Cadiz - and the Torre Tavira

 

An early morning amble around the peninsular which forms the outskirts of the city was called for today.  An easy walk on the flat with the sea on one side and castellated buildings on the other.  What a delightful way to start one's day.

The harbour wall is dotted with ornate lamps and ancient turrets which make picturesque subjects

 As well as making handy perches for the local bird life 

In a pretty park I met my man of the moment who invited me to dance

Thank you kind sir, but today perhaps a picture will suffice

The wind it is a whipping up the water

and gusting through the palm trees

I had hoped to walk out over the causeway to San Sebastian Castle but, alas, it was just too dangerous to wander across the narrow causeway on my own in those winds.  I contended myself with taking some snaps from the safety of the esplanade.

Readers of my blog will know by now that I am constantly on the lookout for public toilets.  According to the map there were facilities at various points around this esplanade walk - quite unusual for Spain.  I had obviously passed the first toilet block without realising it - probably far too involved in taking photographs.  But there should be another round about here, opposite the causeway.  The map also showed a big T in the same area - whether this was the sign for a taxi rank or telephone booth I had no idea.  Then over the road I noticed a delightful ornamental structure with a Samsung advert on the side.

Without giving it very much thought I immediately labelled this structure as a Spanish telephone booth.  Don't laugh, I was coming down with a very nasty cold and not thinking too straight at the time.  Anyway, no sign at all of a public toilet block here.  So, onto the next location which was shown as being near to the Cathedral.  Well here was the Cathedral.

And what a coincidence.  Here was yet another of those fancy Spanish telephone booths.

OH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  At last the penny dropped (except I doubt that this cubicle would have accepted a penny).  These strange structures were actually the loos I was looking for.  OK, so I can be extremely dumb at times!  I would have loved to have tried one out but I could see the word Automatique next to some really antique looking switches.  There was no way I could risk becoming trapped inside some Spanish pissoir so had to pass up the chance.

Next stop was the Torre Tavira. 

Entrance fee for over 65s is 5 euros and I arrived a few minutes ahead of the 1030hrs camera obscura show.  Great - a few minutes in which to use their basement toilet facilities.

 

Then, having climbed the 172 steps I arrived for the show.  There in the blackened room 8 of us gathered around the concave "stage".  The camera was opened to the light and images of Cadiz flooded in.  The operator manoeuvred the stage up and down to focus the image and described the buildings of importance.  Via a system of pulleys she was able to move the camera around from North to East to South to West and so the image changed before our eyes.  The show ended with images of the Market Square and here the operator "played" with pedestrians.  Beware anyone who walks within the square when the Camera Obscura show is about to end - you too could be played with for the amusement of others!

The camera - up on the roof

The remaining climb takes visitors up to the roof of the tower where the white walls, red rooftops and cream turrets of  Cadiz are displayed in all their magnificence.

On the way back to the ship I was reminded of the symmetry which comes with structures in Cadiz:

 

Passing through the market square I noticed a couple from the ship resting on the side of the fountain.  Might the Camera Obscura show be on I wonder!

And - as a final parting shot - yet another pissoir!

Artistic Asilah - or should this be the Relief of Mafeking?

 

Passengers were warned that Tangiers was not the sort of place one should wander around on one's own.  This same advice had been given back in 2009 for Mumbai, and in 2011 for Haifa and on those occasions I had totally ignored the advice and had perfectly wonderful days meandering around on my own.  I dearly wanted to do the same here but perhaps age is catching up with me.  I gave in and booked a P&O excursion - Artistic Asilah.

My experience and memories of places is always from the photos I take and from the small shops which I pop in & out of looking for local crafts.  Years later I can look at a photo and know exactly how I was feeling at that particular moment in time.  I can put on a necklace or bracelet and instantly remember the inside of the shop where I bought it.  On an organised tour the chance to take photos is limited and hampered by all the other tour members.  Popping in & out of local shops is a "no go" unless the guide actually tells us we have time to ourselves.  So although I was eager to experience Asilah I did not have high hopes for the next 4 1/2 hours.

