Spain: Sevilla, Part II

Dad and I spent our last full day in Sevilla checking out two of its most impressive sites: the Alcazar and the Catedral with its famed Giralda tower.

Alcazar

I loved the Alcazar.  It had elements of old and new, and the gardens were immense!  We saw peacocks, a hedge maze, and enjoyed the fountains and walks outside.  The inside was just as impressive, with tapestries and painted tile, as well as high ceilings.  I thought that Alcazars were more like fortresses to protect royals, and there were several walls to that effect.  But the beauty inside of this one was definitely palatial.

 We headed over to the Cathedral, which was crowded with tourists.  While it is the third largest in the world, I wasn't so impressed with the building itself... until we saw the view!

La Giralda

Catedral de Sevilla

Dad and I climbed the many ramps to the top of the Giralda to see the city from one of its highest points.  We could even see our hotel.

The view

Afterwards, we enjoyed some tapas and gelato; I tried the flavor crema de sevilla, which had a hint of nutmeg.  Yum!

We finished off our trip in Sevilla with a reception at the hotel for our travel party.  There was music, a three-course meal, and lots of great conversation.  I had an amazing time in Spain with Dad, and I'm so glad he invited me to accompany him on such an amazing trip.  Thanks to Mom for giving me her spot for my 27th birthday!  :)

Spain: Cordoba

At the advice of a friend, we took a day trip from Sevilla to visit the city of Cordoba.  We weren't disappointed!

Roman Bridge

Our first stop was at the famed Mezquita, a cathedral that has maintained its Moorish mosque architecture and beauty since the 10th century!  We met this charming little old man in the garden (filled with the scent of lovely orange trees) who told us the history of the place; he didn't even work there, just wanted to talk to us.

La Mezquita

The garden in the Mezquita

I was so impressed with the arches inside, and the overall feel of the place.  It was truly unlike any cathedral I'd ever seen.  We lingered there for a long time.

We also went to the roman bridge and Puerta del Puente, a Renaissance gate at the foot of the bridge.  The effect was beautiful.

Puerta del Puente

Dad wanted to see the Alcazar, which was the site of the Spanish Inquisition.  From the outside, it looked like a walled city, but once inside it was impressive!  I really liked the gardens, and we were able to climb the tower.  It was worth the visit.

Cordoba was one of our favorite parts of our trip to Spain.  I think the photos speak for themselves.  It was just beautiful, and we bought some great ceramic souvenirs there.  Dad really enjoyed it too.  I will never forget it!

Spain: Sevilla, Part I

I can't say enough good things about Seville.  Seriously, I could have stayed there the entire week!  Our hotel, the newly-renovated Hotel Alfonso XIII, is a historic gem.  It was built to house heads of state during the Ibero-American Exposition in 1929, and opened with a banquet hosted by the king and queen! Our bedroom and bathroom were to die for... I was in heaven just in our hotel.

Hotel Alfonso XIII

The other great thing about out hotel?  Location, location, location!  We were walking distance to everything we wanted to see and visit.  The weather was much warmer than in Madrid, and we took advantage of it every day.  We took some time to sample the tapas; I really enjoyed the shopping and food near our hotel.

Sevilla

We did a bus and walking tour once we arrived, and one of my all-time favorite places was the Plaza de España.  Another work of art built for the Ibero-American Exposition, it was featured briefly in Star Wars: Episode I.  I just couldn't get over its beauty; Dad really loved it too.  Probably one of my favorite spots in the world, to be honest!

Plaza de España

Dad didn't get to take the tour of the bullring in Madrid, so I made sure that we took a tour of the Plaza de Toros in Sevilla!  Even though it was smaller in size (seats 14,000), I loved the bold colors; the ochre paint was my favorite.  It was a great tour with a small museum, and I learned about the history of bullfighting.  The tour guide was knowledgeable, and answered my questions patiently.  :)  I think Dad really liked seeing where the action happens.  The season opens this week, so we were able to see them preparing the ring.  One fun fact: it's an ellipse, not a circle, and you pay different ticket prices based on if you're in the sun or the shade, especially in summer!

Plaza de Toros