When Harry and I bought our train tickets to Sevilla, we first bought the Tarjeta Dorada to get the discount for senior citizens. For six Euros, we get a discount good for one year that is 40% Mon - Thu and 25% Fri - Sat. This meant that first class tickets only cost us 18 euros more, so we took advantage of it. Just as airlines have clubs at major airports (I belong to the United Airlines Club), Renfe has a club. Our first class tickets allowed us entry into the Renfe Club Sala two hours before our train. So we left NH Atocha Hotel about 8:15 and went to the train station and into Club Sala. We enjoyed free coffee, juice, muffins, pastry, etc. as well as good wifi while we waited for our 10:00 a.m. departure.
The first class seats on the high speed train were wide and comfortable with lots of leg room. We boarded shortly before 10:00 and departed on time. With one stop in Cordoba, we covered the 530 kms (about 330 miles) in two hours and twenty minutes. As we stepped off the train in Sevilla, we could see the "Welcome to Sevilla." It is hard to see, but it is just below the windows in the center of the photo.
We had reservations at the Ayre Sevilla Hotel on Kansas City Avenida - we later searched and found that Kansas City and Sevilla are sister cities. As we were checking in to the hotel, we noticed this sign - we did indeed see workers hanging from the roof down the side of the building as well as going up on lifts and cranes.
Harry and I both felt that the Ayre Hotel was the best value hotel we had in Spain. The lobby is quite nice and our rooms were large and comfortable.
After checking in and leaving our luggage in my room (Harry's room was not yet ready), we headed out on foot to explore Sevilla. We were amazed to see trees everywhere with oranges and even a few with what appeared to be lemons. We later learned that these were "sour Sevilla" oranges used for making marmalade.
On our way towards the river, we happened upon some sections of aqueducts from some 1000 years ago - not Roman aqueducts like in Segovia which date from 100 a.d, but part of the Roman Canos de Carmona aqueduct from about 900 a.d.
As we walked, we came across many interesting types of architecture from Roman, Muslim, and more modern eras. They also have an excellent system of maps throughout the old city.
Like Madrid, they have a system of bike stations where you can take a bike from and drop off at other locations through out the city. As with Madrid, it is designed for either residents or for tourists staying at least a week - so we did not use these bikes (we instead rented bikes for the day on Sunday).
We continued on towards the river and just as we got there, we discovered the Sevilla Bullfighting Museum. The price was discounted for seniors, so we entered and went on the tour.
After an explanation of the bull ring, entrances and royal seating area, we then went downstairs and went on a tour of the museum. There were four rooms, one each for the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
We then headed back to the hotel. There was a light rain that became heavier, so we finally stopped at a coffee shop that happened to be run by an Italian from Rome. Besides Italian maps on the walls and lots of Italian memorablia, there was an Italian coffee machine from Lavazza, the big Italian coffee company that recently made an espresso machine to operate in space. It went up to the International Space Station with some Italian astronauts to enjoy good coffee while in space.
When the rain ended, we continued back to the hotel, took a short rest and then went out for dinner. As is typical, Sevilla restaurants don't open for dinner until 8:00 p.m. so we ended up eating in bar/cafe.
The first class seats on the high speed train were wide and comfortable with lots of leg room. We boarded shortly before 10:00 and departed on time. With one stop in Cordoba, we covered the 530 kms (about 330 miles) in two hours and twenty minutes. As we stepped off the train in Sevilla, we could see the "Welcome to Sevilla." It is hard to see, but it is just below the windows in the center of the photo.
We had reservations at the Ayre Sevilla Hotel on Kansas City Avenida - we later searched and found that Kansas City and Sevilla are sister cities. As we were checking in to the hotel, we noticed this sign - we did indeed see workers hanging from the roof down the side of the building as well as going up on lifts and cranes.
Harry and I both felt that the Ayre Hotel was the best value hotel we had in Spain. The lobby is quite nice and our rooms were large and comfortable.
After checking in and leaving our luggage in my room (Harry's room was not yet ready), we headed out on foot to explore Sevilla. We were amazed to see trees everywhere with oranges and even a few with what appeared to be lemons. We later learned that these were "sour Sevilla" oranges used for making marmalade.
On our way towards the river, we happened upon some sections of aqueducts from some 1000 years ago - not Roman aqueducts like in Segovia which date from 100 a.d, but part of the Roman Canos de Carmona aqueduct from about 900 a.d.
As we walked, we came across many interesting types of architecture from Roman, Muslim, and more modern eras. They also have an excellent system of maps throughout the old city.
Like Madrid, they have a system of bike stations where you can take a bike from and drop off at other locations through out the city. As with Madrid, it is designed for either residents or for tourists staying at least a week - so we did not use these bikes (we instead rented bikes for the day on Sunday).
We continued on towards the river and just as we got there, we discovered the Sevilla Bullfighting Museum. The price was discounted for seniors, so we entered and went on the tour.
After an explanation of the bull ring, entrances and royal seating area, we then went downstairs and went on a tour of the museum. There were four rooms, one each for the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
We then headed back to the hotel. There was a light rain that became heavier, so we finally stopped at a coffee shop that happened to be run by an Italian from Rome. Besides Italian maps on the walls and lots of Italian memorablia, there was an Italian coffee machine from Lavazza, the big Italian coffee company that recently made an espresso machine to operate in space. It went up to the International Space Station with some Italian astronauts to enjoy good coffee while in space.
When the rain ended, we continued back to the hotel, took a short rest and then went out for dinner. As is typical, Sevilla restaurants don't open for dinner until 8:00 p.m. so we ended up eating in bar/cafe.
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