Like most people we came to stay here partly because it has an ACSI site which open all year, but mainly because the place has really good public transport links into Cadiz. In fact El Puerto is attractive in its own right. Situated at the mouth of the river Guadalcacin, its ancient quaysides are lined with the bodegas of venerable sherry producers. The largest, Osborne, whose black bull logo has become an unofficial national symbol, has a bodega that seems to cover acres - think Ford Dagenham size!
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| The gigantic Osborne bordega |
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| El Puerto's famous bullring. |
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| Storks on the gables |
As well as these it has an archetypal toy castle - it looks like the kind you get given at Christmas aged seven; one of the biggest and most famous bullrings in Spain, and interesting old streets in the working class areas next to the bodegas.
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Now that's what I call a proper castle...
Today the winds have dropped enough to get the bikes off the rack. The shoreline dune area is covered in a forest of umbrella pines interspersed with a white broom that has just come into flower. The area has a cycle track through it. It leads to a big modern marina development called, surprise surprise, 'Port Sherry'. As well as moorings there are hotels and waterside apartments - it looks a bit like a Spanish attempt at 'Port Grimaud'. We cycled up to the lighthouses, looked at a replica Galleon that was tied up - no explanation - but it looked like a copy of one of Columbus's ships, maybe not large enough for the Santa Maria, but the Pinta or Nina perhaps.
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| Swanky hotel at Port Sherry |
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| Un-named Galleon |
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| resting crew |
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| Lighthouse and officially sanctioned graffiti (an oxymoron) |
On the sea-wall there was a nice cafe selling Illy coffee. It had a great view over towards Cadiz, It must have a stupendous sunset view. Of course it was playing Ibiza chillout, what else!
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| Cafe time! |
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| Illy - YAY!!!! |
By late afternoon we were back at the van, warm enough to sit out and relax in the sunshine. I would say that it was peaceful, but the site is adjacent to the town's football academy. By the sound of it, El Puerto Rovers seem to be locked in some gargantuan struggle with Jerez United. It could go on a while, surely it must be extra-time by now.
Sent from my iPhone
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