BLOG: Our daily adventures,
Week 5: San Fernando to Parque natural Los Toruñoso
February 5th - 11th
- Day 29: February 5th - San Fernando to Cadiz - 16 km.
Morning view, fields of flowers.
Here you can sense the Spanish passion for soccer.
To reach Cadiz, we have to walk along the railway tracks on our left. Today, everything hurts: shoulders, knees, feet...we are feeling the 25km done yesterday...our mistake: loading ourselves with way too much food the previous day...every kg counts. Our bodies are complaining.
On our right though, beautiful sight of salt evaporation ponds mixed with the vibrant yellow blooming flowers everywhere.
When we talked about spiky bushes, here's what we had to deal with since the beginning of our trip...Spikes the size of a finger...We always have to be cautious not to damage our clothes or our tent..since those love to poke through everything.
Our trail, with in the background, the bridge leading to Puerto Real.. we will walk on it right after our break in Cadiz. We've decided to stay 4 nights in Cadiz, to rest our bones, clean ourselves, de-sand our gear and sort through our backpacks to get lighter!
Cadiz: on the shoreline, a succession of 4/5 stories buildings, quite ugly along the beach..until you reach the inner city.
Right before the main gate of the old city, this soccer field protected by the fortification walls!
On the other side of the walls, the city center, charming, beautiful and filled with life and people. It is the first " real" city on our way, people actually live there, such a big contrast with the ghost towns we've been experiencing until now. It's alive!
Palm trees everywhere in big city squares...exotic feeling
A masked cow, cheering us for the last few km we are doing to reach our booked accomodation..
"Ale hop"! Sounds almost alsacian!
"Ale hop"! Sounds almost alsacian!
The cathedral of Cadiz: magnificent, grandiose, finely carved sculptures, soft colors...beauty.
The cathedral was built over a period of 116 years from 1722 to 1838.
It used to be called "The Cathedral of The Americas" since the money necessary to build it came from the trade between Spain and America. Its edification started according to the plans of the architect Vicente Acero who had also designed the Cathedral of Granada. Several other architects worked on the erection of the cathedral throughout these 116 years. The cathedral ended up being a mixture of 3 different architectural styles: baroque, rococo and neoclassical.
Inside though the ceiling is slowly decaying, giant nets are spread out to prevent pieces of it to fall over the visitors.
The cathedral was built over a period of 116 years from 1722 to 1838.
It used to be called "The Cathedral of The Americas" since the money necessary to build it came from the trade between Spain and America. Its edification started according to the plans of the architect Vicente Acero who had also designed the Cathedral of Granada. Several other architects worked on the erection of the cathedral throughout these 116 years. The cathedral ended up being a mixture of 3 different architectural styles: baroque, rococo and neoclassical.
Inside though the ceiling is slowly decaying, giant nets are spread out to prevent pieces of it to fall over the visitors.
Coffee places, bars and patios are all open on this Saturday...we are so happy to see an active city.
Bubbles in the sun...a delight for the kids.
Feeding my man with a gigantic plate of chicken curry...he needs to gain some strenght.
Our new home for a few days...very welcoming!
We are in Cadiz!
16 km done!
For a total of 292 + 16= 308 km
16 km done!
For a total of 292 + 16= 308 km
- Day 30, 31, 32: February 6th - February 8th: Enjoying a small break in Cadiz.
Day 30: We are taking the morning to clean up our gear and enjoying the roof top of our new home. Casey's trying to dry our tent cover over the rooftop walls...unexpected surprise: wet white paint..we now have a tent branded with "Cadiz colours".
We go for a little stroll in the city and get lost in its many small alleys...
We go for a little stroll in the city and get lost in its many small alleys...
One of Cadiz many wonders, the Cascada y Puente elevado of the Parque Genovés: immediate refreshing effect in the hot sun.
The most beautiful street we've found in the city.
Day 31: Grilling our skins at the nearby city square with similarly grilled tapas as entertainment.
Our superstar today !
