Today we went to Jerez to do a bit of shopping,
We decided to go to a different shopping centre than where we have been before. This centre has a massive car parking area, and when we were there, there was not a real lot of cars about. We start at the Karting place, which not only has an outdoor track, but an indoor one aswell. Then we stroll past the other shops in this block, consisting of home decorating, kitchens, a jump park,and Alcampo. Then we go over to the other cluster of retail shops, and it seems like it is a Discount retail outlet, with many branded shops. Addadis, Nike, C&A Decathlon, and all manner of stores, from footwear to clothing, and the usual food court.
This complex also has an Ikea included in it. So we decide to had lunch break there. Then we continue walking the complex, with more of the same. After we have completed the circut, we head back over to where we are going to do our shopping, and all is completed.
We did walk a lot of steps today
This complex also has an Ikea included in it. So we decide to had lunch break there. Then we continue walking the complex, with more of the same. After we have completed the circut, we head back over to where we are going to do our shopping, and all is completed.
We did walk a lot of steps today
Tuesday,22nd October 2019
Quiet day today.
Wednesday, 23rd October 2019
Today, Bob has decided we will trip around the country side looking at Castles in the area.
First place we go to is a place called Algar, it is bout a 20 min drive away. We see the ruins on the way into the village, and it is typical of the area, with small streets. So we find somewhere to park the car, and explore the surrounding area. We have parked near to the town square, and there is the Council office, a church, with a huge stork nest ontop of it, and a bar. All the essentials one needs for such a place.
We continue to walk about and go up a steep street, and look out at the surrounding country side. Then we retrace our steps, and go the other way and find the town mall. It is amazing, that no matter the size of the town/village or city, they all have a mall. This one predominately housed Bars, and as we were looking for a light lunch, it appeared that none of these places did food through the day. One could imagine just how busy this little place gets in the evenings though, as is the custom here. Everybody seems to go to the bars in the evening.
One our walk, we did find and admire a set of steps leading to somewhere, but they were very pretty, with a handrail up the middle and pots of flowers on both sides of the steps. The joining buildings were painted in the usual white and mustard colours. Algar is a white town, with its white washed walls and tan or red roofs.
So we go about as far as we can and head back to the car, to find somewhere else, that we can have some lunch at.
The next stop is called Olvera.
Olvera has a popultion of 8 549 and there are some that believe it existed at the end of the 3rd centuray BC
It has a very impressive view, from the distance, as you can see the castle from some distance away, then it hides behind the hills, until you are much closer. We wind up the road to this town, and after following the road we are on, turn around as, it is taking us out of the township. So we follow the direction of where the castle is, and wind up the standard small road, only to find, there is no parking, and going back down, takes us the long way from where we have come from, but we might have missed a turn or two. Anyhow we find somewhere to park the car, and venture into what appears to be the heart of the place. Again we have the mandatory small streets, and inclines, as this place is built on a mountain, but it is all good for our fittness. We get to where we were before in the car, and go to the bar, that appears to be not so busy from the outside, but once inside, there is only one spare table. Mind you, it is only a small bar, but it will do. We order our food and beers and enjoy the moment.
We exit the bar, and head to the Church that is up the hill further, and there are a number of steps to climb to get to it. Once there, the view is great, and for a small fee, you can go inside admire the interior of this building.
We leave the church, and buy our admission ticket to go up to the castle, and the weather is starting to turn a little bit wet, but we still venture on. Again, as you can imagine, there are more steps, and steep ones, but it is all worth it. The views are awesome, and we can see the rain showers rolling in, and it is getting a little windy. I take a few photos, all the while holding on to my phone for dear life, because if it goes over the side, there is no getting it back. The wind unsettles me a bit, as I also have a scarf, trying to fly away too. We then go the extra bit, and clinb the small, spiral stairwell, to get right to the top. The steps are not even wide enough to put a full foot on them, and I wonder how the knights and fighting men got themselves up these steps when under attack. Bob assures me, the men were not as tall or as big as our modern day version. Again a couple of snaps are taken, and he head back down as a heavier rain shower appears to be heading out way. We did however bring with us an umbrella, and I have my shower proof coat on. We shelter in one of the lower levels for a while, and then make our way back down to where we came from. The beauty about this place is it was not very busy, well not on this day anyhow.
