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TRAVEL REPORT
by Shirley Cuesta
REPORT ON TRIP TO ANDALUCIA. November 15th - 20th 2005
Please click on the thumbnails to view the photographs.
After a pretty dismal week weatherwise and an early morning storm, we left Calpe at 8am on Tuesday 15th November on our journey down to Andalucia, passing the snowcapped Sierra Nevada on the way. Our destination was the town of El Puerto de Santa Maria,, which along with Jerez de la Frontera and Sanlucar de Barrameda, forms the Sherry Triangle. Most street corners have a display of sherry barrels. Our hotel turned out to have been an excellent choice, with a 4 course served dinner every night and the most comfortable chairs and sofas in the bar/lounge area.
This time we were without our leader Jean, but Diane Putnam took over the reins most admirably, assisted by Annie and Keith (who as sweeper never lost anyone)
Having eaten a substantial breakfast on Wednesday morning, we were quite ready for the 9.15 visit to the Osborne sherry bodega and able to try out some of their samples. Our guide was especially pleased to show us around as her father was born in Calpe. We learnt something of the history of sherry and the ageing process.
We then took the ferry to Cadiz, a slightly more peaceful entry than Sir Francis Drakesīs. We were shown around the city and visited the cathedral which houses the tomb of Manuel de Fallas in the crypt. We walked up the Torre Tavira to the Camara Oscura, which projects a brilliant moving image of the surrounding town onto a white screen.
Thursday saw us in Jerez for the midday performance by the Dancing Horses of the Royal Andalucian School of Equestrian Arts. This was a wonderful display of precision and elegance, We later had a guided tour around the city. This turned out to be quite exhausting so we were more than happy to sit around and try out some more sherries and brandy at the Domecq bodega.. Some of us bought the 55 euro brandy, but it was on offer 3 for the price of 2.
Fridayīs visit was up the Guadalquivir river to visit both the National and Natural parks of the Coto Doņana. The river starts its journey of 650km in Cazorla and passes through Seville on its way to the Atlantic. What amazing scenery! The parks are home to some endangered species like the Iberian Lynx and the Spanish Imperial eagle. We were able to enter some reedbuilt houses and saw some wild deer and horses. One of the most important ecosystems of Doņana is the wetland, which shelters many aquatic birds.
On Saturday we were taken to visit some of the White Villages like Arcos de la Frontera which is the gateway to the rest of the villages and towns, so called because of their whitewashed houses.
Sunday saw us on our way back to Calpe with some vivid memories of this holiday.
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