Travel Adventure Series #3 – Spain – SEVILLE, The Jewel of Andalusia, Spain
Welcome back! Our first stop is the Magnificent and Seductive City of Seville!
Unlike the travel methods of Queen Isabella 1st, I didn’t have an entourage at my disposal to get me from one place to another. I also was not going by horse. I chose a much more modern and realistic approach for my travels from city to city. I was just in Santiago de Compostela which is quite distance from Seville if you must travel via Madrid. (875 Km = 545 miles). I decided to take a very inexpensive one-way flight to Seville via Madrid! It was faster than the train and almost the same price. Travel within Spain is very economical and there are always options!
SEVILLE: The Location, The Moors, The Historical/Cultural Facts, and Hikingdan’s Adventures in Seville!
Location: Map of Spain and My Location Within the City
If you look on the map above, you will see that I travelled quite a distance. I left Santiago which is in Northwestern Spain (in the Region of Galicia). I flew to Madrid (in the region of Castile) in the center of the country. I then caught a connecting flight to Seville in the southwest of Spain (in the region of Andalusia).
Andalusia is an autonomous community that is officially recognized as having an “historical nationality”. It is VERY rich in history which I discovered daily.
The territory (region) is divided into eight provinces: AlmerÃa, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga and Seville. The capital of this region is the City of Seville.
Seville is the capital of southern Spain’s Andalusia region. In my next travel series, I will be taking you through the cities of Cádiz, Córdoba, and finally Granada.
Seville is famous for flamenco dancing and it all began here. Some major landmarks include the ornate Alcázar castle complex, Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza (bullring). The Gothic Seville Cathedral is the site of Christopher Columbus’ tomb ( the debate rages on as to whether or not the bones there are really his), and a minaret turned bell tower, the Giralda.
I had no idea where to stay upon my first visit to Seville. I knew nothing of the city and neighbourhoods. I did do some research since I wasn’t staying where Queen Isabella resided. I needed a hotel in a place central to the city and with easy access to many historical and cultural sites. I hit the Jackpot when I chose to stay six nights in the Hercules de Alameda neighbourhood. In fact my taxi driver gave me a bit of history enroute from the airport. He said that legend has it that Hercules founded Seville! Well then, I’m in the right neighbourhood!
Hotels can be very expensive, Â particularly if you want to stay in a decent neighbourhood close to the old city. Someone suggested that I look at renting an apartment here instead of a hotel room. Generally, the cost is cheaper and there are laundry facilities and a full kitchen. It allows one to be able to save money on food and other things.
When I showed up at the apartment and checked in, I discovered it was sub ground level with no windows. It was dark and dreary. It was also located next door (with an adjoining wall) to a very popular gay bar. I just told the proprietor that I wasn’t staying there despite the fact that I had already pre-paid for six nights.  I told them that if their description of my apartment including no windows, I never would have taken it and refused to stay there.
The company graciously asked if I would move to another apartment a few blocks away. I said yes, and below are photos of the apartment that I rented. This apartment was huge, magnificent, quiet, and more than half the price of a decent hotel. There was a great gym just 1 block away. I joined for a week as I wanted to work out and feel like I was at home. Seville is one city I would consider spending a few months living in and taking more language lessons.
Historical Facts – The Monarchs, The Moors and Their Rule Over Seville
There is no doubt that beauty, magnificence, and architecture of Seville is breathtaking. Before I get into any of that, I think it’s critically important that any visitor to Spain understand some historical background about the invasion of The Moors from North Africa and their contribution to Spain.
The Moors were the nomadic Berber inhabitants of  North African. The Moors were not an ethnic group on their own. Over time, the term The Moors, was given to Muslims living in Europe.
In the year 711, the Moors came to Spain across the narrow Straight of Gibraltar from Africa and conquered Spain (the Iberian Peninsula). The distance across the Straight of Gibraltar from Africa is only 14 Km (8.7 miles).
The Moors ruled Spain for five centuries. Their rule stretched as far as France. But bit by bit the Moors were pushed back — expelled from Sevilla in 1248 (by King Alfonso 3rd) and finally pushed entirely out of Spain by 1492. It was Queen Isabella 1st and Ferdinand 2nd who finally drive the Moors from Spain.
The Arabic impact on the culture of Andalusia cannot be overlooked or ignored. While The Moors were in Seville, they ruled from the Alcázar.
My Spanish
I have been trying really hard to get better and practice my Spanish.  I’m doing really well and I am quite proud of myself because I am engaging more and more in conversations with people. They are simple as my language level continues to grow.
I understand far more than I can speak but now I am thinking in Spanish and practicing different verb tenses which is really good for me . I Still get confused sometimes and go blank on words that I know, but just can’t think of the meaning when I am seeing them or hearing them!
Sometimes We Do Dumb Things!
Today was a day that I burst out laughing because if I only recognized one word on a sign in a store where I was, I wouldn’t have had a problem as you will read below.
It was pouring rain today, so I went into a department store and found a pair of jeans. I loved them and tried them on.
I had no idea what the European size was, but I gave it a go!
Now I have just hiked hundreds of kilometers and have been watching what I’ve been eating, but these pants were like leotards when I put them on! I could barely squeeze into them.
How could I have gained so much weight?
It was only then that I noticed the tag that read : JOVEN
Hmmm , at first I didn’t recognize that word until my circulation was almost cut off and then it hit me!
Joven is Young Boys!
😂😂😂😂😂😂
A 56 year old man Trying to squeeze into young boys pants. I burst out laughing and immediately peeled them off ( literally )!
I knew that word too, but the meaning didn’t come to me right away!
Tours Tours Tours
Over the next few days I have several tours of the cathedral, the Alcazar, and a walking tour of the city.
Ill have more to come!
KEEP WALKING!
I first learned about Isabella 1st (Isabella the Catholic) whilst hiking the Camino. I spent time in Madrid and other northern cities associated with the Camino as I travelled to and from each hiking trip. There were so many historical refences to this Queen and her husband, Ferdinand 2nd of Aragon