Friday 20 February

Today at my art class I started two paintings of scenes from our Seville holiday - one of an orange tree, and the other a still life of Spanish food and wine.

We hope to try out some Spanish food and wine at the weekend. I found a good recipe site - see link on the right at the top. I particularly liked the cold soup salmorejo, which is made from tomatoes, garlic and bread pureed together, chilled and topped with chopped egg and ham. The one we tried in Cordoba was very good.

I have now posted a selection of my 400+ photos in an album, Seville 2015. The album is only available to anyone with the link.

Wednesday 18 February

We were up early to pack and have an early breakfast before our Easyjet flight at 10.25 to Basel. It was the same delicious selection of fresh fruits, bread, eggs and juices as usual. We met the others as we were checking out and working out our bill for bar drinks at the Melia Sevilla. David helped us to get a discount as special guests of his.

We took a taxi to the airport and arrived before 10am. We had to pay extra for a second suitcase again. Otherwise the flight was problem free and took two hours twenty minutes. Basel was freezing though.

We got the shuttle bus to the station and had a painless journey by trains and bus back home. The apartment was very cold compared to our Seville hotel. It took about an hour to upload my over 400 photos, not to mention the ones on my iPhone.

Our holiday to Seville was a success and a very pleasant memory. I hope to do some paintings of images from our holiday.

Tuesday 17 February, Martes de Carneval

A Renaissance frieze at the Museo

We split up today to see different things. David and Cheri went out with their friend Jess; Lesley, David, Kathryn, Robbie and Grandma went shopping and we went to the Museo de Bellas Artes. We went by taxi beside the river and into an area of the old city.

The ceiling of the Museo Bella Artes 

The building was a work of art in itself with high ceilings and decorative rooms. On the ground floor we saw early Renaissance art by Spanish artists and upstairs we saw later Baroque works. The Spanish 17th century artist Murillo was featured there.There were also some interesting views of the old city of Seville at carnival time.

Arroz Iberico at the lunchtime bar

We spent over an hour there, and then contacted the others about lunch. We eventually tracked them down in a bar in Calle Zaratoga, where we had beer and arroz iberico. It was Kathryn's last day in Seville and we said goodbye to her. We went back to the hotel to rest and read books.

Kathryn found a lovely shawl as a souvenir

In the evening we went for our last meal in the same street, Zaratoga, but this time at a traditional restaurant, Taberna El Alabardero. We opted for the tasting starter selection of several small dishes, followed by a choice from the a la carte selection. I went for the corvino or sea bass. We also had nice wines, a Botani '13 Moscatel white and a Taberner 2010 Syrah.

We managed to find taxis back to the hotel but were running out of small change.

Monday 16 February

It was quiet at breakfast. We planned a visit to the Alcazar Real or royal palace. There was a long queue for tickets.

Queuing for tickets to the Alcazar palace and gardens

Inside we saw the central courtyard, the former royal bedrooms and the beautiful ceilings and arches. It was built by Pedro I, the Cruel, in the 14th century. We had coffee there and then explored the gardens with many fountains, orange trees and ponds.


Then we had lunch nearby at Rayuela, before booking up for a flamenco night tonight.

The beautiful arcades and arches of the royal palace

We had a quick drink in the hotel where David and Cheri met up with Jess, their former employee, and her parents. We got taxis to El Palacio Andaluz. We got seats by the stage and drinks for the one and a half hour show of flamenco dances and routines from Carmen. It was very exciting.

Flamenco dancing show - we had front row seats

After the show we had trouble finding a table for nine at a tapas bar but ended up eating outside with a heater. The food was cheap and quite good, with quick service. We took a taxi back.

Sunday 15 February

The ceramics workshop and gift shop

Nine of us for breakfast today. We decided to try the hop on, hop off city bus tour and got tickets at the hotel.

At the bus stop, we were issued with earphones for the guided  commentary. We passed the buildings erected for the 1929 Panamerican exhibition and then alighted first in Triana, where we walked on the river bridge, had coffee and went into a ceramics shop. Kathryn and Cheri bought something.

