24.8.17

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. 


   

4 comments:

Mystica said...

As usual beautiful and educative.

claude said...

C'est certainement une région d'Espagne à visiter.
J'ai vu aussi une corrida à cheval mais bon pour le taureau...
Merci pour le partage.

Anonymous said...


¡Gracias Sr. Olson por esta belleza de articulo! ¡Es tan lindo poder viajar a travez de sus impecables fotos y su experta narrativa!

Aun recuerdo "la damajuana" de Jerez (dulce) que le obsequiaban a mi finado padre sus alumnos a fin de año.Y no era porque se acercaban las tradicionales fiestas. Era porque tenian que rendir Patologia Quirurgica-hasta el dia de hoy-el verdadero "colador" del 6to año de Medicina. ¡El terror de fallar dicho test! Pues significaba no poder graduarse de medico.
¡Toda mi familia se regocijaba con la llegada de esa gigantesca botella! ¡Ay, que delicia!

lajoven cautiva

Shammickite said...

What an elegant and stunningly beautiful bridge.
One day perhaps I shall see this area for myself. And I do enjoy a glass of sherry now and again!