me encanta Cadiz

I'm going to keep this short and sweet (I hope) and let the pics speak for themselves. I was told by more than 1 person that I had to come to Cadiz (including Pepe the architect who drew me a map on a bar napkin) and immediately upon seeing the view as I exited the train station I agreed, it was a must visit.

I wandered into town and found a cute street with a cute cafe to have some coffee before making my way to el museo de cadiz (without getting lost!) which happens to sit on a fabulous tree-filled square. I spent some time there both practicing my Spanish comprehension and learning about the long amazing history of this peninsula. Many say that Cadiz was the first European city, dating back prior to the Phoenicians. The bulk of the buildings here now are from the 17th and 18th centuries and I had to restrain myself from taking way too many pictures.

After el museo I decided to walk the coast around the peninsula. The 1st pic in this entry was one of my 1st coastal views (on the north side) and I had a hard time tearing myself away.

I continued walking counterclockwise until I found a perfecly positioned cafe for lunch. The 2nd pic was my view while I drank my vino blanco and ate olives, gazpacho y una tosta con solomillo y dos quesos. Perfect lunch.

I continued my walk with a short side trip out to San Sebastian and some people watching (and rock collecting for my mom) at Playa de la Caleta. I brought my bathingsuit at Pepe's suggestion but decided to finish my loop before lounging around. Eventually I did make my way back to la playa, into my bathingsuit, and soon learned it was a topless beach. Ha!

Once I had enough sand pasted to my body I returned to the cathedral, got some ice cream, and just sat for a while enjoying the music, the people, and, of course, the cathedral (see pic #3). Before heading to the train station I took one last walk along the coast which produced picture #4 (and allowed me to see some boys catch and kill a massive fish - lovely).

Now I'm on the train back to Sevilla and trying to decide if I should shower and go out tonight or shower and chill so I can run along the river in Sevilla tomorrow morning. I'm leaning toward that run (and getting some sleep finally). I have 5.5 more weeks to party, right?

I'm also debating a challenge posed to me by Jim A. Jim does a significant amount of traveling alone and has suggested that I turn off my phone, all internet, and all communication with home (including blogging and twitter), with no exceptions, for 3 days.

I am getting more comfortable as the days go on and look at my ability to communicate more as fun and less as a security blanket. That being said, I'm considering trying this suggestion (but maybe for 24 hours and we'll see where I go from there) just out of a bit of curiosity to see how I handle it.

Maybe tomorrow, my last day in Sevilla, would be a good start?