We packed a lot in over a long weekend built around the race on the Sunday that Michael and Catherine were running in.
I was the first to arrive on the Wednesday, followed on Thursday by Michael, Catherine, Satch, Amara and Layla, and later by my old friend François, who has known the family for years, and finally Anne and Rich on Saturday. All our AirBnBs were in the same area, Traina, on the west bank, which has a lively buzz, and with far fewer tourists than in the main part of the city on the other side of the river:
Friday: Catherine and Michael did the race check-in then we took a gentle boat trip up and down the river, strolled the excellent Triana market, tapas for lunch …
Mega chocolate and churros:
Saturday: Anne and Rich arrived at the end of lunch, then we strolled around the Maria Luisa park, taking it all very easy. For dinner later (kitchen doesn’t open until 8pm) we had a legendary lobster paella (François, Anne and me):
Race day started early for the runners, and the rest of us went to different points on the course to cheer them on. Thanks to their GPS chips we had a rough idea of where they were and Satch plotted our own route so that we could be in position when they passed:
Great results for them both: a Personal Best for Michael in 3:13:47, and a strong time from Catherine in under 4 hours.
13,500, starters, 10,299 finishers …
Back at Catherine and Satch’s we had a celebratory glass of bubbly ( courtesy of François) to celebrate the great occasion (and to wish Layla an early Happy Birthday) :
… then went out to eat:
On Monday, Rich went off early for a long run (22km) and Anne and I ran a river loop down, across a bridge, up the other side, back across and finish. The city caters very well for runners, cyclists, scooters, not to mention rowers and canoeists, and there were many other people out running on the riverside tracks.
Departure day for Catherine and family, after which we headed into the old town. I found a bookshop, Anne and Rich climbed to the top of the Setas (largest wooden structure in the world, we are told), lunch (and outdoor siesta!):
We then did the highly recommended tour of the cathedral roof, which turned out to be fascinating – lots of detail on the construction of the building (the largest cathedral in Europe by volume). We met the guide at the appointed place who opened a door at the base of a huge pillar which contained the stairs to the first level and then further:
Fine views on all sides of the city from the top:
Tuesday was leaving day for the rest of us.
So, congratulations again to our heroic runners:
… and thanks to all for making the trip so special.
ps We were all very impressed with Seville: somewhere to eat and drink every 50m (a pharmacy, too), traffic-light in the central areas making it pleasant to walk, a well preserved historical city with loads of character, from the imposing cathedral to the narrow, winding streets in the old town, and the wide and open waterfront – and we had very warm weather …
pps A few pictures which I like but didn’t manage to slot in:
Sisters:
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