Jerez

We took the train from Seville to Jerez de la Frontera, our next destination, and settled in for a nice leisurely ride. Big mistake, because in so doing we damned near missed our stop. It's the next station along and less than an hours travel on these Spanish  trains. There was no announcement and if it hadn't been for Jackie casually reading the signs on a station we happened to stop at, we probably would have ended up in Cadiz. Some frantic activity and literally throwing our luggage from the train to the platform we disembarked the train in a gracious and composed manner, not. The taxi driver who took us to our accomodation was happy to point out places of interest along the way, particularly the Sherry wineries. Did you know it was invented right here in Jerez?

And do you remember me saying how we would be here during the Feria de Cabello the Horse Festival? That starts next week and we will be miles away by then. Some time between when we looked up the dates last year and now, the dates changed. DOH !!! Quite disappointing but not to worry. The world Formula 1 Motor Cycle race is being held here instead, so there is still plenty of activity around town.

In the interests of diversifying our accomodation styles, this time we are staying in a holiday apartment. Again it is the old part of town (we don't vary that bit) and it looks like everybody else's place who live in the town of Jerez. In the pictures you will notice the houses in general front directly onto the street. So how can they have a front garden? Well, they can't, so the garden has been moved inside the house. Look through any front door and you will probably see a picturesque courtyard (here called a patio) with the house built around it.

Our landlords, Mercedes and her husband, could not have been nicer or more helpful. They even suggested areas where the best and cheapest restaurants are located and where the bars put on Flamenco shows for free at certain times. Local knowledge when you are travelling into strange places is just invaluable, isn''t it?

We went for a walk around town. Jerez is quite small and easily managed on foot. We had a quick bite of lunch on the way (it was arWe took the train from Seville to Jerez de la Frontera, our next destination, and settled in for a nice leisurely ride. Big mistake, because in so doing we damned near missed our stop. It's the next station along and less than an hours travel on these Spanish  trains. There was no announcement and if it hadn't been for Jackie casually reading the signs on a station we happened to stop at, we probably would have ended up in Cadiz. Some frantic activity and literally throwing our luggage from the train to the platform we disembarked the train in a gracious and composed manner, not. The taxi driver who took us to our accomodation was happy to point out places of interest along the way, particularly the Sherry wineries. Did you know it was invented right here in Jerez?

And do you remember me saying how we would be here during the Feria de Cabello the Horse Festival? That starts next week and we will be miles away by then. Some time between when we looked up the dates last year and now, the dates changed. DOH !!! Quite disappointing but not to worry. The world Formula 1 Motor Cycle race is being held here instead, so there is still plenty of activity around town.

In the interests of diversifying our accomodation styles, this time we are staying in a holiday apartment. Again it is the old part of town (we don't vary that bit) and it looks like everybody else's place who live in the town of Jerez. In the pictures you will notice the houses in general front directly onto the street. So how can they have a front garden? Well, they can't, so the garden has been moved inside the house. Look through any front door and you will probably see a picturesque courtyard (here called a patio) with the house built around it.

We took a walk around town. Jerez is really quite small, flat and can be easily handled on foot. We stopped off for a quick bite of lunch, it being just after 4pm. Rather Spanish of us I thought. After a rather tasty chicken and rice paella washed down with sangria, and walked over to the Alcazar of Jerez. It was closed at that time, but we will get our chance tomorrow no doubt. We moved on only a couple of streets to the Cathedral and bell tower. Built in the 17th century on the ruins of previous churches and mosques it is a pastiche of Gothic, Baroque and Neo-Classical designs. Ticketed entry helps maintain the church so we don't begrudge them that. Our ticket also permits us to climb the bell tower outside in the close. That looks like damned hard work but we will look again sagely at that possibility in the clear light of the morrow. Some piccies for you.

Our holiday apartment. Very clean and comfortable.

The toilet featured an unusual  gothic arched roof.

Very nice and with good acoustics, if you get my drift.

A typical streetscape in Jerez.

Jerez is very proud of its sherry heritage and it shows.

Stacks of casks were placed all over town as advertising for shows and festivals.

The statue and fountain of some famous guy in the Plaza del Arenal.

The Alumeda Vieja near the Alcazar. 

It has a bandstand at the far end and is often used as a street market.

It is also lined with jacarandas if you look closely.

The walls of the Alcazar. We hope to get in there one day.

The rear of the Jerez Cathedral.

The main altar in the cathedral.

This beautiful painting is called Young Virgin in Meditiation.

It has become an iconic representation to the cathedral generally. Exquisite.

The Formula 1 motorcycle racing attracted many riders for the event.

Their bikes were no less amazing in my opinion.