This afternoon we transferred from Seville to Palma del Rio and saw tons of Oleander bushes on the way.
Our new hotel is the Monasterio de San Francisco, a former Franciscan monastery built in 1492.
The early monks based here helped establish several missions in California and introduced orange groves there too.
Interestingly, Columbus spent time here before his journey to America as the monastery was a center of culture and learning. Our room was comfortable but a little austere.
Before dinner, a local guide gave us a brief tour of the city. She told us that Palma del Rio was the birthplace of Manuel Benitez, a Spanish bullfighter known as El Cordobes. He became famous in the 1960s and I remember reading about him.
As we walked along the streets, she pointed out the windows, most of which had balconies, and noted that wrought iron and tile around them was of Moorish influence.
She took us to another mosque turned cathedral first noting that the exterior walls were constructed during the Roman occupation.
She noted a side archway which was of Moorish style.
Always looking for a place to sit and rest my knee, I found a nice rock.
We walked around the wall to see the outside of the Cathredral
and then the inside.
Our guide took us to a nearby restaurant for dinner that had walls lined with photos of famous flamenco dancers. The menu included local favorites such as oxtail, and I decided to try the pig cheeks. I think it must be an acquired taste. After dinner we wandered back to the hotel ready to bike tomorrow.
Adventures with Sheila 