17 April, Day 102. Cadiz, Spain

During the night we passed the Pillars of Hercules and the Straits of Gibraltar and entered the North Atlantic Ocean. At dawn we were off the port of Cadiz, having passed the area of Trafalgar. The pier is commercial and this morning there are 3 cruise ships tied up, but one is being refurbished and is empty of passengers (Iberia Cruises Grand Celebration). The other is a Royal Carribean. A very windy day with onshore wind which provided cool and fresh air. Armed with a map this time, we entered the city and again found ourselves in narrow streets (1 car wide) with 5 or 6 story buildings. Overhead are balconies, mostly ornate, and often an open door or iron gate that gives a glimpse of inner courtyards.

Monument of 1812

typical street

typical building, office or apartments w/ Holy Week banner

This is Palm Sunday of Santa Semana and the city is getting ready for the celebration of the year. In the afternoon there will be religious processions from churches throughout the city, leading to the Cathedral. People will be dressed and many in special finery. Male procession participants wear robes and conical headgear with hoods with eye holes that look like our KKK outfits. These are old style, before our KKK and are to provide anonymity for the wearer, as it is a great honor to carry the cross or relics or participate in the processional and one should not be personally  recognized for participating. The processions were to begin about 1600 in the afternoon and arrive at the Cathedral at about 1800 which made it too difficult for us to be able to enjoy.

We found many shops open which was a surprise and residents were out enjoying the sunny Sunday. We wandered up and down narrow streets and came upon a small chapel called Oratory of La Santa Cueva was advertising its' artwork by González, Velázquez and Goya so we popped in and just the three of us had a nice long look at the sculptures and paintings in the tiny high chapel. An unexpected adventure it was. The location is Calle Rosario 10-A .

In the Oratory

We emerged into a larger square filled with shops, flower stalls and cafes then worked our way down the busy street to the square with the Cathedral and popped into another church to see the ornate altars and processional finery. At the top of the hill was the esplanade and a great view of the city waterfront and beaches.

Remember Trafalgar

In a church by the Cathederal

waterfront

Back into the neighborhood, past the ruins of the Roman theater, down San Juan de Dios, a zig zag and we sat down at a table in a narrow street in front of a small restaurant called Sablon. Our selection was three Tapas offering of the day, a couple of salads and Spanish beer. During lunch we watched as a lady 5 storys up lowered a basket to the street to receive a parcel then hauled it back up to her balcony. Boys came by with a ball and kicked it around the intersection a bit. Pigeons hopped about looking for bread crumbs. From everywhere came an occasional muted peal of church bells.

another street view

football during our lunch

restaurant Sablon

Back up the same street we had visited earlier to find the olive seller and after scoring a jar of olives for us and a couple of packages of dates for our room stewards we strolled back to the ship. Again, the processions would have been fun to see but the afternoon was late. At 7pm there was a flamenco show in the ship's theater which was an outstanding performance and which played to a packed house.

Cathederal

ice cream break

father and son going to procession, boy is carrying his hat

more street views

a couple of families having lunch

a boy in his processional garb

The ship left port at 2200 with a brisk wind right on the bow. We slid straight off the pier using the thrusters and azipods, then backed deeper into the basin until our stern was just off a moored freighter, and we were lined up with the narrow basin entrance. We slowly moved forward and out of the basin in another impressive feat of seamanship. The waiting tugs were not needed.

Www.cadiz.es