It's a beautiful old city - from the 1300s - that exudes warmth and charm...and that not just the Sherry talking. We started off with a quick walk around town to see some of the best architecture (churches, palaces, and ancient walls).
Gorgeous, right?! So, about the horses. Jerez is the home of the world renowned Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. There's a special breed of horses - like the Lipizzaners of Austria - and they are trained like synchronized swimmers. Very precise and very impressive. Here's the ring at the school:
The beautiful horses
Crazy tricks
After the performance at the arena, we headed for a Tabanco - a sherry and tapas bar. Ain't nothin' wrong with that!
We even got a show from some Flamenco stars of the past. It was an amazing jam session that lasted over an hour. Then it was time for a siesta. We were amazed that when we left this bar most of the shops and restaurants were closed for the afternoon. Not so unusual in a small town in the summer...but it's winter, and Jerez is a city of over 200,000. Oh, well...so much for shopping this afternoon!
But here's what we're really here for...a sherry tasting at Tio Pepe's. The largest winery in the region and the oldest - since about 1835. We signed on for the tour and a tasting.
You've heard of the Angel's Share and the Devil's Share? This is the mouse's share...I'm not kidding.
One of the cellar masters used to leave wine out for the mice. Sure enough, they'd climb up the little ladder for their share! The tradition lives on, and the mice at Tio Pepe's are really happy!
Tomorrow is a travel day as we head north to Santiago de Compastelo.
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