The first catastrophe was the fact that after a long coach ride from Tangiers to Asilah we were told that our toilet break would be after the 90 minute walk.  "But what can one do?" - the guide's words not mine.  Well, for a start, the tour could have been arranged so that the toilet break came BEFORE the walk - but there we go.  For once I was not desperate so hopefully I could last another one & a half hours.

The town was certainly very beautiful and I did manage to get some good photos.  

The Street Sweeper:

The builder contemplating the days work:

The young man on his way home from the mosque:

The overworked traffic cop:

The fisherman:

The shoe shop:

The hat & tassel shop:

Blue and white buildings that blur into paintings:

 

Beautiful windows:

which make excellent doorways for the local cats:

At the highest point of the town, whilst looking out to sea, I happened to sneeze.  That did it - I needed a loo!!!!  We were only halfway through our walk so needless to say no loos in sight.  The remaining 45 minutes were a challenge to say the least.

At last the 90 minutes were up and we were back at the main gate to the town.

   

Perhaps we were to be led into the cafe opposite for our refreshments and toilet break? Perhaps we would then be allowed 20 minutes free time so that we could visit some of those charming shops we had passed.  Not on your life.  First we had to find our coach, reboard, and then be whisked off to an "out of town" hotel.  Quite why this break could not have been given on the way in 105 minutes earlier is anyone's guess.  Note to self:  Comment on this on the feedback form.

At the hotel there were naturally long queues for the loos but at least relief was only a matter of minutes away.  Murmerings of discontent as one of the loos refused to flush!!  

After the Relief of Mafeking we sampled small glasses of local (very sweet) mint tea.  Then it was all back on the coach to be whisked back to Tangier with some beautiful scenery along the way:

And uncompleted building projects - too numerous to mention:

 And lots of roadside markets:

On arrival in Tangier we were given 20 minutes in Grand Socco Square.

If I had wanted to see Grand Socco Square I would have booked myself on one of the Tangier City excursions!  Why, of why, could we not have been given this 20 minutes within Asilah?  Note to self:  Submit a whole new timetable for this tour!

One of the most glorious sights of the day was seeing the sun set over Tangier as we steamed out at dusk.

The Captaine (as he himself prounounces the title) announced that due to an imminent depression we were going to have to make a mad dash for Cadiz to try to outrun the storm.  Storm Angus had caused destruction and mayhem in the English Channel and here it was now heading down to us.  This would mean arriving in Cadiz at 2230 hours instead of 0730 hrs the following morning.  Apparently we would be amongst a very privileged group of P& O passengers who would have arrived in two countries in just one day.

Valencia - out with the joggers

 

Leaving the ship as soon as the gangways became operational meant I was able to enjoy the esplanade and beach along with the early morning cats, joggers & walkers.

It was even too early for the sand artists to have taken to their chairs with empty cups by their side to collect the proffered coins - so I was able to snap this masterpiece for free.

The sand sweeper was about to come on duty.  Not sure that I fancy his job - a lifetime would not be enough to cover this huge area of sand!

Water fountains in Valencia come topped with entwined fish and funny faces:

Loos? Well they are a'plenty on the beach but would you believe that all were locked and barred.  Apparently they are only open during the height of "the season" - at other times of the year it is a matter of keeping ones legs crossed.

The sea invited me in for a paaddle but I declined as I was wearing long trousers, socks and sandals.  However, at one point, as I was taking a selfie, the tide made a mighty surge and I was drenched from knees down. One must never decline an offer from the ocean!

Nothing for it but to remove said socks and sandals and roll the trousers up.  How lovely to feel the sand between my toes and the sea around my ankles.

 No, this is not me YET - but could be in a couple of years!

Some of my favourite sights in Valencia are the old rundown warehouses along the harbour - Tinglado Nos 1-5

The beautiful mosaics are now gradually crumbling away and large areas are netted off for fear of falling tiles hitting an unsuspecting pedestrian.

Here at Tinglado no.5 the H&S men had not yet appeared and I was able to help myself to a couple of large pieces which had recently fallen to the ground.  For once a free souvenir.

These warehouses were once home to the F1 pit lanes - and where I was walking would once have seen racing cars speeding in for their tyre change and to take on fuel.  Close your eyes and you can still hear the revving of engines and the smell of fuel.