SPAIN JUNE 2014 -8- GOOD BYE TO ANDALUCIA, WOULD DEFINITELY LOVE TO RETURN!

6/20/2014

Our last day in Seville and Spain. We both would like to see Alcazar Palace, which has a very similar history with the Cathedral. The Triana concept is seen everywhere here as well. The Moor king built this palace in 1200s as well with multiple courtyards donned with a variety of plants, ponds, fountains and recreational touches. It is indeed a blend of dwellings of various significance: Some were dedicated to the court or ambassadors to show off the grandeur of the king and his kingdom, some to the king and his family, some to his servants, and some purely to nature from the courtyards to the acres of gardens embracing the old town from the southeast all the way to northeast.

Tile bench from Alcazar

The tiles, the wall plasters with unimaginable intricacies, the courtyards and gardens from the Mamalouk reign, the ceilings, windows, and the paintings from Christian and baroque era have converted the complex to as diverse a place as the town itself with its visitors, inhabitants, and architecture. It is too bad that Jewish history has been truncated from all this richness in the 1500s' unfortunate inquisition just as the Greek history has been from Anatolia. I recall the movie titled "The ghosts of Goya" that I watched just before my trip to Spain regarding the inquisition and French Revolution era: a historical fiction, it was spectacular, highly recommended.

Lilly pond in the king's courtyard at Alcazar

Once the palace and the gardens are covered, I go upstairs to see the ceramic exhibition. It is indeed worth a visit. Starts with simple tiles with, blue, golden, brown, green and white colors. Gradually gets more intricate and delicate including strips of ceramic, bands of tiles, square tiles, ceramic bowls and pitchers of all kinds and sizes... By the way, in all Andalusia, but specifically in Seville, most balconies' undersurface is tile covered, that is, whenever you look up, instead of dirty balcony bottoms, you see beautiful tiles. Make sure you look up when you walk around in Seville if not in all of Andalusia taking care not to fall in a hole.... Shopping time! I don't like to shop extensively in places I visit, however, I do like to take home something that will remind me forever of my visit there, usually something to use. I find wonderful blend of fruit and herbal teas for my friends and family. I buy small ceramic items from olive (zaytuni) bowls to small salt and pepper shakers, spoon rests, and finally abanicos (elegant Spanish fans). My special gift to myself is a blue silk fan with wooden frame (abanicos de Seda), which will be very handy when we watch Shakespeare in the park this summer in Iowa City. I finally find stud earrings with emerald for Zeynep, I know she will be happy since she lost in the robbery of a few days ago similar earrings I had bought for her, which she had liked quite a bit.

The gothic ceilings are reflected upon the waters in the Bano de Marilla de Padia at Alcazar

Finally, Zeynep and I have an early dinner at the Cafe de Terresas close to our hotel in the historic district with the best octopus and mussel salad, roasted red pepper salad, and anchovies. Now it is time to go back to the hotel to catch the 9 pm flamenco show now that we couldn't come across an improvisational one. It pays off well. Although the singer's voice is nowhere near our friend Martha, whom we were so fortunate to listen to the other day, the tunes and melodies are touching enough. The dancer, especially the female one is astounding. All in all, this contribution of Roma culture to mankind is one thing we all need to appreciate in such a rich amalgam... We go to bed with extraordinary audiovisual tastes of what we have experienced tonight. Falling asleep is difficult, we had a spectacular week in Andalucia. Although we are both all for going back home, it still requires some energy to detach from a culture so similar to where we come from and let go of it in one breath....  



Our last dinner at Las Terresa consisting of delicious tapas