Sevilla 28 September to 2 October

20140930 102722  I went to Sevilla for a business conference on 28 September 20140928 170803  That afternoon I busied myself by walking down the long avenue to the center of town 20140928 173226  but stopped at a park with wonderful Moorish architeture 20140928 173232  The Moors were in Sevilla for a few centuries...
20140928 172715  These buildings are of course much newer but 20140928 172748  they should the heritage 20140928 172918  as does this fountain 20140928 173522  This is part of the University of Sevilla
20140928 174434  Street scene - many of this mansions were for rent 20140928 170218  There was a big football game scheduled 20140928 175137  On my way home I joined crowds headed to the stadium. 20140928 175531  Much of the city seemed to be going to the game.
20140928 175534  I watched it on TV in the hotel! 20140929 203043  This is where we had most of our meals. 20140930 095354  An extremely colorful if not terribly appetizing snack! 20140930 134109  The "ornament" in the lobby gave new meaning to dusting.
20140930 203122  Christine joined me on 30 September IMG 0723  for the conference dinner 20140930 210300  accompanied by flamenco, of course (note: the women are always angry!) 20141001 100113  On Oct 1, I went to a local nature preserve without Christine
20141001 101837  We are not far from North Africa 20141001 102204  The anti-erosion efforts reminded me of Selibaby 20141001 103223  The landscape was still dry 20141001 103424  though the flamingos found some water in the playa
20141001 142451  That afternoon Christine and I visited Sevilla 20141001 142532  We had come here 35 years ago, right after Franco had died and before entry into the EU. 20141001 142634  These carriages seemed mostly to stay parked. 20141001 142736  The entrance to Reales Alcazar, which we did not visit.
20141001 142907  Instead we went to the Cathedral IMG 0727  which is very old (built on the site of the earlier mosque around 1100 AD) IMG 0728  very ornate IMG 0731  (more proof)
20141001 144838  and very big! IMG 0729  The audio guide said it was the 3rd largest cathedral 20141001 144920  after St. Peter's in Rome and IMG 0732  St. Paul's in London
20141001 150718  The casket of Christopher Columbus, with Gondor-like statues 20141001 153116  We climbed to the top of the bell tower IMG 0736  where there were bells, IMG 0735  views of the rest of the Cathedral,
IMG 0734  view of the Orangerie 20141001 153242  repurposed from its former use for pre-prayer ablutions, IMG 0737  and views of the surrounding city - popular neighborhoods, 20141001 153336  (up close)
IMG 0738  and the monuments IMG 0739  Reales Alcazar IMG 0742  Strolling among the orange trees IMG 0743  people stretching,
IMG 0744  congregating, 20141001 154856  and confirming their existence using their "narsis-sticks"-cameras mounted to permit selfies. IMG 0745  I had my witness confirm that I was in fact here. 20141001 155234  amongst the orange fruits and the spires.
20141001 160833  Next we went to the Archives of the Indies 20141001 160837  which had once been the financial center for all the pillaging of the New World IMG 0746  It was rehabilitated in the 1700s when a revisionist historical movement brought together all the archives of the Spanish era in the New World IMG 0747  There are no real documents stored here but the building is beautiful
20141001 163511  Then we headed off in the Quartier Santa Cruz. 20141001 170105  For window shopping and strolling. IMG 0748  We wondered exactly where had we stayed 35 years ago. IMG 0749  It was a pension in Santa Cruz, but probably not like this!
IMG 0750  Things have gone upscale since 1980. IMG 0751  It was a lovely place, and not because I was in it! 20141001 170346  Rather the décor was gorgeous. 20141001 173544  We went further afield, along a major pedestrian shopping route, thanks to Christine's handy-dandy Sevilla tourist app.
20141001 173559  The space was very inviting. 20141001 174209  If we still did this, I would make a framed print of this! IMG 0752  We wandered into the baby clothes and christening costume neighborhood and were sorely tempted! The clothes were beautifully made and very Retro, like back to the 1950's! 20141001 173447  We took a break in a wonderful square,
20141001 175641  and confirmed once again that we are here!