So – until this Monday if I had been asked 'have you been to Seville' I would have replied 'yes of course'. But – having just spent a lovely 3-4 days there with my fab university chums 'the Helens', it seems I havent'!
Made even the odder by seeing Soph & Nicky this Fri/Sat whop are insisting that we went there in 2008 as part of a trip round Grenada and Cordoba too. How then did I recognise ABSOLUTELY NOT ONE of any of the main sights or areas of town?! Perhaps we spent all our time in bars… or just another city entirely.
Anyway – it was bloody lovely!!! What an incredibly pretty city, very walkable – even in the hideous 40 degree heat. (The one big downside of going away with 2 teachers, having to do it in the summer holiday heat).
Thank god I'd booked us somewhere very very central to stay as even hoofing another 400m back to a less central place would have been knackering. We rather liked our 'rooftop pool' (aka footbath!)…
Another massive bonus was having a suggested list of great restaurants care of the amazing Mercedes Fabrega Lopez Butcher (Sevilla born and bred, then married an English fella with a slightly less romantic surname!) Merky's nosheries were all fantastic – the best I've ever eaten on a city break, by far. Gracias chica!
Having toddled the main sights (and grabbing an afternoon siesta while the other 2 went up the Cathedral) we then booked a boat trip up the river. A huge speed boat that had just us and one couple who sat on the upper deck, so it was like a private hire, as we ate yet more jamon and cheese, and the girls tucked into yet another Tinto de Verano.. Also the perfect chance to use the speaker that the hostess brought out to us, to load Chris de Burgh's song, Spanish Train. It starts 'there's a Spanish train that runs between Guadalquivir and Old Seville'… precisely the river that we were on and the sights we were passing. And yes, obvs also had to do the full Titanic thing as we went along…
Final activity – oh exhausting – was to follow Jane's suggestion of tackling the Aire spa, where 95 euros got us a 2 hour slot of their delightful pools in cave-like settings and a half hour massage each. Bliss! Outstandingly, as we headed home post spa we came across a tiny place that only sold some amazing pastel de natas and a few drinks – so clearly had to tuck in…
A cracking trip and always brilliant to catch up fully with both Helens – it's now 37 years since we met and the chat is as easy and funny as it was when we were 18. Happy days x