Seville - last stop.

Seville was quite different to Cordoba.  Very grand with large, sweeping parks.  The cathedral was particularly wonderful and the horse-drawn carriages were everywhere.

We walked our feet off exploring the city - but it was fabulous, and there was always somewhere to sit and have a quiet drink and watch the world go by!

The Cathedral at night.

Carriages surround the Cathedral day and night plying their trade.

Crowds made it so difficult to get around - or to take photos without thousands in it!

But sometimes - they were so cute, and made a good snap!

The quite beautiful Plaze de Espana.  Rained when we were there - but still make good photos!

Another wedding we tripped over!  She just beat a heavy rain shower!

Taken while we sheltered from the rain!

Several bridges span the Guadalquivir river.

Here's another one.  Very modern.

Mike checks his video during one of our many pit-stops!

Bikes for hire!  Nice and flat and plenty of dedicated cycle paths.

Busker and her dog by the Cathedral.

Sitting on the Cathedral steps.

Pavement cafes abounded.  Nice and cool under the trees.

The amazing, hugely photogenic Nuvion Centre.  Spent a happy couple of hours here!

Roof detail #1

Roof detail #2

Shadows on the floor made interesting pictures - if you could isolate the pedestrians!

Only a very small sample of the photos taken during our visit.  One day, we may bore you with the video and photo books - when I get around to producing them!

Finally, we journeyed down to Malaga for the flight home.

Moving on to Cordoba

Took the slow train from Madrid to Cordoba.  Two hours later - were were in a different world!  More "traditional" whitewashed houses and narrow streets.  

The first night we were there, Mike had booked us into an equestrian event.  Combined with Flamenco dancing - it was stunning.  Only trouble was, we were in tiered seats - right at the back!  We should have been about five rows back from the front - but there was a distinct lack of organisation and it was a right bun-fight to get in.  No directions on where to go or how to access the seats - which were not numbered!  Never mind - we enjoyed the show and I tried to take some pix - but was really too far back to do it justice!  Nice aide memoire, though!

The poster advertising the event.

The arena . . .

One of the stallions performing

Flamenco dancers . . .

. . .  and dancing with the horses!

Inside the amazing Mosque/cathedral.

Just as wonderful outside!

The "beautiful peoples'" wedding we came upon!

The Roman bridge, crossing the Guadalquivar River.

View towards Roman Bridge one evening.

Street sign!  So much prettier than in England!!

Finally - couldn't resist this wonderful palm tree seen on the walk into town!

One of the delightful street restaurants we patronised!

All too soon, the allotted four days were up and it was time to move on to our last stop - Seville.

Sojourn to Spain

Mike and I enjoyed Michael Portillo's series on train journeys around Europe.  As we both rather like trains - (unique for us, as we tend to follow quite different hobbies!) we decided to have a go at a DiY rail trip through Spain.  My family on Dad's side originated from Spain - and Mike's birthday was on May 13th!  Aqui!  Decision made!

First stop - Madrid!  We bought a Metro four-day ticket for the duration - and it proved extremely useful.  A Metro station was only a couple of hundred yards away from our hotel - and we made fulsome use of the ticket.

Four days wasn't really long enough - but we certainly covered quite a few square miles and saw a lot of the city.

Atocha Station.  The original station, now preserved and a stunning piece of architecture.

Permanent second-hand book sales lined the roads around the main park.  

The San Isidro Day Religious Festival.  Fantastic event with loads to see and do!

Everyone dressed up in traditional costume - even the smallest children!

Food was cooked on site - and it was delicious!

Wonderful Jacaranda trees were at their peak while we were there!

So hot - it was great to pop into churches to cool down!  No - we didn't sit in the doorway like this character!

Next stop - Cordoba!

A Bit of a Bump

Although this happened in February, and I am now fully recovered - I thought maybe I should post a few snaps of "how the mighty fall"!

Keen to get to a new meeting place one evening, I didn't notice the curb edge in a darkened car-park. Next thing, I was head-butting the ground!  Feeling foolish, like you do when you fall over in public, I was keen to get back on my feet and pretend nothing odd had happened!

However, my glasses had come off badly, and were lying on the ground like a wounded pigeon, with it's "wing" stuck up in the air (one arm of the specs)!  I gingerly straighten them, and tried to realign them and put them back on.  They felt a bit odd, but I was pretty confident no-one would notice!

However, when I got into the meeting, I was met with some curious stares - and then the person sitting next to me asked if I was alright!  Thinking my glasses must still be a bit skewiff, I acknowledged the tumble in the car-park.  However, it was the blood smeared face that was causing all the curiosity!

The head hurt a bit but the woozy and I had a massive lump, easily cupped in my hand, on the side of my head!  The woozy feeling soon passed off although the headache persisted - but two hours later, I felt OK to drive the 50 miles back home!  The next day - this is what I looked like!

The next day!

As you can imagine, it caused a lot of concern, and comments like "more water next time!"

One week later - getting more colourful!

Two weeks later and bizarrely, the bruise was sliding down my face!

It is now three months since the head-butting incident - and all the bruising has disappeared.  However, I still have a bit of a lump on the side of my head.  "All your badness coming out" as I have been told!

Easter Sunday

Woke early to let the Easter Bunny in!  Only just beat Ella, who was up at 6.00am keen and eager to see if said rabbit had hopped into their garden bearing his goodies!

She got quite a haul!

Finding hidden treasures in the wall!

And amongst the plants!

Farnham for Easter

Staying in Farnham with daughter and family for Easter.  Lovely weather for the whole time!

Rachael had to have a foot operation so Granddad and I were being chief cook and housemaid!

Bourne Woods was looking really lovely in the spring sunshine, with silver birches being highlighted against the darker pine trees.

Louis acted a bit daft one afternoon when Ella set us some charade challenges!  He did cartwheels -

and my challenge was to take a family portrait!

An Early Start

Was lucky enough to be invited to join two friend for an early morning shoot on plymouth Hoe this morning.  The light was lovely - and I had a couple of hours of happy snapping!

Marmite images!!  You will either like them - or not!!

Have to wait now for the next high tide and nice weather!!  Fingers crossed.