Day 13 - Seville

On my only full day in Seville I decided to get around and see some of the sights. First up was The Torre del Oro on the banks of the Guadalquivir river. It was built in the 13th century by the Berbers during the Almohad Almohad dynasty to protect the city. 

During the middle ages the tower was used to store riches from the Indies and the New World. 

The Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla. Besides being a very long name, this is the oldest bullring in Spain and still hosts bullfights. It is also the start of the procession for the Feria de Abril festivities. The mounted horsemen and families in horse-drawn carriage start their journeys through the city to the fairgrounds from here. 

The Alcázar of Seville was originally the site of a Moorish fort, but after the Reconquista by the Christians in the Middle Ages they built the Alcázar. 

It is one of the best examples of Mudéjar architecture. This was the name given to the Muslims who remained in Iberia after the fall of Al-Andalus.

The Patio de las Doncellas

Salón de Embajadores

Every now and then you need to remember to look down. 

Here I am in the extensive gardens of the Alcázar. 

This is a peacock. It was just the two of us hanging out for a while. 

The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See is the largest Gothic cathedral and the third largest church in the world after St. Peters in Rome and Basílica do Santuário Nacional de Nossa Senhora Aparecida in Brazil. 

THe Giralda was originally a Muslum minaret and then converted into and expanded to become a bell towers for the cathedral. 

 In keeping with most of the churches I have seen in Spain I was disappointed with the interior. I guess I'm just getting tired of the dark and mid-evil style of these Spanish churches. I was spoiled by the Renaissance churches of Italy and was hoping for something more like that here. 

There where some highlights like this in the church though. 

A view from the bell tower in the Giralda. 

Here some more of those lovely ladies who were all about the city for the fair. 

After tourning the Alcázar and the Cathedral I worked up a little appetite so I sat down for a beer and tapas. Today was octopus salad. Yum! 

After going back to the hotel and getting cleaned up I set out to find a good Italian place for dinner. I've been craving Italian ever since I arrived in Spain. I was not disappointed by this excellent tortellini con carne with a couple glasses of vino tinto.  

Here's something you don't see every day. While eating my dinner there were a few mounted horsemen who rode up and "parked" in front of this bar across the street. They sat there for about 20 minutes while mounted and people brought them food and drink. It's stuff like this that makes me love to travel so much. 

After dinner I went for a stroll through the city at night. After around midnight things really start to get peaceful like this. 

Day 12 - Seville - Feria de Abril

Every year two weeks after the Semana Santa, or holy week, the citizens of Seville come out to the fairgrounds for a huge gathering. 

The streets of the grounds are lined with private tents called casetas for influential families, groups, or political parties. 

The women are dressed in their colorful "trajes de flamenca" dresses. 

The men and women riders wear their "traje corte" consisting of short jacket, tight pants and boots. From what I could tell they stay seated on their horses and ride through the fairgrounds. From time to time they will ride up and "park" in front of a caseta. They people from inside the caseta will bring out drinks and small bits of food for the riders. 

The festivites begin around noon with the families riding through town and ending up at the fair and packing into their casetas. This goes on until about 8pm, but the party is only getting started. They stay in their casetas and party through the night until as late at 7am the next morning. This goes on for the entire week. 

The riders are constantly sitting straight up and with such poise. 

Even the young kids get a chance to ride.

Day 11 - Málaga

I only had one full day in Málaga so I had to get up early if I was going to fit everything in. I typically like to walk to my furthest point of interest and then make my way back through the city covering all the spots I want to see. 

Here is a picture from the beach in Málaga at sunset. I thought I was going to be able to get a nice picture of the sunset, but then I remembered that Málaga lies on the south eastern coast so the sun was setting behind me over the mountains.

In the morning I headed about two miles from my hotel to hike up to the top of a mountain which has a walled castle called the Gibralfaro. I was able to walk along the top of the wall all the way around the castle and got some great views of the city from every direction. 

I was seriously considering going to a bullfight in Spain, but I have decided not to in recognition that it a barbaric "sport" and I would be uncomfortable supporting it. As it turns out most Spaniards are against it as well but because of the tourism industry and the money it brings the practice continues. I urge anyone who visits Spain  to protest bullfighting so that it can finally be ended here. 

The Alcazaba is a well preserved Moorish castle on the hill just below the Giralfaro. It contains inside it's wall a wonderful Nasid Palace. 

More examples of the Moorish architecture inside the palace. 

The gardens have running water fountains everywhere. 

The remains of an old Roman era theater. 

This was the best meal I've had on this trip so far. I had a bowl of cold and spicy gazpacho and a plate with salad and tortilla de papas (Spanish omelette). 

Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga. He was his birthplace. There is a small museum inside that I toured. 

Malaga Cathedral. Notice the top of the right tower is unfinished. It is claimed that they run out of money and never finished it. It has gained the nickname "The One-Armed Lady". 

I found the interior to be unremarkable. 

One of the main drags in the fashion district with many shops and people walking through the city center. This is a great place to take a stroll after dinner. 

 My dinner for the evening consisted of a few tapas (fried chorizo and bruschetta) and a little too much beer. That's why I was late getting out my latest blog.