Corrie’s knees don’t like the hills like I do so I climbed the spiral hill (like a real outdoor hill – no steps) on my own. I realised when I got to the top that if you don’t like crowds, it’s a great place to go because many others also don’t enjoy (for various reasons) a steep climb. The view was superb and it was like a tour of the old city in a few minutes.

The city is on a type of peninsular and would have been an island but for one hundred metres or so of solid ground at one end. Looking out I could view the architectural delights of the many eras that Cadiz spans. The flat roofs of white and mauve surround the bell tower with the day’s washing waving in the breeze, while others had a few chairs but at midday, not many people. 

Venice-like streets were hard to even navigate with my eyes, so map reading has become a useful pastime. The five or so major plazas dominate the city with their exquisite mix from different times, while it was with more difficulty that I was able to notice some of the smaller, cosier ones. Surrounding all of this was a large sea of water and narrow waterways, some of which gently lapped the long brown beaches and rock protected walls. 

What I could also see was the innocuous concrete bunker type building where a Flamenco performance will be happening tonight. After much undercover work we think we have found one where the tourists don’t usually go mainly because it is too hard to get to and no food or drinks. We are of course tourists ourselves but we find it more alive when the locals make up most of the audience.

The huge bell rang a metre from my head and aside from threatening to ensure I would never hear the same again, it was time also to meet Corrie whom I have just spotted outside in the plaza at the bottom of the hill.