On Sunday 29th April we were in Cadiz where we walked around the city and dodged the showers.
Our cruise to the Azores, Madeira and the Iberian Peninsular would take us to Ponta Delgada, Praia da Vitoria, Funchal, Cadiz, Malaga and finally to Gibraltar
Arriving in Cadiz
The Captain explained that Arcadia had experienced unforecast gusts of at least 25 knots as she was entering Cadiz. The temperature was below 15C and we had rain forecast for the afternoon.
The sunrise, however, was spectacular.
Breakfast again in the lower Meridian restaurant. Once off the ship we crossed the dock area and then walked out into the city of Cadiz. We had to cross a series of busy roads before we reached the Plaza Espana. In the Plaza was a large memorial, statues and gardens At the side was the road that ran around the outside of the city.
And the rain came
As we walked the promised rain came early and the heavens opened.
We sheltered in the doorway of a bank until the rain had passed.
We then turned into the city and followed the roads until we came to the Cathedral Square.
The cafes and shops were just opening and were sorting out their tables and chairs. Past the cathedral we came to the promenade on the opposite side of the city to where Arcadia was docked.
Along the promenade
We walked along the promenade with the Cathedral behind us.
The promenade had a cycle lane marked out with clear warnings that cycles took precedence over mere pedestrians.
At one of the turns of the promenade we could see a collection of boxes below us on the rocks. On closer examination we realised that these boxes were there for the feral cats that we could see sunning themselves on the rocks.
On my return home I discovered that this building is one of Charlie Waites’s images. I just captured this cyclist and not the ‘prow’ of the building.
Further down the promenade we past a building and there we met a blast of cold wind. This was our signal to turn back towards the Cathedral.
Lots of Spyders
Once at the Cathedral we crossed and went back into the square again. Now there were lots of cars parked parked to the side of the Cathedral. By the time we reached the cars the rain came again and we joined everyone else sheltering under the awnings of the nearby cafes. Across the side of the square we could see a small bar and we dashed over there and ordered two coffees and waited for the rain to stop again.
I joined the stream of people taking pictures of the cars. They were a collection of Fiat and Seat produces Spyders. These were from the era that Fiat worked with Seat before they became part of the Volkswagen Group.
The flea market
After I had taken my pictures we followed another road out of the square and came to the covered market. As it was Sunday the market was closed but nearby around the Post Office a flea market was in full swing.
The goods on offer were an eclectic collection of junk mixed with old toys, broken office equipment, shoes and even DVDs of porn.
We walked past to the next square and called at a small supermarket and picked up some danish pastries.
This road then lead us to the sea wall further round from the from the ship’s dock. We met our friends off the ship walking in the opposite direction and swapped advice on where to go next.
Lunch
Further along past the sea wall we came to the restaurant where we had eaten on an earlier visit to Cadiz.
The restaurant didn’t open for a further 10 minutes and we decided to wait. Once it opened the restaurant’s bar area soon filled up and we then we were just one of the many customers trying to get the attention of the bar staff. I had written our order on a napkin and was looking forward to a pizza.
After a 30 minute wait I was handed a gazpacho prawn covered in sea salt and oil. At this point I should have sent it back (or at least tried to) but by the time I realised I had the wrong the meal the waiter had gone.
Our other meal, a lasagne, came 15 minutes later and I was able to share some of this.The bar area was jammed with customers by now sitting at tables, sitting at the bar or simply queuing to grab any seat. Clearly this was a very popular lunch venue.
We left disappointed in the meals, the long wait and the prices that we were charged. Last time we had eaten there it was much later in the day and the restaurant was almost empty.
Back to the ship
Once back on the sea wall we walked back towards the port area.
Once inside the terminal, we joined fellow passengers and crew taking advantage of the fast wi-fi service.
Worldwide Pinhole Day
The 29th was Worldwide Pinhole Camera Day. I picked up my pinhole lens, a 50 mm lens and my tripod and headed back off the ship.
I chose to go back to the nearby the Plaza Espana with the the Monument to the Constitution of 1812. Here is my image of the day using the pinhole lens.
Plaza Espana
Back using my nifty 50 mm lens.
On the way back I took pictures of the giant padlock structure in the middle of a roundabout. Further along there was another structure and then I waited by a bus stop before finally going back on board.
I timed my return to be able to watch the film ‘The Post’ which had been the film shown before in the Viewing Room. It was an excellent movie covering the publication of the Pentagon papers by The Washington Post and the troubles with the White House that that caused.
Evening in Cadiz
Everyone was back on board by 7 pm and while we were getting ready for dinner the ship sailed.
We went to the Crows Nest for our pre-dinner drinks and were surprised to find a mini-orchestra literally blasting out their music. Nowhere was safe in the bar from this and the noise was so loud that it made conversation almost impossible.
Dinner was Waldorf Salad, a chicken with stuffing followed by ice-cream.