A trip that ticks a box!

So this weekend we took a road trip to Cádiz, Jerez de la Frontera and Arcos de la Frontera.
This time we specifically rented a (semi)automatic vehicle. (Which was interesting to drive to say the least!) I got to drive in Europe! Which I never thought would happen! ((crossed off European To Do List!))

Unfortunately it was raining all weekend so the beautiful beaches in Cadiz everyone raves about calling them "some of the most beautiful beaches in Spain" weren't too beautiful.  But the rain subsided to a constant drizzle long enough to snap a few pictures without ruining my camera

The would be beautiful Cadiz beach

Dozens of docked boats; and during this break in the storm
all the boat owners came out of hiding
to empty the water out that accumulated in their boats

We spent the night in The Melting Pot hostal which I would definitely recommend  for anyone looking for a nice, clean, friendly, helpful (bilingual) place to stay!

As we were walking around the small peninsula of Cadiz I couldn't help but be mesmerized by the bright colorful, intricate doorways along the labyrinth of streets

Awesome tiles in about every foyer

Then we made our way to Jerez [the J is pronounced as a "throaty" H - similar to a heavy Russian accent; and the "rez" is pronounced as a lisp-y kind of"th": so <Her-Eth>]

In Jerez we went on a Wine Tasting Tour of Tio Pepe's Bodega

We started the tour on a cute little train ride of the gounds

 Then there was a short movie segment to introduce us to the history of Sherry Wine produced in Jerez beginning thousands and thousands of years ago, and the unique process of making Sherry (Fun Fact: Jerez is the only place in the world today where "Sherry" can be made!) 
Then we continued on a walking tour of the bodega.

Unlike a wine cellar a bodega is where they store wine aboveground

The Tio Pepe logo.
And now that I've been exposed to it I see it all over!

Then we headed the 20 minute journey over to Arcos de la Frontera. This is a small whitewashed town where all of the buildings are white!

Super narrow streets which would seem impossible
to get a car through - but these Spaniards do it!

And less than an hour before nightfall
the rain lets up just to take this sunset picture

Definitely less mishaps than our first road trip to Granada, but not perfect.
My first birthday abroad and I got to go someplace new.

A mantra from the Dalai Lama:
Once a year, go someplace you've never been before. (check!)
And it doesn't stop here!