Sevilla and Cordoba

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Greetings from Sevilla Spain.

Known for its bullfighting where it’s still considered politically correct, its flamboyant flamenco dancers, the home to Don Juan the famous lover, (must be related, lol) Carmen the Gypsy from 1875 whom the opera is based on, and the burial grounds of Christopher Columbus. In 1992 Sevilla hosted the Worlds Fair. Its Spain’s 4^th largest city with 700,000 people.

CARMEN THE GYPSY AND DON JUAN THE LOVER

STREET SCENE
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Sevilla’a cathedral is the third largest in Europe, after The Vatican and St. Paul’s in London, and the largest Gothic church anywhere. The Cathedral took 120 years to build! The Alcazar, a 10^th century palace built for the governor of the local Moorish state, is still functioning as a Royal Palace. It’s the oldest in use in Europe.

Sevilla’s Jewish Quarters, while interesting with its narrow and tangled streets, remind us of the tragic life that Jews lived in this town. Once there were 3 synagogues, now none.

STREET SCENE
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Flamenco dancing is an art, and the music, dance and song are expressions of the passion of these performers.   We enjoyed an evening of Flamenco.  The men do most of the machine gun foot work, while the women display graceful turns and shuffling. Flamenco guitarists have lightning fast finger fingers. (Don’t try this at home. Lol)   The setting of this performance was in a palace from the 18^th century.

Sevilla would not be Sevilla without its bullfighting. It hosts a fabulous 14,000 bullfighting arena, called Plaza de Toros. One of the most beautiful in Spain. If that is not enough for you, be sure and go to the Bullfighting Museum. I passed on both of them!  I am a conscientious objector!

GARDENS OF ALCAZAR
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For the Worlds fair here in 1992, Santiago Calatrava built a bridge in honor of it. I believe we may be negotiating for one in Dallas now by Santiago Calatrava as well?

Sevilla was a charming easy city for strolling through the Plaza’s, café’s, restaurants and numerous bars. It was all centered around the Cathedral and you could feel the energy in the streets. Just be sure and avoid the annoying Gypsy women!

A day trip took us by train to Cordoba.  With a rich Roman and Moorish past, it served as a regional capital for both empires. The main tourist attraction for Cordoba is the Mosque turned Cathedral called the Mezquita from the 10^th century, and the Alcazar, the former Royal Castle. In addition Cordoba has a Jewish Quarter with a Synagogue dating back to 1315. To commemorate this rich Jewish past of Cordoba, a 14^th century home was restored and turned into a museum showing the different aspects of Spain’s daily life of the Jewish community. It is called Casa De Sefarad. A famous Jewish Philosopher named Maimonides (1135-1204) is honored outside the synagogue. It is said it is good luck to rub his feet!  I guess we all want a foot massage !

SEVILLA CATHEDRAL
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Tomorrow morning we catch a train to Toledo.