Saturday 4th January

Today we met our tour guide beside the Columbus statue in the park and while we wait for the group to assemble we are thoroughly entertained by a little puli chasing his ball.  45 Euros for the tour and sooo worth it!  We were all given ear pieces, which makes the commentary easy to engage with, start the tour by being taken back through the Jewish quarter to the Alcazar.  The line up to enter is HUGE but when you are with a tour, you bypass that completely.  The castle is amazing.  Much of the architecture is heavily Islamic influenced and very similar to the Alhambra.  The gardens, the tiles, the domes - all magnificent - even down to the peacocks wandering through the grounds.  We then head across the courtyard which abounds with orange trees - inedible due to their bitterness but used to make marmalade - to the Cathedral.  This is the third largest cathedral in the world after St Peter's in Rome and St Paul's in London with five naves - most have only three.   I've taken so many photographs but there is no way a photo can do justice to this awe-inspiring structure.  Christopher Columbus died suddenly of a heart attack in 1506 and his grave rests here - although not all his bones are present and they believe that some have been kept in Cuba - however his son's grave is also in this cathedral so they are able to do DNA testing.  Apart from the majesty of the cathedral itself, there are a number of very important paintings here, including Goya and Murillo.  There is a fusion of styles from Baroque to Renaissance and it is all overwhelmingly beautiful.

After climbing the Giralda Tower to the very top where the bells toll and there is a birds eye view across Seville, we are finally back on terra firms and find a taverna for another tapas meal and a glass of wine.  Tapas average 3.50 - 3.75 euros and wine approximately 2.70 euros for a glass or 15 - 19 for a bottle, so cheap eating.  When we come out of the restaurant we find crowds gathering at the edge of the road obviously waiting for a major event.  Turns out it is a special parade that is held on the 4th January every year .... there are riders on horseback, brass bands and many characters dressed up with the 'kings' throwing lollies to all the children.  It's a huge affair and everybody, from the youngest to the eldest, really gets into the spirit.

Alcazar

People everywhere

Walking through the gardens

Peacocks wander freely

In the cathedral

Breathtaking artefacts

Murillo

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An elliptical room

Photographs don't do this justice

Columbus' grave

Amazing heights

This amazing altar took 80 years to build

A view from outside

Pure silver

In one of the restaurants we enjoyed tapas

Alcazar

Beautiful gardens revealed

Muslim influences

Different styles per level

Tourists everywhere

Magnificent dome

 We have done nothing but eat and drink ... will be a starvation diet when I get home!  After a brief reprieve back at the apartment, we then head out again to dinner, drinks and Flamenco dancing.  Very talented and lots of fun.   Seville is an amazing place!