Europe – Day 14

We are regarding this as kind of a day off, so there won’t be many, if any, pictures.  We thought we might have some breakfast then go see if we could get into the Alcazar, but the very thought of the lineup made us pause.  Instead I booked us a tour of the Alcazar and the Cathedral for Wednesday and we went into the shopping district to get some swimsuits so we can enjoy the rooftop pool at the hotel.

When we first arrived in Seville, two days ago, I was completely discombobulated by the winding labyrinth of roads, how they changed names and directions.  How the buildings lining the very narrow streets blocked views of landmarks. Now I can easily find my way around.  It’s a small area that I have conquered, but I’m completely comfortable strolling the streets.  We headed straight for El Cortes Ingles department store close by.  We had a quick breakfast in their cafeteria, then DH got a nice bathing suit right away. I am a little more….difficult to fit.  I looked at the department store but no va, so we headed for Velasquez street and the shops along there.  All of Seville seemed to be shopping there this morning.  Many of the smaller shops close for lunch during the day, so we wanted to get the shopping done by 1 at the latest.

I found a bathing suit!  Yes, I paid more than I expected.  Yes, it reveals more than I wanted.  But it fits and all of me gets into it, so I bought it.

Then I had some souvenir shopping to do in Siepres street, where the beautiful fans, shawls, and mantillas are displayed in tiny shops just one or two rooms in size.

But that’s as far as our plans go for the day!  We’re just popping into our air conditioned hotel room and then we may go out for a cerveza or a fizzy water and watch the people go by…..(time elapse post)….

Hmmmm, I went so far as to enjoy a cerveza myself.  Then we went back to the hotel to get into our new suits, sit on the rooftop, enjoying the view and the delightful pool! We chatted with people from England and from Holland and may have had a beverage while we were out.

Then it was back inside for a quick shower and change and out for dinner just in time to get to Ostería L’Oca Giuliva as it opened at 8 pm, and where we were lucky to get a table and had a nice Italian dinner.

Rather than linger, we decided to head back up to the roof of the hotel for a drink while watching the sky turn to purple and the little swallows dance overhead. The lights on the cathedral lit up, the Giralda Tower appeared behind its scaffolding.

Then early to bed, we have big plans for tomorrow.