- Sunday we headed up the coast to the white hill town of Frigiliana. The whole town is on board with the white town theme, making it a most attractive place, so despite being a hot day, it was well worth the drive and walk from the car park. The locals have, (very wisely), made it a real art destination so there are art galleries by the dozen. Adrienne resisted the temptation but we found a nice restaurant in lovely shaded square and whiled away the afternoon with a few local rosados and a very nice rack of lamb.
- Next day was still hot, so we headed for Playa Cabopino beach near Marbella. It is on the “25 most amazing beaches on the Costa del Sol” list. To quote the webite “The fine golden sand and the calm, clean water, makes it the perfect family destination.” The beach description is true, but given a large proportion of the beach is zoned “Naturalistic” there were more “willies” on display than in a Scottish phone book!! (I wanted to don a batik bandana and join the throng, (pun intended), but Adrienne suggested I wasn’t up to it …). So we walked for about an hour on the boardwalks across the dunes and up and down the beach – where is a set of scorecards when you need them ???
- Tuesday and our first roadtrip. Destination Cadiz and Jerez about two hours from Benehavis. We drove past Gibraltar but did not go in – we heard the English border guards are very over-zealous in their checks – apparently we are all busting to get to England and overstay, while importing packets of cheap cigarettes to avoid the english taxman!! It seems no one has told them people are wanting to get out of the UK, (see Brexit fiasco), not in!!
- Found our very nice apartment in the old town of Cadiz and went for a walk. This is a lovely “old town” with gardens, beaches and public spaces all accessible within a few hundred metres.
- We visited an exhibition in the Santa Catalina Castle dedicated to the Cadiz Explosion in 1947. The Submarine Defence Base nearby was actually a facility used by the Germans in WW2 and over 200 MT of TNT and amatol blew up destroying not only the base but a large part of the town around it. Some 150 people died and the photos look like the aftermath of Hiroshima – the town was flattened. Interestingly the military enquiry findings were never published and were “lost” in a mysterious fire.
Playa de la Caleta Beach with former spa in the centre 
Santa Catalina Castle – built to protect Cadiz when it was one of the richest trading ports in the world. 
Parque Genoves – beautiful botanic gardens on the seafront 
There are two Moreton Bay figs this big – stunning trees - Wednesday was overcast and showery so wandered around the old town. There was a huge cruise ship in and we guess the departure ports were all English – Cadiz felt like the Blackpool Bingo Hall – all grey hair, bad teeth, socks and sandels, and a gridlock of mobility scooters.
Old city walls and gates 
We climbed the tower – they built the fortifications because they were sick of being raped and pillaged by the English and Dutch – not much has changed over the years!! - Thursday dawned with thunderstorms and we headed for Jerez and the dancing horses. I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy what could have been a little “circus-like”, but it was a show with beautiful horses, skilful riders, and very little “stunt work”. Sure there was one act that had horses doing some tricks on their back legs, but the rest was about skilful stepping, (dancing), and coordination that was really quite impressive.
- Friday is a domestic chores day with a bush walk. Our niece, Georgina, (and friend Rachel), are joining us for a second time tonight, and we need to rest up ahead of trips to Ronda and the Alhambra Palaces in Granada.
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