Sevilla: Time to Walk. 33c Beautiful!

Its been a quick turn around here in Sevilla, and I've had a great time enjoying the town and completing final preparations. Last evening Deb (sorry, I thought it was Terry...jet lag and plugged ears will do that) and I wandered out to see Festival and to wander through the tapas bars. It was quite the experience as we discovered party central where all were dressed in their finery, except a couple of wandering peregrinos! Lovely young women and handsome gentlemen dressed to the nines...there where numerous carriages and caballeros everywhere. Take a look...

Last Camino it was the wine festival in Logrono, this year it Festival in Sevilla. Sure hope I find more of these along the way. Lots of fun with everyone enjoying themselves, Spanish guitar music and singing everywhere...just an amazing party. We eventually moved on to find dinner at a tapas bar (where else) and I ate very well, still in the process of throwing off jet lag, etc. crawled into the hostel sometime after midnight, but you have to understand that's very early during any Spanish festival. However, I was cooked and needed some sleep if I hoped to function.

Today it was all about visiting the Alkazar Palace which we missed last visit having decided that the Alhambra in Granada and the Mesquita in Cordoba could likely not be surpassed. We were correct, but I still enjoyed the visit. The gardens were pretty good and I enjoyed the serenity as I wandered through the small fountains and along the water courses.

The Islamic buildings from the Moorish period left southern Spain with a wealth of incredibly beautiful palaces. It was in part this influence that led me to decide to walk the Plata. Together with the Roman and Christian contributions I expect to see a few exceptional sights along the southern half of the route.

Then onwards to complete a few of the special rituals that comes with the beginning of any pilgrimage. The first was to obtain the first sello in our Credencial. I had decided that I wanted mine from the Catherdral, but on arrival there was a massive line of tourists waiting to enter. Never too shy, I walked up to the entrance guard, showed him my Credencial and he immediately open a path through the line for us and personally escorted us inside to the Catherdral office where we formally received our first stamp. It was a pretty special experience. 

Feeling pretty happy about that moment we went in search of the first official Camino marking without success. However, trusting that lightening sometime does strike twice in the same place, I approached the Catherdral exit guard, showed him my Credencial, made a few Spanish sounding grunts, and with complete understanding he gave us directions to the first and second markers...

I suggested to Deb afterwards over lunch that we were going to have to get a bit better at spotting the signs or we were never going to get out of Sevilla, not to mention get to Santiago! Speaking of lunch, I enjoyed my first pulpo tapas...with a cold beer with was heaven!!

Site seeing completed, knife purchased, phone loaded, water and food ready and pack pretty much reorganized it was time for the real purpose of this journey to get under way. Oh? Well I guess from a certain perspective it already is underway...just have to add the walking component. Excited and happy to add the last ingredient to the mix. Plan to be up early and on the road by 6:30. I could certainly use the sleep, but it's going to be another 33C day tomorrow and it will be 27, minimum by noon. So little choice. As a matter of fact, it's going to be 33 or 34 for the next 5 days at least which means early to bed and to rise until I get further north and a little cooler temps. A far cry from the conditions last year when it snowed somewhat north of here during the spring. Luck of the draw.

Tonight out to pick up a map guide, a last sampling of tapas and into bed early...sure hope I walk up in time. Have met two German folks who plan to walk out tomorrow, so there will be others on the route:) hope to connect with Angela who is arriving from Oz tonight. We had planned to start together, but she was delayed and will head out on Saturday, so as things work along the Camino there is every chance that our patches will eventually cross as she is an experienced walker having completed Le-Puy to Santiago last year, about 1,600 kms...once this gets into your soul it's pretty hard to stop.

Buen Camino

(Annemarie, I sure wish you were here with me to walk out...you would love this)