Sometimes on a cruise it is so windy, you can’t dock at the port. Other times the city you are visiting is holding a religious festival that happens just once a year and without knowing about it, you just happen upon it. That is the story of Cadiz, Spain. My wife and I had no ship excursion planned, so the day in Cadiz would just involve us wondering around town. According to Google, the main tourist spot to visit, that being the Cathedral of Cadiz, was closed. Bummer. But we ventured into the city anyway to see the sites. As we got further from the ship and closer to the main part of town, my better half said she heard music, and why didn’t we head that way. We did, and we discovered why Google said that the Catedral de Cadiz was closed. They church was the focal point of the Corpus Christi Festival. Better lucky than good.

I’m guessing the Baywatch movie was just as bad in Spanish as it was in English.

View of Catedral de Cádiz from our ship the Holland America Westerdam with a 200 mm telephoto lens.

Monument to the politician Segismundo Moret with the clock of Cadiz town hall in the background.

Town hall of Cadiz.

If my Google searching was correct, this is a Silver custodias which is being carried by 16 men. As it was a quite warm day, I’m sure the gentlemen parading this Silver religious symbol got quite a workout.

The main alter of the Cadiz Cathedral.

During the Corpus Christi Festival the solid Silver Custodia del Millon is taken outside from the church and paraded around the nearby streets.

I just like the striking colors in this photo.

Not exactly a 7-11, but if you are looking for a cold drink on a warm and humid day, then this story will do the trick.

The drum core is part of the Corpus Christi Festival that was celebrated the day we visited.

I guess people were bigger when they built these quite large double doors.

The setting sun casts a shadow on this palm tree and the bell tower of the Cadiz Cathedral.

The sun has set on Cadiz, and it’s time for us to head off to another port.