Jerez, and it was closed.

Today we were still in Jerez, taking a leisurely walk to look at our planned itinerary sights. They were closed. The bull ring is being prepared for the big Feria de Cabello next week, so it was closed. We moved on to the Plaza Mamelon and the Palacio Domencq. This has been the family home of the Domencq family for generations. Old man Pedro virtually started the sherry industry in Jerez, became a very wealthy man in doing so and was even awarded the noble title of Marques for his efforts. It is still the main family residence and at certain times guided tours are conducted by certain family members themselves. But not today unfortunately.

No worries, we walk down the street a short distance to have a look at the Clausteros de Santo Domingo, a medieval convent with a reputedly beautiful Gothic cloister. We'll just have to take their word for it that they are all they are cracked up to be, 'cause this was closed too. "Mañana" was the word used by the staff lady as it is so often in Jerez. It was not turning out to be a real productive day thus far and as these things happen, the trend continued.

We grabbed a bite of lunch and headed over to the Alcazar which we missed out on yesterday. And guess what, it was closed again today when we got there. We will be trying again tomorrow, so maybe third time lucky.

Jerez being famous for its sherry wineries we had a few in mind to try, the first being Tio Pepe. It is located virtually across the street from the Alcazar so we had no trouble finding it. I just wanted to buy a bottle of their sherry but that is not the way it's done apparently. You pay anything from 16 euros just to enter the place up to a whopping 36 euros for the full guided tour in English with a complete rundown on how its made and what makes theirs the best and all the rest of it. All I wanted was a bottle of blonk with maybe a glass of it beforehand for which I was willing to pay, but that was entirely beyond them. It is a far cry from the cellar door practices we are used to in Rutherglen. So we didn't go to the famous sherry wineries of Jerez either. In the event we walked around the next corner and straight into a fortuitously placed sherry bar. There were bottles and bottles of the stuff available for selection on the walls, and behind the bar large casks of Cream, Amontillado, Pedro Ximenez and many other sherry varieties. The man poured us a glass of our selection directly from the casks (2 euros) and we quickly settled on a very nice Pedro. We bought a bottle (which I am drinking as I write) of same for a very reasonable 12 euros. Job done. Now why couldn't Tio Pepe do that.

With the very slightest of staggers to our step we ventured for a quick look at the Ingresa de San Miguel. It's a 15th century church that wasn't compiled till the 17th century, so there are quite a few architectural styles melded into its ultimate design. Ticketed entry of course, but frankly I'm a bit churched out so I let Jackie go in by herself. She shot the photos this time.

One of the all time favourite daughters of Jerez was the world famous dancer and performer, Lola Flores. She was baptised right there in the San Miguel church in fact. There is a memorial statue to her just a block away from the church. It is a semi-nude representation of her (that's not how she dressed by the way) and cleverly positioned in a classical flamenco dance posture.

We had in mind to hit a couple more sherry wineries after that, but the procedure is too foreign to me. And the hefty price to just walk in the door settled the matter in the negative. We went home and had a rest before dinner.

Piccies below if the internet is working again. It's been a bit flaky lately for some reason.

 The old bull ring in Jerez, but closed due to work happening in preparation for the Feria.

Some of the more famous livestock to have been fought here. 

Nice that they sometimes got a memorial.

  

The neatly trimmed Plaza Aldo.

You can see the trimming guy at work ion the background.

A statue to the Festia de Cabello.

The horses are feted and honoured with decoration.

Carriages and riders are all liveried in a classical spanish traditional style.

 The Palacio Domencq, with old man Pedro in front with his progeny.

Monument to Loa Flores.

Jackie getting in on the act too.

The fountain in the Plaza de Mamelon was influenced by those things they draw wine from casks with.

 Some of the current fashions available in Jerez leading up to the Feria.

This can't be the real one, can it?