His: First Full Day in Sevilla

Posted by Bill. Thank goodness we arrived on a Friday. Not sure we planned it that way on purpose but it has given us time to unpack, shop for groceries and other necessities and rest before Karen has to begin work on Monday morning.

Since we were up late last night we slept in this morning. We were awakened around nine by the doorbell. We think it was someone buzzing downstairs at the outside door to get in but since we weren't expecting visitors and no one had called we ignored it. To get into the building first one goes through two huge wooden doors about twelve feet high and five inches thick.

There is a doorbell for each apartment and a button in each apartment to let in visitors to the foyer. About 15 feet into the foyer there is a metal gate.

Residents have to go down to open the gate for visitors. We are on the second floor (third floor in America since the ground floor is zero). There is a pretty courtyard with a fountain, a sitting area and lots of potted plants. It is covered at the top floor by a glass pyramid.

After intending to be there before ten, we got a late start and headed out on foot for the Mercado de Triana, the big market across the bridge on the other side of the Guadalquivir River, where many of the ships bound for Nueva Espana, (modern Florida, Central and South America and the Caribbean), weighed anchor centuries ago. After a short detour because the streets are labrythine, change names every few yards and are not well marked, we arrived and bought vegetables that one can only see in the States in their own garden. There is also a huge supply of fresh fish and game on display in various stages of preparation, from freshly killed to fully dressed or flayed.

The walk back to our apartment was shorter and more direct this time as I now had my landmarks embedded. After putting away the groceries we had a rather long Skype video conversation with Karen's mother, Jackie with a full report of all the fun we missed last night at Roger's 75th birthday party.

We, mostly Karen, did wash this afternoon, I napped some after figuring out the knobs on the washer, a tiring task. The first load took about two hours until we figured out we had unintentionally used the "Soak" cycle.

After about 83 loads of laundry, we have been traveling since 30 April without laundry services, we have stuff hung to dry all over. Below is a photo of our dryer. It uses a lot less energy than the one we have at home and I may be hanging a clothesline in the backyard when we get back.

I made our first of many home prepared meals this evening. We both enjoyed it and look forward to fresh food bought almost daily. We walked back to the big department store this evening and bought flip flops to wear in the house plus a few more grocery items. We went out about 10 PM to stroll with the locals who are just starting their evening rituals. Life is simpler here but lots of fun. It will take a little more time for us to get into the swing of the late night outings.