After docking in Cadiz we boarded our bus for a one hour long drive to Jerez (pronounced 'herez'). We had a female driver and she could drive the bus OK. There were many olive groves and vineyards on the way. Jerez is a much bigger city than Cadiz. We had a drive around town before arriving at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. There was no official show on today, but we were welcome to watch the horses being exsercised, some outside in a big yard or inside the porposemade arena.
They were gorgeous looking, smooth fluid movements, flowing mane and tail. No photos allowed inside the arena, but we could take photos outside in the yard. We were also escorted into the tackroom and had a talk about what they were doing. They keep 124 horses at the school, all boys. The mares and foals are kept at a stud out in the country. Only geldings are performing.
We had time for a cappucino and a snack before the bus left. The coffee came in a tall glass with no handle, was very hot I could not hold it so grabbed a few serviettes and wrapped them aound the glass. The coffee tasted very nice. The cookie I got with it I took onto the bus to finish on the way to the Bodega for our sherry tasting.
First we were escorted into a huge hall with 600 litre barrels stacked in 4 levels and there must be thousands of them. I can never remember the numbers. The man showing us around originally came from Holland. He came for holidays and forgot to go home! Upstairs we could see over all the barrel stacks to get an idea how many they had. Further on we were showed the Picasso Gallery. The owner had been collecting drawings and paintings by Picasso for many years and had decided to display them here.
Downstairs again we got to try 4 different types of sherry. There is the dry one, semi dry, creme, and sweet, I probably liked the creme best, it is sweet, but not too sweet. So it is time to return 'home'. A nice relaxing drive through the country side again back to Cadiz where we said farewell to our tour guide Jorge (call me John) and Anna our driver.
Arriving in Cadiz
Barrels by the thousands
In training
Hexagonal tower
huge wine glass monument
Morish Gate
Mosque in Cadiz
Our sherry options
Palace at the Horse Academy
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