Cu
ommonly known as the
frying pan of Spain. the
inland city of Seville is not necessarily the first place you might choose to take your summer holidays. With temperatures rising to 42 degrees Celsius and few public pools in which to cool off. an extended stay in this beautiful city packed with traditional tapas bars would be more roasting than restful. Yet. with flights available for less than £60 for a |() day trip. it was hard to resist. Luckily. we had a plan. For. although it would have been rude not to spend at least a couple of days in Seville itself (mostly taking shelter in the air-conditioned confines of H&M during the day — only to cool down. naturally). our main destination was the cooler seaside city of Cadiz.
Less than two hours away by train. Cadiz (or Cad-ith as the locals call it) is located at the end of a long. narrow peninsula which
juts out into the Atlantic Ocean.
This keeps the temperature just the right side of scorching but provides beaches ripe for
sunbathing. The white sands of
Playa Santa Maria stretch right along the edge of the peninsula but getting there is a bit of an exposed trek along the seafront. so try the more central Playa de la Caleta instead. It is much smaller and gets hellishly busy at weekends but is in easy walking distance of sights such as the Castillo de San Sebastian (which.
oie fryin
although not open to the public. makes a nice stroll along the causeway) and the more shady
Parque (ienoves. But. unlike other
parts of Spain. Cadi/ has not been swamped by the tourist industry
it retains a very local feel. with plenty of interesting streets and buildings to explore when the beach loses its appeal. lts seafront is dominated by the golden cupola of the Cathedral — a grand yet strangely uneven building that was started in I722 using sandstone. but due to money problems.
UNLIKE OTHER PARTS OF SPAIN, CADIZ HAS NOT BEEN SWAMPED BY THE TOURIST INDUSTRY
TRAVEL
g pan
Sometimes the best deals come from going where no one else wants to be. Try Cadiz, suggests Rachael Street.
wasn‘t completed tiiitil INS} in much lighter limestone. The square surrounding it is a loyely place to hang out in the cycning sun. btit far more atmospheric is the Barrio de la fishei'man‘s quarter towards the
west of the city. where pots of
geraniiims line the walls of every street and fishing rods lean out from almost eyei'y balcony. Here you’ll find some of the yery best fish restaurants in Southern Spain. offering up fresh sardines.
anchovies. mllsscls tilttl seafood of
all kinds. most of which is simply grilled and seryed with roughly chopped salsa. 'l'ry any of the places along c/\'irgen de la l’alina. which leads to one particularly good restaurant on l’la/a 'l‘io de la 'l‘i/a. But be warned. if you want to get a table at this outdoor eatery. contained within a picturesque whitewashed square.
it's best to stick to British dinner
times to avoid the rush or you may have to join the queue that forms from about lllpm onwards. Although (‘adi/ nightlife is no match for the bu// of Sey illc. you‘ll find its more relaxed pace better suited to the holiday yibc unless you arrive during the annual carnival ( I27 22 l‘ieb 2(lll7). livery city in Spain has its own celebration week but the one in Cadi/ is more raucous than most. It perfectly embodies the alternative spirit of the city.
www.cadiztourismo.com
Vina or
&
Whether you're looking for a peaceful break or a thrill- seeking holiday. here are a few ideas to get you in the mood.
I Costa Almeria hair hundred miles of Spanish coastline await you here, as well as resorts near the main town of Aliiiit-iia ldyllirt Spots include unspoilt fishing Villages. long sandy beaches and intimate coves. l‘l-lfl rip, flight only from Glasgow
I Ashburton Cookery School, Dartmoor hi 5; school in Devon offers you hands on involvement With top quality local produce. With classes for beginners as well as more exotic live (lay pressure cooks courses. Prices start from 5‘225 on for two day (.‘t)( )kery course. WWW.(?S/ll)tlll()tl(,()r)k()/\’f;()ll()()/.(I(). t/k
I Tandem Skydive Weekend, Bay of Roses, Northern Spain Being brave enough to iiiiiip out of a plane but too scared to actually do it yourself is the key to this holiday. Let your tully qualified instructor iiiiiip and take you With him. 57330 of) excluding flights, www. act/Vitieszthroad, com
I Florida The Sunshine State can be a dream come true for adults and children alike Wllll its beautiful beaches. great attractions and nightlife. shopping, history and culture. F349 pp. I4 Nights from Glasgow
I Zante Many tolk Visit the Greek Island as much to explore its golden beaches and rocky coasts. as to sample healthy nightlife and shopping streets in Zakynthos town. £209 pp, 7 nights from Glasgow
(Sarah Rossi
All deals found on www.holidayhypermarket.co.uk unless otherwise stated. Offers come and go, so while these examples were correct at the time of writing. the best deals tend to get snapped up quickly.
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