This part of southern Spain is famous for sherry, white horses, the Costa del Sol and Seville and of course for being hot and dry. Of necessity the houses are thick walled and painted white to stave off the heat. Today was only 36 degrees. I went to have a look at two “white villages” (while Jan shopped in Cadiz!)

Medina Sidonia is perched high on a big hill surrounded by marginal looking rural country and lots of cactus!

We were dropped off at the top of the village, near the church, of course.

And walked down to the Town Square …

On the way we passed some pretty details …

The main square was very quiet in the heat of afternoon.

Then further down to where the bus was parked …

A view back up at the village …

And down to a classic old rural scene …

We then drove for an hour past sunflowers, olives, wheat, cattle, horses and much more. Hundreds of wind turbines, and an enormous solar power “farm”. It’s all happening in Andelcia!

On to Arcos de la Frontiere. This is a poor photo taken from the moving bus, but here’s the village draped over this 185 foot high rock … spectacular! The two churches right at the top, of course.

We drove in and got on a little tourist train to go to the main square at the top of the hill.

We walked the little narrow streets … dodging the traffic!

… to one of the churches and went in. Not that remarkable.

Back to a hotel on the plaza (on the right here) perched right on the cliff edge.

They served us tapas and beer/wine behind that window …

… for this view …

Then a long walk down, down to the bus …

… you can plonk a cafe anywhere in the street, it seems!

Fascinating.