So we make our desent from the top of the castle, back down to the church, and the ticket office, and included in the ticket was entrance into the Museum. We took a quick look about, as all the detail was in Spanish, so we then back to the car. On the way back to the car, a guy in a light truck, was trying to get up a street, and he must not have had a lot of tread on his tyres, as he got to a certain point and with the wet cobble stone road, he had not enough grip and could go no further. He tried and tried and tried, but to no avail. Me, my main concern was to get past as quick as I could, as if he slipped one way or the other, I did't want to be there. The traffic was lining up behind him, and eventually he must have gotten over enough to one side to let the cars behind him get past.
First place we go to is a place called Algar, it is bout a 20 min drive away. We see the ruins on the way into the village, and it is typical of the area, with small streets. So we find somewhere to park the car, and explore the surrounding area. We have parked near to the town square, and there is the Council office, a church, with a huge stork nest ontop of it, and a bar. All the essentials one needs for such a place.
We continue to walk about and go up a steep street, and look out at the surrounding country side. Then we retrace our steps, and go the other way and find the town mall. It is amazing, that no matter the size of the town/village or city, they all have a mall. This one predominately housed Bars, and as we were looking for a light lunch, it appeared that none of these places did food through the day. One could imagine just how busy this little place gets in the evenings though, as is the custom here. Everybody seems to go to the bars in the evening.
One our walk, we did find and admire a set of steps leading to somewhere, but they were very pretty, with a handrail up the middle and pots of flowers on both sides of the steps. The joining buildings were painted in the usual white and mustard colours. Algar is a white town, with its white washed walls and tan or red roofs.
So we go about as far as we can and head back to the car, to find somewhere else, that we can have some lunch at.
The next stop is called Olvera.
Olvera has a popultion of 8 549 and there are some that believe it existed at the end of the 3rd centuray BC
It has a very impressive view, from the distance, as you can see the castle from some distance away, then it hides behind the hills, until you are much closer. We wind up the road to this town, and after following the road we are on, turn around as, it is taking us out of the township. So we follow the direction of where the castle is, and wind up the standard small road, only to find, there is no parking, and going back down, takes us the long way from where we have come from, but we might have missed a turn or two. Anyhow we find somewhere to park the car, and venture into what appears to be the heart of the place. Again we have the mandatory small streets, and inclines, as this place is built on a mountain, but it is all good for our fittness. We get to where we were before in the car, and go to the bar, that appears to be not so busy from the outside, but once inside, there is only one spare table. Mind you, it is only a small bar, but it will do. We order our food and beers and enjoy the moment.
We exit the bar, and head to the Church that is up the hill further, and there are a number of steps to climb to get to it. Once there, the view is great, and for a small fee, you can go inside admire the interior of this building.
We leave the church, and buy our admission ticket to go up to the castle, and the weather is starting to turn a little bit wet, but we still venture on. Again, as you can imagine, there are more steps, and steep ones, but it is all worth it. The views are awesome, and we can see the rain showers rolling in, and it is getting a little windy. I take a few photos, all the while holding on to my phone for dear life, because if it goes over the side, there is no getting it back. The wind unsettles me a bit, as I also have a scarf, trying to fly away too. We then go the extra bit, and clinb the small, spiral stairwell, to get right to the top. The steps are not even wide enough to put a full foot on them, and I wonder how the knights and fighting men got themselves up these steps when under attack. Bob assures me, the men were not as tall or as big as our modern day version. Again a couple of snaps are taken, and he head back down as a heavier rain shower appears to be heading out way. We did however bring with us an umbrella, and I have my shower proof coat on. We shelter in one of the lower levels for a while, and then make our way back down to where we came from. The beauty about this place is it was not very busy, well not on this day anyhow.
So we make our desent from the top of the castle, back down to the church, and the ticket office, and included in the ticket was entrance into the Museum. We took a quick look about, as all the detail was in Spanish, so we then back to the car. On the way back to the car, a guy in a light truck, was trying to get up a street, and he must not have had a lot of tread on his tyres, as he got to a certain point and with the wet cobble stone road, he had not enough grip and could go no further. He tried and tried and tried, but to no avail. Me, my main concern was to get past as quick as I could, as if he slipped one way or the other, I did't want to be there. The traffic was lining up behind him, and eventually he must have gotten over enough to one side to let the cars behind him get past.
All in all a great day, and now we head back to Arcos, as day is done.
Thursday, 24th October 2019
Washing day, and not much more is done. I do some more of my needle work
Friday, 25th October 2019
Have had an amazing day. The day started with a tour of the Toi Pepe winery in Jerez.
