Day 12 The ‘White Towns’ of Andalusia

Another “not early” breakfast in Seville, then a drive through Andalusia, or southern Spain.  We headed to the Atlantic Ocean coast to see Sanlucar de Barrameda.  A smaller, sleepy town but famous because this is where Columbus began is third voyage to the New World, and Magellan began his around the world voyage.  We continued on the Arcos, one of the many “White Towns”.  So named because many of the towns in Andalusia whitewash all the buildings.  Some have tried to assign this commonality to antiquity, but careful research tells us it started in the 1920’s!

After arrival, we found a small bar/restaurant for  tapas and drinks at 3pm.  Most everything was closed because of siesta, this was one of the few that remained open.  Sharing 8 tapas filled us up, then back to the hotel for a siesta!  (We are starting to get into the Spanish way of life)  We headed out around 8 tonight to see the town when it is cooler.

Arcos was build on a strip of land with a 300 foot drop on either side.  Also, the streets are not only narrow but steep!  As we walked around tonight, we would comment that there was no way a car would come down this street, and soon one did!  Some even have switches by the steering wheels to fold in their rear view mirrors as necessary.  If the street is a little wider then one car, there are usually tables set out for dining.  Where we ate was such a place, I dared not lean back in my chair lest I catch a mirror on the back side of my head.

We walked the “old town”.  Even here there were numerous cathedrals.  The one pictured never finished the bell tower.  A few hundred years ago, the priest and parishioners  apparently weren’t saying “Mary, Holy Mother of God” enough, so those unhappy, left and build their own church.  Hmm, things haven’t changed a bit.

As I complained about the steep streets in our evening walk, one old gentleman walked by, (going up hill, we were going down), with his cane in one hand, and his urine bag and attached catheter in the other.  I complained no more.

 

 

Finally we saw these two old gentlemen strolling in Sanlucar de Barrameda.  The guy on our right was leading his blind buddy on the left.  But the blind man was faster than his friend.  A great duo, you could tell these men did this a lot.  Literally the blind leading the slow.