Planning Christmas

Last year we went away for Christmas for the first time, and as we quite enjoy travelling, we thought we would do so again this year.

One of the things we have found on our holidays is that there are certain cities that we did not enjoy visiting in the summer, Ronda being a prime example of that, as the tourists all congregate around the famous bridge, and frankly, we found the crowds suffocating. Similarly, in Setenil de las Bodegas, although not a city, again the crowds were all funnelled into one area, under the overhanging rocks.

However, there are cities we really want to visit, ones that are not too distant, and would be a shame not to visit. So, as John must take his summer holiday during July and August, we have to visit these cities when we go away at other times of the year.

One of these cities is Sevilla, which is the capital of Andalucia, and the fourth most populated city in Spain, add the tourists to that, and it is definitely not a place to visit on our summer holidays! Nonetheless, over Christmas I think we shall be able to enjoy the city and all the delights it has to show us.

There is so much to see in Sevilla, from the beautiful cathedral to the Alcazar, and then all the other stunning churches and buildings, with the city split by the Guadalquivir River and the fantastic parks and public spaces, will five days there be enough to see everything?

I have a lovely story to share with you regarding Sevilla, from my days before I met John. I was living in Garrucha and attending the Spanish classes arranged by the ayuntamiento (town hall). As students, even though some of us, like me, were very mature, nonetheless we went on subsidised trips, and one was to Sevilla. There was a famous site, possibly the Alcazar, that we were due to visit. However, there were important repairs being worked on inside, and all we could do was look through the beautiful ornate gates at the entrance driveway. This was a grand entrance, lined with orange trees on either side. I asked the Spanish guide what they called these oranges, to which she replied ‘naranjas amarga’, which means bitter oranges. I then asked her if she knew what we called those oranges in the U.K., to which she replied in the negative. I therefore explained how in February the supermarkets and fruit and vegetable shops are full of ‘Seville Oranges’, for making marmalade. She was utterly amazed, and was unaware of this export from Spain, and even more curious about what the oranges were called!

However, we shall be visiting Sevilla at Christmas, and there shall be other delights for us to enjoy. I have looked at photos of Sevilla at Christmas online, and the street decorations look amazing, and apparently there are Christmas markets to enjoy too. I shall, as always take lots of photos and will be sure to tell you all about the trip, when we return.

Have you got any special plans for Christmas? I would love to hear from you!