Seville; first day and Real Alcazar

Seville is a fantastic, bright, colourful place ! It's been a pretty crazy two days, I can't quite believe that's all the time I've been here. 

On the first evening, I just went for a stroll, and then out for a quick dinner, at which point I found a great tapas place just around the corner from my hotel. A stack of grilled vegetables, followed by grilled pork on decent potatoes with capsicum, small serves as per usual with tapes, but two tapas makes a good, small, meal. 

This was my first sight of the beautiful cathedral, horse-drawn carriages awaiting to fleece the eager tourists. There's a few scams here to watch out for, gypsy women reading your palm unbidden, then requesting 5 euros ! I gave her 1 euro, as I did listen to my fortune, but hadn't requested the service. 

Little, narrow streets full of dinners. It's still warm enough here to eat outside, it feels like a different country compared to the north of Spain. Not better or worse, just a much warmer, drier climate, far more Moorish influence in the architecture, and so far a lighter way of eating. Much as I love Northern Spain, it was getting rainy and grey, so it's felt like a welcome change to come down here to a bright, Mediterranean city. Also, it does feel now as if the Camino is really over, and changing location has really helped mark that phase change. 

 

The town hall. Notice now some of it is carved, but the right hand side as you look at the picture the. Panels aren't decorated ? Well back in the 1500's, Spain had a financial crisis and couldn't afford to finish the job ! Our guide commented that some things don't change in Spain ....

My afternoon activity was to visit the Real Alcazar, a Moorish palace which is still the residence of Spanish royalty when they visit Seville. It's a beautiful building, or collection of buildings I should say, as it's been added to over the centuries. These pictures really don't do it any justice. 

If you notice people in every photograph, well yes, that's pretty accurate. 

Amazing light everywhere , tiles and mosaics just spectacular. 

I loved the vibrant colours and perfect geometry of this mosaic floor

I loved the gardens, but could only visit a portion. A lot of the nicest section was closed off for filming of " Game of Thrones " ! This was one of my favourite places to visit, very peaceful ( other than the throngs of tourists ), simple but rich in detail and subtlety.