Rainy Seville!

Seville has the reputation for being the hottest, driest place in Spain.  Today was cool and rainy--delightful.  We feel lucky.  Temps are frequently 115 degrees or more in the summer. 

Well, remember the story about the pickpocket in the middle of our group.  Turns out that that 'clean cut guy' was another guide--not a pickpocket.  The joke was on us!

Today we toured the narrow lanes of SANTA CRUZ QUARTER and visited the Cathedral--largest Gothic style cathedral in the world.  It was huge. Houses the tombs of Christopher Columbus and his son.   The Moorish influence is everywhere in this city. We saw evidence of the 1929  Exposition of the Americas and the 1992 World's fair.  Those events were reason for many bridges and buildings to be built. 

Must tell you that when we are on walking tours or inside of big buildings --cathedrals, museums, etc.--we wear 'whispers.'  They are little sound systems so the guide can just speak normally and we can all hear through the little ear buds we wear.  We are a group of 43 and the whispers allow all to hear.

For lunch we enjoyed Sangria and tapas.  The waitress spoke no English and the menu was in Spanish, too.  Always interesting to see what you get.  Thank goodness for Chuck's Spanish phrase book. 
Went shopping in a department store.  When I asked the clerks a question, they ran to get a younger woman who spoke English--very well, I might add.  She then asked me if I wanted her to accompany me to the rest of the store--"Of course."  It was a nice experience.  Went to the super market (bottom floor of the department store) to look for saffron spice.  Couldn't find it.  Finally I said "Paella" (a rice/fish dish that uses saffron) and someone pointed us in the direction of a spice rack. 

Tonight we go to a flamenco show.  Tomorrow we leave for Morocco and will be out of touch for a couple days. 

We received news that our granddaughter, Caitlin Brown, is to have back surgery on Tuesday.  She has recently been diagnosed with scoliosis and is going to Madison, Wisconsin for surgery --about an hour from her home in Platteville, WI.  Timing is lousy, but Laura, Brian, and Caitlin have a support system (including some of you) and a good doctor.  Keep them in your prayers.