Seville photos continued......

I seemed to have worked out what happened to the editing of my previous Seville post.......here are some of the other interesting photos and places I wanted to share with you! Hope you enjoy, and definitely put this city on your travel "bucket" list!!

Seville, southern Spain

Our days in Spain were coming to a close. I knew I would miss the quaint white washed houses squeezed within the narrow cobblestoned streets. I would miss the incredible view from our rooftop terrace looking across the Andalucian mountains filled with endless olive groves.......but it was time to move on. We decided to leave our small casa and visit the classic city of Seville on our way back to France traveling another route north. Instead of driving a direct line up through Spain and through Madrid we decided to head west and see Portugal. This was an exciting prospect as we intended to enter Portugal from the very bottom of the country and drive up through its guts and exit at the top back into Spain before heading in France and the Bordeaux region!Seville was less than 2 hours from our quaint Olvera and we headed off at the crack of dawn to make the most of the day. From the moment we found our B&B, (another quaint courtyard style building owned by the same family for decades), we were in love with this classic city. Seville offers the most interesting centre with its stunning cathedral, one of the largest in the world and from the outside looks like some sort of magical high-rise from another planet. Within the great walls of the cathedral lies the tomb of Christopher Columbus. I was surprised to read that many countrie often fought to have his body but in the end he was Spanish and he now finally rests at "home". The royal palace is across the square and again, a gob smacking building with a strong Moorish influence. The Spanish royal family still live there and occupy the top floor. We wandered around the labyrinth of rooms with jaw dropping decor and ended our tour strolling through the gardens filled with fountains, mazes, beautifully paved pathways and gazebos. The city centre of Seville is pure class. The locals are dressed beautifully. We mingled amongst them, often stopping for a coffee or a juice.Seville bullring arena was another traditional "must", full of history with its museum of famous toreadors and their costumes! We took the guided tour through its ancient corridors and history. My friend Philly found all the walking a strain on her back so we lashed out and took a horse and buggy ride through the streets. An amazing stop was the Plaza de America, a long semi circle building depicting each province in Spain. Decorated with intricate tile work - a canal with small row boats and architecture that draws the crowds, this Plaza is situated next to the Maria Luisa Park. I met a lovely couple and together we took photos of us all in a "Flamenco stance".

At the moment my dear friends I am unable to complete this post. Blogger has upgraded its "face" and for some reason I cannot upload the rest of my Seville photos selected for this post. As you can imagine this is frustrating so I will post it as it stands now and hopefully add the new photos asap. I will however, add that Seville is a stunning city and highly recommend it for any travel plans you may have in the future for Spain!!

Gibraltar, what a rock!!

Gibraltar loomed in a distant haze and took my breath away. I knew it was a huge rock, but being surrounded by relatively flat land, its sudden appearance was just awesome. We couldn't wait to explore and learn about its incredible history. Surprisingly Gibraltar is actually one of Great Britain's last outposts; it's like a huge pimple on the bottom of Spain but does not belong to Spain. We are told a huge bone of contention between England and Spain. You have to show your passport and even if you are a "day tripper" as we were, they will not let you over the border without one. They also use the English pound for their currency; but luckily to save stupid exchanges will take also take Euros! Everything is ridiculously expensive on Gibraltar, so you have to bring your own picnic if you wish to avoid being severely ripped off.

We took the cable car up to the top station and the views were just AWESOME! It was a clear blue sky day and you could see miles of Spain in the distance and its many beaches along the coastline. As most of you know I am a vivid ape lover, so the Barbary Apes that roam freely on Gibraltar were a fascination to me. Tourists are told NOT to show any food or even wrappers.........these apes are wild and can bite. I found them cute as buttons, especially the mummy cuddling her baby which lapped up all the attention. Most of the apes were sitting on the stone wall as if they were posing for the photos; of course the amazing view behind them was just a bonus!


Gibraltar is filled with history of battles and hardships endured by men fighting for their country. It goes back 100's of years and its last battle frontier was WW2. The rock is covered with old army ruins, some man made but most of the rock's caves were used for stealth and secrecy. At this point in time 144 large caves have been discovered. The largest one is named St Michaels Cave and SO HUGE, they hold concerts in it. My mouth gaped at the sight on entering the first area after strolling down the narrow dark pathway. There are giant stalagmites and stalactites, some over 2 metres in diameter. You have to cross a bridge which they have been unable to obtain the depth, so they call it a "bottomless" crevasse.......kinda scary when you cross the old bridge......but the stunning lighting shows this cave off in its true glory. Look up St Michaels Cave on Google to get some better pictures. It is SO huge my camera could just not do justice to its size or colours and formations.

There were caves and tunnels to visit from many previous wars, museums and sound shows to give you the feeling of what it was like in those days.....there is one cave and adjoining tunnels that housed over 17,000 soldiers and supplies for over a year........

