Cadiz, Spain!

Early morning light, coming into port...

Cadiz Cathedral... photo taken from the ship

Cadiz Cathedral

Cadiz Cathedral

Ornate embellishments...

I think this is Christmas Cactus...

Low tide...

Flamenco dancer...

Flamenco...

Families enjoying a Sunday afternoon...

Mother Nature, was definitely having a menopausal moment, over the last couple of days! She rocked and rolled all the way from Ponta Delgada, Azores to Cadiz, Spain. Sustaining 48MPH winds, accompanied by 18 to 20ft. seas. The Nieuw Amsterdam, handled the conditions with dignity and grace. Listing at times, my sea worthy, thick legs, kept me well balanced. Hubby and I are very fortunate and have always survived rough waters, in more ways than one! We will be celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary in just a couple of weeks! 

We arrived in Cadiz about 7:30AM, May 12, 2013. It was Mother’s Day! The sun was rising in the east and the day looked promising. The temperature would rise to 77 degrees and the waters were finally tame. 

We had booked a walking tour through Holland America. A short ride into the center of Cadiz, we then exited the bus, near a lovely beach. Charo, our guide, explained the area and some of it’s history. Cadiz is a beautiful city rich in antiquity and architecture. It is located on the southern coast of Spain on the Atlantic. We will be passing by the Rock of Gibraltar about 2AM, Monday. Definitely won’t see it this time around! 

Visiting the magnificent Cadiz Cathedral, filled with priceless art, we were in awe. It took one hundred and sixteen years to build. There are 136 churches in Cadiz, according to Charo! Many of the buildings here, are built from oyster stone and are embellished with pink and black marble. 

It was Sunday and we were very lucky to hear many church bells ringing. Families were out and about, eating at many of the local outside cafes. Children, all dressed in their Sunday best for Mass. Some of the children were receiving first communion and others being baptized. Spain is a very religious country, deeply rooted in Catholicism!

We then attended a Flamenco Show at mid day, enjoying tapas and a glass of Spanish, red wine. My wish came true, and hubby was picked to learn traditional Flamenco. Hysterical, because I knew what was coming! Remember he is “The King Of The Chicken Dance.” When not sure of a step, he begins to flap his arms and click his fingers naturally, and he did just that. His excuse, he didn’t have on hard soled shoes!!!

Cadiz is a magical place and I was so honored to visit here! Yes, it was a beautiful and extremely memorable day! I could spend a great deal of time here and maybe some day I will...