Seville

Helen, Catroina, and I have run around southern Spain. It has been a great way to start our days, and to see the cities.It has been so lovely to have folks to run with and to help me feel like I can run here. I get a wee bit nervous running in other countries alone, so having friends to adventure with me has been lovely.

Uncle Paddy, as we have started calling him, organized us for a walking tour of Seville. We were five minutes late, per usual. We have spent a fair amount running or walking fast toward our destinations. I think I have mentioned that we are a rather tricky group to organize. Nic is often our biggest dawdler stopping to watch parrots, or look at hams, or wander into random stores. I try to keep him in line, but it is not the easiest job.

Ferdinand III

He’s a big deal around here.

This is Chel, our tour guide. Chel is (I think) a Flaminco dancer at night. He does a pretty good job stomping and clapping as he tells us about Seville and Spain. I really learned a lot from him. Chel’s tour taught me more Spanish history than I have really known previously. He further inspired me to dig in more deeply. I didn’t get any picture of the Lurker in our group, but let it be known there was a lurker in our group and none of liked him. Chel informed us that he is very toxic. He likes all toxic things, not limited to architecture, women, and smoking. He also has a scooter that he seems to have zoomed up on. We don’t know for sure because we were late - as usual. I am guessing he whipped up to the appointed place and just started being a professional tour guide. It did not seem to hinder him at all as we wandered Seville. 

Toxic Chel and his scooter.

Toxic Chel’s favorite building - mine too, so maybe I am toxic too.

The Seville Cathedral has been built on the foundations of the Moorish foundations which were built atop the Roman ruins. In this square mile there is more to see and learn than one could do in 800 years, I think.

We ended our tour here at the fancy hotel/palace. We wandered in here to see how the 1% lives. Because I am blind, I walked right through the 1% and their security detail. Apparently the former president of Spain walked up the stairs as I walked down. I didn’t actually notice her. It wasn’t until the rest of the group were noticing the security that it occurred to me that my grace and style have delivered for me once again.

After our tour we found another rooftop bar and had a quick bite to eat before we raced off to our next scheduled event. We were about five minutes late. But it worked out just fine.  

Catroina and I had to give the Spanish Sangria a try. It tastes way better in Spain. Just so you know.

And then we ladies led the way into the Alcázar Palace.

The guys were there too.

Our trip to Alhambra really prepared Nic and I for this excursion. It was better preserved, but a much smaller scale. While it has lovely gardens, they are much, much smaller than Alhambra. I am really in love with the etchings and carvings. 

It was really hot. We were thankful for the shade of the palace. 

Because Spain has been conquered and reconquered, the Moorish influence is married to the Catholic kings and queens who kicked them out. The layers of history and cultural blending of the people in this area is breathtaking.

Knitter and fiber friends, please take a moment to look at these tapestries. Mind blown.

Right before my phone died we got our daily selfie.

We were all pretty tired at this point. Having this much fun is a lot of work. We were all pretty hot too. As a group we wandered into the Jewish Quarter where Nic was reunited with his ham restaurant. He had ham, cheese, and orange wine. I held out for my afternoon ice cream. Little shops wound around the pathways. Helen, Catroina and I popped into a few as we headed back toward our cars. 

Paddy and Nic went ahead to get the cars from the parking garage. Geoff, Helen, Catroina, and I went to go get the luggage. We waited. And waited. Paddy returned, but no Nic. We waited some more. 

Paddy went in search to discover that Nic had gotten stuck in the garage with faulty tickets, and there was a serious language barrier. Nic finally paid for two cars, and was released, but he really missed not having Google Translate. He has caught a fair amount of heat regarding his tech savvy, or lack thereof. Maybe Nic will accept his phone and that relationship, but I am not holding my breath. Geoff informed Nic and I that driving in our car reminds him of riding with his parents, if that gives you some idea of how impressed he is with us. 

After some intense driving in Seville, the group headed back to Estepona for the next few days. It has given us a chance to upload pictures, run, and lie in the sun.