Reflections on Sevilla

Sevilla was at one time the largest Spanish city and the center of commerce and government. At one time or other, most of the cities we have gone to can make the same claim. Sevilla’s heyday (sp?) was for about the 100 years following the discovery of The New World until the harbor silted up about 100 years later. (This is according to Chuck. And I suspect he is right.) It is inland quite a ways up the Guala-dinkus (or something) river. Like Portland, Oregon ….. an inland seaport up a river. But, no longer a seaport due to the aforementioned silting. Chuck also says that Sevilla, had an exclusive rights ….. in that all commerce headed to or from the New World had to come through here ….. taxes(?). Chuck ….. did I get most of that correct?

Anyway …….. it is certainly worth visiting, but has not been my favorite city. Brennie read that it is the hottest city in Europe. This is easy to believe. It has two main sights worth seeing. The Alcazar and the Cathedral.


The Alcazar (palace or fortress) was actually built by and for the Christian kings using much labor from the Moors. It has 3 wings ….. the Admirals wing , the gothic wing and (for me the best) the Moorish style wing. Most of the pics we took were from the Moorish style. I think it was built by Pedro the Cruel (or Pedro the Wise ….. depending on your point of view). Was it Pedro?


The Cathedral is the third largest Cathedral in Europe and the largest Gothic Cathedral. Built in the 15th century after the existing mosque was destroyed. Apparently they said something like “let future generations think we were crazy when we built this.” The cathedral is the main attraction and is NOT to be missed. I missed it. Here is how that happened. The Brennie wasn’t interested but I was. So I left her with an iced coffee in a Wifi hotspot and trotted over to the cathedral. I wasn’t planning on staying long, just kind of a quick run through. Stood in the winding line about 20 minutes, reflecting on the (extreme) differences between the Moorish architecture and Gothic. A couple minutes into the line I am admitting that I certainly prefer the former to the latter. A couple minutes later it is how I really like the Moorish architecture and not so much the Gothic. A few minutes more ….. it is love one and kinda hate the other. Then I am thinking ‘how fast can I make the tour’? Then it is ‘maybe go in and find the exit.’ By now I am just a couple minutes from the ticket window. I flee. Went to look for cigars instead.


So, I have no pics of the cathedral. However, Nancy does!

I just LOVE the Moorish designs.  That is why you are seeing so much of it.

Check out the INDIVIDUAL tiles. 
It is like that everywhere!

CLICK HERE

To see pics of Sevilla

Between Sevilla and Granada is a town named Loja. Yep, Loja,Spain. We have now been in Loja, Ecuador and Loja, Spain. I have been in Loja California. The pics of Loja include some black iron profiles. The Marx Brothers. They shot the movie “Duck Soup” here. There is a Cuenca Ecuador. We missed it, but Chuck and Nancy say they will see it in March when they return.

CLICK HERE

To see pics of Loja

We arrived in Granada today. Chuck was driving, I was navigating. The GPS is worthless. Apparently the free maps downloaded to it, were overpriced. Not actually L-O-S-T, just a bit of trouble getting to our hotel. Anyway, looks like we are going to the Alhambra tomorrow. This is a HUGE deal! And no it is not gothic.

Life is Sweat (because it is hotter than f*ck –diddle here),

Clarke