Aloha Everyone,
Seville is a beautiful, sophisticated, exciting place. This is the 4th largest city in Spain with a population of over 700,000. In the 16th Century, Ferdinand Magellan, Amerigo Vespucci and other explorers sailed to the New World from Sevilla. Subsequent discoveries of new trade routes to the Americas with gold, silver, tobacco and cocoa made her the wealthiest city in Spain.
Sevilla’s Golden Age came to an end when the Spanish empire collapsed, but the enormous wealth of the past is evident everywhere: the largest cathedral in Spain, Alcázar Royal Palace, numerous government buildings, private homes and public gardens.
J.J. and I can hardly wait to start our exploration of the city. With intermittent rain and fatigue caused by a lack of sleep and the tension of train travel, our decision was to enjoy our luxurious hotel accommodations. The two of us walked to El Corte Inglés, somewhat like Fred Meyers or a very upscale Walmart where you can find anything from luxury goods to electronics. We purchased basic provisions of bottled water, fruits and cheese from their basement supermarket.
Aloha -- Cathi