Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Day 12 – Wed 4 Apr 07
We left the townhouse after breakfast for Andalucia’s capital Sevilla. Sevilla has been described as Spain’s most Mediterranean city.
Arrived at the Santa Justa Train Station around 2 pm to buy tickets for our transfer to Madrid on Friday. After that, we drove around the city and found a parking spot in a residential area.
We walked to Alphonso XIII Hotel located in the centre of the city of Carmen. Had our lunch at a cafe opposite the big Cathedral of Seville. The gigantic gothic Cathedral is the 3rd largest cathedral in the world after St Peter’s in Rome and St. Paul’s in London. There were many horse-drawn carriages lining outside the Cathedral for tourist pick.
As it was the Holy week, there was the Semana Santa processions of penitents (nazarenos) in their robes and pointed hoods, and floats (pasos) bearing images of Christ and the Virgin. These Nazarenos carried processional candles or rough wooden crosses. The pasos are physically carried on the neck of costaleros (literally "sack men") hidden inside the platform. A brass band accompanied the group, playing religious hymns (marchas) written for the occasion. The place was crowded with Sevillanos pouring into the streets as it is one of the most important celebrations in Seville since centuries.
We stood for hours as spectators at the procession and were caught in the human jam when trying to get back to our car. We decided to stop for tapas dinner at one of the street corner restaurants.
After a long walk back to our car, we discovered to our horrors that the 'Ford' logo at the back of our car was missing. Pranksters! We arrived back at Nuevo Portil townhouse at around 1 am after 1+hr on the road.
Arrived at the Santa Justa Train Station around 2 pm to buy tickets for our transfer to Madrid on Friday. After that, we drove around the city and found a parking spot in a residential area.
We walked to Alphonso XIII Hotel located in the centre of the city of Carmen. Had our lunch at a cafe opposite the big Cathedral of Seville. The gigantic gothic Cathedral is the 3rd largest cathedral in the world after St Peter’s in Rome and St. Paul’s in London. There were many horse-drawn carriages lining outside the Cathedral for tourist pick.
As it was the Holy week, there was the Semana Santa processions of penitents (nazarenos) in their robes and pointed hoods, and floats (pasos) bearing images of Christ and the Virgin. These Nazarenos carried processional candles or rough wooden crosses. The pasos are physically carried on the neck of costaleros (literally "sack men") hidden inside the platform. A brass band accompanied the group, playing religious hymns (marchas) written for the occasion. The place was crowded with Sevillanos pouring into the streets as it is one of the most important celebrations in Seville since centuries.
We stood for hours as spectators at the procession and were caught in the human jam when trying to get back to our car. We decided to stop for tapas dinner at one of the street corner restaurants.
After a long walk back to our car, we discovered to our horrors that the 'Ford' logo at the back of our car was missing. Pranksters! We arrived back at Nuevo Portil townhouse at around 1 am after 1+hr on the road.
Penseur 11:23 PM