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| Rio Guadalquivir |
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| A walk down the promenade |
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| Plaza de toros |
Unfortunately (or fortunately, I am not quite sure) we were not going to be in town to experience a bull fight. This plaza de toros (bulls) was along the main street next to the river and was quite stately in its appearance. My brain wants to see/experience a bull fight in Spain, as it is such a huge part of their traditional culture, but my heart has a really hard time with the idea of witnessing such painful torture of an animal that serves no purpose except entertainment. I was reading an article while we were there about how the bull fighting tradition is beginning to die with with the newer/younger generations for this same reason.
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| Plaza de toros |
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| Picturesque streets |
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| Plaza del Triunfo |
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| Plaza del Triunfo |
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| Bar Alfalfa |
This bar was really highly rated and it looked perfect for us. It was really tiny, with no outdoor seating, and it notoriously full, so we were lucky to score a table when we first walked in. This place, the atmosphere was AWESOME. Jamon hanging across the center, wine bottles causing the cases to sags and covered in INCHES of dust (I swear there are wines on that wall that are centuries old), and the food prepped/carves/made right in front of you on the bar. It was no frills, no fuss, and really freakin' good!
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| Bar Alfalfa |
You know it's a good meal when you have to take the shells of of your paella and peel the shrimp.
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| Bar Alfalfa: Seafood paella |
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| Bar Alfalfa: Tomato cream soup with egg and ham |
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| Beautiful tiled building |
With my fascination (ok, obsession) with the outside of the Cathedral, you had to know that we would be touring the inside of it. I don't remember what the fee was, but it wasn't bad, and it is really worth it. The detail is breathtaking and awing.
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| Inside the cathedral |
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| Inside the cathedral |
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| Inside the cathedral |
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| Inside the cathedral |
This is the ceiling of one of the chapels. Can you imagine all of that work on just the ceiling?!?!
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| Inside the cathedral |
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| Inside the cathedral |
This is the controversial "Tomb of Christopher Columbus". Rumor has it that he died somewhere in the Carribean and is buried there, but the Cathedral believes that they have his remains. You would think it would be easy enough to figure it out...his father is also entombed at the Cathedral. I love history!
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| Inside the cathedral |
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| Inside the cathedral |
One of the perks about the tour is that you get to climb the bell tower and have an amazing view of the city. The tower itself is almost 40 flights high...but not stairs, no, not in this bell tower...it is ramps. Up the ramp, turn left, up the ramp, turn left, up the ramp, turn left...repeat. It was actually a lot easier than climbing stairs and people were doing it with wheelchairs and strollers...obnoxious for the rest of us, but at least the older people were not limited by their mobility and lack of elevator.
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| Inside the cathedral: View of the inner orange tree garden |
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| Inside the cathedral: The view from the Bell Tower |
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| Inside the cathedral: The view from the Bell Tower |
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| Inside the cathedral: The view from the Bell Tower |
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| Inside the cathedral: The view inside the Bell Tower |
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| Inside the cathedral: The view from the Bell Tower |
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| Inside the cathedral: The view from the Bell Tower |
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| Inside the cathedral: The view from the Bell Tower |
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| Inside the cathedral: The view from the Bell Tower |
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| Inside the cathedral: The view from the Bell Tower |
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| Inside the cathedral: The view from the Bell Tower |
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| Reales Alcazares |
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| Another recommended restaurant in Seville...come early, it's REALLY popular! |
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| Finally tried razors clams! Wouldn't order them again... |
