Warning….I have exceeded my limit on picture data on Word Press and had to sign up for more. So consequently I will be posting less pictures. However, where possible I will post a link for you to look at more.
Feb2…Sat- I was happy to see that the ground hog is being nice this year to all of my northern friends. Especially in light of all the recent snow. See guys, there is a GOD. Today we had company arrive, but before that we walked to time the bus/train station as we would be using that later. I found yet another church to pop into. Picasso statues are every where and pop up in the strangest of places. Below is an great and HUGE example.
We caught some lunch at home before needing to head out to meet our friends from Rockford joining us for a couple of weeks. Frank and Wendy Savickas. On our way to the flat we encountered a protest in the streets. Something about someones’ pensions. The was also a group of Venezuelans in the courtyard.
We left our flat before receiving Wendy’s message that they had missed their train and would be another hour and a half. So, not wanting to walk back and forth again, we popped a squat in the plaza for a bit, then headed to find a “famous” tabanco nearby. These establishments are very small and pour your wine or sherry right out of the cask. Today a group of young men were in there with a guitar and singing. How fun to be a part of that! I tried cream sherry in one, didn’t really love it, and then had a moscatel at San Pablo. I knew I would like the moscatel as I had had some in Malaga.
for Peggy 
Just about 4:00 Frank and Wendy came walking down the street with a family in tow. Turns out that is wan’t enough for the family to give Savickas’ directions the family walked them to the door. How Nice! Getting F&W settled we took them for a drink and some tapas. We took them grocery shopping and Caught up a bit and then it was time to part til Sun. I’m looking forward to spending two weeks with them.
Feb 3, 2019 Sunday-I had purchased a persimmon the other day and I thought it was ripe enough to try. It could have used a couple more days to ripen. The taste kind of reminded me of a mango.
Started off a little later as we wanted to give F&W a chance to catch up and rest before hitting it too hard, so 12:30 church was our first activity of the day. Next we headed right over to the La Pasaje for free flamenco music and dancing. This is also a Tabanco. One of the oldest in town. VERY small and it got VERY packed. So packed in fact that we had to watch the performance on the overhead mirror.
Next it was off to the Cathedral. The size is grand but the objects inside were not nearly as impressive as the church we had been in on Thurs. night.
The Jerez Cathedral is a beautiful building from the 17th century which combines Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical styles and stands above the earlier Great Mosque of Jerez and the old Church of El Salvador.
The chapels of La Inmaculada, El Sagrario and Las Ánimas stand out inside, the latter dedicated to the famous Cristo de la Viga, from the 14th century.
In the Cathedral Museum, amongst other paintings of interest, we find “La Virgen Niña” by Zurbarán and works by Juan Rodríguez “El Tahonero”.
The bell tower, which is outside, was possibly built over the minaret of the old mosque of Jerez de la Frontera.
love this shot 
After climbing the bell tower it was time for a cold one. We had spotted just the place from atop of the tower. Some nice fries tied us all over til dinner.
Feb 4th, Monday- what a WONDERFUL day. First off was theFundacion Real Escuela Andaluza Arte Ecuestre. This the the “college” for learning all things Andulusian in horses. Riding, tack, training, etc. The facility is beyond words. The teacher to student ratio is 1/1 That’s right! One student to one teacher. There are extra classes that can be taken to learn about saddle making, farrier, etc. Students are there for four years and pay….are you ready for this one?… $1,500.00 a year!!! You read it right! I guess the government is so interested in keeping this wonderful tradition alive that is subsidized. Also the price of tickets which was dirt cheap and private events also help defray costs. There are 40 students, six new each year now. Roughly 100 staff including grounds keepers and office people. There is also a museum for carriages, and horse equipment, and clothing etc. You have never been in a facility like this one. There are only four of these schools in the world. One in Austria, France, here
and Germany. Below is a link if you care to learn any more or see some professional pictures. I highly suggest you check it out. It takes six years to train a horse for show time. There are 120 horses and each and every one of them gets exercised and bathed every day.! That’s a lot of work. These are magnificent creatures.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Fundacion+Real+Escuela+Andaluza+Arte+Ecuestre.&rlz=1C1NDCM_enPA689PA690&oq=Fundacion+Real+Escuela+Andaluza+Arte+Ecuestre.&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.3485j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
After viewing the other musuems associated with the school we popped into the Sandeman sherry house right next door. There was 1,000 casks stored in this one building but had 26, 000 total in storage. Lunch time. We had a nice lunch at La Roma. A great Italian place where we had our first pizza in Spain. The owners started there in 2012 coming from Itay. So you know it was good. Someone found out that I used to work in the biz and asked me to step up to the plate. What fun.