We were to get there around 20 mins early, as we had to pick up tickets, and the tour started at 12. We left Arcos around 10ish, and arrived in Jerez 30 mins later. Knowing we were a little early, we drove about, headed in the general direction of where the tour was to take place. Finding the required place, we managed to get a park, nice and close to where we were going to, so that was a bonus. But, the real added bonus was that we found another part of Jerez, that we didn't know about. This appeared to be the older part of the city. There was a very large church, near to us, and some other historical things appeared to be close aswell. We also noticed, that the hop on hop off bus stop was at this very same spot. So we wondered around the immediaate area, and checked out the stonework on the church, and took the pics, that said we were here. Then we headed towards the ticket office to get our tickets, which opened at 11.30. So now we wait for 12 so the tour can start, and our guide presents herself , and we follow her to take in the tour of the winery. We learnt much during this tour, like, Sherry's don't need to be underground in cellars. They are stored in Bodegas, and also, Sherry should be served chilled. Our guide was very passionate about this and that we totally understood what she was telling us. We were taken by a little train around the winery, and into the diffent stages of the aging process, and it was also explained about the yeast the grows on the wine, and how it eats the sugar out of the wine. We were shown the oldest grape vine they have, which is over 100 years old, and then we strolled down Ciegos Street within the winery, and is one of the prettiest tunnels which is covered with vines in spring, and gets posted over a million times on instagram every year alone. It was indeed very beautiful. We get to the tasting part of the tour, and we are given four wines to taste, of which three I liked, but of the three, two were more favorable, as they were sweeter. So with the tour all but finished, the only thing left to do was to go to te gift shop and check it out. While there, we were given the option to taste their Brandy that they make, and also the Whiskey. I did like the Brandy, and after all the wine and spirit samples I was feeling the slight effect of it. We made a purchase, and decided to leave it there, so we could go on the hop on hop off bus, and then collect it after we had completed the bus tour of the city of which they told us it would be at the front office.
So off we go to find the ticket office for the bus, purchase the required tickets and get something to eat, and fill in time until the bus arrives. It arrives, and once again, the bus is not to full, and the day is great for being upstairs, so that is where we go. It was great to see the old part of Jerez, and the new aswell. Once we got back to our drop off point, we get to the car and I head inside Tio Pepe to retrieve our purchase from earlier. So Igo to where I thought the front office wasm and no wine purchase there, but the man behind the counter takes me to gift shop and I make enquires about our purchase, and another man tells me it is at the security office at the front. Hmmm, ok So he directs me to the security office, but assures me he will ring the security and tell him I am coming to pick up the said item. When I get there, I ask about the items I have to pick up in the name of Hockey, and he tells me there is nothing there, and I need to go to the front, but just as I walk outside thte gate, the phone rings and I hear the name Hockey mentioned, and hover and then return to the security man. He shows me all the items that are awaiting to be collected, and I see ours, and pick it up and make my way to the car.
We are headed back to Arcos, after a very enjoyable day.
Saturday, 26th October 2019
We didn't do a real lot today, although we did go for a walk back to the old part of town, as I wanted to get a gift for my daughter. We meander and mill around, and I make a purchase. We walk on and witness some very finely dressed people standing outside the church, and figure that there must have been a wedding taking place. We walk on some more, as Bob is intrigued as to where the street goes. We walk and walk and walk some more, with the road starting to go downhill, we stop and to make some calculations of what we should do. A decision is made to turn around and go back the way we came. Once we get back to the busy hub of the old town, we select a resturant to grab some lunch. The area is very busy, and it seems to be a day for bikers to be out and about, as there are a couple of groups of them gathered around tables, enjoying the day.
Eventually we get back to our unit, and call it a day.
Sunday, 27th October 2019
A decision is made today, that we go for a drive to check out the triangle of the Sherry growing districts. The triangle is an area within Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlucar de Barrameda and El Puerto de Santa Maria, of which these cities form the vertices. First we travel to Sanlucar de Barrameda, a distance of 65 kms. Then we go onto El Puerto de Santa Maria, a distance of 23 kms. So this is the main area of the sherry growing grapes. Anything produced outside this area, isn't able to be called a sherry. As you can imagine, there are lots of grave vines, and also olive trees. El Puerto de Santa Maria is on the coast line, and we happen to get to the marina, which is blocked off for some reason. We drive through the tiny streets, and come across what appears to be the centre of the town, as there is lots of eating places. Once we escape the narrow streets, we take ourselves back to Arcos, and again the day is done.