The ceiling of the Macarena church

Then we caught the bus again past the 1992 exhibition pavilions and and the hospital. We alighted again at the church of the Macarena, which was very elaborate inside. There was a service going on.

We tracked down a tapas bar from the guide book where we had a very nice lunch with good service. Then we trekked across town to Casa de Pilatos, a ruined but lavishly decorated old house.

On the courtyard of Casa de Pilatos

We got taxis back for a well earned rest before sherry and dinner at San Marco next door. The food was a bit disappointing and the plates were cold.

Saturday 14 February, Valentine's Day

Seville's tram system only has six stops

We woke early to have breakfast with Laura and say goodbye to her. Then we decided to explore the tram system, only 6 stops in total, from San Bernardo to Plaza Nueva.

In the Plaza de Espana we learnt more about the city's history

We explored Plaza Nueva and the streets of shops around there. We visited the food hall in El Corte Ingles department store and bought some manzilla sherry. We met Cheri and David also looking round. Kathryn and Robbie arrived in Seville and Laura got home safely.

In the gardens near the Plaza

We got stamps for Australia in the central post office and had lunch in a bar outside. Then we rested at the hotel. After that we walked down to the Plaza de Espana again and explored on all sides, and also the nearby gardens.


For dinner we booked to go to El Cabildo, which was in a small square near the cathedral, which was floodlit. We had a table for nine upstairs and found that the set tasting menu was very good value. We wrote in the guest book afterwards as we also had good service.

Friday 13 February

The Moorish influence predominated in the Cordoba church

I sent a birthday message to Frannie on Facebook. We had breakfast in the hotel before getting a taxi to Santa Justa station to get train tickets to Cordoba. Three of us also got senior cards. We caught the 9.25 train nonstop to Cordoba.

The Christian features were added afterwards

There we took a taxi to the Mezquita or Mosque, which covered a very large area. The Islamic style architecture predominated, with some Christian additions. We spent an hour looking round the interior and gardens. It was cold inside the church but the sun came out when we went to see the gardens.


Then we walked in the Jewish quarter before having a coffee and visiting an old Synagogue. We had lunch by the city walls in El Olivo where we enjoyed a two course meal. By now the sun was very pleasant. I tried the salmarejo or cold tomato soup with egg and ham. It was delicious, as was the hake with potatoes and cabbage..

In the Alcazar Gardens of Cordoba

Then we walked to the Alcazar Real or royal palace where we saw mosaics, the Arab baths and the beautiful gardens. It was very restful. We had time for another coffee and bought postcards before going to the station to get the train back to Seville and our hotel.

In the evening we went to another tapas place, San Telmo, next door to last night's place. We each chose one dish and shared them. Then some people opted for another choice. But the dessert menu was sadly reduced. But a very nice evening.  Laura's last.

Thursday 12 February

I woke during the night and read my book, Shroud for a Nightingale by P.D. James. We were  up for breakfast at 9. The breakfast was excellent. I had cereal, yogurt, fresh fruit, boiled egg, soft bread and coffee.

We passed the former tobacco factory which now houses the university

We decided to visit the nearby cathedral and the Giralda. There was a long queue to get in and we needed passports to avoid paying the full price.

The west entrance to the cathedral was imposing

In the cathedral there was a mixture of Moorish and Gothic architecture with later Baroque adornments. The church covered a large area with its many chapels and lavish gold altars.

From the bell tower we could see the cathedral buttresses

The river trip along the Guadalquivir was was restful

We also enjoyed the outer courtyard with orange trees, before ascending 35 flights to the top of the Giralda bell tower. We had closeup views of the cathedral roofs and flying buttresses. At the top there was a panoramic view of the city.



We had lunch in the nearby cafe with sandwiches and beer. Then we took a boat trip on the Guadalquivir River with its many landmarks and bridges. On the way back through the university courtyard I missed my footing and banged my head on the kerb.

For dinner we went to a very nice but unpretentious tapas bar, Catalina.

Wednesday 11 February

The Plaza de Espana was beautiful

We made a very early start at Basel airport and caught the 8.05 flight to Seville. From freezing temperatures we arrived in mild weather.

