Train to Cadiz

Comments in transit:-

Mixed feelings today leaving Valencia. We really didn’t get to see as much of the place as we would have liked. Valencia is a beautiful well planned city designed for families and visitors to enjoy social occasions as we just saw yesterday. The size and frequency of parks, avenues and and plazas alive and vibrant with activities and welcoming smiles.

But today is for transit to Cadiz where we spend two nights before beginning our Camino. Our journey incorporates a nine hour fast train ride. We fill in our time as you might expect - sit, rest, anticipate, view the countryside, eat, sleep, read, sleep, type, eat, droop, view the countryside, droop, sleep, droop, fidget, fidget, fidget…

Must be a journey on shank’s pony though, as we travel through countryside of vast plains and distant mountains, crops and grapes stunted in appearance probably by heat and drought. Interesting views but a long time seated. Due to arrive in Cadiz at 2120hrs. The accommodation closes at 2100 hrs so just hope they received Jenny’s emails advising ETA.

Comments on arrival:-

The train went into steep hills and the area transformed. I think we were travelling at around 100kph and for at least 3 hours we continued through immaculate rows of olive tree. Growing on slopes more likely for a goat than trees, the orchards are in precise rows, looking north, south or latitudes. There must have been thousands of olive trees and citrus slowly replaced the orchards. The annual harvest and tree pruning must be a massive labour. There was a ploughed field I believe growing tomatoes and for countless acres were wooden stakes, again immaculately aligned.

After ten hours we arrived at our destination, two of the last remaining four passengers. A young ‘la taxista’ guided us to our accommodation and seeing a reception staffed and smiling broadly was an enormous relief. Our room was a very welcome site, luxurious, modern and our best so far. Tiny but grand compared to our previous nights. Now to test out the comfy bed.

Our train!

A final snap of Valencia as we approach the train station - a majestic and grandiose building like all the rest!

La estacion de Valencia - mobs of school kids everywhere!

Station art along the way (We stopped at numerous stations)

Arrival in Cadiz - unbelievably late

Our little bit of paradise at the end of a long day!

What a great outlook from our room!

Can't wait to explore in the morning!