Cadiz at last! Day 1

When we last tried to get to Cadiz in February, we were thwarted by high winds creating havoc at Amsterdam airport and after a day in the lounge we aborted and returned home. When we checked up on our flights this time, we found that the ground staff at Amsterdam were striking between 8 and 10, the very window between our arrival and departure for Madrid!  When we landed at Amsterdam, we sat on the tarmac looking at the aircraft steps tantalisingly near but not attached.  The captain was humorous and promised coffee, but not for everyone as they only had 72 cups!!  Just when we were wondering how they were going to decide who went without, the two bus drivers who were waiting, took matters into their own hands and moved the steps themselves. The aircraft door opened and they got a round of applause!

From Amsterdam we took a flight to Madrid and then a yellow bus to the Atocha train station and got our seats in first class for the 4 hour train  ride to Cadiz, travelling through a dry, brown landscape peppered with olive trees and vines.

Atocha station

View from the train 

Our Airbnb host Pablo was waiting outside the apartment building and took us through the essentials. The apartment is in an old building built round a covered courtyard. 

The courtyard 

Waiting for tapas

The apartment is spacious and white!  Our immediate excursion at about 8.45pm  was to Carrefour for milk and cornflakes!  The narrow streets were busy with amblers and  the squares alive with little footballers!  We returned our shopping to the flat and headed to the nearest square for supper and  a glass of wine.

And then home to bed!  We had been up since 4.0 am