Day trip to Cadiz

Alarm at 7.30. I got to the bus station at 8.45 and bought my ticket to Cádiz for €18. I was confused because it didn’t show a return time, but I was told that they would change it at the other end. The amount was right. In Cádiz, a lot of people got off in the new, busy, high rise bit, but I stayed on and got off at the bus station. I checked the return times and it was 5pm and not 5.30. I went in search of the tourist office but couldn’t find it. So I just walked in the direction I thought the end of the point was. I bought some garlic bread, cheese and pate for lunch from a supermarket. After a bit more walking though shopping street and squares, and taking a photo of orange trees for James, I found the end of the point, and the sea. Hurrah!

I followed the road around to the left, and soon found Playa de Le Caleta, which wasn’t as nasty as the Rough Guide suggested. I found a spot and caught some rays. After 30 mins a side, I started to eat my lunch but had to run to the toilet. I finished my lunch in the shade above the beach and set off again. I walked out on the breakwall to the Castillo de San Sebastián but couldn’t go in. I took my second tourist photo of the day. On the way further around to the cathedral I took my third. The cathedral was wonderful and huge and crumbling but I couldn’t bring myself to pay the €4 to go in. I stuck my head around the door and think I saw enough anyway. I continued around to the Roman theatre, which I was looking forward to, and found it shut for siesta.

Not happy Jan! I went back to Cathedral Square and got some water and an ice cream, feeling much better after a lot of water.

Using the guided walk pamphlet I’d picked up at a kiosk on the beach, I walked through to the other side of the point, being surprised at how close it actually was. I made one last effort to find the tourist office, and succeeded – it was the big round grey thing on the nature strip between the footpath and the road. I went in and spoke to a lovely woman and asked where the bus station was – she showed me. I walked the short way through Plaza de España and back to the water, then to the bus station – 45 mins early. I ate some more, got on the bus and had a comfortable if warm (in sun) trip back to Sevilla. I bought some moisturiser at my favourite supermarket to treat my mild sunburn, and headed back to the hotel to rest – the heat was nearly unbearable. I wish I knew what the temperature was, but one of those time/temperature signs just wasn’t handy. I tried to ring some places to stay in Faro, but met either rudeness or engaged signals. In desperation I went out to go online but the hostel sites for both Faro and Lagos only let you book 3 days in advance. On the way back I got a burger and chips. Back at the hotel I tried the Faro hostel a few more times but gave up at 10.30 and went to sleep.