What an interesting day. I set off early to visit a conference venue and got back just as tothers were trying to figure out what to do for breakfast. Followed a sign pointing to “breakfast, artisanal bread”, stuff like that but the inside bit was full so we moved on to plan B. We didn’t actually have a plan A or a plan B so carried on with the initial strategy of random mosey assuming that plan A would reveal itself. Plan B turned out to be a gaff known to locals (and tourists alike – I don’t like the use of the word “alike” in these scenarios but figured I’d drop it in anyway) as bar restaurant Las Columnas in the main square near us. LC was a big caff and rammed inside and out which was a good sign. Rammed though it was, they squeezed us in and even found us a bigger table once it had cleared.
Joe rocked up just after we had finished eating. He and I left the others to some nearby vintage shopping and set off in the general direction of the cathedral. A bloke in the middle of the road was buried in his phone and had to beeped at several times by the now stopped bus before reality reasserted itself and he sheepishly moved to a place of safety. Despite the sometimes cliff-like kerbs the line between pavement and roads is blurred here in Andalucia and lots of ramblers are to be found in the road.
We stopped near a couple of guitarists setting up and the lad nipped into a store to buy a sandwich. It was then that a very noisy machine tool started from within a v impressive hole in the road right opposite the musos. The poor buggers. You could hardly hear the geetars. They were good n all.
Joe reappeared at the same time as our Tom and we continued the stroll. Tom got a 20m tape measure for Christmas and had it in mind to measure Seville cathedral to see whether it was 20m long. A hen party passed in the other direction wearing rose tinted sunglasses. I brought my red shades along on this trip but forgot them back at the airbnb, which btw is a cracking gaff. Classic Spanish place with a central atrium. It unfortunately won’t be sunglasses weather tomorrow when the Seville half takes place. We found the cathedral and Tom was able to confirm that it was considerably longer than 20m. There was a queue so we didn’t go in.
THG and I went on a horse and carriage ride and have now done most of the principal attractions of old Seville. 45 Euros. Norrabad deal. The driver, who lit a fag half way round and puffed away, occasionally pointed at a building and mumbled something incomprehensible to which I replied OK reach time. He might have been speaking English for all I know, which I doubt, but we could hardly hear him. I can always go to my timeline to see what we saw. The architecture is stunning.
Cutting a long story short we then had a spot of tapas in the street of a thousand restaurants near the cathedral. I had a beer. I was inspired by the old photos on the wall to go and buy a spanish hat and with that in mind tracked down a local sombrero seller. They didn’t have the hat I sought. I suspect they don’t sell em anymore, anywhere. I did come away with a nifty flat cap made locally out of Harris Tweed!
Then we found A Barber of Seville where I had a short back and sides and a shave during which time I charged my phone as he conveniently had his own plugged in on the counter in front of me. I now look lovely.
Chillin now back at the hoose and pondering the evening ahead. The runners are loading up with carbs and having an early night. The rest of the party is heading for Fatouch which is just around the corner from us and is the #1 restaurant on tripadvisor for Seville – out of 3,328 places! It is fully booked but we figured if we rocked up at 19:30hrs they might squeeze us in as Sevillians are late eaters and we ain’t. Before then I spotted a bar where I may well spend some time familiarising myself with the local culture.
Finally, the football has so far gone well today with Cardiff drawing and Bradford losing to Huddersfield. Next Tuesday is a biggie with 2nd placed Imps at home to 3rd placed Bradford.
Ciao amigas, hasta luego.
PS oranges on trees everywhere here, but you knew that 🙂