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Published: December 29th 2010
20.12.10 Seville
Reales Alcazar - it was the Spanish Royal family summer residenceMonday 20th December 2010 to Sunday 26th December 2010
Monday 20th December 2010
Seville
It was a very noisy night as they are demolishing an overhead bridge near us. They had lots to do, as we saw them working on it yesterday when we went for the bus. Through the night there was a major crash. Sounded like they were successful. They had done it by lunchtime when we went for the bus – 2 lanes each way – traffic flowing again. Tom didn’t think they could have done it in one night with 3 mobile jack hammers – one large and 2 small .
Anyhow, onto the bus and into town. First we had a bite to eat before we went in to see the Reales Alcazares, as we knew this was going to take a while. This site is made up of a number of palace buildings, from the original Moorish Alcazar palace to later extensions in the form of courtyards and palaces carried out by different monarchs. The original Alcazar was built in the 12th century, but only 2 courtyards and part of the walls left. There are beautiful gardens, fountains and pavilions – of various Moorish,
21.12.10 El Rocio
Church in the middle of town where the pilgrims all congregate in September Mudejar and Renaissance in design. The ceilings, walls and floors are varied with plasterwork and tiles. We wandered around for about 2.5 hours – so much to see and absorb.
We did some more walking around town and sightseeing – exhausted we had to stop for a coffee and cake (a sugar hit). Then we did some more walking, and ended up where we had almost started !!!, so ended up taking a taxi back to the bus terminus. Home we went.
Tuesday 21st December 2010
What a night – thunder, lightning and rain. We eventually got going and went to El Rocio. It was just as it had been described to us. The buildings are just like you would see in a western movie, with the horse rails outside the buildings. Dirt/sandy roads.
It is famous for the pilgrimage that takes place every spring. Around one million people converge on the shrine of El Rocio, at the edge of the Doñana National Park, in the biggest pilgrimage, in Spain. Travellers come from all over Andalucia on foot, on horseback or by oxcart. Most of these pilgrims wear the traditional attire, women in bright gypsy-inspired flamenco dresses and men
in the unique wide-brimmed "bolero" hats and short-cropped jackets associated with Andalusia. We walked around town and into the tourist information office. The young lady looked surprised to see anybody – Tom said as much and she laughed. The museum was attached to the tourist office, so we had a look in there.
Janice, Peta and Michelle would love the place – horses, horses, and more horses.
As there had been so much rain, the dirt road had big holes in them and filled with water – we saw 2 4x4 doing slides around a round-about – mud spraying everywhere.
So back on the road and headed for Cordoba. The rain was very heavy most of the way. It was a long drive
Into caravan park (council run).
Wednesday 22nd December 2010
Cordoba
It had rained most of the night – no need to hurry.
On the bus and into town to see the Great Mosque (Mezquita). Enormous and interesting Moorish architecture. The original construction was undertaken in 785. Extension added in 833, more additions in 945, 961 and 987. Further extensions and alterations of Christianisation of the mosque have been done when the city was conquered in later
22.12.10 Cordoba
Mezquita Catedral (Mosque Cathedral) years.
After about 2 hours we walked on over to the Roman Bridge Gate, Roman Bridge and the Calahorra Tower – the tower being the main fortress to guarding the bridge – this is now a museum. As we have had so much rain, it was quite a sight as flood waters were roaring under it, full of debris and so brown. The cycleway alongside the river was flooded as well as the park. The water was almost to the top of the signposts.
Then onto the Alcazar – The Castle of the Christian Monarchs. This is where the monarchs stayed when visiting Cordoba. We were lucky today – it was free – saved €8. It is now a museum.
After that and just up the road 300 metres, was the remains of the Synagogue, built in 1315 – the only one in Cordoba and one of three left in Spain. There were not many remains to look at.
We then walked through the streets of the Jewish quarter. We went into a craft centre and ended up in a shop with a lady who makes slab pottery and figurines etc. Beautiful workmanship. We bought a brooch – silver with
22.12.10 Cordoba
Fortress of the Chistian Kings (Alcazar de Los Reyes Christianos) a piece of her pottery inlaid in it. We had lunch in a Jewish restaurant. Nice lunch – sweets just OK.
Thursday 23rd December 2010.
Still raining, Up at 7.30am and headed out for Granada.
On the way, as far as the eye could see, were thousands and thousands of acres of olive trees.
Got to campsite, but the entry is on the Expressway, so back up other side of road to get to it.
