El Puerto de Santa Maria and Cadiz

While resting on the extremely comfortable sofa in our new abode, I saw some movement out of the corner of my eye. Assuming it was a spider, I put my feet up on the couch and hoped the spider would scuttle away. Imagine my horror when the most enormous cockroach appeared on the arm of the sofa, right near my head. Naturally a blood curdling scream from yours truly was followed by a messy and brutal killing by Steve. It didn’t want to die, I can assure you of that, but eventually half a can of raid plus a battering with a shoe got rid of the unlucky cockroach. No more have been seen so far, but I remain on high alert.

The next day (as usual) we promised ourselves a lazy day, only to end up hitting the local pavements, exploring what the area had to offer and doing a 10 mile walk. As it turns out, our apartment is close to a very nice and long beach. The views here aren’t brilliant it has to be said, with a port and all its paraphernalia on one side and a Naval base on the other, but if you just look at the beach and also behind it, it’s lovely.

We walked all the way to Vista Hermosa which is very posh, and had drinks at a restaurant overlooking a very pretty bay. When we got home, we had a swim in the pool then went out to eat at a nearby….curry house. I know, but when you’ve eaten as much Iberico pork as we have, you’d understand.

And on to Cadiz. We decided to get the catamaran rather than drive. It takes about half an hour and is a great way of chilling out and enjoying the sea. It’s been nearly a year since we’ve enjoyed the delights of the sea and I’ve missed it. Plus no negotiating tiny little streets in a largish car and having to park in underground car parks that I have begun to hate with a passion.

We followed http://www.voyagetips.com’s itinerary for Cadiz and it was great. It took us to all the “must sees” in a logical order. It’s a very atmospheric old town, made even more so by knowing that Christopher Colombus made two of his voyages to the Americas from here. On the subject of CC, I rather like the fact that he had no idea where he was on some of his expeditions and thought Cuba was mainland China and Hispaniola was Japan. Sounds a bit like my sense of direction.

Without wishing to bore you with every detail, should you be in this sort of area, definitely visit Cadiz. It’s got an atmosphere of an ancient old port where all sorts of shenanigans went on, it’s got beautiful plazas and it’s also got beaches.

We caught the 16.45 catamaran back, stocked up on food, wine and beer on the way home and I am now lying on the sofa, relaxed, but with a can of Raid beside me, should any of Mr Enormous Cockroach’s relatives come looking for him.