U3A Vall del Pop visit Cordoba and Sevilla
A TOTAL of 39 members of the U3A Vall del Pop left Jalón promptly at 10.00 on Tuesday, May 9 for a journey to Córdoba. Salvador, from Viajes MCO, Pego, accompanied us all the way, and, of course, our DeniBus coach driver, Antonio was in charge, so the rest of us chatted, relaxed and took in the changes of scenery as our journey progressed. We arrived in Córdoba to the Hotel Córdoba Center, for the early evening and were soon comfortably in our allocated rooms. The next decision was where to eat, thankfully, there were bars and restaurants close by.
The trip was full of guided tours and visits, as well as free time, and members enjoyed the sights and sounds of the two cities as well as the gastronomy.
Some of the highlights were:
Thursday, May 10:A guided tour of the Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba with a really enthusiastic guide, who had a great knowledge and passion for her subject. The red and white arches of the mosque seemed to keep appearing in all directions, and we were informed that upcycling and recycling is not a new concept. Many pillars and columns were reused from Roman times. The basilica has a vaulted ceiling, carved mahogany walls and seats, frescos and a golden alter.
An evening guided walking tour was arranged through some of the tiny streets, visiting some of the famous colourful floral patio displays of carnations, geraniums, begonias, and foliage plants on show in niches and hanging from the balconies and walls, in a rainbow of colours.
Thursday, May 11: Heading to Sevilla we passed stork nests on the pylons and the beautiful sunflower fields on the way to the Hotel Abades Benacazon. The Plaza de España was an experience and marvel to see. Surprisingly, not an ancient monument, built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. It is a example of Regionalism Architecture, mixing elements of the Baroque, Renaissance, and Moorish Revival styles of Spanish architecture.
We finished on the coach for a taster tour of the city, ending up at the quayside, where we embarked on a cruise with commentary of the River Guadalquivir, a pleasant end to our day.
Friday, May 12: More sights of Sevilla included a visit to the Real Alcázar de Sevilla, the oldest royal palace in use in Europe, the cathedral whose most noticeable features are the choir loft, and the Gothic retable (devotional painting) of carved scenes of the life of Christ, a masterpiece by Pierre Dancart. For the fit and brave, there was the opportunity to climb ‘La Giralda’ bell tower. Saturday, May 13: El Rocio, on the edge of the Doñana national park with lakes, flamingos and birds of prey. The town is rather Mexican in style, with a central church and various shops and restaurants surrounding it. With roads of sand, horses and carriages are an attractive diversion for tourists. We just happened to get ‘invited’ to a wedding too. There was a decorated carriage, set of four horses and two handsome ‘caballeros’ in attendance. The ceremony culminated with the newly-weds’ first dance on the steps of the church.
All good things have to come to an end, and on Sunday, May 14 it was time to head back to Jalón.