I can’t remember for how long I have wanted to take my two kids away to celebrate my 60th. I think the idea stemmed from having once wished my parents had wanted to do a family holiday when we were adults, but it has gained traction because I can’t think of two people I’d rather spend my 60th birthday with.
This trip is part solo and part family. Andalusia has long been on my travel wish list, and so my plan started off with 3 days in the beautiful city of Seville.
I arrived late into the evening, and so night one incorporated a never-before experience of sleeping in a cube hostel! I was brave enough to catch the airport bus to the city centre and drag my noisy suitcase a further 20 minutes to reach the Urban Cube Hostel and cosy myself into my single cube for the night. Sleep-wise I did ok… but was really grossed out by other people’s HAIR in the bathrooms (those who know me well know that this is a particular ick of mine). Anyway, I checked out early and relocated to a gorgeous centrally-located hotel as my base for the remaining three nights.
My plan for day 1 was orientation, chill and flamenco. I booked a free (pay what you feel) walk through Guru Walk, which went slightly off piste when I arrived to find the tour in English had been cancelled and the option was to go away or join a tour in French. I don’t know what it is about me but I cannot remember the last holiday I went on (excluding to France) where I haven’t had to make use of the language!! (Cooking class and tour in Thailand, hospital in Morocco etc). Anyway, I understood most of it and had a nice chat with a man from Bordeaux about the state of Welsh rugby 😂
After that I headed back to my hotel where I treated myself to a bath and a siesta. I headed out again around 5 to get some food (tapas of course) and make my way to Casa de la Memoria for a one hour flamenco show. Afterwards, as I was wandering around the Setas de Sevilla, I somewhat unbelievably bumped into an old University friend and ended up having a few glasses of wine and a good chat with her and her son. Chance encounter!
Day 2 – in the morning I walked to the Plaza de España (quite impressive) and Parque Maria Luisa (very calm). Then I headed back to the old town for my afternoon tour of the Real Alcazar, something I had really been looking forward to. I was not disappointed. An absolutely stunning palace and gardens – I took many photographs and several hours to soak up the experience. I loved the Patio de las Doncellas, and Patio de las Muñecas, and the gardens were extensive and really beautiful. My Monday evening consisted of a picnic in my hotel room as I wanted to attend my online poetry class (sad but true!)
Day 3 – my morning was spent exploring the banks of the Guadalquivir river. I walked to Triana bridge, and followed the river to the old bullring and the Torre del Oro. I enjoyed this leisurely stroll and stopped intermittently to people watch and pen a poem inspired by the river. My afternoon saw a visit to the magnificent Seville cathedral, including climbing the 34 storey Giralda. Thankfully this was via slopes not steps, which I had learned from my day 1 guide was because when it was a minaret, the muezzin would ascend on a donkey to give the call to prayer (he’d have been too exhausted to call if he’d had to go up all those steps multiple times per day!!). The views were amazing! I spent a good couple of hours in the cathedral with my audio guide looking at the various chapels, and rewarded myself afterwards with a yummy ice cream. A wander in the shopping streets and dinner before I returned to the hotel to pack and sleep.
Onward to Cordoba for part 2 of my trip.
50shadesofbrave 