By calling our next itinerary stop "Seville," Princess Cruises makes their top recommendation for the port of Cadiz crystal clear.
Based on our visit a few years ago, Seville truly should be on everyone's bucket list, so that makes sense.
Julie and I looked at this Mediterranean cruise as a chance to experience lesser-known coastal cities rather than taking. more expensive excursions to marquis destinations in every port.
When we learned of confirmed rain forecasts for our day in Cadiz, we probably should have re-thought our plan. The surprise landing in Normandy resulted in a pricey excursion we hadn't expected, so sticking with our plan of exploring Cadiz on our own seemed like the right choice at the time.
After all, we charted a mix of pre-planned excursions and days to wander on our own. Why ditch the plan so early in the cruise?
Before leaving home, Julie warned me that forecasts indicated above average rain on our trip. I figured if anything that meant light showers that soon evaporate on sunny Mediterranean days. A little water on lightweight, drip-dry clothes? No big deal. I was more concerned about being too warm while walking around.
Julie recommended I bring my water-repellant UConn jacket that I'd worn on our summer cruise to the chillier climes in Iceland and Scotland. Silly as it now seems, I didn't want to wear the same jacket for this trip in the photos.
Instead, I brought my corduroy sports coat. Not the best choice for rain in Spain, even if it made sense in what is usually a climate similar to Southern California.
When Caribbean Princess arrived in Cadiz, the rain let up sufficiently to go ashore as planned. Mike and Linda decided to stay on board, hoping for the clouds would clear, or as we used to say in Orange County as kids, "burn off."
They didn't.
Julie and I had umbrellas. Within steps of walking out of the cruise terminal, we needed them, but the rain was light.
As we walked, the rain gradually got heavier.
Cadiz is a beautiful city, but the rain discouraged extensive exploring on this particular day.
That was a mistake on my part, because of course it was warm and dry inside.
And gorgeous, holy, remarkable, chalk-full-of-masterpieces, etc.
As a reminder to myself (for the 100th time?), once you're already on vacation, don't let ten bucks stop you from doing anything that will make the most of the moment.
At the time, however, I was thinking about other churches we would see later.
Besides, no matter what forecasts said, I thought the rain would let up.
It didn't.
Julie went inside the Cathedral, while I walked to the farmer's market.
In these wet conditions, that was not ideal.
On the positive side, I can say that the market wasn't too crowded, which was nice. No photos turned out well, but I got a nice shot of a park I walked through in light rain.
The rain poured down harder, forming into big puddles on the cobblestone streets that are more accustomed to baking sun, and as such they don't have the best drainage. After all, this is the Costa Del Sol, "The Sunshine Coast."
City designers were more concerned with sun-generated heat, laying out narrow walkways shaded by adjacent buildings most of the day.
I made it back to pick up Julie a few minutes before she was done. The rain let up a bit, and I was hopeful that we would be able to find a sidewalk cafe with dry seats.
As I waited on the steps of the church, I people watched.
A guy took photos of his girlfriend, who despite the wet cobblestone streets and intermittent deep puddles wore spiked heels with her mini skirt. At least there was one person less appropriately dressed for rain than me.
Julie said the church inside was beautiful (as expected), but, knowing that I waited outside for her in the rain, she felt rushed.
As I mentioned previously, I should have accompanied her.
There was another church not far away, and we peaked in the doorway as a Mass ensued.
The rain started coming down harder than ever. The puddles became almost impassable on narrow walkways as we squeezed past others carrying umbrellas.
Coffee or sangria at a sidewalk cafe wasn't in the cards with so much rain.
Paying for food and drinks inside a restaurant wasn't as appealing as free meals back on our floating resort.
The rain combined with inertia that comes once ensconced in warm, comfortable environs stopped us from going back out into town after lunch.
I don't think Mike and Linda made it off the ship in Cadiz, but Mike in particular likes being on the ship more than visiting the ports.
In any case, Julie and I were certain we would be on one of our main excursions of the cruise the next morning, visiting beautiful Ronda from Malaga with Shore Excursions Group. Our "Small Group Olive Oil Odyssey Ronda Day Trip from Malaga" would be an all-day trip. We didn't feel compelled to do more in Cadiz.
Late that night, after a great evening with Mike and Linda that included happy hour, gourmet dinner, participatory game show, and big show in the Princess Theater, we received a message from Shore Excursions Group informing us that our tour for the next morning had been cancelled at the last minute.
Why?
The Olive Oil factory had closed for the season the day before.
What?
We didn't even care about tasting olive oil. We wanted to visit Ronda because of photos we'd seen.
Shore Excursions Group said we would receive a full refund and also get a free alternative shore excursion touring Malaga, including a catamaran cruise. I called to find out the details, including where to meet. Well, we'll make the most of it, I thought. And it saved us a big chunk of change.
Why did I not pay 8 Euro for that Cathedral admission?
