We had to set our alarm clock for the
first time since Canada in order to be ready for the pick-up time of
6:50 AM. The tour bus made another stop at a neighbouring resort
before heading east on the A22 toll road.
As we approached the Spanish border the
orange groves became more common. The Algarve terrain is being
rocky hills is not well suited to agriculture. Just before Spain we
stopped at Monte Gordo to pick up the last of our passengers.
Across the river separating Portugal
from Spain the land became gentler and the orange groves were
everywhere. These we soon followed by field after field of
strawberries covered inn plastic tent structures Later we passed
groves of Mediterranean pine as well as olives as well some
vineyards.
The trip to Seville took about three
and a half hours including a half hour 'comfort' stop near the
border. About a half an hour from our destination we saw three or
four towers off in the distance bathed in light and mist. I later
confirmed that this was a solar power station. The towers held in
position water vessels which are radiated by a surrounding bowl of
large mirrors. The heat from the solar radiation causes the water to
boil and the resulting steam is used to propel turbine electric
generators.
We entered the center of Seville via
one of eight bridges over the Guadalquivir river and were soon
dropped by our bus at a river-side museum called Torre del Oro. I
believe this tower was built by the Moors who occupied Seville from
about 900 AD. The Moors followed the Romans who controlled the city
from about 100 BC to 600 AD. Prior to the Romans, Seville was
originally built by the Phoenicians around 900 BC.
Our tour guide led us a couple of
blocks to an intersection near the Santa Maria cathedral where she
left us to explore the city. With another Canadian lady Alice, we
decided to begin with a horse and buggy tour. This tour took us
through the old city to the site of an Iberian Exposition which took
place in 1929. The much of the route was park land with many
beautiful trees and shrubs some in bloom. The buildings of the
exposition are still there in good condition though some are no
longer used.
One major building is the Spanish
pavilion a huge structure built in a light brown stone with yellow
trim surround a large square on three sides. There was a central
fountain and a canal with little row boats. The bridge over the canal
and posts and railings covered in painted ceramic tiles.
Our driver took our pictures and then
drove us back to cathedral. Alice chose to take the tour of that
building. Siepi and I decided to explore the old Jewish quarter note
far away very near
Real Alcazar a Moorish fort taken over
by the Spanish royal family converted to a royal palace which they
use when in this city.
The streets in the Jewish quarter are
very narrow some you touch the walls with your arms on both sides.
We managed to find a couple of interesting items to bring home for
family. Then found a table by a wall to have tapas for lunch, four
items chef's choice with a dessert and some sangria.
None of the little streets followed a
grid so we got a bit confused about where we were but eventually
found our way back to the corner where we had started.
We soon had to think about getting back
to Torre del Oro for our trip home. We were quite taken by our brief
visit, The old buildings, the lush parks, streets crowded with young
people; and with the river a bit of a Parisian feel to it.
Back at the river-side our bus
returned, we waited a bit for the tour boat bringing many of our
fellow passengers and them off to Albufeira again.
