You may remember we cashed in our military flight back to the States in December to attend Caleb and Sabrina's wedding! While we were completing all that military red tape and the (now) Brandenburgs were planning the wedding of their dreams, we were also planning their first European vacation as a married couple!
So while Sabrina sat in online queues for hours to purchase Taylor Swift tickets in Portugal, I spent many hours planning our free time in Lisbon to fit in some sightseeing! But before we get to the Portugal portion of our trip, they came to Rota and spent a few days with us exploring Southern Spain- and here's how that went:
Sunday, May 19: Sevilla
On Sunday the couple landed around 3:30 pm in Sevilla, and we didn't skip a beat with a quick rundown of the epic southern city!
We began our tour by visiting Plaza de España, the famous Star Wars filming location! The weather was perfect and the sounds of flamenco dancers drew us in for the impromptu performance!
Over the next three hours, Bryan and I gave Sabrina and Caleb a crash course in Sevilla sights! We even spotted a Bridgerton poster advertising the new season that premiered just a few days prior.
As you can imagine, the Brandenburgs were exhausted after their long day of travel and their quick sightseeing tour in Sevilla. Today's run was just a practice round for what's to come throughout their stay!
Monday, May 20: Downtown Rota
Remember how I said they were tired? Yeah well, Bryan went to work Monday while these two slept until the pups and I woke them up at 1:30 pm! I knew they needed some extra rest to adjust to the time change, so our plans for their first full day in Rota were flexible.
Once Bryan got off work, the four of us headed downtown for an evening of Rota's nightlife! After a quick 15-minute walk downtown, we paused at the famous Rota sign for a group picture before continuing to Paddy's Irish Bar. Eventually, we took the couple to our favorite cocktail bar, Kenthia, for delicious cocktails served in shark glasses! If you know Sabrina, you know she has an obsession with sharks, so it was a perfect pairing!
We ended our evening at Meet Point Bar, where we enjoyed some long-overdue conversations and chats about life! Bryan and I loved getting to know Caleb and seeing how the two interacted as a married couple. We knew Caleb was a good guy, but this night out on the town showed us how perfect he is for Sabs!
Tuesday, May 21: Cadiz & Kammala
While Bryan headed back to work on Tuesday, I got Caleb and Sabrina up earlier than the day before so we could check out another nearby town: Cadiz!
For those of you who follow the blog, you know we love taking visitors to Cadiz for a day trip. The sunny city is the perfect beach town with tons of historical background, and the city didn't disappoint this time around either!
La Clandestina Librería Café
After seeing our collection of international Harry Potter books, Sabrina decided she wanted to collect picture books in foreign languages. So to help her get started, we scouted out bookstores in Cadiz and stumbled upon two!
La Clandestina Librería Café was the cutest coffee shop/bookstore with a great selection of picture books! Sabrina chose a Spanish book about a Macaque Monkey with stunningly beautiful illustrations. I couldn't resist buying my own picture book when we ran across our second store: Másquecopias MC. You know I can't resist a good book!
La Caleta
After our book finds, we hit the city's main points, starting with the James Bond Beach!
Mercado Central Cádiz
We walked through the traditional Spanish open market, where we bought some Captain Cookies to share with Bryan back home! Sabrina and Caleb experienced their first open fish market- filled with colorful and interestingly-looking fish of all kinds. I can say, this is the first time I have seen huge slabs of fresh tuna for sale at this market! If you look closely at the tuna photo below, you can spot the tuna's head in the background; its the size of a human torso!
Tiki Taco
You may remember Tiki Taco from our Cadiz day with the Johnsons, and I was more than happy to take another go at these delicious tacos. Luckily these two agreed on a Mexican lunch in Spain, and the tacos were just as good as I remembered! Caleb even enjoyed a Margarita and an extra order of tacos!
Roman Theater of Cadiz
Next up on the Katie Cadiz tour: the Roman Theater! Caleb and Sabrina appreciated the ruins and were shocked to learn that this was located in Cadiz.
