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edenfallingQuick update, then bed.
We got a very late start today (Wednesday) -- I think Vicky and Mom got up around 10, while Dad and I slept in until noon. We had breakfast (toast and jam) at one and left the apartment shortly thereafter, heading toward the cathedral. The Seville city cathedral is the third largest cathedral in Europe (maybe in the world, who knows!) -- only St. Paul's in London and St. Peter's in Rome are bigger. It is built on the footprint of a former mosque, though the mosque itself was razed and the cathedral is mostly Gothic style with bits of Baroque decoration thrown in later as they gradually finished it over the centuries. The Courtyard of the Oranges is still the original construction, though -- it was a place for ritual cleaning before entering the mosque -- and the bell tower is the minaret, just with a new top added.
Interestingly, the bell tower (or Giralda) is nearly handicapped accessible -- instead of stairs, it has ramps almost all the way up. Only the very last flight to the bell-bestrewn walkway and viewing area has actual steps. The cathedral also contains the tomb of Christopher Columbus, and a chapterhouse chapel thing that has the most gorgeous acoustics I've heard in a long time -- it would be wonderful to practice singing there; any wrong note would practically jump out and stab you in the ear, the echoes are that crisp and clear.
After leaving the cathedral we had cake in a cafe, followed by a walk to the Plaza de España. (The walk was punctuated by an interlude trapped in a bar on account of rain, during which I discovered that Spanish Pepsi is made with real sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup, which I think is unfair. I want proper sugar in my unhealthy drinks in the USA too!) Anyway, the Plaza de España was, I think, built for a World Fair or some similar exhibition, after which Seville didn't know what to do with the thing, and resorted to installing some government offices there. We then went out for dinner -- tapas at a bar Vicky likes -- by way of walking past the Torre del Oro, the University, the bullfighting ring, and a big Christmas market set up in a couple plazas near the cathedral. All very interesting, though often a bit damp!
Dinner was, of course, delicious. :-)
Then we returned home for dessert and several games of hearts, which is a game that works best with four people and which we all therefore get little chance to play. Mom crushed us all, very efficiently. *wry*
And now we are off to bed, as tomorrow we plan a day trip to Córdoba -- where it will, we hope, not be raining. :-)
We got a very late start today (Wednesday) -- I think Vicky and Mom got up around 10, while Dad and I slept in until noon. We had breakfast (toast and jam) at one and left the apartment shortly thereafter, heading toward the cathedral. The Seville city cathedral is the third largest cathedral in Europe (maybe in the world, who knows!) -- only St. Paul's in London and St. Peter's in Rome are bigger. It is built on the footprint of a former mosque, though the mosque itself was razed and the cathedral is mostly Gothic style with bits of Baroque decoration thrown in later as they gradually finished it over the centuries. The Courtyard of the Oranges is still the original construction, though -- it was a place for ritual cleaning before entering the mosque -- and the bell tower is the minaret, just with a new top added.
Interestingly, the bell tower (or Giralda) is nearly handicapped accessible -- instead of stairs, it has ramps almost all the way up. Only the very last flight to the bell-bestrewn walkway and viewing area has actual steps. The cathedral also contains the tomb of Christopher Columbus, and a chapterhouse chapel thing that has the most gorgeous acoustics I've heard in a long time -- it would be wonderful to practice singing there; any wrong note would practically jump out and stab you in the ear, the echoes are that crisp and clear.
After leaving the cathedral we had cake in a cafe, followed by a walk to the Plaza de España. (The walk was punctuated by an interlude trapped in a bar on account of rain, during which I discovered that Spanish Pepsi is made with real sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup, which I think is unfair. I want proper sugar in my unhealthy drinks in the USA too!) Anyway, the Plaza de España was, I think, built for a World Fair or some similar exhibition, after which Seville didn't know what to do with the thing, and resorted to installing some government offices there. We then went out for dinner -- tapas at a bar Vicky likes -- by way of walking past the Torre del Oro, the University, the bullfighting ring, and a big Christmas market set up in a couple plazas near the cathedral. All very interesting, though often a bit damp!
Dinner was, of course, delicious. :-)
Then we returned home for dessert and several games of hearts, which is a game that works best with four people and which we all therefore get little chance to play. Mom crushed us all, very efficiently. *wry*
And now we are off to bed, as tomorrow we plan a day trip to Córdoba -- where it will, we hope, not be raining. :-)
