Yes, there is one area you would prefer not to visit about three miles outside of town but aside from that there was no evidence whatsoever of anything untoward. It's a city, they all have their bad patches but Seville seemed a whole lot less threatening than many....in fact it was completely un-threatening.
The trip got off to a slightly 'iffy' start, before we even made it to Gatwick I had a quite badly cut little toe, Fletch's glasses had disintegrated (no spares) and at passport control the 'powers that be' confiscated and destroyed a lighter I had bought him for Christmas, apparently gas lighters by the thousand are fine and dandy but a Zippo is not!
Consequently two slightly disgruntled travellers boarded the flight but the hassles were soon forgotten as holiday mode took over. We arrived in the mid evening (that's a whole five and a half hours without a smoke...be impressed!) and having found our hotel (ok, the cab driver found it) we set about finding some tapas and exploring the beautifully Christmas lit city....then fell into bed.
The following three days continued in the same vein, we walked for miles around the most wonderful Moorish architecture, among the brightest bouganvillia and trees
laden with ripe oranges, we visited the cathedral, the biggest in the world, we climbed it's bell tower to the most spectacular panoramic views, we spent a day in the
Real Alcazar, the royal palace, in part still used, marvelling again at the mixture of styles from Moorish to Baroc and enjoyed the warmth of the afternoon sun. We visited a bull ring, for me there was a large degree of reticence but on the understanding that there is no fighting at this time of year I took a look....and left feeling sad and with my 'anti' opinion only strengthened!
Seville in winter is not a place for sunbathing, the mornings and nights were pretty cold but by afternoon the seemingly permanently shining sun had warmed the air to the perfect temperature for relaxed wandering.....and partaking in the Spanish tradition of siesta!
The evenings centered around food and beer! I have to admit that tapas in probably not my favourite of delicacies but the constantly moving from one little bar to
another 'feeding' and drinking certainly had it's attractions and though our Spanish is seriously lacking we soon learned how to ask for a beer or coffee with some degree of ease. The discovery of a small bar with a very friendly 'mine host', who had spent six years in London and could do an excellent take off of the North London accent also helped somewhat! ;o)
And then it was home time again, another five cigarette-less hours to withstand but with a head full of happy memories as we took off, bound again for gatwick and the rain!
My greatest memories? Sunshine, cereveza (I, the woman who was tee-total for over twenty years managed to 'over-do' it on one occasion, Spanish bars seem not to issue forth alcohol in legal measures, preferring to just pour unendingly from the bottle,
and cause Fletch to have to undertake a degree of 'looking after' duties), the architecture of course and Starbucks.....for Starbucks seemed to have taken over just about every vacant unit in the city!
Can I go back now please?
(Images clickable, more soon)
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