Cádiz

Cádiz is beautifully situated on a peninsula jutting out into a bay, and almost the entire city is surrounded by water. Cádiz was the most fortified city in Spain and was the commerce center during the age of exploration. The old part of Cádiz is largely formed by narrow alleys leading into a number of plazas, while newer areas consist of wide avenues and more modern buildings. The city is dotted by numerous parks, pedestrian-only streets and remnants of the ramparts that once surrounded the city.

We spent the first 2 nights at Cortes de Cádiz hotel in a great location on a narrow pedestrian street. We saw a great flamenco show - this time there was a male dancer as well. Both dancers were really passionate and intense. I bought a CD of the singer, Selu de Cadiz. The old part of town was very lively and full of students. We had great tapas at a few restaurants. The next day we explored the fortified city and the new part of town with the long stretch of beach which was voted as the best urban beach in Spain. We checked into the Parador using the last night of our 5 night card. Our room had a balcony overlooking the Atlantic ocean. We left the doors open to hear the waves during the night. We would definately return to Cadiz. It had a good vibe and nice people, the typical Andalucian character. Alas, Sevilla beckoned so we hopped on a train and headed north.
Check out the photo slideshow.