We were to get there around 20 mins early, as we had to pick up tickets, and the tour started at 12. We left Arcos around 10ish, and arrived in Jerez 30 mins later. Knowing we were a little early, we drove about, headed in the general direction of where the tour was to take place. Finding the required place, we managed to get a park, nice and close to where we were going to, so that was a bonus. But, the real added bonus was that we found another part of Jerez, that we didn't know about. This appeared to be the older part of the city. There was a very large church, near to us, and some other historical things appeared to be close aswell. We also noticed, that the hop on hop off bus stop was at this very same spot. So we wondered around the immediaate area, and checked out the stonework on the church, and took the pics, that said we were here. Then we headed towards the ticket office to get our tickets, which opened at 11.30. So now we wait for 12 so the tour can start, and our guide presents herself , and we follow her to take in the tour of the winery. We learnt much during this tour, like, Sherry's don't need to be underground in cellars. They are stored in Bodegas, and also, Sherry should be served chilled. Our guide was very passionate about this and that we totally understood what she was telling us. We were taken by a little train around the winery, and into the diffent stages of the aging process, and it was also explained about the yeast the grows on the wine, and how it eats the sugar out of the wine. We were shown the oldest grape vine they have, which is over 100 years old, and then we strolled down Ciegos Street within the winery, and is one of the prettiest tunnels which is covered with vines in spring, and gets posted over a million times on instagram every year alone. It was indeed very beautiful. We get to the tasting part of the tour, and we are given four wines to taste, of which three I liked, but of the three, two were more favorable, as they were sweeter. So with the tour all but finished, the only thing left to do was to go to te gift shop and check it out. While there, we were given the option to taste their Brandy that they make, and also the Whiskey. I did like the Brandy, and after all the wine and spirit samples I was feeling the slight effect of it. We made a purchase, and decided to leave it there, so we could go on the hop on hop off bus, and then collect it after we had completed the bus tour of the city of which they told us it would be at the front office.
So off we go to find the ticket office for the bus, purchase the required tickets and get something to eat, and fill in time until the bus arrives. It arrives, and once again, the bus is not to full, and the day is great for being upstairs, so that is where we go. It was great to see the old part of Jerez, and the new aswell. Once we got back to our drop off point, we get to the car and I head inside Tio Pepe to retrieve our purchase from earlier. So Igo to where I thought the front office wasm and no wine purchase there, but the man behind the counter takes me to gift shop and I make enquires about our purchase, and another man tells me it is at the security office at the front. Hmmm, ok So he directs me to the security office, but assures me he will ring the security and tell him I am coming to pick up the said item. When I get there, I ask about the items I have to pick up in the name of Hockey, and he tells me there is nothing there, and I need to go to the front, but just as I walk outside thte gate, the phone rings and I hear the name Hockey mentioned, and hover and then return to the security man. He shows me all the items that are awaiting to be collected, and I see ours, and pick it up and make my way to the car.
We are headed back to Arcos, after a very enjoyable day.
Saturday, 26th October 2019
We didn't do a real lot today, although we did go for a walk back to the old part of town, as I wanted to get a gift for my daughter. We meander and mill around, and I make a purchase. We walk on and witness some very finely dressed people standing outside the church, and figure that there must have been a wedding taking place. We walk on some more, as Bob is intrigued as to where the street goes. We walk and walk and walk some more, with the road starting to go downhill, we stop and to make some calculations of what we should do. A decision is made to turn around and go back the way we came. Once we get back to the busy hub of the old town, we select a resturant to grab some lunch. The area is very busy, and it seems to be a day for bikers to be out and about, as there are a couple of groups of them gathered around tables, enjoying the day.
Eventually we get back to our unit, and call it a day.
Sunday, 27th October 2019
A decision is made today, that we go for a drive to check out the triangle of the Sherry growing districts. The triangle is an area within Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlucar de Barrameda and El Puerto de Santa Maria, of which these cities form the vertices. First we travel to Sanlucar de Barrameda, a distance of 65 kms. Then we go onto El Puerto de Santa Maria, a distance of 23 kms. So this is the main area of the sherry growing grapes. Anything produced outside this area, isn't able to be called a sherry. As you can imagine, there are lots of grave vines, and also olive trees. El Puerto de Santa Maria is on the coast line, and we happen to get to the marina, which is blocked off for some reason. We drive through the tiny streets, and come across what appears to be the centre of the town, as there is lots of eating places. Once we escape the narrow streets, we take ourselves back to Arcos, and again the day is done.
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