(text and pictures from 2010), (text and pictures from 2011), (text and pictures from 2012), (text and pictures from 2013), (text and pictures from 2014), (winter in Barcelona), (text and pictures from 2015), (text and pictures from 2016), (winter in Palermo) (text and from pictures 2017), (text og billeder fra 2018)
Easter festivities, bullfight and excursions in Andalucia
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Staying a full winter in Seville (or Sevilla) has been another of our dreams come through. But first a few words on our watering hole for the winter: There are tree marinas of which the Club Nautic Sevilla is by far the best choice. Even if our Pilot book states that 'you should only chose it if you are not overly concerned with the prices' we have to disagree. It's actually even cheap (for 5 month we have to pay an average of €12/day incl. water and electricity).
There are several problems associated with a visit however. Neither the newest C-Map charts nor Reeds 2011 are correct as a new lock has been built further down stream and conditions in the channel have changed by the old lock which must now be circumnavigated (that is the easy part though). It is probably best to go to Marina Gelves first (situated in the tidal part of the river outside the other two marinas), and wait there until further arrangements have been made, ie. first one has to pass a lock which can only be negotiated in connection with the passage of commercial traffic. Thereafter there is a bascule bridge that only opens 5 times a week, thus one may have to stay overnight at Marina SunSails (former Marina Yachting Sevilla) between the new lock and CNS. To add to the complications, the only language of communication is Spanish (but everybody is very helpful). And finally - to add insult to injury - the club does not take pre-reservations.
Once you are there though, it is well worth the effort, it's a grand place to spend the winter, with lots of museums, music (not to forget the Sevilliana a popular version of flaminco) and restaurants. Furthermore the city is within easy rech of Sierra de Aracena, Cordoba (se video from the orangerie at the Mezquita), Cadiz and Jerez. By car, and with just one stay overnight, we also managed to visit, Gibraltar, Ronda and Granada.
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| The rather modest pontoon at the Club Nautico de Sevilla (CNS). There is nothing modest about the club though! | A view of Seville as seen from the Giralda (tower of the cathedral and former minareth (Plaz del Torros in the middle) |
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| Seville: The Alcazar with its beautifull fountains and gardens | Alcazar and the intricate moorish architecture |
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| Sierra de Aracena: Just 100 km northwest of Seville offers beautiful landscapes and free roaming blackfoot pigs, soon to become... | ... the most delicious air-dried and cured hams, chorizos, lomitos and other delicious goodies |
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| Gibraltar and the new Spanish marina in La Linea in the background |
As long as there are monkeys at the rock of Gibraltar, the British will be there (or is it the other way around?) |
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| Cordoba and the mezcita (former mosque) in our opinion the most interessting remains of moorish Spain | Cordoba foundes by the Romans and with many visible traces |
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| Ronda, allegedly the oldest city of Spain, in which thw old and the new(er) part of the city, is seperated by a 100 meter deep gorge spaned by this bridge |
Close to ronda are the most fabulous caves: Cueva de pileta boosting marvellous cave paintings from neolitihc and paleolitihc times, some of them 30.000 years old |
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| Granada: The Lions Court (at the harem) of the Alhambra | Granada: Beautiful azuelos (glazed ties) of the Nazarita palace |
Spring in Seville has two world famous events that attract people from all over the world: The 'Semana Santa' ie. sk. the holy week around Easter and two weeks later the fantastic Feria de Avril (April Festival) six days of continuous partying almost 24 hours a day. I doubt that you can fin anything like it anywhere in the world (se video from Semana Santa) and or the April Festival which also marks the start of the bull-fight season (se video from a Bull fight, which is totally revolting but at the same time strangely facinating). Like it or not it is an integrated part of Andalusian culture.
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| Semana Santa (Holy week) in Seville comprises 7 days with more than 50 religious processions some of them having more than 1000 participants and going on for more than 14 hours. It's a marvel but strange to the northern eye. |
The weekend before the April festival there is an impressing parade and competition of horses, carriages and people in them. More than 60 carriages participated and most of them wit four horses. Everybody dressed up... fantastic show |
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You may think whatever you like about the Bull fight (we don't particularly like it) it is however, an integrated part of Spanish tradition and the season starts together with the 'Feria de Avril' |
What we do like though, is the Spanish ability to party and enjoy. We often think of Flamenco as very serious. The popular version 'Sevillana' (that any Sevillian would be able to perform at any time) is anything but dull and a real tribute to life. |
