Real Alcázar

Originally a Moorish fort, the Alcázar of Seville (Spanish "Alcázares Reales de Sevilla") is a royal palace that is one of the best remaining examples of mudéjar architecture. You can read more about the history of the Alcázar here, if you’re interested.

I thought it was an exquisite place to visit, and I could happily have spent the whole day there…just gazing at the beautiful patios and halls, and relaxing in the gardens.

Horseshoe Arches - The Ambassadors' Hall

Salon de Embajadores - dome of the Ambassadors' Hall, made from carved and guilded interlaced wood

Ornate door

 Dome of the Patio de las Munecas (Patio of the Dolls)

 Mudejar stucco

Patio de las Doncellas (Patio of the Maidens)

Patio de las Doncellas

 Patio de las Munecas

 Patio de las Doncellas

Salones de Carlos V

Ceramic tiles in the Salones de Carlos V

Gardens

 Gardens

Gardens

Happy Friday!

Mi Casa Es Su Casa

“Make yourself at home” is the maxim of the host of the Cortijo Rosario, a converted 'finca' (farmhouse) that was our base for the week. Located in the Seville province, well away from the touristy 'Costas', the farmhouse is situated amidst 25 acres of olive trees and benefits from superb views, especially at sunrise and sunset. 

Cortijo Rosario

Chilly autumnal nights made for a bracing swim in the pool

View of olive groves from the Cortijo terrace

Morning has broken

A good moon rising

The owner of the Cortijo employs friendly staff from the nearby town of Algamitas, and they  provided us with delicious Andalusian cuisine, including the giant paella pictured on my last post (you can find the recipe for that here). There was also a dedicated driver who ferried us to and from Malaga airport, to Seville on a day trip, and on some days to the start of some hikes further afield. 

Flor hermosa

 

La buena veda!

A Taste Of Andalusia

Hola!

Yes, I'm back from sunny, warm southern Spain with a bit of a tan, aching leg muscles (Andalusia is deceptively hilly!), just over a thousand photos to sort through, and lots of great memories. There may have been a bit too much red wine and sangria consumed - certainly enough to get me to take part in a Flamenco dance demo....but all that will have to wait for another day.

I'll be posting about my trip in more detail soon, but in the meantime, here's a quick preview of some of the things I saw and did....

La Giralda - bell tower of Seville Cathedral

Moorish arches - Real Alcazar, Seville

Overlooking Setenil

Olive groves

Olives ripening

Paella!

Flamenco!

So, how are you all doing? Will be trying to catch up with your blogs over the next few days....

Signing Out For A Bit...

I'm back on the UK mainland, but only briefly...just time to unpack and repack again before boarding a plane for sunny Spain!

I have lots more photos of the Isle of Wight to share with you, and a funny story or two to tell...but that will have to wait for a bit longer.

Catch up with you all in about 10 days' time.....

Spanish fans from here

Adios!

Fit For A Queen

Victoria and Albert (from here)

Osborne House (East Cowes, Isle of Wight) was built between 1845 and 1851 as a summer home and rural retreat for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Designed by Prince Albert himself in the style of an Italian Renaissance palazzo, the house was built by the London architect Thomas Cubitt, whose company also built the main façade of Buckingham Palace for the royal couple in 1847. An earlier, smaller house on the site was demolished to make way for a new and far larger house.

Following Queen Victoria’s death at Osborne House in January 1901, the house became surplus to royal requirements and was given to the state with a few rooms retained as a private royal museum. From 1903 until 1921 it was used as a junior officer training college for the Royal Navy known as the Royal Naval College, Osborne. Today it is fully open to the public, with the drawing, dining and billiard rooms and the private apartments laid out almost exactly as they were in Victoria’s day.

Unfortunately, photography is not permitted in the house, so I can’t show you the extravagant interiors, but here are some more views of the outside of the house….

A Triumph Of Human Spirit

Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit.

Bern Williams

A story with a happy, happy ending... I just hope the 33 rescued miners (and their families) can get back their normal lives one day soon.

Images from here and here

A Song Of Seagulls

Seagull, you fly across the horizon
Into the misty morning sun.
Nobody asks you where you are going,
Nobody knows where you're from

Seagull - Bad Company

An Evening On Ventnor Beach

We're staying a few minutes' walk from Ventnor, a resort established in Victorian times that occupies a sheltered location on the Isle of Wight's southern coast.

It's been a warm and sunny day that culminated in a beautiful evening...

Ventnor beach

Sea barrier

Esplanade

Pavilion

Sun setting on Ventnor beach