Seville, Spain: Part One



We started our time in Seville with a visit to the Cathedral and Giralda (100m high bell tower).



The Cathedral is the burial site of Christopher Columbus.

To get to the top of the tower you have to ascend 35 steep ramps. P ran the entire way. My legs were burning by the time we reached the top. The child is seriously the Energizer Bunny.

The views from the top were incredible.

The ring in the center of this photo is the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza (Seville's bullring and the oldest in Spain)

There was an orange grove in the Cathedral's courtyard. 

P found a good use for all the stray oranges and small fountains.

We had lunch at Bar Giralda, a restaurant in the plaza right behind the Cathedral and tower.

I spy Keith and Parker.

Then we wandered through streets and plazas until we eventually reached Plaza de Espana and Maria Lusa Park.

This plaza/fountain was right outside our hotel.

Plaza de Espana

Maria Lusa Park

As soon as we reached the plaza and park we got caught in an unexpected downpour (again. and this time with no umbrella). We decided to rent a two person canopy covered bike, which kept us dry but ended up being a ton of work for Keith since I couldn't reach the pedals and safely hold P in my lap.

Once Keith showed Parker how to ring the bell he didn't stop. I'm not sure if there's some sort of etiquette, but if there is we definitely breached it in regards to that bell. Oops.

When the rain stopped we walked around the park, but we really weren't all that impressed. 

So we headed back to the Plaza de Espana. 

Curving around the Plaza de Espana is a massive building, covered in tile work, built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition.

 

 
 

After sufficiently exploring we thought we'd head back to the hotel via the river for a nap.

Our terrace

Later that night we went to a flamenco show. Parker wasn't allowed, but Keith and I were able to switch out halfway through the show so we both got to experience it. The realities of traveling with a toddler. ;) P didn't seem to mind, though. He had a ball running the streets.

After experiencing flamenco we pushed our luck a little bit and went to dinner at Casa Roman, a traditional tapas bar. I ate quickly since we had a whiny, wiggly little man, so I don't remember much about the actual food, but the restaurant itself was pretty charming, don't you think?

On our way back to the hotel to call it a night we walked past The Cathedral. Beautiful (despite the bad iPhone pic). Can you tell yet why I Seville is competing for my favorite place? :)