siesta closing. Banks closed at 2:00 for the day. The post office reopened at 5:00 and remained open until 8:30 in the evening.
On our walk back to the port we noticed two others ships that had docked as well as ours...Holland America and Aidablu.
As the ship pulled away from the dock at 8:30, the sun was setting showing multiple shades of orange and red and pink...picture perfect. At midnight tonight the Liberty of the Seas will be passing the Rock of Gibralter, the narrow eight mile pass between Spain and Morroco.
No comments:
Post a Comment