Tag: Seville

[This is one of a series of posts about a group trip in 2018, which was rather designed for a specific audience at the time. However, I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links and to ensure that the trip is preserved for posterity….]

There were seven of us on this trip a couple of days ago, but now with Bev, Andrew and Sarah all getting their flight home, it’s down to just Clive and me. Which means one thing, it’s going to get a whole lot more responsible and refined around here. Well, I say that, but I know what Clive is currently getting up to, so I’m not sure refined is quite the right word. But, it’s appropriate for me at least.

So, to make sure that they left, we escorted Andrew, Bev and Sarah to the coach station so that they could get their bus to the airport.

The two petals.

The procedure was all rather painless, and the coach pulled up a few minutes after we arrived. It’s a frequent service to the airport, and I’m pleased to report that they got there safely. Their flight is delayed for an hour, but at least they’re there and ready to fly home.

[This is one of a series of posts about a group trip in 2018, which was rather designed for a specific audience at the time. However, I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links and to ensure that the trip is preserved for posterity….]

The whole group was absolutely fuming at Andrew earlier today. I entrusted him with my spare adapter plug for his time in Seville, since he’s lost his. I excitedly wait to collect it this morning and he then reveals that he has left it in his apartment, on the towel.

He’s also left his USB wire, although I had no interest in that as it wasn’t mine. I pretended that as it only cost £1 that I didn’t mind about losing it. But, I’m actually very angry indeed. Liam suggested that I send him a Paypal invoice, but I suspect he’ll pro-actively send me the £1 without needing to invoice him.

[This is one of a series of posts about a group trip in 2018, which was rather designed for a specific audience at the time. However, I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links and to ensure that the trip is preserved for posterity….]

Another day over, and it has taken me a little while to write this since day three actually ended at 4am after a comprehensive testing of the bars of Seville. So much for a refined Hike Norfolk trip to Seville, although to be fair, we also packed in quite a lot of culture today (well, yesterday now).

Our plan for the day was to get to Alcázar of Seville for before 09:30 as it’s a popular site and we wanted to get a good place in the queue. So, Bev and Clive get an early Starbucks drink and we go to our meeting point. And guess who’s late? Yes, Andrew. I wanted to leave without him, but there was a discussion and it was decided that we’d give him another thirty seconds and then leave without him.

At that point, he comes trundling along, looking rather hungover. He then needs a drink, so we stop at Starbucks. Whilst there he orders hot food, so we’re lefting waiting, knowing that our place in the queue is getting further and further back. We debated not telling him how irritated we were, but then Sarah went in to deal with the situation. Andrew didn’t say sorry.

We then joined the queue for Alcázar of Seville, and we were there around an hour before we got in. This was partly due to a major problem with the ticketing system delaying them, but I’ll write about that in another post. But, the whole visit was fascinating, such beautiful gardens and so much history. This was a glorious building, and it’s certainly possible to spend all day there (I know it’s possible to spend all day at any museum, but I mean that the time could be justified here).

We visited a few more cultural sites before heading off to lunch. The place we sat down at seemed OK for a drink and a snack, but a quick check of their reviews scared us, particularly the one about maggots in the orange juice. So, after moving their tables about, we left.

Our eventual lunch location was rather pleasurable, quiet (bar Sarah and Bev) and my chicken caesar salad was particularly good. With phones charged (well, mine and Sarah’s), we power on off to the Museum of Fine Arts. What a glorious treat that was, I could have spent many hours in there. Indeed, I did spend many hours in there.

After we realised we had two different points of where to meet before departing, we went to Sarah’s balcony for some drinks. The wine went down well, and Andrew treated everyone to two bottles of wine (between us, not each). Bev said that orange wine made her dangerous, so Andrew bought her some. He’s a naughty sod… Regarding Andrew buying the wine, we did hint a lot about it, so it wasn’t pro-active, but it was still generous. Bev drank too much….

Then, already in a happy mood, we went off to our pre-booked evening meal. The reviews had been a bit mixed, but we liked the environment and decided that we would risk it. Bev found a parrot that she really liked, and spent more time talking to that then she did to us.

Four of us had paella and it was perfectly acceptable, although we had to listen to Bev shouting “Hola” at the bird numerous times. By numerous, I mean around 350. I’m pleased to report that the bird is still alive, although is being treated for nervous exhaustion.

Then we thought we’d try some bars. Now, unfortunately there’s a bit of a “what happened in Seville stays in Seville”, but it’s only fair to report that one member of our party managed to fall off his chair. He then sat on the floor for nearly an hour. I can’t reveal Andrew’s name though, so the exact person will have to remain anonymous.

After numerous shots and drinks, whilst watching Bev, Clive and Sarah dancing (I don’t do dancing), we proceeded to walk home. We got a bit split up, but everyone got home safely after a rather lovely evening.

I’ve had to shorten this somewhat so that I can catch up on other posts. But, the quotes of the day:

“Andrew, are you going to ask me if you want to go out with me?” – Sarah

“There’s a Liam sized bath in Sarah’s apartment” – Clive

“I was doing my French oral” – Bev (Andrew laughed at this point, he has a dirty mind)

“I think Andrew has spiked my drinks” – Bev

“I’m drunk” – Andrew

“I’m very drunk” – Andrew

[This is one of a series of posts about a group trip in 2018, which was rather designed for a specific audience at the time. However, I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links and to ensure that the trip is preserved for posterity….]

Well, that was another interesting day….. It’s 02.00 and I’m selflessly staying up late to write up the details of what happened.

