Hello,
Has anyone been to Cadiz? What can you tell me about it? My husband and I are thinking of going there for a 5 week intensive Spanish course. Any thoughts appreciated! Many thanks.

Hi Jane,
I was in Cadiz 20 years ago. It was a beautiful small town on the costa del sol. I can't imagine what it is like now.
I hope we hear from someone who has been there more recently!
Sandi

Hi Jane -

I have not been to Cadiz, but I did a search here and, while I did not come up with much, I did run across this thread. There are some other threads not specific to Cadiz but with Cadiz info in them; just do a search for them and see if there is any info you can use.

I am sure you'll be hearing from other posters soon as well. When is the course?

We stayed in El Puerto de Santa Maria (across the bay from Cadiz) and had the opportunity to visit it many times.

I'm ambivalent about recommending it. It has some interesting sites and good seafood restaurants. Also we were there during Mardi Gras and experienced the party atmosphere and the great satirical corale groups. I expect it may seem rather scruffy at other times.

There are great places to go for day trips from there.

Unless there is a particular reason/need to take your Spanish course there you might want to consider a place like Seville in Andalucia.

I've heard good reports of Spanish courses in Salamanca but have not had any direct experience.
Best wishes with your studies wherever you may take it.
Dennis

Thank you for the replies. The course would be in July/August. I've heard other reports that it's a bit scruffy and hasn't been kept in that good condition, but it's so ancient and historic, I thought this may add to its character - in the way I feel it did for Palermo. Maybe not!

We did consider Sevilla but would like to be on the coast... I will try and identify other coastal cities which might be worth a try!

I'm still very interested in Cadiz though so if others have opinions, please feel free to share them. Many thanks.

Jane, do you want to stay in the south? How do you feel about heat?

I did a couple of google searches and it looks like there are lots of options. Let us know where you decide to go.

I had some work in El Puerto de Santa Maria for a couple of weeks in 2003 and I drove over to Cádiz one day. Cádiz claims to be the oldest city, being founded by the Phoenicians in 1100 BC. (about 350 years older than Rome) I strayed in my rental car into the old part of the city and it was a HUGE mistake. If you go, DO NOT drive in the old part of the city. (You can drive around it ) It is relatively compact and the rest of the city is a long strip fairly modern development. Look at it on Google Earth. Cádiz is not a particularly convenient place as a base for touring Andalucia, in my opinion. I would visit it on a day trip if you are sure you want to go there.

Bill

I really like Cadiz, some great beaches nearby and it is a taste of Real Spain (did you know it is the oldest city in Europe?!) It will be hot but as you are by the sea (Atlantic, not the Mediterranean) you should have a sea breeze, just make sure you have accommodation with aircon. Sevilla would be boiling in July and August.

Me favourite suggestion would be Malaga (of course it is where I live so am a little biased) but it has all that you are looking for. Great Spanish city, good food and restaurant, beaches and loads of language schools. It has undergone the most amazing change in the last ten years - the old town has undergone some lovely restoration (the area around the new Picasso Museum - a truly fabulous building holding the largest collection of his works worldwide - is now brimming with street cafes and bistros). Good shopping too - if you can coincide with 3rd - 10th August it will be Feria time in the city during the day and outide on the outskirts of the city at night - a truly wonderful Spanish spectacle - flamenco, horses, fino and partying till dawn - NOT to be missed and a taste of Real Spain at its best. Lovely Alcazar and cathedral. Lots of pedestrian streets and alleys and safe.

You will also be forced to use the Spanish you learn as it is not a tourist resort. What is quite remarkabkle is that it is often overlooked by the hoardes of people who fly into Malaga airport and head for the resorts. Everyone we send there loves it and it is becoming an increasingly popular destination for northern Europeans as week-end away city break destination.

Michael

yes Cadiz is hot and it has beautiful beaches and it is the oldest city in Europe. And it has a US Naval Base at nearby Rota. But it also has excellent flamenco music, the best divas of it from Spain are from the area.

Its something different so you might want to try it.

Thanks for all the replies. We are still considering Cadiz but have also started to consider Bilbao. The problem is that we don't know Spain at all! I shall keep researching, but Bilbao looks like it might be better because it is larger - and probably a bit less hot!

If you want to be on the coast, have you thought about San Sebastian?

I only spent one day and night in Bilbao but I really liked it. I think it would be cool to spend a few weeks there.

well now you are fliping the map; Bilbao is another world from Cadiz.Basque to andalucian.

Bilbao has a great city center old world bordering the river with many entertainements of all sorts. Great museum the Guggenheim.

And of course, as Shannon suggested,San Sebastian is tops amongst the 3. I stay last summer at hotel Niza;the great hills on either side of the harbor beaches-La Concha;are great .