To Jerez
20/08/07 14:51 Filed in: Spain - Andalucia
First call this morning was at the marina office to see whether the battery supplier in Alicante could be contacted. They couldn't so I will have to try again tomorrow.
Meantime I decided to have a tourism day and visit Jerez. Not wanting to leave the Brompton at the station all day I decided to catch a bus into El Puerto de Santa Maria. Contrary to what the pilot books say there are no buses calling at Puerto Sherry. The nearest stop is about a mile and a half away. I left the boat at 10:00 and got to the station at El Puerto at 11:20. It would have been quicker to walk straight there.
The Renfe train to Jerez de la Frontera (to use the full name) takes about 10-15 minutes and costs €1.95. Good value for a very good service. The station at El Puerto is being rebuilt. Jerez station is lovely with a beautiful facade which will shortly be over shadowed by a large new building being erected accross the road.
Jerez station facade
Jerez station - detail southern end.
Jerez station - detail facade arches.
Jerez station - interior detail.
It was about a 15 minute walk into the town centre. Jerez did not seem that big but it is very well kept with a very attractive built environment. First stop after a coffee on the way in was Plaza del Arenal, a large open square, with a statue and fountain in the centre, surrounded by a variety of buildings. Some nice some less so.
Plaza del Arenal
Much of the town centre is pedestrianised and closely built so I was usually able to walk in the shade. Two of the big houses involved in the Jerez sherry trade were ones I saw in Porto, Sandeman and Harveys.
Edificio Domeq on Plaza Esteve.
I called at the tourist office for a map and my walk continued more or less along the recommended blue route.
Palacio Domeq near Plaza Marmelón.
Por Vera Larga is a long wide and shady tree lined street. I had lunch here at La Cepa de Oro.
The buses in Jerez are mostly pink!
Fountain at Rotunda de Los Casinos.
Tiled entrance to Hostal San Miguel.
Iglesia San Miguel which is being restored.
Partly eroded gargoyle on Iglesia San Miguel.
Teatro Villamarta near Plaza Esteve
Casa Perez Lunes built in 1777 and sitiuated on Plaza Rafael Riveiro.
The doorway and balcony above are a feature of this building.
A water pump near Iglesia San Marcos.
Plaza de la Ascuncion.
Jerez Cathedral
On a plaza next to Jerez cathedral is a fine statue of the founder of Bodegas Gonzalvez.
The bodegas being situated on the other side of the plaza. Further down on the same
plaza at a lower level, which I thought quite humerous, is a recent statue of
Pope John Paul just visible near the centre of the photo....
......there he is.
According to the tourist office map Jerez is considered the "birthplace" of Flamenco. Considered by whom I wonder. It would be interesting to know what the rest of Andalucia think.
I caught the train back to El Puerto around 17:30. I liked Jerez. It was well worth the visit and it would have been easy to spend a couple of days there.
Meantime I decided to have a tourism day and visit Jerez. Not wanting to leave the Brompton at the station all day I decided to catch a bus into El Puerto de Santa Maria. Contrary to what the pilot books say there are no buses calling at Puerto Sherry. The nearest stop is about a mile and a half away. I left the boat at 10:00 and got to the station at El Puerto at 11:20. It would have been quicker to walk straight there.
The Renfe train to Jerez de la Frontera (to use the full name) takes about 10-15 minutes and costs €1.95. Good value for a very good service. The station at El Puerto is being rebuilt. Jerez station is lovely with a beautiful facade which will shortly be over shadowed by a large new building being erected accross the road.
Jerez station facade
Jerez station - detail southern end.
Jerez station - detail facade arches.
Jerez station - interior detail.
It was about a 15 minute walk into the town centre. Jerez did not seem that big but it is very well kept with a very attractive built environment. First stop after a coffee on the way in was Plaza del Arenal, a large open square, with a statue and fountain in the centre, surrounded by a variety of buildings. Some nice some less so.
Plaza del Arenal
Much of the town centre is pedestrianised and closely built so I was usually able to walk in the shade. Two of the big houses involved in the Jerez sherry trade were ones I saw in Porto, Sandeman and Harveys.
Edificio Domeq on Plaza Esteve.
I called at the tourist office for a map and my walk continued more or less along the recommended blue route.
Palacio Domeq near Plaza Marmelón.
Por Vera Larga is a long wide and shady tree lined street. I had lunch here at La Cepa de Oro.
The buses in Jerez are mostly pink!
Fountain at Rotunda de Los Casinos.
Tiled entrance to Hostal San Miguel.
Iglesia San Miguel which is being restored.
Partly eroded gargoyle on Iglesia San Miguel.
Teatro Villamarta near Plaza Esteve
Casa Perez Lunes built in 1777 and sitiuated on Plaza Rafael Riveiro.
The doorway and balcony above are a feature of this building.
A water pump near Iglesia San Marcos.
Plaza de la Ascuncion.
Jerez Cathedral
On a plaza next to Jerez cathedral is a fine statue of the founder of Bodegas Gonzalvez.
The bodegas being situated on the other side of the plaza. Further down on the same
plaza at a lower level, which I thought quite humerous, is a recent statue of
Pope John Paul just visible near the centre of the photo....
......there he is.
According to the tourist office map Jerez is considered the "birthplace" of Flamenco. Considered by whom I wonder. It would be interesting to know what the rest of Andalucia think.
I caught the train back to El Puerto around 17:30. I liked Jerez. It was well worth the visit and it would have been easy to spend a couple of days there.