Sept 26, part 1 The Real Alcazar

 This architecture is the primary reason I wanted to come to Spain.  While there are other great Muslim buildings in the world, many are unavailable (Iran, with its great mosques in Isfahan in particular), and in Mughal India, it is the Moorish elements found in Spain that are the most well preserved, and impressive. The Alhambra is the most iconic, and most visited, and that is on the schedule, but the Real (Royal) Alcazar in Seville, built by the caliphs while in power in Spain, and then taken over by Christian rulers (in this case, Pedro I, who rebuilt the Alcazar as a pleasure palace for himself and his mistress, Maria de Padilla) is a superb example of the architecture, surpassed only by the Alhambra.

My guide, Estella Gonzalez was superb, informed, and almost as enthusiastic as I was.  She loves her work, and it showed.  The Alcazar was so, so very beautiful.  As you walk through the palace, as an embajadore might have done, the rooms get more and more ornate, culminating in the Hall of the Ambassadors, stunning in its profusion of gold, calligraphy, and the dome, made with hundreds of small pieces of wood, and gilt. 

A fantastic way to start my trip.  

Estela Gonzalez, my private guide to both the Alcazar, and Sevilla Cathedral (next blog).

Entrance into the Hall of the Ambassadors

  

Sept 24-25 travel to Spain and Sevilla, first sights

 How to begin to illustrate the "bucket list" trip?  I will have to do quite a few blogs, and some will be quite long, but I think you will enjoy my trip, and see some things I have wanted to see all of my life. 

So we start with the trip to Spain on the 24th, an eight-hour flight to Madrid, a train ride (at 300 K per hour, or 180 MPH) to Seville, limo to Hotel Soho Boutique Sevilla, quite wonderful.  

And a first visit to a small church in the neighborhood, and a walk over to the Metropol Parasol, the largest wooden structure in the world, and a great way to overlook the city. 

Here we go. 

Two free seats beside me!  What a gift.  And about the only seats free on the plane!

Madrid Airport

My high-speed train to Seville

Other photos just for Alex. When Alex heard that I got to ride at 300 K an hour, he texted me "How dare You!".  Ah, jealousy. 

The very comfortable train compartment.  

The Spanish countryside, including young olive trees. 

Arrival

Lobby of the Hotel Soho Boutique Seville.

A dining area. 

After checking in, I went out to find my first church.  This is St. Andres, a tiny church
just around the corner from my hotel.  

This building was Mudejar, or Muslim architecture, transformed like much of Spain, into
a Christian church.

Perfect Mudejar dome.

And my first Spanish pipe organ, with its trumpets. 

For dinner, I wandered over to the Metropol Parasol, the largest wooden structure in the world. 

Thank God there was an elevator.  I had twisted my knee getting off the train, and my leg
was in considerable pain.

On top, walkways to roam over the top and see Seville

And looking forward to tomorrow, the great Cathedral of Seville, the third largest church in the world, 
after St. Peter's and St. Paul's in London.  The tower is all that is left of the great mosque, turned into a 
bell tower, and topped with Christian architecture.