We decided to go to a dinner and show with Flamenco dancers, so we booked that. The bus picked us up at 8.45pm and then collected other tourists along the way. The show started at 10pm. First off we had a walk around the area with a guide who pointed out what some of the buildings where and how old they are then we saw the Alhambra under lights and with a full moon. We ordered dinner as well, as that was not in the price quoted and we had thought it was an earlier show we were going to. The Flamenco dancers were not as good as the ones in Madrid – very casual. Would not recommend this show. The show finished at
22.12.10 Cordoba
Roman Bridge and flooding Guadalquivir River 11.45pm and then bus drove us all home. We were the last ones off it at 12.30pm.
Friday 24th December 2010.
Woke to clear skies and possible 0o at 6am.
Into town on the 7.10am bus. It’s dark and we were told to flag down the bus – we did and he took about 100 metres to pull over as he was not expecting anyone to be there – the passengers all looked at us when we got on. All good and into town and everyone wishing driver a Merry Xmas (Feliz Navidad), so we did too.
On to another bus to the Bus Terminus to buy tickets for tomorrow to Sierra Nevada. Had to wait until 9am when the information office was opened as he could speak English as we needed to check what we had to do. When he explained everything, we purchased our tickets.
Then onto another bus to the Cathedral bus stop. We walked up a very long hill to the Alhambra. We spent 3 hours going through the Palaces that are there. It is an enclosed wall area. Need to google it to get all the information – so much. Very interesting.
Walked back
down the hill and into a restaurant for late lunch, When we ordered our drinks, they bought out some tapas. Very nice – nice enough to ask for a main dish of it but there was none left. It was like a lamb stew with peas and carrots. So we ordered other dishes. More wine and more free tapas, desert and coffee. We were in there for 2 hours.
In Spain it is the law to provide something to eat when serving alcoholic drinks. Most times we are given a small bowl of olives and some bread.
Then home on the bus.
As we were walking along the road back to the campsite, we had a great view of the snow on the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Saturday 25th December 2010 – Christmas Day
Up and ready – the taxi arrive on time. Gaye had on a lot of clothing, she could hardly move LOL . Into the bus depot for coffee and toast. Bus to Sierra Nevada left at 10am. It went along the highway for several kms, and then started to climb for next 50 minutes. As we climbed the view just got better and better. It’s a
24.12.10 Granada
View of Granada from the Alhambra winding road with cliffs to one side and near vertical drops to the other.
We arrived to a lovely tourist set-up and walked around asking for directions to the restaurant as the information office was closed. We saw a chair lift and 2 gondolas so asked one of the guys who worked there and who spoke English, where do we go to get the gondola to the top, He told us to get ticket for €6.50 each return, out of the machine near us. We did – it was for the chair lift only – not the gondola. Dick head. So up we went and back on the chair lift. Then went and found the correct ticket section for the gondola and up we went to the top. €17 each for one trip up and back, but it was worth it as it was a long ride up into the snow tops. Had a look around. Talked to an English lady, who was looking for her skis – not sure if someone had taken them or she had forgotten where she had put them (she was the same age us so probably forgot where she had put them !!! ).
24.12.10 Granada
Alhambra - an indoor room Into the cafe for coffee and for Gaye to thaw out, and a chat to a ski instructor who sat down at the table with us. Then back down on the gondola and walked to the restaurant for lunch – it was a hot rock cafe – good food. They brought out a basket of bread, a bowl of tomato blend and a tree of different salamis etc – see photo. We have not seen that before in any of the restaurants that we have been to. We only ordered a main dish – as there was so much food – we couldn’t fit sweets in.
We walked around the village – it’s just like Jindabyne. Then into a hotel – very up market. Stayed there until 6.15pm and then hopped on the bus back to town and then a taxi back to the campsite.
All in all – a great white Christmas day.
Sunday 26th December 2010.
We left Granada and travelled down the highway to the campsite at Nerja (60kms east of Malaga).
We contacted Sue & Martin, and Oscar (the dog that is king).
So we set up camp and Sue & Martin came over to
24.12.10 Granada
The Alhambra - Pillars in courtyard see us and invited us to dinner. Martin picked us up at 5.30pm and off we went to their home. Sue had baked a absolutely lovely roast pork with crackling dinner– delicious. Much chatting and home at 11.30pm.
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Linda
non-member comment
Great as usual guys - Got your photos and emails. Your experiences are unbelievable. Linda and Bill