Real Alcazar, Sevillla

Roman and Mabret enjoyed the English audio guide at Real Alcazar as a change of pace and an alternative to reading the signposts or listening to Mom explain the highlights of this wonderful palace.

They also enjoyed pretending they were 'real' phones and having crazy pretend conversations.

The Alcázar of Seville is a royal palace in Seville,Spain, originally a Moorish fort. It is the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe, and it was registered in 1987 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, along with the Seville Cathedral and the General Archive of the Indies. The Almohades were the first to build a palace, which was called Al-Muwarak, on the site of the modern day Alcázar. The palace is one of the best remaining examples of mudéjararchitecture. Subsequent monarchs have added their own additions to the Alcázar. The upper levels of the Alcázar are still used by the royal family as a residence.

Mabret particularly liked the ceiling in the Hall of Ambassadors.  This is called the Half Orange because all the gold simmers in the light and was rebuilt to resemble stars.

Beautiful Muslim architecture inside the Alcazar.

The gardens were huge and even had a labyrinth (maze of hedges) that the boys said was way too easy.

Our last day in Sevilla ended again at the park with a zip line and bouncy house.

Good bye Sevilla.

Play Day in Sevilla

Today was a beautiful, relaxing, kid fun day in Sevilla. The goal was soccer in the Parque Maria Luisa and the Plaza de Espana.

Again we began with lunch of inexpensive tapas (tapas for Mabret, Katie and I, nachos with guacamole for Roman).  The restaurant, Cerveceria 100 Montaditos, is an order at the bar and pick up in ten minutes type. Tables are on the sunny sidewalk outside with mostly Spanish speaking people taking up the majority of the tables. 

The conversations the kids and I have had at this relaxing sidewalk restaurant have been enlightening. The opportunity for open honest questions and answers are much appreciated from both the kids and adults. Time well spent.

 

Aside from the 'presents' from the birds we all had fun here.

We then walked over to the park for play time and movie making.

The Maria Luisa Park (Parque de María Luisa) is a public park that stretches along the Guadalquivir River in Seville, Spain. It is Seville's principal green area.

The park is home to many monuments, and to numerous ponds and fountains. Among the most famous are the Fountain of Lions (Fuente de los Leones) and the Water-lily Pool (Estanque de los Lotos).

The Plaza de España was a principal building built on the park's edge to showcase Spain's industry and technology exhibits. The Plaza de España complex is a huge half-circle with buildings continually running around the edge accessible over the moat by numerous beautiful bridges. In the centre is a large fountain. By the walls of thePlaza are many tiled alcoves, each representing a different province of Spain. Today, the plaza buildings are mainly used for government offices.

While at Plaza de Espana we took the opportunity to recreate a scene from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones which was filmed at this spot. (Sorry blog.spot does not allow me to post videos) I can send it directly to you via email if you ask nicely. Roman portrayed Anakin and Mabret Padme.

After a full day of wandering the plaza and soccer time, I realized that I did NOT have the keys to our apartment. We called and emailed the manager/contact person repeatedly ...to no avail. We were locked out. Long story short, one hour and fourty five minutes later a server from a nearby restaurant cut a soda bottle's top and bottom off and used the curved plastic to pop the lock on the apartment door. The boys cheered and said they love him. Mabret tried to force him to take some money. He refused and quietly left us to celebrate having beds to sleep in for the night.

Climbing the Catherdral

Today we left the doors of our apartment with no specific plans in mind. On the walk into the center of town we stopped for some cheap tapas and a look at the map.

We decided to climb to the top of the Seville Cathedral (the minaret). It is said to be the largest Gothic cathedral (although not all of it appears to be gothic architecture) and the third largest church in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and also claims to be the burial site for Christopher Columbus.

       Facade of the Catherdral.

The Catherdal contains 80 chapels in which 500 masses were said daily in 1896.

 No excuses here for not making mass! 

The boys had fun taking photos and enjoying the art/architecture from different angles.

We then climbed the 35 ramps (no stairs because horses and donkeys won't make the climb down) to the balconey for a great view of Sevilla.

Afterwards, Mabret and Roman did a quick search of "fun" things to do in Sevilla. To their surprise, it ended up we found a hair salon and both boys got a quick clean up and cut.

Looking good gentlemen!

Peace out from Sevilla 

Biking through Seville!

Another wonderful day on the road. 

Bike tours have proved to be a great way to keep the kids entertained and active while we see all the sights and learn tons. Antonio, a native of Sevilla, was our guide from Mak In Line, Sevilla Bike Tour and he was fantastic. The three hours was jammed packed with insights into the people of Sevilla, the historic monuments, Catherdals, Plaza de Espana and the various neighborhoods.

     Plaza de Espana the site used in the movie Star Wars as the Royal Planet of Nabo 

The sights we saw are listed below with a photo and short description however the esoteric things we "learned" about Sevilla are far more interesting. 

1. Ask us about the work ethic of the people of Sevilla.

2. We now know how 'tapas' got its name.

3. Why all the orange trees in Sevilla? ....... Gunpowder

4. Spanish Inquisition - cool.

5. They say it is a Christian church but look it is originally Arab. Pointing to Arab architectural features.

6. This is not a Jewish neighborhood, they were here for only 200 years. It is Arab; 500 years.

7. Only the workers of Sevilla would build a bike path that leads directly into a fence or a tree and the      boss will say great, lets go get a beer.

All in good fun. Such outspoken comments must be common among bike guides as Paula our guide in Barcelona had similar self depricating comments about the people of Barcelona and the Church. 

Top Views:

- Golden Tower: built in the thirteenth century, during the Almohad period. It is said that she collected all the gold that came from India (customs).

- Cathedral: After the recapture of the city by Fernando III, it was decided that, as the legend: "A church so large that who see it finished we have as crazy." The Cathedral was built from 1402 over an old mosque. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

- Giralda Sevilla most representative monument. It is the minaret of the mosque. Its construction began in 1184. With 117.50 meters high, was once the tallest building in Europe. La Giralda not have stairs, but ramps wide enough to allow the manager to call the people to prayer could climb them on horseback.

- Alcazar: Definitely one of the most impressive monuments of Seville you can not miss. The Alcazar is a fortified palace. Today it is the residence of the royal family when visiting Seville. It has been the scene of some movies like "Lawrence of Arabia".

- Maria Luisa Park (Plaza of Spain): These gardens, originally formed part of the gardens of the Palace of San Telmo, were donated in 1893 by the Infanta Maria LuisaFernanda de Orleans to the city. The park opened the Plaza of Spain and the Plaza de America, which are some of its main attractions.

- Barrio de Santa Cruz: Located in the city center is full of white washed houses,mansions, palaces family, flowered patios humble and above all, legends, duels, love affairs and memories, charm and beauty.

- Royal Tobacco Factory: It is a stone building in the eighteenth century, as the site of the first tobacco factory in Europe established. Currently hosts the Rector of the University of Seville and of some of its powers.

- Royal Cavalry of Seville: It is an institution created in 1670 cavalry whose original intention was noble training in weapons and war like equestrian practice in the serviceof the Spanish crown. A very good time was had by all! Including a wonderful tapas meal of Caesar salad, goat cheese salad, shrimp ravioli with mushrooms, grilled scallops in romanesco sauce and grilled pork in Marsala sauce. Best meal of the trip. Az-Zait Resaurant in Sevilla, Spain.