Around Town and La Playa (Beach!)

September 06, Spain Day 2 (Dos)
Since most people are probably still reading my last post because it was so long, this next post will be a little shorter, mainly because today was a more relaxed day. First off, I didn’t get a chance to upload photos today but I will try to get them up before I leave. Cadiz has free wifi in its city squares so while we were touring around today you could see lots of locals sitting in the parks and town squares, including the one with the cathedral where they sat on the church steps.
Woke up at 10:30 and got ready for going to a Catholic mass in the cathedral. I think it began construction somewhere in the 1200s and they were saying various architects/artists contributed through the centuries, giving it a unique style. There was a large group of us: mostly girls as well as me and another guy (I didn’t complain). We walked around before mass started and then sat through the mass (in Spanish) at noon. After that we walked around the narrow streets and eventually found a place to have lunch. I ended up having roast chicken w/ chips complemented by a glass of Sangria (I liked the one my dad makes better). The girls ordered a big platter of paella (which I was guessing/hoping they wouldn’t finish. By the end of the meal I had eaten my chicken, paella w/ (large) shrimp, and a little pizza. Afterwards, we walked over to a gelato store and I bought a fresa (strawberry) flavored gelato.

We then decided to go to the beach (which was another thing I wanted to do). We headed back to the ship, changed, and headed over to the beach. The beach was literally in between the two forts I mentioned in my previous post (St. Sebastian and Santa Caterina). So after walking through the park and along the wall next to the bay, we eventually came to the beach. However, I could honestly say that I couldn’t even see the beach because it was so crowded. As it was Sunday, everyone brought their families to this small beach about half a mile in length. It was scattered with umbrellas and sunbathers. We eventually found a spot under a boardwalk type structure and went into the water which was sold but nice once you dunked yourself. I eventually noticed that it was acceptable for women to be topless (when I first saw it I had to do a double take). We laid back for a while tanning because the sun was so perfect (it was the first time I’d been under the ‘Mediterranean sun’ which felt like I was getting skin cancer as I laid there). We talked about how we all felt guilty because while people back in the U.S. are getting ready for classes and heading back to school, we are soaking up the sun in southern Spain (I wasn’t sure if were technically in the Mediterranean or Atlantic still).

We left the beach around 6-ish (which would look like 3:00 in the afternoon anywhere else) after swimming/sunbathing and then cut through town back to the boat (I don’t care about calling it a ship anymore) and had dinner, showered, etc. and then met up again at 9:00. We went out walking through town again and had more gelato. While I was eating my Oreo gelato, I was entertained by some Spanish guy who was shouting at nothing and no one. We walked further through the city and found a place where people who missed dinner could eat. I take after my dad in that I can’t sit still (especially while people eat and I don’t) while everyone is just talking and so the other guy and I walked a little bit more around the nearby city blocks.
After returning to the restaurant we all decided to retire early (12:00pm) for the next day. Its interesting because I have a feeling I’m going to be with different groups composed of different people probably everyday. It will be interesting seeing how my other free days work, as field program days are way more organized and purposeful.
Apparently Saturday night, a lot of people found nightclubs and stayed out till 6:00am in the morning. I’m not sure what I’m going to do tomorrow but I was thinking of going again back into town and finding the market and getting some souvenirs etc. and also seeing about going up into the cupula of the cathedral. I’ve been on my feet all day so I’m going to go to bed, probably till noon tomorrow or whenever housekeeping comes. Btw, too lazy to grammar/spell check so if anyone asks, Miss South Carolina wrote this.