We caught a bus to Avenida Carlos V and walked to the Hotel Melia Sevilla where we received a warm welcome. We explored the Plaza de Espana and had lunch nearby.

This was an expensive place but we didn't try it

At the hotel we met the others. Laura came for a walk with us to explore the old city around the cathedral. We saw many orange trees laden with fruit. We also visited the former tobacco factory, which now houses the university, and the Archive of the Indes with the records of early voyages of exploration by Magellan and others.

We had coffee and biscuits at Horno de San Buenaventura before returning to the hotel for a short rest.

The orange trees of Seville were a feature

Later we met in the bar for local sherry before taking a taxi to Restaurante Oriza for dinner. There was a choice of many exotic sounding local dishes and Andalucian wines.

Tuesday 10 February, in Basel

We left Thalwil at 14.30 in snow and took 2 buses and 2 trains to the Basel Airport Hotel. We booked our shuttle bus for 6.40 in the morning and then watched TV and read. Dinner in the bar later.

Monday 9 February, Getting ready for Seville

There is still snow on the ground in Switzerland and the snow has been on the ground for three weeks at least. We are hoping for milder weather in Seville on Wednesday. Today it's 17 degrees there during the day, though night-times are quite cool.

I've been learning some basic Spanish on Duolingo for the past few week. It offers about 20 languages for English speakers to learn from basics.

Here are a few Spanish phrases:

Hola! Que tal?  Hello, how are you?
Bien, gracias  Good, thank you
Buenos dias  Good morning
Buenos tardes  Good afternoon
Buenos noches  Good evening
Adios  Goodbye
Hasta luego  See you later

Por favor  Please
Perdon  Excuse me
Lo siento  I'm sorry
Gracias  Thank you

No hablo espanol  I don't speak Spanish
Yo soy ingles  I am English

Yo bebo cerveza  I drink beer
Un vino blanco  A white wine

Donde esta el hotel Melia Sevilla?  Where is the Hotel Sevilla?
Habla ingles?  Do you speak English?

Quisiera comer  I'd like to eat
Quisiera ver la carta, por favor I'd like to see the menu please
La cuenta, por favor  The bill, please
Una mesa per seis, por favor  A table for six, please

Quisiera un cerveza  I'd like a beer
El agua con gas  Sparkling water
El pescado a la plancha  Grilled fish
El pollo arosto  Roast chicken
El cafe con leche  White coffee

Quanto es? How much is that?
Me pone un cafe  I'll have a black coffee
El te con limon  A tea with lemon

Thursday 28 January - Cycling in Seville

News item from Seville - it's the cycling capital of southern Europe. See this link from the Guardian website:
http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/jan/28/seville-cycling-capital-southern-europe-bike-lanes

Looking forward to our trip

I have started this blog in advance of the Newton family holiday in Seville in February this year. I've never been before but have read a book set there during Semana Santa, when they have a costume parade. The book was called Death in Seville by David Hewson.

We will be staying at the Hotel Melia Sevilla near Plaza de Espana. It looks nice.

During Holy Week a big festival takes place in Seville

Places of interest include the River Guadalquivir, the Cathedral and the mausoleum of Christopher Columbus, the Giralda, said to be Seville's most beautiful building, the Alcazar palace and gardens, the Museo de Bellas Artes, Casa de Pilatos, Plaza Pan and Plaza Salvador, Casa de la Memoria. We want to try some of the many tapas restaurants in the city, and I would also like to see the Flamenco Museum and go to a flamenco show. We might also see the ornate Ayuntamiento and the Archivo de las Indias.

If we do a day trip, it will be to Cordoba. We could go by coach or possibly by train.

The guidebook I am using is The Rough Guide to Andalucia. The others have got the DK Guide to Seville. It recommends buying a bus ticket or tarjeta multiviaje. There is also a metro system apparently.

I now need to improve my Spanish. I have signed up to Duolingo which is a computer-based site which gives you exercises to do. I am probably at a level less than basic.

We are flying with Easyjet from Basel and the others are coming from Gatwick. On arrival we can get a bus or taxi to the city centre. The temperature should be around 15 degrees when we visit. Can't wait - it's minus 2 here in Switzerland today.