Bowl full of Clouds

We were wandering around Seville and found this really cool sculpture that was above a plaza; however, we couldn't find it in the guide books are on the maps!!!! It wasn't until the next day that we figured it was called Lolo. The sign on the building said it was an aquarium but according to the info we finally found it was an antiquarium so yeah instead of it being about fishes it was about history.  It also said you could get to the top of it but we couldn't figure out what door got you there.  This might have been one of my favorite things because it is sooooooo different and wasn't all toursity (it was near the university and had a small playground filled with kids) and it looks like a bowl full of clouds!!

Castle of Gold

After kind of over sleeping the first day in Seville we tried to get up and moving early on Wednesday but honestly, why did we do this! The Spainards have a very strange way of doing things and it seems like they don't get moving until 9ish or later. First we decided that churros and chocolate were in order. Delicious but I think my arteries were clogging with each dunk of the fried dough (more like oily funnel cake then like American churros) into the hot chocolate  think like a drink not thick like a sauce).  I thought I had a picture but guess I was so enamored by the churros I got distracted.

Then we ventured to Cathedral but it didn't open until 11 so we ventured to the Tourist Information to find out information about the Flamenco festival (more to come on that later) and after a quick trip to Starbucks we headed down to the Rio Guadalquivir to Torro del Oro aka Tower of Gold.  The castle had a  small maritime museum and  minatures of the ships that discovered America.  The castle was not one of my favorites because you couldn't get close to the edge thanks to these big plexi glass walls but there were about three steps that you could walk up and then you got the great views.  It was nice to have a different view point and to finally see the river. They offer river cruises but according to some of the reviews they aren't worth it so this was a nice way to see it. 

O the gardens!

In addition to the beautiful rooms at the http://runawaycubicle.blogspot.com.es/2012/09/gardens-and-architecture.html Alcazar there are these gorgeous gardens and fountains. Bridget said it felt like a labyrinth because they just kept going and going and we couldn't find our way out but they were gorgeous so it was well worth it (until the skies got super dark and the threat of rain was near and then we were done).  

This action shot is of me playing tennis on the first tennis court in Spain! 

                  Look now you can tell that we were actually on a trip together!!

Um 9 Please

Bridget and I tried to go to our hotel rooftop bar; not knowing what floor it was on we decided just to go with what the elevator told us........as you can see from the pic we were wrong. There are only 4 floors in our building.......Why are there all those extra buttons!!!!

Gardens and Architecture

So on our first full day in Sevilla we were off to a fantastic start and slept 12 hours so by the time we got out of the room it was around 11:30. Last week every morning I would look on my iPhone weather app at the weather for DC and then the weather for Sevilla and Madrid, it always said that the weather in Sevilla was going to be 90's this week; with that mind I ut on some longer shorts and a short sleeve cardigan and headed out. Um yeah it was cold so after we grabbed some delicious crossiant and a roll that was the size of my head, that was described as toast, a quick sweater change was in order. One of the nice things in Sevilla is that there are a lot of outdoor eating places and thankfully one was next to our hotel.

We headed thru the little alleys to the Alzcazar; however, we couldn't find the entrance and ended uo just wandering around one of the court yards for a little bit - that is what happens when you follow tourists from the Czech.  The Alcazar used to be home to many of Spain's kings; it was originally built as a fort in 913 and since then has been expanded and rebuilt many times.  There were many tour groups there but unfortunately just don't have those German language skills!

 

Entrance to Alcazar

We got headseats so we could listen and learn all about the history

(Mom aren't you proud???)

Look at this amazing ceiling 

Another amazing ceiling ........they call this the half orange room. 

3 strikes and you are out!

That's what happened with this restaurant. First strike worst Sangria so far! Second strike not having the one vegetarian entree on your menu available. Third strike not being able to get chicken paella for one person..... um bill ( I mean la cuenta) please!!!

Of course......

We found a Starbucks. Would you expect anything else from me???