A DAY VISIT  TO THE PROVINCE

By Andrés Herrera

An English friend asked me to recommend him a one-day route to visit some places in Cádiz. This friend is working in Spain at the moment and he and his family would like to visit Cádiz province but in short journeys. I recommended them a route that I like very much and that I sometimes do. They did it and they enjoyed it very much. As they were so happy to have made this trip, I though it would be a good idea to write about it so that people can know how to spend a day out in Cádiz visiting some interesting places.

My friend lives at Alcaidesa, urbanization located between Sotogrande and San Roque, then the journey had to start at this point. I told him to leave early in the morning and take the motorway to Jerez with direction to this city (this route is called "Ruta del Toro", "Bulls Route"). When getting to Alcalá de los Gazules level, there is a petrol station and next to it, there are three bars-restaurants. A stop in one of them to have breakfast is "compulsory". In any of these bars, you can eat products of the area, but, as it is breakfast time, I recommended the typical Andalucian breakfast with toast, garlic, oil and salt, or to have a good "bocadillo de lomo en mantenca".

With the stomach full, the journey continues direction Jerez. Some kilometres before getting to this city, the traveller can see a cement factory on the left and a road next to it. This road leads to a train station called El Portal and passing this small village, we can get to El Puerto de Santa María.

Once the traveller is at Puerto de Santa María, he/she has to take time to visit some interesting aspects of this important city of Cádiz province. There are many things to see here, all depends of your time, and it is difficult to recommend some of them if you have got little time, but, in my case, I told my friend to visit some bodega and, of course, to eat lunch in the centre of city. I recommended "El Romerijo", which is a very typical and popular restaurant where people can eat the typical products of this area, specially shellfish and fish.

After a good lunch and a good coffee, it is time to visit another place. Cádiz city is very near El Puerto de Santa María and there is a traditional and tourist boat that takes people from El Puerto to Cádiz. The journey takes 40 minutes and it is a good opportunity to see the bay and enjoy wonderful views from a boat. Once the traveller is in Cádiz, he/she can visit the city. The problem again is the time. If there were not plenty of time, it would be a good idea to have just a walk in the streets of the centre. After visiting the capital city, the traveller can go back to the departure point by boat again.

I am sure that at this of the day, it is already a bit late, but there is still time to visit a bit more. Jerez is very near El Puerto and it is worth a visit, although this is very short. Once in Jerez, the traveller can go to the centre and have some tapas in one the typical bars that are located in the centre. I know that there are many many things to visit in this city, but, once again, it is a matter of time and the traveller's objective in this itinerary is only a quick visit.

After having eaten in Jerez, it is time to go back. The only thing the traveller has to do is to take the road to Los Barrios and, in a bit more of 1 hour, he/she can be at home.

This itinerary proposed means a long day but I am sure that everybody will enjoy it. My friend liked it very much and he is now recommending it to his friends.