I liked Cadiz right away. I found a great hostel a few blocks from the bus station and the beach. It is called Casa Caracol and has no sign, just a friendly snail painted on the always locked, marine blue door. A gentle knock opened the door to the warm embrace of an eclectic mix of dreadlocked and/or beach blonde surfer dudes. They have a great combination of humility, a love of life, and generosity. It was fun talking to them and going to the beach, although I did decline their frequent offers of herbal pleasure. Most strange about the hostel is that it has the nicest and cleanest kitchen of any place I have been. And it has wonderful down comforters for the beds. And it has free wi-fi. And it is only $18/night.
Cadiz has a wonderful warm feel to it as well as I walked around the streets filled with local families walking, shopping, and playing in the streets and plazas. It feels like a cozy small town. This is really interesting since in February it has the wildest carnival in Europe. According to my guidebook, it makes New Orleans Mardi Gras look like a bible study group. That is saying something. It would be nice to hang out on the beach with the dudes for a month, but I have to move on.
On my out of town I had three deliciously filling tapas and a beer for less than $5. Gotta love that.
The one negative comment I have for Cadiz could be true for beaches anywhere; one of the dudes was running on the beach playing frisbee and got a used drug syringe stuck in his foot. That is scary.
