Living in Andalusia, specially in Cadiz, is choosing to appreciate life and embrace a much more advantageous way of life. Maybe it is the olive oil, the Andalusian sun or the clean air we breathe. Andalusia is the most excellent place to live! Learn to appreaciate the Cadiz lifestyle!
We know numerous variables that contribute to the quality of life in Andalusia. And that’s the Cadiz lifestyle. Living in Cadiz is breathing new air, having time for family and companions, strolling and getting a charge out of the truly imperative things in life.
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The people in Cadiz
Cadiz is an appealing city for visitors not only for its ravishing points of interest and wealthy history but also much obliged to various celebrations that are standard here. Neighborhood individuals are inviting and it is simple to communicate with them. Local people are neighborly, kind, and grin a part. They are cheerful and “sunny” individuals. Be that as it may, they couldn’t be any distinctive since the sun continuously sparkles over this city, making colors brighter and grins more extensive.
During the hottest months (June to September) life can be lived comfortably outside; a season that goes from March to November. Among the joys of this are coffee or tapas in one of the endless cafes that dab its squares, shoreline strolls, and shopping undertakings to the central market.
A huge difference with other cities such Alicante, Malaga or Barcelona, is that the city isn’t overpowered by summer tourism. The closest airports are Jerez de la Frontera (a 30-minute drive) and Seville (a 90-minute drive) and Gibraltar airport ( a 90-minute drive, as well)
Entertainment options
Those who decide to come to Cadiz have the chance to enjoy phenomenal food and culture. Fish is the pride of the city. Typical dishes incorporate fritters made from little prawns (tortillitas de camarones), bluefin tuna, bass, gilthead bream, and other seafood.
On top of that, the sea gives you the opportunity to enjoy an extensive variety of entertainment options, from surfing or paddle-surf and sport-fishing to dusk travels. In case you lean toward inland activities, exercises run from climbing and horseback riding to golf or guided visits of adjacent Doñana National Park, a natural life and winged creature asylum that’s domestic to unique species just like the Iberian lynx. On top of that, you can enjoy sunset on the beach, sitting on the sand or in a boat in the middle of the sea.
In between visits, you can also eat culture. The tapas (small bites), the fresh olives, the famous jamon serrano, are a few of the culinary delights Andalucia is so famous for.
And then there’s the musical highlight, the Flamenco.
Flamenco Is part of the Andalucian and Cadiz lifestyle. It is almost a religion in inland Andalucia, to be treated with utmost respect.
It’s little wonder that UNESCO declared flamenco to be one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Life out on the street
Street life is a fundamental part of Cadiz culture. From the extravagant, city-stopping processions during Semana Santa (or holy week), to the hoards of people eating tapas in alleyways on weekends. All the most important aspects of Andalusian life take part outdoors.
If you are one of those people who know how to enjoy a good party, Cádiz is definitely your place. The city is full of students who take advantage of their break time to enjoy the night to the fullest. In addition, there are a lot of festivities that are celebrated here in a very special way, such as Carnival or Holy Week.
Each tiny town dedicates a week a year to their annual fair; coloured lights are strung from telegraph poles, neighbours set up makeshift tables the length of the main street.
Eating culture
In Cadiz, people do everything late. It’s part relaxed attitude, part social standard and part history. Back during the Second World War, Spain’s infamous fascist dictator Franco changed the time ahead by an hour so that Madrid would line up with Hitler’s Berlin. Throw daylight savings into the mix, and you’ve got sunlight until 10 at night in summer.
Breakfast is always coffee and toast, lunch is the main meal of the day, and, especially during the incredibly hot Andalusian summer, dinner is nothing but a few little tapas, salad or some fruit.
People usually have lunch between 14.00 to 15.00, preferably at home with the family. Its the main course of the day. We appreciate homemade food and enjoy typical dishes like paella, lentils…
We like to eat long and late. Meals are more of a sociable affair both during the day and of course at night. Outdoor dining is very common, mainly because prices in most local restaurants remain reasonable (especially in Cádiz). Therefore whole families eat out on a daily basis, especially in summer time.
Bread must be always on the table
“Si no hay pan, no hay comida” is a famous saying in Spain and it means, “Without bread it’s not a meal.” That’s how important bread is to the Spanish diet.
It is typical to eat bread with everything, and that is a success. People eat bread with fish, with meat, with stews, but also with sea rice, pasta, etc.
Typical ”Cafeterías”
A cafetería is about halfway between a coffeehouse and a traditional Spanish bar. Some establishments kill two birds with one stone by calling themselves a bar-cafetería! They tend to be very informal and are open all day. Many have outdoor seating and also small tables to sit inside.
Prime times for cafeterías are in the morning for breakfast and for the mid-afternoon snack, called the merienda.
In the morning, cafeterías serve churros with hot chocolate and toasted baguette bread with either butter and jam or olive oil and tomato. Also delicious at cafeterías are the fresh squeezed orange juice and cafe con leche (coffee with milk).
Unlike other countries that usually serve various types of sweet pastries like croissants, muffins and doughnuts. If you want sweet pastries you need to go specifically to a pastry shop.
Working to live
The walking pace never breaks a light stroll, and slow morning coffees are an acceptable way to start the workday. Work blends in as just another part of life, but it’s not everything in life. Spanish people get a minimum of four weeks paid vacation a year, plus generous time off for weddings and births, sick family members and funerals.
Walkable city
Cadiz Old Town – Europe’s oldest inhabited urban area has an extensive pedestrian town center that provides priority for people ahead of motor vehicles that the city has utilized to create a largely walking friendly environment. This, combined with the weather, makes cadiz a perfect city to walk or go for a run and exercise.
In Cadiz, there are shading walkways using artificial materials to increase pedestrian comfort. That way, during sunny hours people don’t get too sunburnt on the streets. That makes walking everywhere so much easier.
People normally use their cars more as a luxury or a means of traveling long-distances. Not a way to get to class or the grocery store.
Since public transportation is plentiful and generally reliable and most places you need to get to on a daily basis are within walking distance anyways, oftentimes even people who own cars will prefer to walk instead of driving.
For more info and insights, get in touch with us here or write to us at info@alsherry.com and we’d be delighted to arrange / make plans with you or for you!