Catedral de la Santa Cruz de Cádiz
Next up: The Cathedral. Caleb and Sabrina wanted to go inside a European church, and I recommended this one since it has catacombs and a great tower viewpoint. While the catacombs were creepy, both Caleb and Sabrina enjoyed looking along the walls and seeing how old some of the graves are.
It was also a little unnerving how easy it was to overhear other conversations across the catacombs. Due to the ceiling's dome, our whispers echoed around the graves- eerie!
After admiring the cathedral, it was time to climb the tower. It was steep, and that spiral climb was a true test for Sabrina, who broke some bones in her foot a few weeks back. Thank goodness she leveled up to a boot and retired the crutches before they came.
Either way, that steep climb was only possible with the help of the rope handles and Caleb's extra support! But once we made it to the top, Sabrina agreed that the climb was worth the view! We even spotted Rota from up there!
By the time we got home, it was time for our dinner reservation at Kammala! For our blog regulars, you know we love this place and it's a must for all our Rota visitors. (Proof One, Proof Two, Proof Three and Four. Yeah you get the idea!)
Kammala never disappoints and is such a delicious meal. Nobody left hungry and everything we had was flavorful and delicious!
Wednesday, May 22: Vejer de la Frontera
Bryan was able to join us for a fun-filled day in a new city: Vejer de la Frontera!
Located an hour from our home, Vejer de la Frontera is a Spanish white village known for its rolling hills and viewpoints of the Straight of Gibraltar. We arrived around noon and enjoyed walking the cobblestone streets and checking out many of the small shops tucked along the winding streets.
El Jardín del Califa
When Bryan and I were talking to friends about Sabrina and Caleb's visit, many recommended the Michelin-starred Moroccan restaurant here in Vejer. Knowing how much we LOVE Moroccan food, Bryan and I were quick to make a reservation and request the "cave room" for our dining experience.
Califa didn't disappoint! The garden walk down to their restaurant was filled with vividly-colored flowers, so you know we paused for some photos! We were seated in a small cave with a single table, just for us! Lit by a few nearby lamps, our meal was served in traditional Moroccan style. It was a true dining experience and was the perfect afternoon addition to our day in Vejer!
After our meal, we headed back into town and discovered we were in the middle of the Spanish siesta hours...meaning everything was closed and the town was quiet. You would think after living in Spain for almost a year now, that Bryan and I would remember Siesta hours, but it completely slipped our minds when planning today's outting...oops!
This didn't stop us from walking the streets and taking in the breathtaking views though!
Castle Vejer: Castillo de Vejer
The castle may have been locked up, but that didn't stop us from walking around and taking in the views! Just look at those white-washed walls filled with flowers and hanging plants! Wow!
And did I mention the views?!
Trafalgar Lighthouse: Faro de Trafalgar
With siesta hours still going strong, we headed out of Vejer and down to the coast to see the Trafalgar Lighthouse!
Ohana Beach Bar
As we walked out towards the lighthouse, we spotted a cute little beach bar and just had to stop by for a drink. The bartenders spoke great English and gave off California surfer dude vibes. This was the perfect spot to sit with our toes in the sand and look out at the Moroccan coast! Sabrina and Caleb just ate food from Africa, and now they are setting eyes on Africa!
We may have packed this day full of travels, but the Brandenburgs weren't ready to end so soon. When we made it back home, Bryan took them both on their own "Spanish Lizzie McGuire" scooter ride around town! It's the little things in life, and Bryan and I forget that our daily scooter rides to work are a pretty unique European experience!
Thursday, May 23: Beach Day in Rota
With one day left in Rota and Bryan back at work, I took these two to the beach for a day in the sun! I even broke out my new Shibumi Shade for the special occasion! We enjoyed the warm weather, a few cold drinks, and some naps in the sun!
This is what a summer day in Rota looks like! I am already counting down the days until school gets out so I can do this every day!!
With only a few hours left in Spain, we ordered pizza and passed our remaining hours by making bracelets for the next portion of our trip! When our eyes crossed from threading all those beads, we knew it was time for bed; tomorrow will be an early one!
Next stop: Lisbon, Portugal!
--Katie
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