Spanish Fly

I love Spain. It’s the country I’ve been in the most outside of the US. I’ve walked across it.

I love that it’s Western Europe, but still a little feral.

I love that I kinda understand the language, and the body language.

I love that I can shop in a local grocery store and know that all the other patrons are making fun of the looney man in front of me, and that they include me in their fun.

I’ve even started to sorta love the siesta/break in the middle of the day (even though I don’t/can’t nap).

More than anything, perhaps, I love its version of cafe culture: Cheap (unlike France), seats inside and out (unlike Italy), super chill (unlike France & Italy).

So, the cruise stop we had Cadiz, Spain was probably my favorite so far.

I love that they have cafes everywhere, no matter how narrow the street:

I love Cafe Americanos, especially when served in a small beer glass:

I love that locals order small beers any time of day, including in the morning (which happened right there in front of me just after I took the pic above).

I love the perfect little plazas, and that they always have a cafe in them:

I love that they always have a little high-top table for me:

I love the Bocadillos de tortilla de patatas they serve (they fueled my Camino):

I love finishing the stop-in with a Cafe con leche:

All that coffee has to come out sometime, and I love knowing I’ll be able to find a free bathroom for it. In this case, the University of Cádiz, which beckoned me in with a nice orange tree courtyard right outside the WC:

I love that I know I’ll be back…