Spain (6) - Seville

From Granada, a 3-hour train ride got us to Seville, one of our favorite cities in Spain. I rented an apartment in the Santa Cruz neighborhood for its proximity to the city's major tourist attractions. It was a bit hard to find the first time. The streets are so narrow and winding, taxi can't get in, and maps are pretty much useless. Once we found the apartment, we absolutely loved it. It is the best place we stayed at on this trip.

1. The kitchen.


2. The sitting room. The stairs lead to a private terrace.


3. The bedroom.


4. Wandering around Santa Cruz neighborhood.


After a late lunch, we went to Cathedral de Sevilla at 4:30 pm and found it was closed. A sign posted by the front door said: "The Cathedral opens from 11:00h to 14:00h today. Thanks for understanding." Can you believe this? They closed one of the top tourist attractions in Seville early just like that. Good thing the Real Alcázar, a royal palace, next to the cathedral opened till 7:00 pm, so we went there. The Alcázar is absolutely beautiful, similar to the Alhambra in Granada but seemed to have more colored tilework and less sculpted sandstone.

5. Giralda, a former minaret that was converted to a bell tower for the Cathedral de Sevilla.


6. Cathedral de Sevilla.


7. Approaching Real Alcázar.


8. Real Alcázar.


9. Wall tile.


10. Floor tile.


11. Amazing ceiling.


12. Dome ceiling of Ambassador's Hall.


13. Ambassador's Hall, the most important and elaborate decorated room of the whole palace.


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17. More tilework.


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20. The garden of Real Alcázar.


21. The garden of Real Alcázar.


22. Saw several peacocks strolling in the garden.


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After Real Alcázar, we talked down to the river before having dinner at a place near our apartment. I had Seafood Paella. Dave had pork cheek stewed in red wine. Both were delicious.

24. Gold Tower by the river.


25. Seafood Paella.


26. Pork cheek stewed in red wine.


(To be continued)