There are two reasons to visit Jerez de la Frontera; to watch the Andalusian horses perform at the Real Escuela Andalusia Del Arte Ecuestre, and to visit a sherry bodega. Apparently we should have booked a flamenco show there as well, although Jerez is not the only city claiming to be the beating heart of flamenco! The horses performed with such precision as they moved gracefully around the arena weaving between other horses.
The highlight was seeing the movement known as 'Airs Above The Ground' in which the horse lifts up its front legs and then kicks out its back legs at the same time. Sadly my camera missed getting the full shot!
Jerez is part of the 'Sherry Triangle' and there are many bodegas one can visit. We chose Bodegas Tradicion because it also housed a famous collection of art works. The complex process of sherry making was explained to us and we sampled a variety of sherry types while sitting out in a shaded garden.
As we had a little time left before our train ride back to Cadiz, we popped into the Catedral de San Salvador before it closed for the evening. The broad flying buttresses and intricately carved stone ceilings make this cathedral very special.
