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Garlic butter prawns


 

This morning we were eager to get up and explore the El Tajo Gorge in Ronda. 

Just across the Puente Nuevo, there is a nice paved path which takes you down the side of the gorge… we got there around 9:30am! Pretty good for our standards:)

The path along the side of the gorge

I’m honestly as a loss for words at the beauty of both the bridge and the gorge. Seeing them from this new angle… they still feel magical. The word of the day is stunning. Stunning views, stunning scenery, stunning architecture, stunning hike, all absolutely stunning.

Bridge views

Cliffside

Panorama of the gorge and mountains 

Then we hopped in the car and drove to Seville.

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Seville is a large city with much to do! Luckily, we’re staying right in the old town and are able to walk to plenty wonderful places. 

Last night we visited the Plaza de Toros, one of the most famous bullfighting rings in Spain. This activity obviously has a lot of controversy associated with it, but it was still interesting to learn about the cultural associated with bullfighting. 

Plaza de Toros

We ended our evening at a lovely restaurant called Bar Postiguillo Tapas. We had a great time with our server who was speaking Spanish to my dad, French to me, and English to Liam and my mom. My main dish was traditional garlic prawn in a pool of butter… they came out sizzling!

Garlic butter prawns!

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This morning we started off the day by visiting the Alcázar of Seville, otherwise known as the Royal Alcázar (it is an official residence for the Spanish royalty!).

I’ve heard this Alcázar likened to a geode; plain stone walls on the outside, yet once you enter there is an abundance of beauty and greenery. There is a main palace, as well as sprawling gardens which are home to many interesting birds.

Walls of the Alcázar from inside

Inside the palace

Garden views from the palace with blue jacaranda trees

My favourite part about this area was the intricate detailing on the walls and well as the beautiful blue jacaranda trees in bloom throughout the gardens. 

Intricate details on an arch

More lovely details!

Can you spot the peacock details?

We also saw some adorable baby ducking waddling through the gardens. 

Little ducklings

In the afternoon we visited the Seville Cathedral, which is the third largest cathedral in the world. Unlike the Alcázar, you can begin to admire the beauty and grandiosity of this building from the outside before you even enter. Once inside there are magnificent pillars and alters throughout… it left me in awe at the sheer amount of work, time, and manpower it must have taken to complete. 

Outside of the cathedral 

Pillars inside the cathedral

Beautiful detailed statues

Traditional Seville dishes carved into a cathedral arch
Views from the top of the cathedral tower

Lastly, we visited the Plaza de España, a plaza built for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. This is a masterpiece of architecture and a must see in Seville. There are beautiful walkways and bridges crossing over a canal that forms a semi-circle in front of the main structure. There were concerts going on when we were there so part of the plaza was covered with a stage, but it was still a wonderful sight to see. 

Plaza de España

Bridge over the canal

Gorgeous views
One more thing to add, we also went to see a traditional flamenco show tonight! It was in a little local bar venue and felt super intimate. There was a guitar player, a singer, and one male dancer and they were absolutely fantastic. You could really feel the emotion in every powerful step, every guitar strum, every note sung. It was such a cool experience.
Outside the bar “La Carboneria”

Inside the venue



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