Explored a further neighbourhood today and enjoyed connecting up the different ‘barrios’ of Cadiz and relishing in its antiquity and the non-touched-up feel about the place. Just staying in our small Hostal, hardly seeing anyone, and being treated like family by the (it’s difficult to call them staff) owner and his helpers, has been exquisite. 

Our host is a professional soccer player, out injured at the moment, and is a goalie. He looks like a movie star, although I imagine a goalie would be up there. He is very modest and has said nothing about his football career, so I checked it out myself online. The obvious skill he requires is to stop the opposition from kicking the ball into the net he is protecting.

His record clearly shows that he is one of the best, and he has let very few past. It has been our experience with him that he likes to do well at whatever he does and he takes every opportunity to protect this reputation. He engages, wanting to know how our day was, did we find what we wanted, and how else can he help us. He focusses on us like we are the only ones there, but I am sure he would do that with everyone.

He has also been a chef so today we had our first taste of one of his specialities, Spanish broth. 

Born in December, close to Corrie’s birthday, they have a similar and ready sense of humour;  it is heart warming to see her have this close interaction so she can re-explore her second language. We probably spend about 15-30 minutes with him almost daily so it allows Corrie to get through the ‘cobweb stage’.

But tomorrow it really will be with family as he has invited us to lunch where he will cook for us, on the rooftop patio, the world’s best Paella, and opposite to what many believe, it only takes 20-30 minutes.  Our host has helped make our stay extra special, it has really been like staying with a local family who are friends (including a young Dutch woman and a young Ukrainian woman).

We have scored a goal here, one that we weren’t expecting … but it won’t concern our host because he seemed happy to let this one through.