Cadiz, one of those cities in Spain
that has been there forever, is lovely.
All white flat-topped buildings and occasional stone churches it has, like so many of the other strategically located cities in the region, a history that stretches back to before time began. Quite recently, in the 16th century, when Spain was master of the seas, many merchants lived there and each one had his house built with a watchtower so he could keep an eye out for his ships returning from the new world. Most of these towers remain and add to its picturesque nature.
Cadiz has narrow winding cobblestone
streets, churches and cathedrals galore, a gazillion styles of architecture,
countless squares each with cafes and palm trees and statues and fountains, a
couple of forts along the coast, several different layers of city walls, and
shops and galleries and museums and a market full of fruit and fish and
fantastic treasures… You can wander forever, get lost in the maze of alleyways,
buy hot bread from a corner store, stop and eat paella while being serenaded by
local musicians, choose any one of the many public buildings to explore, walk
the seashore at low tide, sketch the scenery, take a million or more photos,
dream of moving there…
