Sevilla and the trip to Lisbon, Portugal

The Hotel Ibis provides a modest buffet breakfast for six euros. We came down to the café about 8:30. After eating so late in the evening we are not usually hungry but we eat anyway! I had some cafe con leche, coffee with milk, a croissant, some cold cuts and cheese, jelly, fruit, and whatever else looked good at the moment.

The plan developed for this morning, to prevent having to guard the vans all morning, was to take all of our luggage to room 17, the overnight residence of the Wiggins. Sister Wendy Wiggins would stay there with their daughter Meagan while we shopped and saw some sites about town. We got an extended check out for 1:00 on that chosen room.

Those that desired to go shopping were dropped off in the same area as last night only this time they knew more of what was there and where to go. They hit the sidewalk with determination while some of us stayed in the van to go find parking near the river walk area and the Plaza de Toros. Brothers Sones and Wiggins, Clayton Brown, Arthur Law, and I set out toward the bull fighting stadium, Plaza de Toros, Real Maestranza de Sevilla, where we took the guided tour that was delivered in Spanish and in English. (See http://www.exploreseville.com/events/toros.htm for more information about the bull fights in Sevilla.) We learned that this is the second oldest bull fighting ring in the country but possibly the most famous. Not only did we sit in the seats where the crowds come every Sunday from April through June, but we were guided through the museum where the heads of the more famous and courageous bulls were mounted on the walls. There were also stories of some matadors who were killed in these barbaric rituals including two as recently as 1992.

The most exciting thing occurred on our exit from the Plaza de Toros. We were looking over a few souvenirs sold at a table on the sidewalk in front of the Plaza. This was also near the stop for the horse drawn carriages that give rides to romantic couples along the river walk. While standing there a large and loud cement truck came down the street. The horses were spooked and begin to jump and jerk. The drivers were quite unable to control them and one turned its carriage over in an attempt to side step the conundrum. That in turn caused the horse to fall and she was unable to get up while harnessed to the capsized carriage. The lead horse bolted and was heading for the street. Clayton Brown assisted in calming the horse and getting hold of the reins. Motorcycle policemen in the area were almost immediately on the scene observing the whole fiasco and no one seemed to know what to do. I knew what to do … step back, stay out of the way, and don’t get run over!

When things were somewhat restored to controlled chaos we crossed the boulevard to walk along the river. I took several pictures along the walk which included the golden tower. It is no longer golden, but is a very old navigational tower build by the river to help direct the traffic from years gone by. The river continues down to Cadiz which is the port where Christopher Columbus set sail for the New World with the Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria. When much of the trade came by ship this was an important river to bring goods into Spain and other areas of Europe. Cadiz once served as home for voyagers Ferdinand Magellan and Amerigo Vespucci.

While we continued our foot tour, Brother Wiggins went to the bus station to see if a package had arrived for Brother Sones. Some items that were to be taken back to the States were inadvertently left in Madrid and they were having a difficult time getting them delivered in a timely fashion to meet up with us along the way. We will be flying out of Lisbon and not returning to Madrid. Unfortunately, the package did not make it. The bus company only sent them out this morning. So much for overnight delivery.

After a quick McDonalds stop for a Coke (still no Dr. Pepper), we headed back to the vans and worked our way through the noon time rush hour to the arranged spot to pick up the shoppers. We returned to the hotel on a scenic route (i.e. Brother Sones tries a new route and ended up lost) but we found our way back to the Hotel Ibis. We loaded up, tied the bags more securely than ever, and made our way to Burger King! I ordered a number 7, a chicken sandwich, and ended up with a double whopper or something. Oh well, it wasn’t a bad hamburger. If I was here long I would definitely learn Spanish, if only to communicate my order correctly!

Today was one of our longer drives. It was estimated to take about four hours to travel to Lisbon. Of course, with a large group and stopping for the sandbox, fuel, or to check the vehicles, it turned into a longer journey. To pass the time and to keep Brother Sones awake we asked and answered questions concerning the Bible, ministry, and evangelism practices and theories. Brother Sones is a great soul winner and a believer in Bible studies as a means of converting and developing people. It was interesting and challenging to hear his views and feel his passion on the subject. We managed to keep our discussions to civil subjects and avoid divisive issues with controversy! Arthur Law who had been sick for two or three days and sleeping most of our day trips was awake and in fine form. He added to the discussion and even challenged Ron Krantz to chess on the laptop (on a Mac, I might add).

As we continued on the scenic route we found the countryside to be beautiful valleys and farms. There were some olive orchards but they became less plentiful and other agricultural production seemed to be taking place. Some of the small community towns we went through seemed like something out of the past, almost like a small country town in parts of west Texas complete with grain silos, but all built right along the main road coming through. There is a different feel to it. It seemed like they were frozen in the past and you got the impression that very little had changed in the last century except for the cars coming through. One thing I’ve never seen anywhere else (and I hope small towns in the US never see) is the placement of a red light as you come into town. Just as you stop it turns green much like a metering light for freeway access. It was very successful in slowing traffic before you got into town. Dumb, but successful! There was no crossing street at the light. Its sole purpose was to slow the traffic coming through the community!

We crossed the line into Portugal some time later in the afternoon without a lot of fanfare. There were no crossing guards, no customs, inspections, or protocol. It was much like passing from one state to another in America. A simple placard on a signpost indicated we were now in Portugal. The only difference I could detect was that the roads seemed to become a little more narrow! Also coming into Portugal we save an hour; a new time zone caused us to roll our clock back an hour. Now we are only seven hours later than Pacific Time. I believe Sunday they start their daylight savings time and will spring forward thus causing us to lose the hour that we just gained. As long as we get to the airport at the right time on Monday I will be happy!

Some where along the route we stopped for gas and the “sandbox.” I intended to purchase another one of those exquisite ice cream bars but was unable to communicate with the dear lady commandeering her post as proprietor of the wayside station. While I was asking someone in our group how to say ice cream in Spanish she turned her attention to help someone else in the other room. Since she spoke Portuguese she might not have understood anyway, so I just went back to the van without my ice cream! We made one final pit stop before coming into the city of Lisbon. I finally got my ice cream at this progressive little joint that could speak a little English and had the ice cream out where I could pick it up and present it for payment. We also bought some bottled water and snacks for the hotel room. We get to stay in the same hotel room for our last four nights in Portugal!

It was dark when we arrived in Lisbon, but it appeared to be a large and beautiful city. The downtown area is very modern where we are staying in a Holiday Inn – Continental Hotel. It is rated at four stars and is very nice. The lobby is very modern looking and would fit at home anywhere in the States, except for the acrid smell of cigarettes in the public areas. They have not adopted the smoking ordinances that we enjoy in California. Fortunately, the rooms we have are non-smoking and very comfortable. The rooms appear to be newly refurbished and have hardwood floors with all conveniences including a king-size bed. It has one of the tea kettles I love. It is basically a water heating coil in the bottom of the water picture, but with the 220 volt current it boils the water in a matter of minutes for making tea or an instant cup of coffee, Nescafe!

We are on the ninth floor looking out over a beautiful city. The airport is not far away because we see the large jets coming in low over the city. The lights of other high rise building are on the cityscape.

After we checked into our rooms we met at a little café around the corner from the hotel. We immediately noted that the taste of the food here is superior to what is the common fare in Spain. After eating we went back to our room, #912. While Gayla washed her hair I blogged our journey.