No school, just play.

I sleep well and then I have the best swim ever, before breakfast!   Peaceful. So no need for shoulder exercise or meditation!   This is a great routine, I should have done it before and will continue for the rest of the week.  I have two old farts for friends. A millpond!  It is going to hit 27 today... Just ate the biggest croissant ever.   Another routine I will get into.  Better check out my homework.  Today starts with a tour of the old town which is good in parts but politically incorrect too.  We dont learn much and would rather be doing Spanish.  

We meet at Puerta de la Tierra. 

Ack Jose Manual Ramirez 

Here is it's history

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerta_de_Tierra

We first of all stop at the old tobacco factory, right by the port, awaiting shipments from the colonies.  

Here is a statue remembering the first women allowed to work in Spain, in the eighteenth century.   Suddenly it was convenient to employ women, whose hands were smaller than mens and thus perfect for rolling cigars.   

We pass by the entrance to the old Moorish city. 

This old mansion house is awaiting a refurb.  

The stones in the pavement below have been reused.  They were initially ballast in the ships arriving from the Américas. 

Plaza de las Flores. 

In the past of course, the flowers  used to come from the colonies 

Later we all meet in the Plaza de Mina and go for tapas. 

  

Henry Moore has arrived in Cadiz

Once again it is warm and the sun shines.  

Henry Moore has come to Plaza de la Catedral.   A big improvement on the HSBC truck that was here when the Art Historian and I were here a couple of years ago.  

Ack tomaraquetuviera

School goes well though the class room is too hot.  I swim at 1800 go to the yoga class.  It is a great space with a great German teacher.   It is hatha and not too strenuous.  Afterwards we head to Bar Cañon and then the market bar.  No better place to eat fish!  

First Day in Cadiz

As J and I have opted for two hours only at school we don't have to be there till 12.  This is much better as we are able to go to the market and have a slow start.  Here I am on the way to school.  

It is lovely to see the team again.  J and I are in a class with two lovely central European girls, thirty somethings with interesting back stories.  Both have been before, the school certainly has a pull.  Next, I have a one to one with verónica who is lovely so I am happy about that.  I do not have homework and spend the whole afternoon on the beach and swimming.  I then cook the standard  Hall/Thomas ratatouile meal with pasta! We eat it in J's place for the view.  

Wonderful on beach, wonderful weather.  Here is our view on the way back from school. 

Arriving in Cadiz

This morning it is cooler, about 15 degrees when I leave the hotel

J and I arrive at Santa Justa Station at the same time, bumping into each other, I don't know how this hombre does it

He is even worse than me for orientation and does not appear to have a male brain

!!! 

The walk from the hotel took me ten minutes, in contrast to that hot hour yesterday  

We have breakfast and I buy J a tarjeta dorada and get our tickets

The weather is gorgeous as we approach Cádiz (for the umpteenth time) with excitement 

We arrive in the heat of the day. Podemos is in charge of the town hall and giving all the right messages

I am ensconsed now having initially been put at the front of the hotel by the noisy road.  I put my foot down, as had requested the back and a higher floor on booking six months ago.  Eventually got changed to the back, but on the ground floor and I have to pay quite a big supplement.  Massive complaint coming on.   I had to wait one hour so I stored my stuff with J and we went to beach.  I got in the sea, how amazing, such release!  The culmination of the journey and one of the  best things about Cadiz. 

Quite a few people were in there.  I chatted with a man who asked me if I was Italian!  ? He reckons the sea is best at this time of year, a nicer temperature than August.  It's 20 degrees.  

J is in the new nicer building because 'he is staying longer', also at the front but it is the third floor and there is good sound proofing.  He has nice view, they have improved the square with parquecito where the kids play to all hours.   All in all I feel settled and happy now.    

We had a tapas just now and will go out for another about 8.   

I am feeling tired but relaxed in Cadiz. So glad I don't have to rush in the morning and we only have two hours school.  

Afternoon in Sevilla

I leave today for Sevilla Santa Justa from Málaga Maria Zambrano, which is significantly calmer than Paddington.  See above. 

Great to be back in Sevilla, though to be truthful it is too big for me. 

 

Above is the wonderful Giralda. 

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giralda

The Moorish tower has been incorporated into the cathedral.  I have never been in the latter and was planning a visit today, but ..      

Oh well, reason to return. 

Instead I head back to the gorgeous and peaceful hotel pool then have my own little party in my room. 

