Seville，Spain 塞维利亚
July 23, 2024: Today was the hottest day of our trip so far in Seville, with temperatures reaching 104°F/40°C, rivaling those in Phoenix. Despite the heat, our day was packed with activities. Seville is a historic European city. During the Age of Exploration, it was the exclusive port for trade with the New World, which led to a period of economic prosperity. Many significant buildings were constructed during this time. However, as the river silted up, the center of trade moved elsewhere, causing the city’s economy to decline.
After enjoying a buffet breakfast at our hotel, we headed out to our first stop, the Plaza de España. This massive semi-circular building was constructed for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition and now houses government offices and exhibition halls. The plaza's walls are lined with niches, each representing a different province of Spain. We first visited the Seville Military History Museum and then explored every accessible part of the plaza. The architecture was breathtaking, and photos simply couldn't capture its grandeur.
Next, we visited the Seville Cathedral. We had pre-purchased tickets for a guided tour. This Roman Catholic cathedral, built on the site of a former Muslim mosque, is now the third-largest cathedral in the world and the largest Gothic cathedral. The interior might be the most spectacular we’ve seen so far. It contains 80 chapels, including the Royal Chapel. In addition to several Spanish royalty buried there, the most famous is Christopher Columbus. His remains have been relocated several times, finally resting here. Columbus's son is also buried in the cathedral. The bell tower, once the minaret of the old mosque, was heightened when the cathedral was built. Instead of stairs, the ascent to the top is a series of ramps that spiral upward in a counterclockwise direction, following Muslim tradition.
After the cathedral, we visited the nearby Royal Alcázar of Seville. We had also pre-purchased tickets for this visit. First, we toured the residential area on the upper floors, which is still an official residence of the King. Separate tickets are required for this part, and visits are strictly timed. Security was tighter here than anywhere else we’ve been; all belongings had to be stored in lockers, and nothing could be carried with us. Each group consisted of about ten people. After passing through security, we were escorted by two guards—one leading the way and one at the rear. We couldn’t linger in any room; after viewing one, the door was locked, and we moved to the next. No phones were allowed, so we couldn’t take any photos, and I barely remember what the rooms looked like. Afterward, we wandered through other parts of the palace and its extensive gardens, which seemed endless. Despite seeking out shade, the 40°C heat was relentless, so we took two breaks at the garden café, first for lunch and later for coffee.
We had specifically bought tickets for a Flamenco show that evening. After visiting the palace, we headed to the theater, only to find out we were at the wrong location. We called a Cabify (similar to Uber) in a rush and were lucky to get a good driver. Since some streets are pedestrian-only, he found a way to drop us as close as possible to the theater. Although we were a few minutes late, the show had just begun. Flamenco is a traditional Spanish performance that combines tap dance, singing, and instrumental music. The dancers were full of passion and energy.
After battling the heat all day, we finished by enjoying local tapas at a nearby restaurant.
2024年7月23日： 今天的塞维利亚（Seville）是我们这次行程到目前为止最热的一天，最高104F/40C度，绝对与凤凰城有得一拼。天虽热，但我们今天一整天的活动还是排得很满。
塞维利亚是一座历史悠久的欧洲重城。在大航海时代，它是新大陆贸易的独家港口，经济繁荣，不少重要建筑都始建于那时。后来由于河道淤积，贸易中心才迁移到它处，经济衰退。
早上在酒店用完自助早餐之后便出门前往第一站西班牙广场（Plaza de España）。这座巨大的半圆形建筑是为1929年在此举办的伊比利亚美洲博览会所建，如今里面主要是政府部门和展览馆。广场的墙壁上有许多壁龛，每个代表了西班牙的不同省份。我们首先参观了塞维利亚军事历史展览馆，然后上上下下把能走的地方走了一遍，非常漂亮让人惊叹的的建筑，手机根本拍不出那感觉。
接着我们来到塞维利亚大教堂（Seville Cathedral)。我们提前买好了带向导的票。这个建造在穆斯林清真寺旧址上的罗马大教堂历史非常悠久，如今是世界第三大的大教堂，同时也是最大的哥特式大教堂。大教堂内部结构可能是到目前为止我们所看到过的最壮观的一个。据介绍里面有80个礼拜堂（chapels），包括皇家礼拜堂（Royal chapel）。除了许多西班牙王室成员埋在那里，最著名的应该是哥伦布（Christopher Columbus）了。他的遗骨被搬迁过多次，最后来到这里。哥伦布的儿子也埋在这个大教堂。大教堂的钟楼也是非同寻常，曾经是旧清真寺的尖塔，之后改建教堂时被加高。上塔顶并不是走台阶，而是斜坡，按穆斯林传统逆时针方向一圈又一圈绕着走上去。
看完大教堂，来到旁边的塞维利亚王宫（Royal Alcázar of Seville)。我们也是来之前已买好票的。先参观王宫楼上的住宅区，这里现在还是国王的官方住宅，必须分开买票且按定点时间参观。这是到目前为止管得最严的一次，所有物品必须放储存柜，随身不能携带任何物品。每一组参观者大概也就十几个人。先过安检，然后二名保安一前一后带着我们走。每个房间都不能多停留，看完一个房间马上锁门去下一个。不能带手机，一张照片都没有，也不记得里面长什么样了。 接下来我们就在王宫的其它区域走走看看，王家花园大的走不完。40度高温下再怎么找阴凉处还是热，结果我们在花园里的cafe 休息了二次，先吃个午饭，之后又再回去喝个咖啡。
专门提前买了今天晚上弗拉明戈(Flamenco)表演的票，看完王宫后来到戏院，结果被告知走错地方了，再赶过去估计会迟到。急急忙忙叫了Cabify(类似Uber), 碰到了一位好司机。因为有些街道是步行街，司机想办法帮我们带到了离戏院最近的地方。虽然晚了几分钟，表演刚好开始。这是一种西班牙传统的集踢踏舞，歌唱和乐器一体的音乐表演，舞者非常的热情奔放。
战高温一整天，看完表演找了家Tapas店享受一下当地的小吃。
