"Say... SEX!"

Perhaps you're wondering about the title? Apparently that's what the woman who took a photo of Connie, Erica, and I at the beach in Cádiz on Saturday thought we should say instead of the traditional "CHEESE" as she snapped the picture. She also didn't speak English, which made it even funnier, hence the look of genuine amusement on all of our faces. We definitely asked the right person.

It was really nice to have a relaxing day away from Sevilla. It's not that I'm getting tired of it already, but sometimes it's fun to explore a new place, and it's definitely fun to lay out on the beach. Initially that was my plan: lounge the entire day on my towel, soaking in the sun and listening to the waves roll in. But when I found Cádiz in my guidebook the night before (and when my dad looked up Cádiz online and enlightened me... I suppose I have to give him some credit :) I learned that Cádiz is the oldest continually inhabited city in western Europe, and that there's much more to it than beach.

When we first arrived, Connie and Erica humored me as I enthusiastically suggested we take the Fodor's suggested "Stroll through old Cádiz," and we got at least through number 2 before we decided to head towards the water. We started in the Plaza San Juan, walked past the town hall to the Plaza de la Catedral, went by the Iglesia de Santiago to the Plaza de Flores, and then went todo todo todo todo todo todo derecho (all.... straight) towards the ocean, as per the directions of a crazy woman on the street in response to our inquiries of "¿Dónde está la playa?"

We did indeed end up at the beach, and though I don't for sure know the name, I believe it was the Playa de la Caleta, the "prettiest beach" according to Fodor's, "tucked picturesquely between two castles." There we saw the two "castles," along with lots of speedos, cellulite, and bare breasts. Ahh, the beaches of Europe. Sites you've always wanted to see mixed with sights that make you wish you couldn't see.

After we'd had enough at the beach, we hung around old Cádiz for awhile, taking in the sights, eating gelato, and doing a bit of shopping. All in all it was a very enjoyable and relaxing day, but after the freezing two hour train ride back, it was nice to be "home" again. It's starting to feel like a home.

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