DAY 1:
Thursday afternoon following class
Amanda, Megan and I with bags and backpacks in tow boarded the Metro to Atocha
Renfe where the speed trains are located. It was very confusing switching
from the Metro to the train station but with the help of a couple people we
made it and grabbed a seat to wait.
Amanda with our lunch from Patricia expressing the stress caused by figuring out the train station.
Absolutely disgusting Strawberry Milkshake (Batido)...it was not fit to possess that name trust me. In fact apparently the concept of "milkshake" has been translated into milk based drink. For example just recently Amanda and I split an Oreo "Milkshake" only to find that it was milk into which cookies and cream ice cream had been blended.
The train ride was fast (speed train for a reason) and comfortable. We read information packets about Sevilla which Maria Carmen had provided and I looked through my Rick Steve's Spain travel guide book for further info. (thanks Aunt Patricia and Clark, very useful gift). Megan and I sat on one side of a little table across from two kids who were completely dead to world after 10 minutes. Amanda was at another table right across from us.
When we arrived in Sevilla we found more confusion. The tourist information--with bus schedules, maps, etc. was already closed and we had a terrible time connecting to wifi. After a stress McDonald's small French fry shared between the three of us we were able to access a map and decide what to do.
We decided to walk from the train station to the hotel, we wanted to see the city a little bit, it was only about 20 minutes, needed to stretch our legs, and sadly I think all of us just didn't want to talk with anyone else. Apart from the incredible heat, which everyone had warned us about, the walk was nice...it was a preview to the city.
(the station)
The Hotel Derby, which Maria Carmen
had found and arranged for us, was lovely. It was situated on an open
plaza where there was a little market selling jewelry, scarves, fans, bags (the
usual things on display). We went straight up to our room as soon as we
had checked in and received our key. So nice! We three shared a
triple room. This is where there are three twin-ish beds, two of which are
pushed together but made up separately while third remains
separate. We relaxed for
a couple hours.
At about 8:00 we decided to go
out for a little walk.
We were right in the old part of
Sevilla called the Barrio Santa Cruz, which was at one point the Jewish
Neighborhood. It has very small pedestrian only streets with all the
major attractions very close by. Then we had dinner with a pitcher of
very fruity Sangria at a small restaurant right outside of the Hotel.
-Day
1 Fin-
DAY 2:
Friday, June 19
Slept in just a little bit and then
went out and found breakfast.
(Amanda's
thoughts on breakfast...Mine is to the left)
The weather was absolutely lovely in
the morning with a cool blue sky and bright sun. With a map and a small
list of things to do and to see we began our day. Here are some more
pictures from the neighborhood between our hotel and the Cathedral of
Sevilla--very famous place, the largest gothic structure in the world...third
largest cathedral.
(La
Giralda, Bell Tower, of the Cathedral. All that remains of the Mosque which
once stood here. And an image of one of the many doors)
The Real Alcazar of Sevilla:
Alcazar is a kind of palace meant to
house a military who were to protect other cities in case of emergency, as well
as the royal family at times. Real means Royal in Spanish. The
Alcazar of Sevilla boasts beautiful Arabic influenced architecture along
with extensive gardens and fountains. We spent all morning there
Lunch followed this lovely
place. Ravioli for me and a Coca-Cola with lemon and ice in the
air conditioning was perfectly refreshing. Wandered through the
neighborhood for a bit, got lost, then relaxed in the cool hotel room for
the afternoon siesta.
The Cathedral: (Still day 2)
After siesta we went back and
entered this beautiful and enormous structure filled with many smaller sanctuaries for worships.
(Christopher
Columbus' Tomb)
From the Cathedral we walked down
and over to the Tower of Gold. This tower was part of the old
wall that would monitor activity on the once busy Guadalquivir River. Now
it houses a small naval museum and boasts a great view. Its name comes
from the bright tiles that once covered it which would reflect the sun.
Very tired travelers:
Once we had sat on this same bench
for quite a while, enjoying an ice cream cone a piece and the shade, we
moved along to the Paseo de Cristobo Colon (the Walk of
Christopher Columbus) which goes along the river front.
(The
Bullfighting Ring)
(The
Bridge of Isabella II)
We finally returned to the
Hotel and lay around in the cool room until about 8:30. Amanda and Megan
were craving Chinese so we set off following directions to a restaurant
provided by google maps and quickly got lost. Instead of Chinese we
settled for Bushi...a burger and sushi restaurant...it did have good
burgers.
(Plaza de la Encarnacion with the Metropol
Parasol...more later)
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