To Seville

Day 3 - 13.6kms walked

We’ve had a good day today. The morning was dry and sunny and we walked out to see the Expo 92 site (also checking out our route start for the morning). Peter’s brother Simon worked on Expo 92 back in the day and I’m sure he would be sad to see the dereliction of some of the site.
Before we reached Expo we called into Basílica del Santísimo Cristo de la Expiración a lovely church, so many beautiful tiled surfaces. They have a huge ceramics industry in this area and lots of ceramic shops, just as well we are walking or I may have been tempted. We also visited Monesterio De La Cartuja an old ceramics factory where you can still see examples of the tiles and old kilns. There is also a large exhibition centre - Centro Andalusia De Arte Contemporaneo - where we viewed some rather alarming photographic works which were in some cases quite pornographic and gruesome. We were shocked to see a group of young schoolchildren going in, hoping that a lot of it went over their heads!!! It certainly was an eye opener.

Back to Expo, the site on the side of the river as I said was very derelict but the other side of the road is still in use and the building preserved.

The large round building in my pictures is the Torre Triana - Triana Tower Building, architect Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza. Headquarters of the Andalusian Regional

The multi tower structure is the Hungarian Pavilion built of wood, copper and slate - Imre Makovecz's Hungarian pavilion, widely regarded as the most inventive structure at Expo '92 here, soars free from the fair's architectural cacophony like some dizzy fantasy. Built from wood carved in folk styles and bearing a gray slate roof, it seems inspired by village churches but leaps beyond any one model with an exuberance that recalls the Catalan Antonio Gaudi. Inside, the building's conceptual basis becomes clearer, with no loss of wit and style. The interior is divided, one portion symbolizing Hungary facing the West, with a simplified Baroque church front. Pass through that facade and one finds Hungary facing East, the wall exploding with undulating Slavic-style facades (more gray slate) and carved portals. There is also a ‘Tree of Life’ on the Western side, a jumble of roots and branches with a glass floor so that visitors can see the whole thing.” (Makovecz Hungarian Pavilion in Seville, Solaripedia)

After leaving the Expo area we crossed back over the river and walked along the river walk, with a watchful eye on the sky. We had just stopped for a drink when suddenly the heavens opened. Everyone dashed inside, thankful for a dry spot. We waited out the storm then went in search of lunch.

We enjoyed a very good regional lunch jamon, padron peppers and chicken livers cooked in garlic (these were so so good) not actually on the menu but todays special which the waitress showed us when she took some out to another table. Whilst having lunch a hailstorm blew in which was obviously rare as the locals all shot out to take photos.

Bags are now sorted and repacked for the morning, they don’t feel any lighter. The forecast for tomorrow is sunny intervals, no rain at the
moment so we will take thatRead more