Moving

My kids persuaded me to change address. This means that I will make a little break again in blogging – painting, cleaning, sorting, packing, unpacking… Please give me a week or two! 

Andalusian holidays (4)

To finish with the reporting on our Andalusian holidays…. We went south, first to Jerez de la Frontera. Jerez, Xeres… the name has some Arabic origins, شريش , Sherrish … which in English has become Sherry. The city is full of bodegas, with famous names. I really enjoy a glass of “fino”, which is the driest and palest of the sherries. Of course, sherry wine may be more known in its darker, heavier, sweeter versions.

Jerez is also known for its horses and is the home of the "Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art". The origins are related to the Domecq family - sherry wine, horses, bulls…. I’m not a bullfight fan, but I once watched bullfighting on horses, where two brothers of the Domecq family performed. It’s amazing in its art. You are not allowed to take photos during the horse show, “How the Andalusian horses dance”, but here are some pictures from the school surroundings.   

Jerez also claims to be the capital of the flamenco. I was once taken to a shady looking place in the suburbs of Jerez by a local friend. At 3 in the morning, the place was full of the locals, dancing,  playing, singing… my best flamenco experience so far - tears of joy!
   

Here are some pictures of the cathedral, the alcazar…

We then continued to Cadiz. Passing by Trocadero we entered the city via the two year old Pepa Bridge (see top picture), a bit longer and higher than the Golden Gate Bridge. There is hardly anything left of the Trocadero fortress which used to provide defense for Cadiz and where the French won a battle in 1823, which gave the name to the Paris Trocadéro.  

Cadiz was founded already some 1100 years BC and is considered to be the most ancient city still standing in western Europe. Cadiz has of course been an important port during centuries – Columbus used the port for his second and fourth voyages - and the city and its port became, especially for its trade with the Americas, a target for Spain’s enemies, particularly the British. 

   

Andalusian holidays (3)

So, for the third time, we went to see Granada and Alhambra. It’s worth it and we thought especially of the kids – something to remember. Once more, I ask you to revert to a previous post. By the way, if you wish to visit Alhambra, don’t forget to book in advance or line up at six in the morning! 

Andalusian holidays (2)

The house which we had rented (see preceding post) was quite close to Sevilla, but even closer to Carmona, another ancient city, but much less touristy – referred to as Carmo during the times of Julius Caesar. We went quite often for shopping, for tapas…

It was also time to once more visit Cordoba, actually our third family visit - here is a proof, Stéphanie, my daughter, in 2000, 2011 and 2017.

The place, especially known for its Great Mosque, transformed into a Catholic Cathedral, is definitely worth several visits. (See also my previous post here and the top photo.)  

Andalusian holidays (1)

With the kids and the grand-kids, we once more rented a house for our summer holidays, this year again quite close to Sevilla. I already posted about Sevilla in 2011 (see here and here), so I’m not going to write any long stories, just show some pictures of the wonderful Andalusia and – to start with - of Sevilla. There is a little bit more to come about other places we visited.

The house we rented was just fabulous!

Here some pictures from Sevilla, the town hall, the cathedral …

… the Alcazar, the Plaza de Toros…

… the Plaza d’Espana (also top picture) and the famous flamenco bar, Casa Anselma (even a little “selfie” with Anselma herself) an institution in the Triana district on the other side of the Guadalquivir river.