2025 Volendam, Cadiz, Spain...

As usual, I was out early on the forward deck for sail in. We left the ship after docking and today, our friend Ray, from the Front Office, joined us our adventure. Cadiz is an ancient port city in southwestern Spain, located on a narrow peninsula in Andalusia. Founded by the Phoenicians around 1100 BCE, it is one of the oldest cities in Western Europe known for its historic architecture. We toured the perimeter of the city, stopped along the waterfront before leaving for the White Hill Towns. Travelling through the Andalusia countryside we arrived at the first of our stops at the White Hills villages,  Zahara de la Sierra. Before driving up to the town we stopped at the Zahara-El Gastor Reservoir and dam. Zahara is a picturesque whitewashed village, known for its dramatic hilltop location and stunning views. It is situated within the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park and is dominated by a Moorish castle that sits at the highest point. There were some excellent viewpoints giving a panoramic view of the valley below. We did a quick tour of the village and visit to Santa Maria de la Mesa, Zahara’s main church. Before heading to Grazalema we stopped for a tour of an olive mill and tasting. Grazalema is another picturesque "white village" known for its stunning location within the Natural Park. It is famous for its dramatic mountain scenery, wool products, and historic charm. We parked near the viewpoint that looks out over the village and then we walked around the village exploring its narrow streets, town square, historic churches, the bull statue and admiring the white-washed houses and flower-filled balconies. Our last stop was Arcos de la Frontera perched on a rocky cliff overlooking the Guadalete River. It is known for its Moorish and Gothic architecture, steep narrow streets, and stunning views, serving as a gateway to the Route of the White Villages. We walked in historic center between the Santa María de la Asunción and San Pedro churches and the panoramic views from the Plaza del Cabildo. Returning to Cadiz at 4 pm we decided to forego a walking tour as we all had been here many times. One last note…we would not, under any circumstances, recommend Alvaro C. of Tours by Locals as a guide.