Gibraltar

We took the cable car up the Rock of Gibraltar. There are signs everywhere warning against the Barbary macaques, which are used to people and will go for food and for plastic bags (which they associate with food). The monkeys are evident even before you get out of the cable car. Our first monkey of the trip showed up right after we took the group photo below: it jumped up onto the fence right behind Marcial, who practically leaned into him. 

View out of the cable car window.

St. Michael's cave

The walk off of the rock into the city of Gibraltar.

Windmills on the drive home to Seville

Seville: Barrio de Santa Cruz and Flamenco at CarbonerIa

We spent the night in Barrio de Santa Cruz with our friend Marcial. As we were walking to find tapas, we heard a parade on a nearby street. We followed the procession for a bit. The music had the texture of a marching band, broken up with horn solos. The parade squeezed through one of the extremely narrow streets of the neighborhood, the float leading to the church.

A parade through Barrio de Santa Cruz to a neighborhood church.

The float leading the parade to the church.

Children make these replica floats from kits, and carry them
on their heads.

After supper, we went to La Carboneria, a neighborhood bar that has Flamenco most nights. The performance was fantastic.

Flamenco at Carboneria

Seville: Maria Luisa park and a boat ride on the river

Plaza de America

Four-person cycle.

Fountain commemorating Juan Sebastián Elcano, on the corner outside
Maria Luisa Park.

Torre del Orro

Triana Bridge

Seville, Cathedral and Giralda Tower

The Giralda Tower was built as a minaret in the 12th century, but the associated mosque was damaged during a 14th century earthquake. The cathedral was built to replace the mosque in the 15th century, and the minaret was converted to a bell tower. 

Giralda Tower

A view from the beginning of the walk up the tower. There are 36 floors.

Looking at the cathedral from inside the tower.

Seville from inside the tower, with the Calatrava bridge in the distance.

Seville: Alcazar

Alcazar is the royal palace of Spain, originally a Moorish fort. The upper levels are still used by the royal family.

We spent most of our time exploring the gardens. There were fountains and birds (including an enormous peacock), a maze garden, fish, gazebos.

Seville: Parque de Maria Luisa

Originally the grounds of the Palace of San Telmo, Parque de Maria Luisa is 100 acres.

On the river, walking toward Maria Luisa Park.

Fig trees planted along the paths.

Horse-drawn carriages are bountiful. There are hour-long tours
throughout the city.

Boating in front of the Plaza de España

Blaye, market and citadel

Asparagus at the Blaye market

Entrance to the citadel.

Moat around the citadel

Looking over the edge of the citadel toward the Gironde Estuary

David, looking out over the estuary

Looking northward up the Gironde estuary. 

Exterior wall of the citadel, from the top

Exterior wall of the citadel, from the bridge