Lynn and Nick in Europe, 2009

Sevilla, 3-6 October

		Travelling by coach from Granada to Seville, we went through agricultural country like these hectares of olives. *
		Like many parts of Europe, Spain is developing renewable sources of power, including large arrays of solar panels. *
		Fields waiting for the next crop. *
		Our hotels in Granada, Seville, and Cordoba were built around courtyards. This was the very civilized courtyard and reception area at Seville. *
		An interesting feature of the buildings in Seville was that many of them had these enclosed verandahs. *
		And this, believe it or not, was an office building. *
		A major sight in Seville is the Alcazar, a complex of three royal palaces of different dates, entered through this courtyard. †
		As one would expect of royal palaces, most of the Alcazar is richly decorated. *
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		A pool in the Alcazar which was once open to the sky but is now covered over, known as the "María Padilla Baths". *
		The Alcazar also has extensive gardens with pools and fountains. *
		Although some of the fountains are perhaps less impressive than others. †
		Decoration on the posts around one of the pools. †
		Facing the Alcazar across a large square is Seville Cathedral. †
		Rose window in the Cathedral. *
		The Cathedral choir stalls. *
		Tomb of Christopher Columbus, Seville Cathedral. *
		Golden altar, Seville Cathedral. *
		Saint on outside of the Cathedral. †
		This was orginally built as a minaret, but was modified after the Christians took over and is now the Cathedral bell tower, known as La Giralda. *
		Crest on a wall in the old town. †
		Mosaic used for a roadside shrine... †
		as the name board for a university women's residence... †
		and for an advertisement. †
		An interesting sight was the Palacio de la Condesa de Lebrija, a palce built by the Countess of Lebrija for her collection of Roman mosaics from the nearby ruins of Italica. *
		Mosaic of Pan. *
		Octagonal room built especially for this mosaic. *
		Decorated wall in the Lebrija Palace. *
		Loggia and staircase, Lebrija Palace. †
		The museum of fine arts is housed in a disused convent. This was the convent church, now an amazing display space. *
		The cloister at the museum of fine arts. *
		Murillo painting of the Virgin, Museum of Fine Arts. *
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		Madonna in the Church of San Salvador. *
		Church of San Lorenzo. *

From Sevilla, we caught the excellent fast AVE train to Cordoba.