Peter, the photographer we've met 2 weeks ago, has donated for Innocence Lost Foundation. He also sent us stunning pictures of Tarifa's kitesurfers. We are grateful to have met him on our way. Thank you Peter for your generosity!
Peter also teaches photography, if you'd like to learn to take amazing shots like the 2 below, you can have a look on his website:
http://www.lebe-im-lot.de
Peter also teaches photography, if you'd like to learn to take amazing shots like the 2 below, you can have a look on his website:
http://www.lebe-im-lot.de
Flying kite surfer
Photo: Courtesy of Peter Stückler
Photo: Courtesy of Peter Stückler
kite surfer in action (Tarifa)
Photo: Courtesy of Peter Stückler
Photo: Courtesy of Peter Stückler
At night, all the cats are black. In the sunset everything turns yellow.
Nursing my guitalele until I find myself a ideal place to busk...today it is too windy.
The light touch of Casey!
Day 32: Roaming in the city, little stop at the market (loads of seafood), buying ourselves new soles for our hiking shoes, 2nd busking session for Celine, tuna treat at the restaurant La Marmita de Buenos Aires.
This cruise ship arrived this morning, higher than the buildings of Cadiz, a whole city in one boat...suddenly the streets are taken by waves of tourists coming from the harbour.
Two different ways of finding fresh fruits and vegetables in Cadiz: hanging on the door frames of a fruteria in the streets (above) or stacked up in the many competing stalls of the city market (below)
The must of Cadiz Mercado central: all the fresh fish and sea food you can dream off...Casey is salivating!
Shrimps and sea shells of all shapes and colours: some of them obviously still breathing, it twists my stomach.
In Cadiz, barely any cars..all the streets are narrow and therefore reserved to the pedestrians: an example to follow.
Palm trees at every corners and lining up plazas and streets...some call Cadiz: La havana of Spain.
Someone rolled a dice on the shoreline.
No, you can't eat money...
We are walking on the secular bridge leading to San Sebastian Castel.
At low tide, on both sides of the bridge, you can see how the ocean's carved the rocks on which it is built...poking holes everywhere.
Someone is trying to fish people with sandals as a bate.
50 shades of blue...
My little busking station for the passers-by and the people seating in a small cafe at la Plaza de las Flores.
- Day 33: February 9th - Cadiz to Parque natural Los Toruñoso - 16 km
First time seeing this on our way, we are supposed to start hiking the via Augusta until Sevilla. Let's hope the path is well indicated.
And bingo for Celine! Injury number two, a missed step while leaving our flat this morning...felt a slight crack..but could still walk to our next destination at the Park.
Leaves me thinking "stop whatever you are doing out there you dirty witches...sending bad vibes won't give you a better life and karma comes back 7 folds..so leave your voodoo doll alone and leave me be!"
Won't lose my smile for this!
We'll be staying there at the Park near the beach for a few days..until my ankle is back on semi-shape.
Leaves me thinking "stop whatever you are doing out there you dirty witches...sending bad vibes won't give you a better life and karma comes back 7 folds..so leave your voodoo doll alone and leave me be!"
Won't lose my smile for this!
We'll be staying there at the Park near the beach for a few days..until my ankle is back on semi-shape.
Our tent glowing fluorescent green with, in the background, Cadiz city lights...
We are in El Parque natural Los Toruñoso!
16 km done!
For a total of 308 + 16= 324 km
16 km done!
For a total of 308 + 16= 324 km
- Day 34 & 35: February 10th & 11th: Parque natural Los Toruñoso
First time cooking ourselves a meal: pasta pesto!
We are happy not to have carried all this in vain.
Casey is doing everyday a big stroll along the beach to bring back food from the next village El puerto de Santa Maria.
We are happy not to have carried all this in vain.
Casey is doing everyday a big stroll along the beach to bring back food from the next village El puerto de Santa Maria.
Our dining room with a sunset view...English version of the GREC method, the "Rice" protocol is back on for me: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.
Little reminder found on the shelf of the flat we've just left... l do need now some kind of magical speedy recovery: maybe if we all believe?