We docked in Tangier, Morocco but the 2 of us had to stay on board as we didn’t have a visa. We were disappointed to learn that we had passed Gibraltar during the night.
For a South African to apply for a visa online. required having a 90-day Schengen Visa which we didn’t have. To apply in person meant visiting the Moroccan Embassy in Pretoria or the Consulate in Cape Town. For Pretoria, 600kms (350 miles) away, the cost would have been R3000 – R5 000 in total i. e. travel, accommodation and the visa itself. Prohibitive for just 1 day visit. Cape Town would have cost significantly more as the distance is 1900kms (1100 miles). We were very disappointed as it was a place we would have liked to visit.
Excursions were arranged for those who could leave the ship, but some chose to go on their own. Apparently not a good idea as, once they arrived in town and while still on the bus, they were bombarded by locals offering to take them around the city and trying to force them to purchase their wares. Some said that it was so awful they came straight back to the ship.
The next morning the ship docked in the city of Seville, having sailed up the River Gudalquiver, and remained docked there for 3 days. We were able to stay on board for the first night in Seville.
That first morning in Seville, we walked from the ship toward town. Although we had been in Spain previously, we had not visited Seville so were keen to learn about this city. It is the capital of Andalucia and is known for its truly wonderful architecture, a statement with which we can agree. Much of this was influenced by the Moors who captured the city in 712. From 1170 to 1212 it was the capital of the Moorish Empire. It was recaptured by the Christian leadership in 1284. It is the only river port in Spain and was the main port in the area until Cadiz was developed. There is so much interesting information about Seville that you are encouraged to go to the link given as it is impossible to get it all into one blog.
While still on the pier we passed the bridge which opened up for ships to pass through going up and down the river.
The road into town was demarcated with blue lines until we reached the gates of the port, some 500m away. On the way we went under a bridge which had photos of Seville on either side. The Coat of Arms of Andalucia includes the figure of Hercules, also known as Heracles, with 2 lions as he was the mythical founder of Seville.
We walked through the Port entrance and found ourselves at a round-about with a very tall sculpture and a building of Moorish design. Just as the author of the page about Seville could not find any information about these 2 beautiful items, nor could I even though I really searched.
We turned left as that looked the most interesting direction and, within a few yards, came to Maria Luisa Park. The plan was to walk through the park to another part of the city but, it was so big and beautiful, we spent nearly 2 hours making our way from one end to the other. It is filled with beautiful trees and flowers as well as sculptures and statues.
As we arrived at the other end of the park, we came across the Conservatory of Professional Dance and Music. It was an absolutely beautiful building confirming the glories of the architecture of Seville.
We continued walking along a very wide main road with a lot of traffic but could cross easily due to many pedestrian crossings. There was a wide bicycle lane down each side of the road and bicycles for hire were parked at various intervals. Along this section were parks on either side of the road which, we later learnt, were all part of the Maria Luisa Park.
We walked as far as the Plaza Espana, which was built for a 1929 exposition. The Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 was a world’s fair held in Seville, Spain, from 9 May 1929 until 21 June 1930. Seventeen countries, mainly from South America, as well as all the provinces of Andalusia, took part in the Expo, the purpose of which was to improve relations between all of them. See the next blog for more information on this. At the gates to this park there was a tall obelisk which went by the name – Glorieta los Marineros with Juan Sebastian de Elcano monument. Horse and carriages were going in and out of the parj through this gate.
Once we had arrived at this point, we decided to return to the ship for lunch and to get our cases pack to disembark the following day. On the way we passed the Guatemala Pavilion which had been built for the 1929 Exposition.
From there we walked down to the road which wended its way along the river and so, we got to see the aquarium. It had proved impossible to access this road from the other end in the morning and, this time around, we had to return to the park some distance before the port entrance.
