🇪🇸 ANDALUSIA! We docked in Cadiz, where we’d explored in Nov '23 by bike and foot, so this time we ventured off on a shore excursion to Sevilla. Rich was unsuccessful coordinating a bike tour of Seville (120 km inland) which would’ve been fabulous, so we booked a bus/walking tour with Spain Day Tours from Cadiz port instead. They did a good job, with a limit of 18 per guide, at €105, a fraction of a ship excursion price. After driving down Seville’s main blvd, viewing all the various countries' beautiful buildings from the 1929 Hispano American World Fair, we left the bus and walked into Plaza de España. The strikingly grand crescent-shaped structure overlooking a lagoon and bridges formed the centerpiece of the 1929 expo. Then we walked through Barrio Santa Cruz, the former Jewish Quarter, a walled district of narrow streets, to reach the Royal Alcazar of Seville, that had been pre-booked with timed entry, but still very crowded inside. It’s an expansive complex of palaces and gardens dating back to the 10th century. With 45 minutes of "on our own time" at the end we had tapas al fresco at Patio Mateos in Barrio Santa Cruz. 

Back in Cadiz, Steve ended the exploring but Rich took advantage of the ship’s late departure and did a 90 minute walkabout in Old Cadiz, searching for some Roman ruins. He got happily lost on the medieval streets that were buzzing with activity being Easter weekend, a big deal here. Thankfully Jesus led him back on the shortest possible route to the port - via a likeness made for a musical procession through town that Rich followed.