February 6, 2025
We got up to another beautiful clear day and decided to walk to Plaza de San Juan de Dios, a huge Plaza that was one of our first stops off the cruise ship last January. It was been a place of gathering and commerce since the 1500’s.
I believe, I mentioned in a previous post from last year that these historic buildings were constructed with blocks of coral. I was wrong as one Cádiz reader pointed out. The material is ostionera stone that is the local name of a very porous sedimentary rock made up of mostly compressed calcite, quartz and fossil fragments, basically a type of sandstone. We have admired the look of the stone while wandering the Cádiz streets, but have also wondered about it’s ability retain moisture, which also contributes to deterioration. We’ve noticed many of the ostionera stone buildings are painted, possibly an attempt to seal out the moisture.
We have really been enjoying exploring the little side streets. Many pastry, book, stationary, souvenir, clothing and jewelry shops.
Headed to the plaza of the Cádiz Cathedral, which Pete reminded me we toured last year. Honestly I think he’s just tired of being dragged into cathedrals.
Taking it easy tomorrow, will write again Saturday when we haul ourselves out to the central market while it’s in full swing. So many more things to see….
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