La Linea, Spain to Seville, Spain

This morning started in the dark. A 7.30 am take-off.  Another good opportunity to take a photo of the Rock, except the fog was twice as bad as the night before.

Our trip to Seville took in one service stop, where we came across our first celebrity. Of all people, Les Murray, who seemed to be known by only a few of the Aussies, had finished his World Cup duties and was heading to Lisbon via the Spanish south coast. Poor bloke was never expecting to be recognized in the middle of nowhere in Spain. It was bizarre someone famous, especially considering he could have been every other Spanish person.

We arrived in Seville at 11.30am and immediately went for a walk into town via the tourist office.

We had lunch at a sandwich bar before going to Seville’s cathedral. This cathedral is said to be the largest in the world, and definitely the most spectacular we have seen thus far, just pipping Toledo’s. The most famous monument in the church is the tomb of Christopher Columbus. The 12th century cathedral, originally a synagogue, also has a tower, La Giralda, which gives you a great view of the city from 35 floors up.

Cathedral, Seville, Spain

Christopher Columbus Tomb, Cathedral, Seville, Spain

La Giralda, Cathedral, Seville, Spain 

We caught the bus back to the hostel to check in and do some washing and have our siesta.

Tonight is going to be our Spanish culture night, seeing the ultimate, a bullfight. 9 pm on the dot was kick off time at Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza. Three matadors were on tonight’s card, and each had a go at two bulls. What happens is the bull is released and it chases a few extras around, getting all fired up. The, when the two trumpeters do their introduction, two people, including the matador for that fight, get two little spears and charge at the bulls (one at a time) and lodge the spears along the spine, just below the neck. When the bull has 5 or 6 of these spears in his back, the matador gets his, or in tonight’s case, her (Spain has only 2 or 3 female matadors and tonight we were lucky enough to see one of them) red capes and the real battle begins. Sometimes these matadors begin by throwing their hat in the air, if it lands the right way up, it’s good like and if it lands upside down, the crowd gasps, as it is considered bad luck for the matador. After the matador has performed their tricks and the bull is worn down, the matador drives a sword into the area where all the spears are, which almost kills it. Within a minute or two, the bull collapses and is killed. The bull is dragged around the arena behind three horses and the crowd goes nuts for the matador (waving white handkerchiefs, throwing roses, etc.). This happens six times in the night. This blood thirsty sport is pretty intense, and while I’m glad we went, I don’t think I’d go back for more.

Bullfight, Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza, Seville, Spain

Bullfight, Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza, Seville, Spain

Matador Carmen Torres, Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza, Seville, Spain

Roberta, Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza, Seville, Spain

After the bullfight we met up with Matt & Jen, from Brisbane, and fellow Eurobus travelers, and went for drinks, getting back to the hostel at 2am.