Gibraltar also has one of the "most dangerous runways" in the world. It starts and ends in the sea and is relatively short. PLUS.....you have to DRIVE ACROSS THE RUNWAY to get onto Gibraltar. People also have to walk across it to get onto the rock.....we were told strong cross winds make for many cancelled flights. We had to drive across it too and really felt quite weird doing so.......we saw a flight take off. Apparently they just have a red light like on a crossing.....funny! The following photos give you an idea from the distance and getting closer what the runway is like!



To end what was just an amazing day, we drove around the rock, the 'base' beach drive is about a 20 minute circumference, through endless tunnels, some very narrow but all interesting and the lee side of the rock is dynamic......sheer cliff edges and black holes where you can look up and see some caves.........Wow factor plus plus....


There is so much to see and do on Gibraltar.....we only allowed a day and I walked my butt off from one end to the other to see most of it. It should be a "must" if Spain is on your travel list......the caves, the beaches, the history, the tunnels, the museums, the apes, and all with miles of amazing walking uphill and down to see it all! Don't miss out on this one!

Granada

Granada is one of those towns you could easily miss on your Spanish tour......I am just thankful I did not. Granada is not a large town but filled like a "cup running over" with incredible history and to use that old cliche again - jaw dropping sights! Please include it on your bucket list of Andalusia, Spain with Seville! (which is my next post...) I stayed at a small clean Pension (with bathroom) at 25Euros a night, completely central in town and no more than a 5 minute stroll to cafes and the very famous cathedral. You CAN travel European cities on a budget without being a backpacker!
The cathedral is mega huge and in a circular shape; the white interior makes it more impressive as do the TWIN organs in the center of the building! Alcoves surround the central area and the jeweled artifacts just leave you speechless whilst your neck aches looking up at the incredible dome. It is SO large my photos do not do it justice! I was at the top of Alhambra looking down onto the city during sunset when I caught this amazing cathedral building in its golden glory.

But it is Alhambra that is the crowd drawer to Granada, the famous Moorish "red palace/castle" - I say famous but don't worry, I had not heard of it either. Now I can't believe I may have missed this wonder! I am told it almost made the list of the Seven Wonders of the World - It was number eight!! Over a thousand years old the Moors built it, the Arabs and the Spanish added to it and it is now one of the most visited places in Spain or perhaps the world.......locals love to climb up to Mirador de San Nicolås, totally opposite the castle at sunset to watch the pink glow embrace this wonder, the scene is enhanced by the snow capped Sierra Nevadas in the distance. So I just HAD to do the same and joined them for such a sight!


Musicians play and sing in the square and the old "hippie" days are still prevalent up there. The air was so thick with the smell of "grass" to the extent I thought I would just float back home!! But I managed to wander back down through the narrow, quaint ancient buildings and cobblestoned lane-ways, only to stop at a wonderful restaurant that offered a passionate, fiery Flamenco Dance group later that evening. It WAS all that and more! Red shoes banged into the floor, faces were sweating with the talent and passion these people exuded for their dance. My table was right there up front next to the guitar player whose talent was amazing!

On the way home into central Granada the lane-ways led me through the old Arab souks within the city. It reminded me of the Moroccan souks, endless wares being offered by pushy but friendly sellers seemingly desperate to move their stock! You just have to smile and say "No gracias!" But its all fun!
On the third of my four glorious days in Granada I visited Alhambra. It is advised to prebook a ticket online to save standing in the long queues or go very early. There are four palaces within the complex, which makes it all the more difficult to explain. But the very VERY old Arabian part is a mix of utter opulence - ancient steam baths, they call hammams (I had a couple of hammams in Marrakech - imagine getting scrubbed down by hand in a steam room, then loofered and then body mud packed, followed by an hour long massage like you have never had before....get ready........all for about $25) Someone tell me again why I am coming home!!! LOL......XX.....back to Alhambra........a mix of that, private courtyards, pools, arched ornate carved and tiled rooms that leave you gasping........all looking over Granada. I will not try to describe anymore but add a few pictures that hopefully give you a sense of this history........






After this complete day of historical, visual and breathtaking overload I finally left the building starving hungry and found the most delightful restaurant outside the grounds. The sun was shining through the vine covered pergolas. I ordered an incredible seafood, avocado and fruit salad (12 euros) accompanied by a local glass of vino tinto... .. what a day!! Time was slowly running out for my visit. The last day was spent visiting the Granada bullring, it was hot, and on exiting the bullring I discovered some horsemen outside with the most fabulous horses with braided & beaded manes. A few were albino horses.......just magic..........I ended by last evening with a Moroccan meal in one of the restaurants within the souks and then wandered down the Plaza Neuvo to have a paella and sangria for lunch and gaze up at unforgettable Alhambra......such a small town with so much "wow" factor!






Finally after a mind boggling four days in this magic corner of paradise I wandered down to the railway station to catch the train back to Olvera......I sat back and gazed out of the train window at the beautiful and endless Spanish olive groves........

Ain't it great to be alive and free!!