Seville

The air is perfumed with oranges, almonds and olives.  There is an undefinable but sensual odor of meats roasting, garlic and spicy sausage.  There are palm trees swaying.  We must be in Seville.  This is such a delightful city here in the heart of Andalusia.  Although it is a shadow of it's former self in the 1600's when it was the self defined most important city in Europe it is still proud of its history.  We have walked miles and miles through most of the old city and other parts also.  There Metro system here is not extensive, but the bus system is and is easy to use and get around.  We got passes that make it easy and inexpensive to get around.  There are safe bike paths all through the city.  Walking or biking are the easiest ways to get around as the narrow, winding streets are difficult for cars to navigate.

We walked by the magnificent  Moorish Alcazar and Gothic Cathedral where Christopher Columbus (or at least part of him) is buried.  Magellen sailed from here on his first circumnavigation of the world.  It is not on the ocean but is a river port.

We are renting a one bedroom apartment in the Triana area, the same area we stayed in last year.  It's a charming area, the old gypsy and Jewish quarter or the city and across the river from the main city and Cathedral.  It is filled with little cafes, restaurants and shops. It still looks like the medieval city it used to be.    There is a magnificent farmers market around the corner and I've been going there very morning to get fresh fruit and bread for breakfast.  This morning I purchased olives from a woman with a street cart.  (see photo above,)
We have orange trees outside our window.   Nothing here is more than two stories high.  Our apartment is one of five in a small building built around a central courtyard.

There is a myth that Hercules founded the city and it certainly seems like a city of the gods.