Back From Seville

[rockyracoon]

What a lovely city. The architecture, the people, the food........just wonderful. I’m so glad the we had a heatwave before we went as I’m not sure that I would have coped with the heat. I think I’ll go back at a cooler time of the year so that it’ll be easier to get around.

Daughter enjoyed practising her Spanish, with lots of compliments from the locals about how well she speaks it, so a great confidence boost for her.

Stansted was the usual arseache. That airport is an embarrassment.

[marval]

Welcome back Rocky, glad you had a good time. Well done to your daughter.

[Cloverjo]

Sounds great, rocky.
Whenever I've been in Spain and tried speaking Spanish everyone wants to practice their English, so I don't get a chance.

[Maydup]

Fab, What did you manage to see Rocky?

[rockyracoon]

Plaza de Espana
Alcazar
Spent a lot of time in Santa Cruz (I’m staying there the next time I go)
A museum (wasn’t that great)
Torre Del Oro
Mooched along the river
We stayed about a mile and half away from the city and had a sizeable pool at the hotel, so we went sightseeing earlier in the day, and went back to flop around the pool.
Taxis are on strike, so everyone is walking everywhere.

[ummmm]

Sounds lovely.

But...taxis on strike?

[rockyracoon]

Yep. In solidarity with Barcelona and Madrid taxis, apparently, something to do with Uber and the like.
Got a bit worried as we were hoping to get cab to the airport, fortunately, the hotel sorted out some transport (at great cost). Couldn’t afford to miss the flight, there’s only 1 a day into Stansted with Ryanair.

[gness]

Glad you had a good time, Rocky....I really like Spain and the Spanish people......
Luckily we can drive there and avoid airports. Four of us are mulling over a trip to a Storytelling Festival in Ireland...but it means flying and that is putting me off....x

[jno]

ah, you didn't walk to Cordoba then... Glad you had a good time, it's a great city, but the heat can get quite heaty.

[Jackdaw33]

Don't tell me about the locals wanting to practise their English. When I used to take parties of schoolchildren to Normandy we would always vist the Bayeux Tapestry museum. I speak fluent French, but one year, a young lad on reception, hearing the kids chattering in English, decided to address me in English, even though I spoke to him in French. What a painful experience that was. He could barely string two words together. After 10 minutes I had to tell him that I couldn't understand a word he said, and that if he didn't start speaking French again we were off.

[rockyracoon]

Whilst all the hotel staff spoke English, a good few of the locals didn't. Daughter got us out of a few unnecessary painful conversations, as the restaurants around the hotel were not touristy, as it was quite residential, so didn't really have English menus.

[Samuraisan]

We also love Sevilla, it is one of our favourite cities. We are planning a trip in the spring when the smell of orange blossom is prevalent. But it can get terribly hot in the summer.

[MargoTester]

I loved it too. We went in May last year, it was pretty hot then but not unbearable, warm enough to sit out 'til late

[rockyracoon]

I’ll definitely be going back, just when it’s a bit cooler.