So, we met this morning to get tickets to visit Iglesia del Salvador and also Seville Cathedral. Andrew, who didn’t have a towel, over-slept, but fortunately he made the start point just in time.

We go into Iglesia del Salvador and discovered that Gordon, Brian and Sarah weren’t there. Andrew tells us not to wait for them, so we bought our tickets and went inside. I’ll post about Iglesia del Salvador elsewhere, but it is a beautiful building.

We proceeded to buy some cookies from a nun, and then went to Casa de Pilatos, a fascinating property dating back to the Roman times. Gordon, Bev and I were ashamed to note that we didn’t realise Clive decided not to go in, we only realised when nearly two hours later he met us outside. We’re not the most observant people… But it led to a lot of “is Clive here?” jokes…

We thought that before we went to Seville Cathedral that we should go and get some lunch. So Sarah and I find this lovely little restaurant and we’re busy going inside, primarily because we want a picture of the cow that they have inside. However, Andrew stomps his foot and wants to go to somewhere around the corner.

Sarah and I debate the matter, and we agree that to shut Andrew up we’ll go and look at the dump he’s found. We go there, look at it, and we go back to where we were going anywhere.

I’ll write elsewhere about the meal there, and also about the delights of Seville Cathedral. I got to the top of the tower, and I will say, it’s too bloody hot in Seville. But it was a marvellous experience.

Gordon, Brian and I decided that we needed to go back. My phone battery was down to 15% and I clearly can’t walk about without battery charge, I wouldn’t be able to survive such torture. However, Bev, Andrew, Sarah and Clive battled on in the heat.

After a little sleep for me, and no sleep for Bev, Clive, Andrew and Sarah, we then go out for a river walk. We have a meal in a rather lovely restaurant, which transpired to be very cheap, before going to a few bars. Gordon had a very manly drink, indeed so manly it was quite clearly the essence of man.

Andrew, staying up way later than his usual bedtime, managed to recast his image and is now a man of action, virility and fun. He’s done very well indeed. But we were genuinely all sad to see that Gordon and Brian were leaving us, as they’re getting a train tomorrow at lunch-time. The week wouldn’t have been the same without them, and we hope to see them both again soon.

So, that in short, is the report of the day…. Lots of fun, lots of history, lots of drinking and lots of food. But, I want to leave today with some quotes of the day:

“I’m feeling overcome” – Gordon

“You leave my little pinkie out of this” – Gordon

“The toilet paper disintegrated” – Andrew

“I’m going to show you a little something Sarah” – Andrew

“This is where it gets bigger Sarah” – Andrew

“I nearly text you last night Sarah as I was by the cathedral, and it was so beautiful” – Andrew

“It doesn’t fit right up” – Clive

“Have you mounted your bat yet?” – Julian

“This isn’t unlike my bathroom” – Gordon

“You can’t let Gordon outstage you Clive” – Bev

[This is one of a series of posts about a group trip in 2018, which was rather designed for a specific audience at the time. However, I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links and to ensure that the trip is preserved for posterity….]

I’m pleased to say that there has been an update on Andrew’s accommodation. He still has no towels and limited bedding, but he has been pro-active with the toilet paper situation.

At first he feared that he had used all the toilet paper up. However, he found some more. So, in absence of a towel, he used the toilet paper to dry all of his, er, body. Unfortunately, it disintegrated. This made Andrew displeased.

However, not so displeased that he didn’t try and prevent publication on this blog….

[This is one of a series of posts about a group trip in 2018, which was rather designed for a specific audience at the time. However, I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links and to ensure that the trip is preserved for posterity….]

I have some bad news. As I posted yesterday, Andrew has chosen some dreadful accommodation. He was keen to be near to Sarah, in case she needed help at any time, but he also wanted a thrifty option.

Anyway, despite numerous promises, he still hasn’t got his towels. He’s livid.

The situation is also now developing, as he has no toilet paper. I’m not sure what he’s done with it, but that is a thought best not dwelled on.

[This is one of a series of posts about a group trip in 2018, which was rather designed for a specific audience at the time. However, I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links and to ensure that the trip is preserved for posterity….]

Sarah, who has been leading us around the city, has done an excellent job and she also suggested that we buy things from nuns. Gordon, who is very precise in what he wants to buy from nuns, was excited at this proposal.

Bevs rings the bell to summon a nun.

This is the menu selection available.

Sarah makes the purchase. Andrew at this point tried to take a very sneaky photo of the nun, and he was told off. Since he looked disappointed, I took a photo for him. Sarah asked the permission of the nun and no doubt has a beautiful photo. It was rather a pleasant little place and there are numerous of these operations throughout Spain, although the number is apparently decreasing.

Most importantly, the quality of the cookies was excellent, and I accidentally had three.

[This is one of a series of posts about a group trip in 2018, which was rather designed for a specific audience at the time. However, I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links and to ensure that the trip is preserved for posterity….]

It’s hot here. And so Clive thought it’d be a good idea for him to acquire himself a hat.

Bev helping with the hat purchase. This mainly involved her plonking hats which didn’t fit onto Clive’s head, whilst Clive reminded everyone that he had a big head.

Sarah came over to help as the pressure got too much for Clive.

Bev went to shout at the man at the till to ask if he had any bigger hats. He didn’t, and privately I think he was relieved when Bev left.

We continued the hunt for a hat in a second shop. I liked this shop as it was very cold.

“What do you think of this?”

I can’t actually remember if after all this Clive purchased a hat, but I don’t think he did….