A shocking crypt, a closed castle and Jesus being helpful

 Strap yourself in it is going to be - well, not bumpy, but fulsome ride.  Cadiz is gorgeous. It is so much crammed into such a small space, as we will see by the very narrow streets. It is another, on the long, long list, of places I really need to go to. We will start by going up the Avenida Periodista Beatriz Cienfuegos, and then head to the Atlantic road.   Before we do that let us muse  Beatriz Cienfuegos.  Bea [1701-86]  was born in Cadiz, to a wealthy bourgeois family.  She created La Pensadora Gaditana, one of the first periodicals written by a woman.

We are walking by some fairly splendid looking sands. Playa de la Victoria gets 4.7 stars from 1870 reviews, so it must be nice. Two weeks ago Rafal was up on the beach and down on the dogs.  ‘A wonderful, wide beach, perfect for a walk along the ocean. The downside is the large number of dogs; dogs should be banned from the beach.’  Last October Francisco reckoned ‘A great beach in Cadiz with a wide variety of places to eat and a great atmosphere, fine and great sand. It's true that the first day I caught it with a Levante wind and the sand was short and the next day it was full of algae, although the water was cold.’

 We are turning west and so near the cathedral.  https://catedraldecadiz.com/ The place is dedicated to the Holy Cross over the Waters - and why not. It was built between 1722 and 1838. It started being baroque, with rococo elements and, by the time it was done, it was a bit neoclassical.  Manuel de Falla and Jose Maria Peman are buried there. Lots of people liked the place, few said why.  Andrea said, a week ago, ‘Seen from the sea, it almost seems to float. Inside, it's bright, essential, and exudes a rare calm. But the real shock comes in the crypt: you can feel the sea beneath your feet. It doesn't overwhelm you, but it stays with you for a long time.’

We get to the most western part of this journey and look out to the rock at the end of it all, which is stuffed with bridges, ancient light houses and the Castillo de San Sebastian.  It is one of those gloriously geometric structures from the Age of Reason. Mind you, I can imagined being garrisoned here and generally feeling very much in the front line.  The original fort was built in 1457, the current one goes back to 1706. https://turismo.cadiz.es/es/rutas-y-visitas-en-cadiz/castillo-de-san-sebasti%C3%A1n   I do have to say the Inigo hasn’t really got the hang of Spanish museums or Easter.  He wrote ‘These crooks are shameless! It's always clearly stated that they're open from 9 am until sunset. Yesterday and today they were closed without any explanation.’   I have to say many reviews really demand you know some context, not provided by them.

We are going back now.  The Mercado Central de Abastos de Cadiz.  https://mercadocentralcadiz.com/  Over 14,000 people gives it 4.6 stars. Let us take a few reviews.

Most recent. 3 hours ago, Paulina 4 stars ‘Nice, pretty, like all of Andalusia, but without any emotions: Seville is nicer, Conil too, not to mention Cadiz’

Shellfish [286]  Sandra, a week ago. ;The Central Market of Cádiz is a gastronomic experience you can't miss. The neoclassical building with its Doric columns is beautiful and houses dozens of stalls with incredibly fresh produce. The fish and seafood are of exceptional quality, freshly arrived from the fish market. On Fridays and Saturdays, there's a food corner where you can sample tapas made with products from the market itself, such as bluefin tuna, pork rinds, or shrimp fritters. The atmosphere is lively, and the vendors are incredibly friendly. The prices are reasonable for the quality offered. I recommend going early in the morning when the produce is freshest and there are fewer crowds.;

Hedgehog [a translation thing I think] Ana, a month ago,  five stars. ‘A fantastic local market with locally sourced products at good prices. Surrounding it are stalls selling all kinds of prepared food. The fish stalls offer cooked seafood, sea urchins, and oysters ready to eat.’

We are crossing to the other side of the town and to the Avenida del Puerto.  It is a long walk so we will pop into El Cafe de Ana.  https://www.elcafedeanacadiz.com/  A cafe grande is 2.20, a double espresso 1.80 and an Americano 1.50.   I think I want a nice review.  E.R. said ‘A cozy cafe in a quiet Cádiz neighborhood. Tasty treats, gigantic cakes and delicious coffee made for a relaxing visit. Stop in if you are passing by.’

After that we are now ready for more exercise and Basic-Fit comes highly recommended. 730 people give 4.8 stars and it has a website. https://www.basic-fit.com/es-es/clubs/basic-fit-cadiz-avenida-las-cortes-de-cadiz-76a4878d56da46fda12f523207a3998f.html?utm_medium=yext&utm_source=gmb  Rafael said ‘Great value for your money!

Basic fit is a nice chain and this one must be the best basic fit gym I’ve ever been in! There are plenty of machines and they are all in perfect condition, all areas are always clean and tidy, people are respectful with each other and personnel is always active and attentive. Highly recommend to have a chat with personal trainer Jesus about your fitness goals, he for sure is able to help you achieve them.’

So we are looking out over the Bridge of the 1812 Constitution towards the mainland and tomorrow.