Seville
We're in Seville now, have been since Friday. Internet is spotty, trending to non-existing. So there's a chance we won't get much time to post.
Seville is in some ways nicer than Barcelona. Flatter and cooler, older and smaller, it's a nice town - at least on the surface. Around the tourist areas it's all neat and tidy - with the usual crowds of Americans. Outside of these zones there's a definite lack of civic pride. A once-magnificent waterfront promenade running alongside a beautiful river is in ruins despite constant use by joggers, cyclists and the homeless. Weeds grow between the concrete tiles, which are uneven and broken. The fountain is dry and filled with rubbish. Once outside the tourist zone, the apartment blocks are run-down in various states of decay.
Streets are narrow here - we saw a resident performing a 27-point turn to park in her garage. The street itself was barely wider than the car and she somehow backs into the parking space - scrapes on the sides evidence of previous mishaps. Most streets are one-way. They're barely wide enough for a single car and a lone pedestrian, let alone dual-carriage. Most streets are cobble-stoned.
I find the decrepit areas more interesting than the tourist traps, the narrow, winding and stony streets charming. Turn a corner and there's a bar or cafe.
Like Barcelona, eating in places where locals congregate is exceedingly cheap. a beer, two wines and four plates of tapas was around 10 Euro.
Anita, a friend from Britain, has joined us in Seville for a couple of days and we're having fun all sharing a little triple room in Hotel Cervantes - a Best Western 3 star. I prefer it to our little Barcelona room, but Jus preferred the run-down accommodation - it had more charm.
We've only managed to grab a short amount of access here - the hotel receptionist told us with expansive gestures that internet access was down for the whole of Spain. Except, apparently, for the Starbucks around the corner.
In fact, we're kind of sick of Spain. Seville has been ok, but there's been a lot of mild rudeness and this town is squarely aimed at tourists.
We had nothing booked, so we just said 'bugger it' and booked tickets to Amsterdam tomorrow. We've got two days accommodation sorted out there now as well and we'll figure out the rest as we go.
No time for pictures, but I'll get some up later.
Seville is in some ways nicer than Barcelona. Flatter and cooler, older and smaller, it's a nice town - at least on the surface. Around the tourist areas it's all neat and tidy - with the usual crowds of Americans. Outside of these zones there's a definite lack of civic pride. A once-magnificent waterfront promenade running alongside a beautiful river is in ruins despite constant use by joggers, cyclists and the homeless. Weeds grow between the concrete tiles, which are uneven and broken. The fountain is dry and filled with rubbish. Once outside the tourist zone, the apartment blocks are run-down in various states of decay.
Streets are narrow here - we saw a resident performing a 27-point turn to park in her garage. The street itself was barely wider than the car and she somehow backs into the parking space - scrapes on the sides evidence of previous mishaps. Most streets are one-way. They're barely wide enough for a single car and a lone pedestrian, let alone dual-carriage. Most streets are cobble-stoned.
I find the decrepit areas more interesting than the tourist traps, the narrow, winding and stony streets charming. Turn a corner and there's a bar or cafe.
Like Barcelona, eating in places where locals congregate is exceedingly cheap. a beer, two wines and four plates of tapas was around 10 Euro.
Anita, a friend from Britain, has joined us in Seville for a couple of days and we're having fun all sharing a little triple room in Hotel Cervantes - a Best Western 3 star. I prefer it to our little Barcelona room, but Jus preferred the run-down accommodation - it had more charm.
We've only managed to grab a short amount of access here - the hotel receptionist told us with expansive gestures that internet access was down for the whole of Spain. Except, apparently, for the Starbucks around the corner.
In fact, we're kind of sick of Spain. Seville has been ok, but there's been a lot of mild rudeness and this town is squarely aimed at tourists.
We had nothing booked, so we just said 'bugger it' and booked tickets to Amsterdam tomorrow. We've got two days accommodation sorted out there now as well and we'll figure out the rest as we go.
No time for pictures, but I'll get some up later.
posted by Kelsey Brookes at 4:54 am
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