On our way from the restaurant Wendy and I passed by a dumpster that has some old tile in it. Well, we went to work chopping and breaking old mortar away to get some to bring home. Bill and Frank just kept walking. Didn’t want any part of those shenanigans. NO SIR! Well, I ended up with about 5 pounds worth, enough for a lovely stepping stone or trivet. They guys met us near the church for cocktails while waiting for the church and antique store to open back up after siesta time. Some very unique items in there. After the church viewing it was getting on 7:30 and time for churros! I think Frank is hooked.
http://www.sandeman.com/age-check
Feb 5th-Tues-What an interesting day! We learned all kinds of history at the Alcazar and learned how chicken eggs not in a shell are blown up with air and sold as a delicacy. Below is a link to the Alcazar if you care to learn more or see more pics. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alc%C3%A1zar_of_Jerez_de_la_Frontera We spent much more time than I thought we would at the Alcazar. It was fascinating to see the “old technology” used to build a city. Amazing considering they didn’t have power tools.
see the tiny orange eggs? 
tah dah
oil press 
farmacy early palace 1664 
auto clave 
After spending several hours at the Alcazar it was time for a bite to eat. We were strolling along the sidewalk looking for a place and this woman literally shuffled us to a table. Good thing. She was the owner, cook, waitress. We had amazing meatballs cooked in sherry and olive oil, a wonderful potato salad with garlic mayo, and beef stew that melted in our mouth. he also is a seamstress and makes flamenco dresses of which she showed up pictures. Also sewed her daughter’s wedding dress. Her daughter lives in Rochester, N.Y. Small world.
All refueled the church of San Miguel was next. Also part museum this facility held ancient robes and vestments. http://www.parroquiasanmigueljerez.org/ Several solid silver pieces adorned the alters and alcoves. Each and every church we have been in has had something that completely takes my breath a away. Here is was a stunning sliver alter base. All hand hammered of course.
We split up a little earlier than usual as I had two days of blogging to do and laundry. Frank and Wendy had ventured out on their own in the evening. I’m proud of them. They both have caught on rather quickly.
Feb. 6th- Thurs. Road trip! Hopping aboard the train to Cadiz, pronounced cadeth, we passed pasture land and farms. From a distance we spied a huge bridge, which we would not cross. Cadiz is an old shipping port with much history. Christopher Columbus set sail from here for his second voyage and Cesar was the first Roman governor here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A1diz Here we spent all day exploring. Cadiz is a beautiful city and port. Very clean. Lots of friendly people. There were too many churches to get them all in. We hit the San Juan De Dios first. Then off to the cathedral. A nice viewing however. First we tried to hit the market but by now it was after 2:00 and most were closing up shop. We did get a quick run through but I am most excited to see the in Seville.
however
However some what disappointing compared to some of the smaller more grand churches that we have seen so far. The one unique thing here was a crypt in the lower bowls of the church. The most stunning of “artwork” was also seen here. A ceremonial piece used in Santa Semana. Made entirely of solid silver. The craftsmanship is outstanding. Once again all made by hand.
http://www.catedraldecadiz.com/
WEndy and I are very much alike in the ways that she isn’t affraid to snap “illegal” pics when asked not to, and her love for exploring. The gabbing is great also.After the cathedral time for a little beach walking. The water is so nice and pretty. Clean, and no wave action what so ever. We heard music and headed in that direction for a little libation. A nice setting beach side with a sax and guitar playing my favorite things from the sound of music.What’s better than a drinky pooh seaside? http://www.andalucia.org/es/turismo-cultural/visitas/cadiz/museos/oratorio-de-la-santa-cueva/ And http://www.cadizturismo.com/turismo-cultural/visitas/cadiz/oratorio-san-felipe-neri/?set_language=en We saw them in reverse order listed above. Both were very different and amazing. I was more impressed with these two than the Cadiz Cathedral. Small but stylish and elaborate. The sun beginning to get low in the sky it was time to find some fish for dinner. As I think I have stated before, 5-8 o clock is NOT the time to be looking for dinner. This is Tapas time. Most dinner places are closed. So just that in itself was a chore. We all had fish on the brain of course being in a fish port. We eventually found a little joint that had excellent fish. I believe the owner said it was sole. A great day was had by all and we can’t wait to explore Seville.
Feb. 7th Thurs. We all had agreed to meet up at 10:00. Frank and Wendy have been having issues with the reservation for their next place in Seville and that needed some attention. Thinking it was all resolved after calling the broker we took off. I had two stops left on my list. First was Hipisur. This is an everything equine store.
