13th April
CADIZ, SPAIN

This morning we docked in Cadiz to the sun shining, beautiful blue skies and the usual excitement of getting to a port of call.
We had booked the Hop on-off bus with Clare and Peter so set off after breakfast and caught the first one at 10am. Sat out on the open top deck in the sunshine but Oh my god!, once we got going with a breeze and in the shade I was flaming freezing!!!! I managed to stay there for about 25 minutes then gave up and went downstairs closely followed by Clare and then Peter. Only Phil stayed on top for the whole hour it took us to do the circuit! Got off and my feet were frozen so straight into a coffee shop to thaw out! Cadiz is a small compact city and you can walk to most places quite easily. We wandered through the cobbled narrow streets where there were plenty of cafes and tapas bars opening up for the day. Browsed the shops and it would have been rude not to venture in to the shoes shops!!! Lots of little tree covered squares lined with cafes and as it was a Saturday there were plenty of people and families about. We then came across the old market and as as soon as Phil and I saw it there, with its old stone columns and arch ways, we suddenly realised we had been there before !!! I mean, how stupid are we as we’d told everyone we hadn’t been there before when in fact we were there in 2014 ! Thing is, we didn’t recognise anything on the bus or the port which we docked in ! Obviously going senile in our old age !
Anyway, once in the market you could get all your fresh fruit and veggies, hams, cheese and bread fresh and not pre packed like we get at home.
Stopped for lunch and sat outside in the now hot sunshine and people watched before heading off again to explore the promenade and beaches. Lots of people out sunbathing and some brave enough to go for a swim as it’s on the Atlantic coast. Stopped once more in another bar for a sangria ( which came in a pint glass!!) before having to head back to the ship. Head was a bit fuzzy when I stood up but managed it back ok.
We really liked Cadiz a lot ( even though we couldn’t remember it !) and could quite easily stay there for a week or so. It gives you the feel of the old Spain as it’s not all big hotels and bars.
Back on board by 4.30pm and out on the back deck for the last grand sail away party of the world tour. Practically the whole ship was out there singing and dancing under the hot sun as we set sail from Cadiz heading back to Southampton where we started. Brilliant atmosphere and lots of memories made with great friends old and new.
After dinner last night we went to the theatre as we had a special guest on, that being Darren Day. Most people remember him as having affairs and being a bad boy but I went along anyway to see what he was like. He’s now married, has 3 children, 50 years old and, to my surprise, he was OK. His voice is still good and as he is an impersonator he sang exactly like Tom Jones, Elton John, George Micheal , Cliff Richards and Robbie Williams to name but a few. To finish the day off we done the quiz afterwards and out ten won with 20/20 !!!!