Soon feeling estupendo after the dissapointment of the early close to the cathedral.  I did get a peek inside, ginormous.  It was hot and heaving in the Casco Viejo.  I had forgotten how beautiful but how touristy Sevilla is.  My friend J finds himself in the Plaza España so I go to meet him.  It is a lovely

warm evening. We have a good tapas session near the cathedral 

Art in Málaga

After a rather unsettled night and slow start I have a sweet croissant in the mall of the station before buying tickets and a tarjeta dorado. 

Then I head off to galleries with my swimming cossie in my bag.  It proves to be a successful 

day with plenty of art, though I should have got in the sea straight away when the beach was sunny.  Did not fancy wandering all day in a post sea state but unfortunately it was wavy and cloudy later and I wimped out; unlike me, but hasta Cadiz!  

Here is a not very good photo of the beach today as I walk to Museo Ruso. 

There is an exhibition 

Chagall y sus contemporáneos rusos

http://coleccionmuseoruso.es/

Very glad that my Spanish class mate recommended this museum. 

 

Next I take the bus to the other end of the city to see the Pompidou Centre at last.  

http://www.centrepompidou-malaga.eu/

Here is the view from the Pompidou, Málaga seems to have it's very own eye.  

My own Art Historian would love both the venues I visit today.  I see some works in Pompidou by artists who I have  encountered with her.  The permanent collection is amazing.  I love El cuerpo en pedazos. 

 There is a great video of children from Liverpool discussing an art work. 

A nice walk back to the hotel via the old railway to the port. 

For both my nights in Málaga I eat at El Calafete,  a veggie restaurant with a 9€ three course menu.  Increíble. Filling and tasty http://www.facebook.com/restaelcalafate 

Travel to Malaga

In the UK, following the Brexit vote there is a shortage of Marmite.  Hard to believe but true.  Or perhaps the experts saw this coming.   Good job I stocked up before heading to school in Cadiz.  My chum there is an addict.  But how silly that I did not get 100g or less.  Yes, some cheeky security worker is now enjoying it on toast.  Oh well, it's the thought that counts.  

The flight leaves a little late.  The lady next to me shares her flying fears.  I agree it's not much fun.  I feel conflicted; it would be good to have the time to travel by train. Or walk.  

On the plane I email back to my friend from medical school.  It is great to have very old friends.  We are in agreement that our training was all wrong!  I remember the mantra:  history, examination, diagnosis, treatment.  The third was essential and the fourth pharmacological.  In reality the third is frequently nebulous and the fourth should usually be lifestyle advice/ exercise therapy / psychological therapy etc.  It's a disaster that pain killers are escalated and patients get into a downward spiral. I seemed to spend my life unpicking all that in later years.  I am glad to be out of it and learning Spanish and being political, but I do dispair. Of course GPs come into their own when they detect serious illness and it is essential that they have the skill to detect this.  Anyway the system seems to be buckling. Lib Dems want a health and social care tax.  This is a great idea.   

Then I write to another old friend.  She is bemoaning her husband's back.  He has to wait two weeks to see the GP and in any case a physio would be better she feels. I agree physio should be the first port of call.   I think the system is all wrong!  Physios are much better than GPs for musculoskeletal problems and will refer to medics if needed.  It takes longer than prescribing a painkiller but it must save money in the long run to get people better rather than asign them to chronicity.  I advise exercises on line at patient.co.uk.  

I arrive in Málaga only slightly late and pass immediately through customs.  Can they really take my EU citizenship away from me?  As soon as I exit the terminal, the smell of sea, smoke and jasmin overwhelms. There is sun and dark clouds and it is a perfect 20 degrees.  I miss a shower while unpacking, ego blooming as the receptionist has complemented me on my Spanish.  Further more I was able to help visiting Spanish nationals at the airport station.  The October chill of England is already a distant memory. 

I have opted for the lovely Barcelo at Maria Zambrano Station as it is so convenient and comfy.  Spoiling myself a little.  On arrival there is a treat which reminds me of my birthday in San Sebastian.  

I soon head out to the Plaza de la Merced to the craft beer bar Arte y Sana.  http://www.arteysana.com/
I enjoy a Dougall's IPA 7% which, apparently is Spanish.  

I have brought an Ullage for Bruno. 

Here is the illuminated alcazar. 

And a chestnut stall.  It's autumn apparently. 

For both my nights in Málaga I eat at El Calafete,  a veggie restaurant with a 9€ three course menu.  Increíble. Filling and tasty http://www.facebook.com/restaelcalafate 

Here is a kind of gazpacho. Filling and amazing! 

I walk back to the hotel feeling happy. I have never seen the Rio Guadalmedina, with 

 water in it before, usually this is a dry bed.  Good stuff!