A Quick Trip to Seville
One of the attractions of Vila Real de Santo Antonio, for us, was its proximity to the Spanish border. Yes, we love tapas and sangria, but it is more than that. We love being able to drive just 10 minutes or take a 15-minute ferry across the river and be in another country. So we asked the dog-sitter to spend Friday and Saturday night at our apartment and drove east for just under two hours to Seville.
First Stop Costco
I know, many of you are cringing now. However, we went with another American couple who recently purchased an apartment on the Silver Coast. Whenever you move into a new place, especially one that isn’t being sold turnkey, there are a million things you need. So our first stop was Costco. No surprise, it looked just like every Costco in the States. There were gas pumps outside … someone at the door to check your card … the first department on the right was the electronics section … and the aisles were stocked with the Kirkland brands we had come to know. (I learned there are four Costco stores in Spain and one in France … who knew?)
In many European homes and apartments, storage is at a premium. For example, it is unusual to find a walk-in pantry. So while we did buy a couple of large bags of nuts (nuts are really expensive here) and almond butter we mostly walked around the store wondering where people were going to put all this stuff in their oversized shopping carts.
We are glad we went, though we are not certain we will ever return. We did not find the prices of electronics (e.g. large TVs) much cheaper than at Worten (the Portuguese electronics store) and learned that the warranty does not extend across the border. But again, when you are equipping a new home it might make sense.
Tapas in the Park
By 14:00 on Friday we were sitting in an outdoor restaurant in a park, just a few blocks from the Airbnb we had rented. We all ordered salads and sangria. We chatted with a couple and their children visiting from Las Vegas. We enjoyed the warm spring breezes and respite from the rain while we waited for check-in time.
If you know Denise (and Richard, half of the couple that joined us on this trip) you have already figured out that one of the attractions of Seville is pickleball. Denise had been exchanging messages with their local club for several weeks. So, on Saturday morning, while Denise and Richard went in search of the pickleball players they had arranged to meet, Juliana and I went for a free walking tour.
Free Walking Tour
If you are a long-time reader, you know we love free walking tours. And have always given every tour we have taken a 5-star review. To be 100% honest, the route of this tour was perfect. There were lots of “Kodak moments” and we came away feeling comfortable that we could find our way around the oldest part of the city. However, the guide was only 2.5 or 3 stars. Perhaps we were spoiled by the two-person tours that we took right after Covid restrictions were lifted … on this tour, there were 16 people. The city was crammed with people and it was often difficult to hear the guide. But what I missed most was the lack of a coherent theme. I love a guide that weaves a story through the various stops. Having said (or written) all that … it was worth the 20€ tip.
Perhaps the best part of the tour was identifying all the places we need to go back to so we can spend more time!
You could easily spend 1/2 a day at the Plaza de España & Parque de María Luisa - our guide suggested that the horseshoe-shaped plaza signified a “big hug” for the former Spanish colonies that came there in 1929 for a special expo.
While we doubt we will ever spend the night in the expensive Hotel Alfonso XIII, whose royal suite supposedly goes for 10,000€/night, we did enjoy looking inside and suspect we will enjoy an overpriced glass of wine there sometime.
We must return and go inside the Cathedral de Sevilla to fully appreciate this Mosque turned Roman Catholic Cathedral.
We also want to visit the Real Alcazar of Seville, the official palace of the royal family of Spain that has been expanded and updated since Roman times. Inside one will find examples of Moorish, Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture along with lavish gardens.
When We Return
Our visit was all too short as we left Sunday morning so our friends could complete their 5-hour drive from VRSA to Foz before dark! We are already trying to figure out when we can return for a three or four-day visit. But having spent the weekend there, we have determined three things: (1) we will go mid-week, not on the weekend; (2) we will buy tickets (for the cathedral and palace) online before we go, and (3) we will enjoy tapas and sangria at every meal.
If you have other suggestions for us…please leave a comment below.
There is now a Substack app for the iPhone…not sure why one would need that, but hey, it’s a thing. If you don’t have an Apple device, you will have to wait a bit … but there is an Android waitlist.
I’m told the app provides a single feed for all the Substack newsletters you subscribe to. No more spam or other email filters to hide me or your other “Substackers” from you. In case you are wondering I subscribe to:
Next Week: pickleball has come to VRSA and a house update.
Always travel during the week, avoid Sevilla in July and August, book a Flamenco dinner and show....and never ever go to Costco but do follow the substack recommendations. Your list is my list, too!
Thanks for your travelogue. Sevilla is now on our list of places to visit in Spain.