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!