Travelling in Andalucía
Being based in the south of Spain means there is SO MUCH to see. I originally chose Andalucia as my first preference in the hope that I would be near the coast. However being placed between enriching cities means there's a lot more on offer. Prado del Rey is one hour's drive from Seville, Cádiz and Jerez. Travel for a bit longer and you are under two hours drive from the Costa de la Luz, the Costa del Sol and even Gibraltar.
Visit the damas bus website for times to seville, jerez and cadiz
Seville
Distance: 100km/1hr 16min drive (2.5hr by bus)
Main attraction: Casco Antiguo (Old Town): during Golden Hour it's the depiction of a Disney illustration
I can now definitely class Seville as one of my 'soul cities'. Remove Google Maps (once you've found your AirBnB, of course) and wander through the stunning Casco Antiguo and its multitude of cobbled alleys. I was incredibly grateful that a lot of Seville doesn't adopt the siesta time (or mediodía) so pretty much everything remains open all day.
Accomodation
As with many cities now, there's an abundance of Airbnbs and hostels, depending if you want to mingle with new people or have some peaceful time alone.
Lively hostel (with a stunning shared roof terrace inc. a pool): Oasis Backpackers' Palace, Seville
A more peaceful option: Oasis Backpackers' Hostel Sevilla & Coworking
Cadiz
Distance from Prado: 92km/1 hour drive
Main attraction: Mercado Central - a people-watching paradise
I was thrilled when I discovered I was placed within the province of Cadiz. Cadiz has ancient roots and is one of the longest inhabited cities in Western Europe, however forgive my ignorance, as I wasn't aware of its existence until I watched Pitch Perfect 3. Since then, I've been encapsulated by its portrayal via Google Images until I could finally visit. Cadiz makes for a gorgeous day trip if the weather is right. It's easy to get lost through its backstreets, but as its Old Town is relatively small, there's no danger of going too far off-course. One massive plus of Cadiz is its proximity to the sea. La Caleta is small, however it's the most popular beach in the city as it's close to restaurants and bars, you may also recognise it from that Halle Berry scene in Die Another Day.
Accomodation
Hostel with quiet study area,
stunning decor and a
beautiful roof terrace:
Jerez de la Frontera
Distance: 65km/50 min drive
Main attraction: SHOPPING
It took me a while to really explore Jerez, to begin with I judged Jerez based on its fantastic shopping centre: Area del Sur.
I was still pretty lost in my third week of being in Spain. I half-jokingly Googled the nearest Primark, and happily discovered that Jerez had one! I craved some sense of normality and comfort, what better way than experiencing the chaotic energy of the knicker tables. The centre had other home comforts in the form of high street brands, perfect for distraction.
I finally got around to visiting the Old Town as it's relatively close to the Comisaría de Policía Nacional for my TIE appointment. It's a great place to explore, however it won't take much more than a day to see the main sites. Instead I recommend jumping on a train to seaside towns like El Puerto de Santa Maria. Check out my Instagram to see what we did there!