Hipisur has everything you might need for horse-riding, selling more than 50 000 items for both jockeys and horses. Here you will also find leather bags, boots and accessories as well as unique souvenirs from Jerez. If you want to peruse https://hipisur.com/ Just down the street a couple of block is the old Bull fighting Ring. Built in 1894 the ring “I think” was un-used from 1990 til 2012. Not sure why. All of the bulls that have been killed there since 1955 have been immortalized with a tile pictorial monument surrounding part of the building. I can’t remember how many have not been killed but there was but a plaque for that year as well stating as much. So, we were walking around the building and I saw a car and an open door. Those of you who know me well will know what I was thinking. SO, i popped my head in and yelled Hola! Sure enough a man came out and after some babbling allowed us in to see the ring. Very cool. They had some very old posters of some of the events. Wendy and I were thinking we’d love to get our hands on one of those! But, no offer was made. We didn’t want to push our luck. Several times this past week we have been the only ones allowed in somewhere or were in a place by ourselves as this is not tourist season. How special and privileged it feels. This happened again later in the day in one of the churches. The guys spotted an Irish Pub across from Hipisur so that’s where we took our afternoon drinks. From there we decided to pay our friend Jaime a visit as he was going to have fresh fish today and we promised him we would be back for lunch. The boys met Jaime on Tues. while Wendy and I were shopping. Anyway, he greeted us with kisses and treated us like family. He set us up with a five course meal. Potato salad, little fishes, Moroccan chicken, a local bean dish, and beef kabobs. Then, he brought us a shot of the finest sherry I have ever tasted. Also told us we could buy it at the Duty Free cheaper than we can buy it in town. No taxes. At $7.00 I will not quibble. So you want to know how much? $30.00!!! Ok, so on with the wandering. Just trying to cover some ground that we hadn’t before aimlessly taking left and right turns, we stumbled upon yet another church. Santiago Church. I’m not sure they were open but the nice lady at the desk let us in. Then she showed us around a little, and after we were done she spent some time with us and a book she had. The book had pictures of Corpse Christy festival and some of the restoration process.
The Church of Santiago is a church located in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1931. Near Santiago square, the church is built outside the enclosure walled of the medieval city. In the place where there was a chapel with the same name built in times of the Spanish reconquest.
For pictures click on the link below.
https://foursquare.com/v/iglesia-de-santiago/4f12b895e4b045626874f7aa
Still wandering around we passed a Flamenco Hall, and yet another church that has been turned into a venue. The acoustics are that good. Sun slipping, time to find a drink as the fish from lunch wanted to swim a little. Back to the main walking street for that. Then the day was topped off with churros in our favorite dessert spot. Last for Jerez. Tomorrow off to Seville.
Feb, 9th- Friday..AH, SEVILLE!!! What a wonderful, beautiful city. I am in love already. Take the streets of Malaga the amount of people, shopping, restaurants, sites, and multiply it times 100. Yeeha! We took the 1:15 medium distant train that went 157 kph from Jerez to out town Seville next to the University where we hopped the electric city metro to Cathedral square. A little figuring out which direction to go and we landed on our new flat door step. A beautiful courtyard had me hopeful. A fairly nice area in the flat that looks over the courtyard. Then my bubble was burst when I found out this was a shared space. Not just with the owner but with another bedroom guest as well. Ok, I can do that. We’ve done it already this trip. But, many of the lights have no bulbs, there is water leaking in the bathroom, no microwave, or toaster,and a tiny frig where the freezer compartment needs defrosting to use. Glad it is only temporary. On the up side we are only a block from the Cathedral and steps away from tons of eating places. So, we met up with Frank and Wendy right outside our door. We headed to the information center to pick up a couple of maps and started scoping things out. We did some walking around to get the feel of our immediate neighborhood. Took in some dinner, went to the grocery store, then called it quits for the night.
Feb. 9th. Sat. Seville is quite the town. Sooo many people, places and things to see and do! It’s totally crazy. There are so many churches, and with being closed from 2-6 or 8, I don’t think we will be able to get into them all. Sadly. Some are also only open for Masses, so you can’t get them all. This morning we headed right across the river to La Triana district as the market area closes early. Also this is where the ceramics district is. After the market we took a nice river walk where there was some artisans. A lot of beautiful tile work on the walls all over.
Wendy and I took off to see a church while the guys had a little brewski as Frank calls them. We visited Iglesai Ntra Sra De La O.https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=https://sevillapedia.wikanda.es/wiki/Iglesia_de_la_O_(Sevilla)&prev=search
Next up was lunch. We got a bunch of different things to try. One was a crepe with cream cheese and salmon, potato salad with shrimp, and steak and fries in whiskey sauce. All were super yummy and we split a brownie and ice cream for dessert. On another river walk we saw a group of ladies with flowers around their heads and one all dressed up in kind of a traditional garb. We stopped to ask them what was going on and it was a bachelorete and her bridesmaids. They were having all sorts of fun and getting ready to take a ride up the river. Which we may do later in the week. We saw a beautiful government building with a mote around it. Then we laid eyes on the Hotel Alfonso XIII! Oh my goodness! Alfonso was a king here and I believe he lived in this building. For some nice pics of the hotel click on the link below./https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/svqlc-hotel-alfonso-xiii-a-luxury-collection-hotel-seville/?scid=bb1a189a-fec3-4d19-a255-54ba596febe2 The hotel has an antiquities dealer in it and they have some artifacts and ancient jewelry for sale. Wendy and I went in and have never seen items this old. I am talking 350 B.C.! I can’t figure out how these items can be sold and taken out of the country. They belong in a museum. King Alfonso’s chair is also on exhibit there as well.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfonso_XIII_of_Spain. Turning a corner on a back street we encountered a group of young men dressed up and playing instruments and having a drinking contest. We also saw a monument to Christopher Columbus and walked around the wall of the Alcazar. Time for a drink and Frank wanted to try Paella. Walking home just ask dusk we saw the Cathedral lit up with the moon. Stunning. What a wonderful eye filled day.
The Lauers Travel 