Adios Sevilla

Tony: It is our last night in Seville and we have had a wonderful time. It is so culturally different. In the evening, and especially this evening, Sunday, whole families are out promenading. Everyone is dressed up. This is the week before Holy Week and tonight in the area where our hotel is, La Macarena, everyone on their paseo is visiting each little parish church to view the float of the passion scene which is carried in the procession next week.
Today was hot again, 33 degrees, and we spent most of the day wandering around El Parque Maria Luis near La Plaza Espanol, hugging the shade and stopping for rests.
Chris: As Tony says, we have been struck by so many cultural differences here, but more of that later. Our last three days have been relaxing and interesting. We went to the art gallery, which was in a beautiful building, with more courtyards. It was cool and peaceful, in contrast to the madness of the week-end crowds thronging the streets.
More interesting was the bullfighting museum. Although I would not want to see a bullfight, it was fascinating to see the bullring, the costumes, and the paintings. It was a guided tour, and there were bulls' heads on the wall, and the guide told us their names, and why they were famous, including one which got his own back, and killed the matador. All very bizarre.
We also discovered the district of Triana over the river. This was once the gypsy district and is famous for its matadors and Flamenco dancers. It was also the home of Christopher Columbus. (In the late 15th century, Seville was the major port with Cadiz becoming prominent later. Columbus is buried in the Cathedral). It is obviously still quite poor, and it was nice to wander around the peaceful streets. We stopped at a tiny bar, with no seats at all, just a couple of tall tables. It had the usual hams hanging over the bar, and curious little tapas snacks. It was a great place! We amused ourselves watching bewidered tourists coming round the corner to see a church which is in all the travel books, but it was closed!
Getting back to the very Spanish feel of the place, one of the things I have enjoyed is seeing the children dressed up for the week-end. If there are two boys or two girls in the family, they often wear matching outfits. The boys wear shorts, and smart shirts, with long socks and slip on shoes. The younger ones have little braces! They are so cute! And the girls still have ribbons in their hair! All very nostalgic.
I have also enjoyed seeing all the girls trying on Flamenco dresses in the shops, ready for the Spring Fiesta. I went to a charity market, and all the ladies were buying flowers for their hair, and matching them up with those big Spanish hair combs that you think nobody wears. The shawls are lovely, too. It would be great see the Fiesta some day.
Tony: Seville is a wonderful city and, God willing, we will come back in a few years time. Tomorrow, Ryanair to Liverpool. What a wonderful airline! Even "call me Dave" took his wife to Spain on Ryanair this week. He is just one of the boys; even if he is fantastically rich and related to the Queen.