Seville; Sunday, 09 March, 2008

The flight landed a full half-hour earlier than it was scheduled to. A bit of a wait to get through immigration was countered by the fact that my bag was already coming round on the baggage carousel when I got there. A quick walk through arrivals and out to the bus stop just in time to make a bus that I should never have caught into town.

From the bus stop it was a good 20 minute walk to the hotel, but in the warmth of the early evening, and with the almost overpowering aroma of the orange blossoms on the trees the lined the street virtually the whole way there, it was a pleasant walk.

After checking in and dropping off my stuff I headed back out into town going for a long wander around the city centre, taking in the massive cathedral and it’s bell tower, originally the minaret of the mosque that was converted into the cathedral following the re-conquest of Spain, the Real Alcázar (the royal palace), the small lanes of the Barrio Santa Cruz and down to the riverside and the Torre del Oro (Golden Tower) and La Maestranza (The bull ring). By the time I had finished wandering around and taking pictures, it was gone 10:30, but I thought, this is Spain so dinner should just be starting.

Sadly, my knowledge of the timings of meals in Spain is more appropriate to the citizens of Madrid, and not of Seville. By 10:30 most of the restaurants were closing up for the evening as everyone had settled down for dinner before 9. I eventually managed to find a little bar near the hotel which was still serving tapas, and after a (possibly unhealthy) quantity of Chorizo I headed back to the hotel and to bed.