We decided to stay another day on the campsite so that the driver could have a proper rest. What actually happened was the driver and his wife walked for flipping miles again on what felt like the hottest day of the year (…so far!).
There are some salt marshes on the other side of the River Guadalete that cuts through El Puerto, and Guy had the idea of a bit of flamingo spotting. The trouble was, what looks really close on a map is often a long drag on foot – especially when the route takes you around the back of a dirty industrial estate!
When we finally reached the salinas, we could see flamingoes but couldn’t get anywhere near them as there was a no entry sign on the path. Guy got a couple of photos with the zoom lens then we dragged ourselves back across the river. At this point, we discovered that El Puerto de Santa Maria seems to have two town centres, one opposite the port and then this more crumbly but atmospheric old town further up the river! We were drawn in by a beautiful church at the end of one of the long straight streets. The whole place is like a giant grid punctuated with Sherry warehouses and bodegas – nice, but confusing!🫤
When we were almost back at the campsite, we stopped to watch some parakeets eating berries in a palm tree. They seemed to be holding them in their feet and eating like an apple. Talking of fruit, Guy tried one of the many oranges on the trees today and can report that they are definitely bitter 😬
I went to sit under a palm tree on the white sand and scrub beach for the last half an hour of sunshine. It’s quite a strange place as it looks straight across to Cadiz but you have to filter out the industrial stuff to make it a nice view.