For our final day we decided to potter round Seville and then revisit Feria as it hadn't been appropriate to take my camera yesterday. The weather was perfect, so although it has been mixed during our week here, our memories are of warm Andalucian sun.
We caught the bus into Alameda, one of our favourite Sevillan locations and enjoyed a lazy second breakfast in the sun. We took great pleasure in wandering through the now familiar streets of Seville in the sun looking for a pleasant spot for lunch, settling on La Flores on the Trianan bank of the Guadalquiver with views across to the cathedral. Already the streets were busy and colourful with people in their Feria finery.
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Then it was onto Feria again. We love it. Absolutely brilliant, colourful, busy, friendly and beautiful.
Eventually it was time to drag ourselves away but we couldn't resist stopping first for chocolate and churros and then beer and rebujito before wending our way back to Plaza del Duquo to catch the buss home and cook la cena ready for Beth getting home from work.
Sadly that was our time in Seville over once more. Come August Beth will be living in Nottingham where she will join her partner Alejandro but hopefully it will not be our last visit to this wonderful city.
Another day of good weather, although, sadly, it turned cloudy and drizzly in the evening. Today was the day of Feria, the Sevillian festival which begain as a livestock market in 1868. It is now held on the outskirts of Triana on a purpose built site. Although the roads are their permanently the colourful 'casettas' or marquees only appear for the week of Feria. Each day the fiesta begins with the parade of carriages and riders, at midday, carrying Seville's leading citizens which make their way to the bullring, La Real Maestranza, where the bullfighters and breeders meet. These casetas usually belong to prominent families of Seville, groups of friends, clubs, trade associations and political parties. We were lucky enough to be invited into a family caseta along with Beth and felt amazingly privileged.
Our day began, however, with a walk along the river and through the park while Beth got on with some work and began the lengthy process of getting ready for Feria. On the walk we were delighted to hear a nightingale and enjoy its throbbing cascade of sound as well as the judas trees lining the river with their bright pink flowers and pea like seed pods.
After a light lunch and we were all dressed in our Sunday best (we were very proud of our daughter, beautiful and resplendent in her flamenco finery) we set off for the bus into town and then the shuttle where we met up with Jose Antonio and Victoria our joint hosts for the evening. We were made extremely welcome by the families in our caseta and plied with all manner of tapas and rebujito a potent cocktail of manzanilla sherry and 7up invented by Andalucians especially for Feria.!! The problem is one doesn't know the proportions so it can be a dangerous drink.
