SEPTEMBER 21ST BLOG#11

Blog 11 September 21^st 2012

We split up today, Ron, Sandy and Co headed out to catch the train to Seville and Paul and I putzed around Jerez. We had thought we would take the tourist train around town and see what else we wanted to explore, so we set off to the Plaza Arenal to catch it (the train, I mean, not the Plaza). As we  were a bit too early we decided to wait until the a later train and to visit the Alcazar and Cathedral first. We don’t do all Cathedrals in Spain, that would be very dry and dusty, but every few days we go and visit one and marvel at the sheer awesomeness of the buildings.

Alcazar

Alcazar Jerez

Alcazar

 The Alcazar dated to the 9^th or 10^th century, even they are not too sure, just that there was a fortress there before the Mudejars and they used the buildings stones to start their own fortress! There are remains of the original walls that surrounded Jerez all over the place, even here at our Hotel. I’m really glad we experienced the Banos Arabes in Priego, because it helps you picture how it must have been even though in front of you is a ruin.

Okay so off back we went to get the train………Problem…….some tour guide had come in and bought all the tickets for his group and there would not be another trip until 5PM. Alright, time to eat anyway. Off we walked back to the Casco Antiguo to find one of our favorite places to eat. (We have been here long enough to HAVE favorite places)! We had a lovely lunch and were serenaded by a Flamenco singer and a guy playing a keyboard. People are doing what they can to earn some money and get by. Things are tough here for a lot of people but I swear you would never know it when you see the people out walking and sittings at sidewalk cafes having a cup of coffee or wine watching the world go by.

Jerez Cathedral

After a siesta, we decided to try that damn train again! By the way, this siesta thing is very good for you, especially at our age. So off we went again, plodding up the main shopping area past the Plaza for the train. Now the girl tells us there has to be 8 people or no viaje! Crap, I’m losing my sense of humor and  getting a little ticked. There were 6 of us and then 2 left and then we all left. No train ride today. Cheryl, remember in Merida Paul and I had the same problem? It must have been his brother down here in Jerez!

We cut our losses stopped by a little store to buy a bottle of wine and headed back to the hotel to see if the other group was back. They trailed in really dragging, it had been 33 degrees in Sevilla and they were wiped out. We had a glass of wine with them, but they weren’t going very far this evening. There is a very pleasant  shady street near the hotel and they were setting up a little rastro (street market), it was kind of like a biggish yard sale. Like I said everyone is doing what they can to make some money. We wandered up and down. It had been quite hot and muggy during the day and now the breeze cooled everything down and it was lovely strolling around. Of course we had to eat again, so we stopped at an outside table. People watching has got to be one of the best pastimes there is, and sitting at a table with a glass of wine cannot be beaten! So civilized and relaxing. Old men and women, pretty young girls, young families with children, tourists with maps in their hands, the occasional nutter screaming at the world, combined with the delicious smell of tapas cooking and the sound of guitars and singers is for me the essence of Spain and why I love it so much. Even sitting watching the cars go by and taking bets on whether that woman can park that car in that tiny space is such fun! (By the way it took her 3 attempts to wedge her  tiny car into that space but it gave us 10 minutes of pure entertainment watching her!!)